On Strictly Come Dancing 2014 Predictions
Sep. 25th, 2014 05:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
danieldwilliamWell now it’s time for the psephological highlight of the year my series of Strictly Come Dancing prediction and voting analysis blogs.
For my first post the ever popular (1) initial assessment of the celebrities and their professional dance partners. This year I’ll be basing my initial assessment on a reading of the celebrities Wikipedia entry, my assessment of their performance in the group dance in the preliminary show, my understanding of how SCD celebrity constituencies operate and how I view the strengths and weaknesses of the professional partner (2)
Alison Hammond and Alijaz Skojanic
Hammond appears to me to be a professional minor celebrity having found fame after being in Big Brother and then getting a job interviewing people and being in other reality TV shows. I had never heard of her until she appeared on the prelim show. She’s a large lady but as Lisa Riley showed last year a large lady with nimble feet and charisma can do well. But they can’t ultimately win. I’m going to go early exit Alison “Reality” Hammond.
Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev
I’m not sure how to place Caroline “the Jacket” Flack. She has a decent television footprint. I’m not terribly familiar with it. However, I think of her more as a utility presenter than a name in her own right. To her advantage she’s perhaps one of the better known names in this year’s rather slim offering. Also, I note that she has already done well in a dancing programme and an international dancing competition. She probably starts, therefore, with a dance advantage. This isn’t to be underestimated as it ought to put her comfortably through to the second half of the programme and by then she’ll have had the chance to dance her way in to the public’s affection and establish herself as a personality and a candidate.
I have her in the office sweepstake. Decent chance to be a finalist I think.
Frankie Bridge and Kevin Clifton
Mmmh. Frankie…
Obvously I’m team Frankie or #TeamFrankie.
Again, by the standards of this year’s crop relatively well known. Frankie, as a member of a girl band will have considerable experience moving to music and should pick up the dancing reasonably easy. Like Caroline this gives her a de facto bye into the second half. Frankie is also very pretty. I’m never sure how this plays with the audience. Is she too pretty and so alienates some female viewers? Is she the wrong sort of pretty to get the Dad’s vote? Don’t know. She’d get Vic Reaves vote. It’s clearer cut with Thom Evans, just as it was with Ben Cohen. Personally, I find her rather cute. MmmFrankie.
Kevin Clifton is also one of the dancers I think has both a personal following and the ability to get the best out of or for their celebrity.
I think Frankie is probably in with a chance of reaching the final.
Gregg Wallance and Aliona Vilani
Now I like Pudding Loving Gregg as I’m going to refer to him during his brief tenure on Strictly. I like his robust earthy approach to food. It’s a nice counterpoint to his rather austere Masterchef partner John Torode. I’m not sure it will carry well on Strictly where he’ll be a bit out of his comfort zone. Not a natural mover. Well known but not well loved. Fitness issues, perhaps not unrelated to his moniker.
Aliona Vilani, is a pretty good dancer, with two appearances and one win in the final. However, her record with celebrities with lower dancing abilities is not great and I think she won’t be able to pull Pudding Loving Gregg through.
A first half exit but not very early unless their first dance is a shower of sponge puddings.
Jake Wood and Janette Manrara
Jake “Can’t See the” Wood is a well known Eastenders’ bad boy.
Never underestimate the power of Eastenders to get someone through the first few weeks of Strictly.
And that’s about where Jake and Jannette will leave us.
Jennifer Gibney and Tristan MacManus
I have never heard of Jennifer Gibney. I loathe Mrs Brown’s Boys with a passion I usually reserve for Tory MP’s. Nothing I saw in the Introductory Show made me think she was a hidden Jennifer Grey. What I don’t know is how much the public like Mrs Brown’s Boys. It’s a popular show I understand.
I can’t even be bothered coming up with a nickname for her beyond Jennifer “Not Grey” Gibney.
First half exit but not immediate.
Judy Murray and Anton du Beke
Hey Jude! Judy Murray has many advantages going in to this series of Strictly Come Dancing. She has good name recognition in her own right and as the mother of two, look you, two Scottish, look you, Scottish Wimbledon Champions including the Greatest Living Scotman Ever, Andy “C’mon” Murray. She’s also a professional sports coach. She’s physically fit. She *knows* what it takes to win.
On the down side I didn’t get the impression of a natural dancer during the Introductions Show. She’s partnered with Anton du Beke. Nice guy. Cheeky Chappie. Can’t cut it as a dancer.
Then there is the Scottish Question. Her most famous son’s late in the day public conversion to the Yes campaign appears to have upset some people. At the very least it risks splitting her natural constituency of patriotic sports fans and Scots.
I fear Hey Jude might be the first one out this year. Depends who is in the dance off with her.
Mark Wright and Karen Hauer
Another reality show Sort of Celebrity. Once again I’m blindsided by his main thing, The Only Way Is Essex. I’ve never watched it. I understand it is popular with the youth but I don’t know if Mark Wright is popular with the youth because of it.
He’s a semi-professional football player. I always think sports players have an advantage in the early stage through physical fitness, experience of moving their body and an ability to apply themselves to training.
Karen Hauer is a good dancer and having shepherded Dave Myers through many more weeks of Strictly Come Dancing than he deserved I think she could do okay with Mark.
Mid table mediocrity is my prediction for Mark “The Pro” Wright.
Pixei Lott and Trent Whiddon
Undoubtedly the most famous of this year’s celebrities, Pixie “That’s Your” Lott has genuine name recognition and a credible and creditable career outside of reality TV. Her fame alone will carry her through the early shake out rounds. Her musicality should see her safely through the tricky middle passage. She’s also a Theatre School old girl. She ought to be able to carry Trent “Call Me Trent” Whiddon through his unsteady early rounds.
Baring accidents, likely to win, almost certain to be in the final.
Scott Mills and Joanne Clifton
Scott Mills hosts a well known radio show. People have heard of Scott Mills. His doings are discussed around water coolers. Along with Pixie Lott he has genuine name recognition. Frankly, even I’ve heard of him so he must be doing something in the public eye.
However the bookies have him at 50 to 1, ranked 12th. So perhaps they’ve seen him dance.
A shame as I’d like to see Joanne Clifton do well so we can have an on-going relationship on SCD to rival the Evans romance.
I’m going with the bookies. Early exit for Scott Mills in the AfternoOOoon.
Simon Webbe and Kristina Rhihanoff
Member of Blue. Nuff said.
Top half finish even with Kristina Rhihanoff. With the frankly very good at dancing professional dancer Rhihanoff, Simon From Blue is in with a good chance at the final.
Steve Blackshall and Ola Jordan
This man pokes dangerous things with a stick for a living. Pairing him up with Ola “Baby Faced Assassin” Jordan is a stroke, or perhaps a poke, of genius.
Steve has charisma. He’s physically fit. Daring. Ola has managed to get okay dancers with rugged good looks to the winners podium.
I’m not convinced she can do it again but I think Steve “Dangerous” Blackshall is a top half finish.
Sunetra Sarker and Brendon Cole
I used to watch Sarker play a nurse in the BBC sitcom No Angels. Ohh Matron! Now she is a famous Casualty Doctor. I never got the impression she was much of a mover.
Still, she’ll have fun with Brendon “Oh My God He’s Hot!” Cole for a few weeks.
Early exit
Thom Evans and Iveta Lukosiute
If ever you want to see your female friends transformed into a feral pack of over excited teenage screamers palpitating with frenzied lust then put on an episode of Strictly Come Dancing with Thom “Dripping” Evans in it.
Now, I’ve picked a good looking rugby player for the final based on a combination of sex appeal and physical sports skill before and Ben Cohen and I are no longer on speaking terms. This time, I don’t think Thom Evans has to dance in order to reach the semi-final. I don’t mean he doesn’t have to dance well. I mean he could just stand there for two minutes and they won’t be counting his vote, they’ll be weighing it. Add to this the Will They Won’t They, Oh They Have and I’ve Seen the Tape sexual tension with his partner, on stage (and in bed) Iveta.
Guaranteed semi. Fnarr, fnarr.
Tim Wonnacott and Natalie Low
Out in the first week.
A Chez Meadow Family Favourite but gone before he’ll have a chance to remember Natalie’s name.
Bargain Hunt is not going to be enough to save Unfortunately Named Tim
EDIT: In late breaking news I learn that Unfortunately Named Tim Wonnacut is an expert tap dancer having graduated from the Brixton School of Performing Arts.
You dark horse you.
So my order of exit is
Unfortunately Named Tim
Reality Hammond
Hey Jude
Not Jennifer Grey
Jake “Can’t See the Trees” Wood
Oooh Matron” Sarker
Scott Mills in the AfternooOOOon
Pudding Loving Gregg
Mark “the Pro”
Dangerous Steve Blackshall
The Semi-Finalists
Caroline “the Jacket” Flack
Mmmmh Frankie Bridges
Pixie “That’s Your” Lott
Simon From Blue
Thom “Dripping” Evans.
For the ultimate winner. Pixie if she can dance. Thom if he can dance.
(1) How do we know, there’s never been a vote.
(2) He’s making it up as he goes along.
(3) As there are no cricketers in this years’ show I’ll be (over) compensating by using large amounts of inappropriate cricketing terminology. As I regular readers are also often huge cricketing fans I know this won’t be a problem.
For my first post the ever popular (1) initial assessment of the celebrities and their professional dance partners. This year I’ll be basing my initial assessment on a reading of the celebrities Wikipedia entry, my assessment of their performance in the group dance in the preliminary show, my understanding of how SCD celebrity constituencies operate and how I view the strengths and weaknesses of the professional partner (2)
Alison Hammond and Alijaz Skojanic
Hammond appears to me to be a professional minor celebrity having found fame after being in Big Brother and then getting a job interviewing people and being in other reality TV shows. I had never heard of her until she appeared on the prelim show. She’s a large lady but as Lisa Riley showed last year a large lady with nimble feet and charisma can do well. But they can’t ultimately win. I’m going to go early exit Alison “Reality” Hammond.
Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev
I’m not sure how to place Caroline “the Jacket” Flack. She has a decent television footprint. I’m not terribly familiar with it. However, I think of her more as a utility presenter than a name in her own right. To her advantage she’s perhaps one of the better known names in this year’s rather slim offering. Also, I note that she has already done well in a dancing programme and an international dancing competition. She probably starts, therefore, with a dance advantage. This isn’t to be underestimated as it ought to put her comfortably through to the second half of the programme and by then she’ll have had the chance to dance her way in to the public’s affection and establish herself as a personality and a candidate.
I have her in the office sweepstake. Decent chance to be a finalist I think.
Frankie Bridge and Kevin Clifton
Mmmh. Frankie…
Obvously I’m team Frankie or #TeamFrankie.
Again, by the standards of this year’s crop relatively well known. Frankie, as a member of a girl band will have considerable experience moving to music and should pick up the dancing reasonably easy. Like Caroline this gives her a de facto bye into the second half. Frankie is also very pretty. I’m never sure how this plays with the audience. Is she too pretty and so alienates some female viewers? Is she the wrong sort of pretty to get the Dad’s vote? Don’t know. She’d get Vic Reaves vote. It’s clearer cut with Thom Evans, just as it was with Ben Cohen. Personally, I find her rather cute. MmmFrankie.
Kevin Clifton is also one of the dancers I think has both a personal following and the ability to get the best out of or for their celebrity.
I think Frankie is probably in with a chance of reaching the final.
Gregg Wallance and Aliona Vilani
Now I like Pudding Loving Gregg as I’m going to refer to him during his brief tenure on Strictly. I like his robust earthy approach to food. It’s a nice counterpoint to his rather austere Masterchef partner John Torode. I’m not sure it will carry well on Strictly where he’ll be a bit out of his comfort zone. Not a natural mover. Well known but not well loved. Fitness issues, perhaps not unrelated to his moniker.
Aliona Vilani, is a pretty good dancer, with two appearances and one win in the final. However, her record with celebrities with lower dancing abilities is not great and I think she won’t be able to pull Pudding Loving Gregg through.
A first half exit but not very early unless their first dance is a shower of sponge puddings.
Jake Wood and Janette Manrara
Jake “Can’t See the” Wood is a well known Eastenders’ bad boy.
Never underestimate the power of Eastenders to get someone through the first few weeks of Strictly.
And that’s about where Jake and Jannette will leave us.
Jennifer Gibney and Tristan MacManus
I have never heard of Jennifer Gibney. I loathe Mrs Brown’s Boys with a passion I usually reserve for Tory MP’s. Nothing I saw in the Introductory Show made me think she was a hidden Jennifer Grey. What I don’t know is how much the public like Mrs Brown’s Boys. It’s a popular show I understand.
I can’t even be bothered coming up with a nickname for her beyond Jennifer “Not Grey” Gibney.
First half exit but not immediate.
Judy Murray and Anton du Beke
Hey Jude! Judy Murray has many advantages going in to this series of Strictly Come Dancing. She has good name recognition in her own right and as the mother of two, look you, two Scottish, look you, Scottish Wimbledon Champions including the Greatest Living Scotman Ever, Andy “C’mon” Murray. She’s also a professional sports coach. She’s physically fit. She *knows* what it takes to win.
On the down side I didn’t get the impression of a natural dancer during the Introductions Show. She’s partnered with Anton du Beke. Nice guy. Cheeky Chappie. Can’t cut it as a dancer.
Then there is the Scottish Question. Her most famous son’s late in the day public conversion to the Yes campaign appears to have upset some people. At the very least it risks splitting her natural constituency of patriotic sports fans and Scots.
I fear Hey Jude might be the first one out this year. Depends who is in the dance off with her.
Mark Wright and Karen Hauer
Another reality show Sort of Celebrity. Once again I’m blindsided by his main thing, The Only Way Is Essex. I’ve never watched it. I understand it is popular with the youth but I don’t know if Mark Wright is popular with the youth because of it.
He’s a semi-professional football player. I always think sports players have an advantage in the early stage through physical fitness, experience of moving their body and an ability to apply themselves to training.
Karen Hauer is a good dancer and having shepherded Dave Myers through many more weeks of Strictly Come Dancing than he deserved I think she could do okay with Mark.
Mid table mediocrity is my prediction for Mark “The Pro” Wright.
Pixei Lott and Trent Whiddon
Undoubtedly the most famous of this year’s celebrities, Pixie “That’s Your” Lott has genuine name recognition and a credible and creditable career outside of reality TV. Her fame alone will carry her through the early shake out rounds. Her musicality should see her safely through the tricky middle passage. She’s also a Theatre School old girl. She ought to be able to carry Trent “Call Me Trent” Whiddon through his unsteady early rounds.
Baring accidents, likely to win, almost certain to be in the final.
Scott Mills and Joanne Clifton
Scott Mills hosts a well known radio show. People have heard of Scott Mills. His doings are discussed around water coolers. Along with Pixie Lott he has genuine name recognition. Frankly, even I’ve heard of him so he must be doing something in the public eye.
However the bookies have him at 50 to 1, ranked 12th. So perhaps they’ve seen him dance.
A shame as I’d like to see Joanne Clifton do well so we can have an on-going relationship on SCD to rival the Evans romance.
I’m going with the bookies. Early exit for Scott Mills in the AfternoOOoon.
Simon Webbe and Kristina Rhihanoff
Member of Blue. Nuff said.
Top half finish even with Kristina Rhihanoff. With the frankly very good at dancing professional dancer Rhihanoff, Simon From Blue is in with a good chance at the final.
Steve Blackshall and Ola Jordan
This man pokes dangerous things with a stick for a living. Pairing him up with Ola “Baby Faced Assassin” Jordan is a stroke, or perhaps a poke, of genius.
Steve has charisma. He’s physically fit. Daring. Ola has managed to get okay dancers with rugged good looks to the winners podium.
I’m not convinced she can do it again but I think Steve “Dangerous” Blackshall is a top half finish.
Sunetra Sarker and Brendon Cole
I used to watch Sarker play a nurse in the BBC sitcom No Angels. Ohh Matron! Now she is a famous Casualty Doctor. I never got the impression she was much of a mover.
Still, she’ll have fun with Brendon “Oh My God He’s Hot!” Cole for a few weeks.
Early exit
Thom Evans and Iveta Lukosiute
If ever you want to see your female friends transformed into a feral pack of over excited teenage screamers palpitating with frenzied lust then put on an episode of Strictly Come Dancing with Thom “Dripping” Evans in it.
Now, I’ve picked a good looking rugby player for the final based on a combination of sex appeal and physical sports skill before and Ben Cohen and I are no longer on speaking terms. This time, I don’t think Thom Evans has to dance in order to reach the semi-final. I don’t mean he doesn’t have to dance well. I mean he could just stand there for two minutes and they won’t be counting his vote, they’ll be weighing it. Add to this the Will They Won’t They, Oh They Have and I’ve Seen the Tape sexual tension with his partner, on stage (and in bed) Iveta.
Guaranteed semi. Fnarr, fnarr.
Tim Wonnacott and Natalie Low
Out in the first week.
A Chez Meadow Family Favourite but gone before he’ll have a chance to remember Natalie’s name.
Bargain Hunt is not going to be enough to save Unfortunately Named Tim
EDIT: In late breaking news I learn that Unfortunately Named Tim Wonnacut is an expert tap dancer having graduated from the Brixton School of Performing Arts.
You dark horse you.
So my order of exit is
Unfortunately Named Tim
Reality Hammond
Hey Jude
Not Jennifer Grey
Jake “Can’t See the Trees” Wood
Oooh Matron” Sarker
Scott Mills in the AfternooOOOon
Pudding Loving Gregg
Mark “the Pro”
Dangerous Steve Blackshall
The Semi-Finalists
Caroline “the Jacket” Flack
Mmmmh Frankie Bridges
Pixie “That’s Your” Lott
Simon From Blue
Thom “Dripping” Evans.
For the ultimate winner. Pixie if she can dance. Thom if he can dance.
(1) How do we know, there’s never been a vote.
(2) He’s making it up as he goes along.
(3) As there are no cricketers in this years’ show I’ll be (over) compensating by using large amounts of inappropriate cricketing terminology. As I regular readers are also often huge cricketing fans I know this won’t be a problem.
