tv dinners

So Tom has won Strictly Come Dancing 2008.

I like Tom, and his show dance was more showy and original than Rachel’s, or for that matter Lisa and Brendan’s slightly futuristic offering. Just as well, as apart from doing a good Samba he really didn’t have Rachels technical skill or Lisa’s glamour (or perfect 40 scores, she was my favourite by far). Infact at the end all the crying from Camilla over winning the title seemed a bit x-factor. Living the dream, ugh.

Finally – is there no more It Takes Two? When will we get to see Claudia Winkleman again? The past winners dance was a great idea, wasn’t it? Why did James and Ola do a cha cha out of the  blue? Will they bother including older men who will go down the Sergeant route next year? Will Brian Fortuna be back – why isn’t he dancing in the States version? When does the Apprentice start?

Survivors

I’m late in starting to watch Survivors but I like a good apocalyptic drama. I really don’t think you can judge a series like this on the first episode though – as the premise is a get out of jail free card – of course it’s going to be gripping.

It got me thinking though – if there was a flu pandemic and I survived what would I do? You see, so far only one of the 8 or so survivors has done the logical thing – pack up a stolen truck with army gear and provisions, stake out a farm, leave the city and the promise of cholera… so, I reckon I’d head to Anglesey. I’d have to teach myself to drive but I feel Anglesey is a good option. Once a community was established there you could herd some cattle across from Bangor and then blow up both the Menai bridges and hopefully avoid the next empire in the same way the Welsh did when the Romans came to Britain.

Department Store

The final in this series and brilliant but desperately sad too. Why didn’t J T Morgan they put on buses for the Swansea shoppers, to circumvent the roadworks? They were already losing money – it could have been an option, surely?

If you missed all of these Richard Macer documentaries, forget todays m&S 20% off and step back in time to these brilliant department stores on iplayer.

It takes two

Claudia Winkleman is the best thing on before 9pm on weeknights. If she’s not wishing she was Craig Revel Horwood’s lover Grant, she’s planting key words for Len Goodman to use in his judging (taut, cheese) or playing down her own tears, “I haven’t been sleeping well”. She’s obviously a genuine fan and friend of the dancers and celebs and the shows throughout the week actually repeat very little, unlike other extra-reality offerings. I’ll miss Claudia when Strictly is over. Perhaps she could co-host You’re Fired with Adrian Chiles?

Lisa and Brendan

Arrghh! It’s shocking that Cherie Lunghi is out of the Strictly competition – but I’m relieved, Lisa and Brendan are my favourites, and definitely did not deserve to go – Lisa’s Latin dancing overall is better than Cherie and her ballroom comparable.

This puts John Sergeant in an unenviable position – why do people keep voting?? I’m over the ‘he’s very witty and ‘quite endearing’ now, this series of Strictly is too fierce to have people that can’t dance still in – what next, John in the final? John to win? Did anyone else notice he didn’t seem to be in the throng of dancers saying goodbye to Cherie at the end of the show? 

Finally – me and my shadow – whilst it’s remarkable Anton du Beke looks like Bruce Fosyth’s long lost love child, we really don’t need a re-enactment of old fashioned entertainment, book a proper act and stop all the pro dancers in front of them!

Wot else is on?

Risky Business

Crap business if you ask me. Neil Morrissey of Men Behaving Badly in another lifetime, is annoying, arrogant and lucky from what I’ve seen of this half property ladder, half Nuts-on-TV.

Nigella Feasts

Strictly not on TV, this series, filmed between Forever Summer and Nigella Express, has only been shown in US, Australia etc. It is an exact half-way point between the more serene earlier series and the latest camp outings from Nigella (don’t get me wrong, she’s entertaining and likeable in both). She’s as enthusiastic as ever, not OTT, and the recipes are from my favourite book of hers – FEAST is a must for any cook, and Nigella’s Christmas book is pretty great too. You can order the DVD from Australia, if you have a multi-region DVD player. Be warned though – to cater for the cultural cross over Nigella has to say, in one breath, ‘Add your spring onions/ scallions/green onions’ which at first is disconcerting. I’m used to all the US translations from watching Barefoot Contessa!

Why are Len and Bruno flying transatlantic twice a week? I think Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing should have a joint show – half the celebrities from the US the other from the UK. At least we’d get rid of the non-celebrity element and can imagine Cloris Leachman with Anton du Beck?

Strictly Summary:

Will Flavia be worried Vincent is going to win with Rachel Stevens? Isn’t Rachel’s nan cute?

Heather (M People) and Jodie were much better than expected. I am still worried about Jodie doing Latin – I just can’t imagine it.

James Jordan does need a haircut, and Gary Rhodes does need to go – but I wonder if he and Jessie will be bad favourites throughout the first half of the series?

Dancing with the Stars summary:

I’m so suprised Kim Kardashian isn’t quite there with her performance – I wonder if her mumager has told her to lay off the sexy vibe, seeing DWTS as a route to move away from sex tape fame? If so, dancing to I love big buts was a bad move.

Oh my god I love Cloris Leachman!

Cloris & Corky

It was sad that Tim McGinley had to go – he seemed sure that the male audience would be laughing it up – I don’t think that’s the case, I reckon the real American bloke stuck watching the show liked Tim, but they are not the voters of the family.

I’ve even watched X Factor this weekend. Hell has frozen over!