STRICTLY Come Dancing star Sara Davies appeared on Good Morning Britain today with Strictly dancer Aljaz, 31, as they spoke about their gruelling schedule.
"We start at 6am every single day to rehearse," Aljaz told hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard. "And I get to the training room and Sara is ready to go at 6.01. There is no leeway."
Sarah added that: "I've definitely turned him into a morning person. I find that for me, if we train early morning the brain's firing a lot better and I'm not as physically exhausted.
"Then in the afternoon I'm trying to get into work for five or six hours, see the kids when I can and then try to get to bed at 10-11 o'clock. Back up at 5 to do it all again!"
To help out, Sarah has admitted that Aljaz moved up north to be with Sara and her family, saying: "Do you know what, he comes round for tea and then, if I've got interviews or a bit of work, he babysits the kids!
"So he does the school run with us and then he'll watch the kids, go in the garden with them, have a bit of tea while I can get my work done."
Read our Strictly Come Dancing live blog for the latest updates….
- Milica Cosic
Strictly’s AJ Odudu collapses after gruelling training session
STRICTLY Come Dancing’s AJ Odudu collapsed during a gruelling training session with Kai Widdrington.
The presenter said she was “hanging on for dear life” as pro dancer Kai filmed her in a heap on the floor.
The duo will this weekend be performing the Paso Doble to Game Of Survival by Ruelle.
And AJ admitted the fast-paced ballroom dance, that’s based on a Latin American style of marching, had gotten the best of her.
She wrote over her photo taken in their dance studio: “Paso’s going well”
- Milica Cosic
One more sleep!!!
Strictly continues on Saturday (November 13, 2021) at 6.40pm.
The results show will air the following day on Sunday (November 14, 2021) at 7.20pm.
You can also catch any missed episodes on the BBC iPlayer.
- Milica Cosic
Distracted with excitement
Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left distracted by one couple ahead of Saturday’s show.
After the upcoming routines were revealed on Strictly social media pages, fans could only talk about one couple.
“Yay for rose and Giovanni’s couples choice and what a poignant song choice. Brilliant,” one said.
Another commented: “Omg Gio & Rose’s couples choice is gna be amazing.”
“Rose & Giovanni’s couples choice will be epic,” a third added.
- Milica Cosic
We hope he’ll be back this weekend too…
Strictly Come Dancing fans were left stunned over the weekend after they learned dancer Kai Widdrington’s dad is football manager Tommy Widdrington.
The 26-year-old and his celebrity partner AJ Odudu were being interviewed by show host Claudia Winkleman after their impressive Charleston when the camera panned to Kai’s father in the audience.
After showing Tommy on-screen, viewers of the BBC ballroom stalwart instantly recognised him due to his famous sports background.
One penned: “I love AJ and Kai so much that Charlestown was brilliant, they’re so hot, plus his dad works for my football team so we have to stan them for that !!! #Strictly”.
“Tommy Widdrington Kai’s dad. Director at Bristol Rovers Football club @Official_BRFC,” another simply wrote.
While another cheekily commented: “Kai’s dad is a DILF. Pass it on #Strictly”.
- Milica Cosic
Audience banned from clapping
SHIRLEY Ballas has revealed Strictly’s studio audience is banned from clapping during Rose Ayling-Ellis’s performance.
The head judge, 61, gave the interesting nugget of backstage info on Good Morning Britain.
Speaking about the 26-year-old contestant, who is Strictly’s first deaf celebrity to take part in the BBC dance competition, she said: “I think first of all Giovanni has done an absolutely immaculate job.
“And we have a translator off to our left helping her to understand what is being said and the criticism and the critiques.
“And nobody is allowed to clap while she’s dancing so that she can feel the vibrations, and the music. So her other senses are really highlighted.”
- Milica Cosic
A huge Strictly clue
STRICTLY fans have spotted a clue which they think gives away who will win the Glitterball – as well as the celebs most likely to be axed next.
A Reddit thread titled “who do you think is going to win?” features some fine Strictly sleuth work.
User BellesNoir tallied up the viewing figures on the Strictly YouTube channel ahead of last night’s elimination show and noticed there was a huge discrepancy between the acts.
Based on what they’d seen, Belles said: “I think Rose and Giovanni are going to win, and it isn’t just wishful thinking on my part.
“I’m basing this on YouTube views. If you go look at BBC Strictly’s YouTube channel, there’s massive differences in views.”
EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis is by far and away the most-watched with 190,000 views, 90,000 more than AJ Odudu who has the next most and 99,000 more than John Whaite in third.
- Milica Cosic
Adam Peaty admits he’s ‘not okay’ after exit
Adam yesterday revealed that he was “not OK” after his emotional exit, saying on Instagram: “It’s crazy to me because I thought I was ‘ok’ but I am not.
“We all have to wear a piece of armour to get the job done and it wasn’t until this week that I knew I could let it go.
“”I’m still healing from the trials and tribulations that elite sporting athletes go through but with that I’m also adapting and learning from life.”
AJ Odudu topped the leaderboard on Saturday with an incredible 39 points after her impressive Charleston.
- Milica Cosic
Who’s in for the axe this weekend?
Dan, Sara and Tilly are in a tight battle at the bookies to face the next elimination from Strictly Come Dancing.
The BBC Breakfast host edges the betting at odds of 2/1, with Sara and Tilly close behind at 9/4 apiece.
Rhys is rated as a 6/1 chance to leave next, while it would be a surprise at 20/1 if Tom was to exit the show this weekend.
Jessica O’Reilly of Ladbrokes said: “As we get to the business end of the competition it’s proving difficult to pick which celebrity will be eliminated. Dan is the worthy favourite to leave next given his poor scoring still, but with a loyal BBC fanbase voting to save him it could well be Tilly or Sara that’s axed
- Milica Cosic
Just how much do the Strictly judges get paid?
Craig Revel Horwood and his fellow judge Bruno Tonioli reportedly earn £110,000 each series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Former head judge Len Goodman made £120,000 for work on the judging panel, but the star made his last appearance on the show in December 2016.
His replacement Shirley Ballas is suspected to earn the same as her predecessor, however her pay is currently unknown.
The judges make significantly more than the professional dancers, who are said to earn around £30,000 per series.
- Milica Cosic
Dances (Continued…)
BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkova will dance an American smooth to The Proclaimers’ King Of The Road.
While BBC presenter Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu will perform a charleston to the song The Charleston by Bob Wilson and his Varsity Rhythm Boys.
Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite and Johannes Radebe, who are the dance competition’s first all-male couple, will perform a samba to Acuyuye by DLG.
McFly singer Tom Fletcher and partner Amy Dowden will dance the Viennese Waltz to Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls on Saturday.
- Milica Cosic
Routines for Saturday’s show
Rose Ayling-Ellis will dance to Symphony by Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson alongside her professional partner Giovanni Pernice.
This week Odudu and her partner Kai Widdrington will return to the dancefloor to perform a paso double to Game Of Survival by Ruelle.
Social media star Tilly Ramsay and partner Nikita Kuzmin will be looking to recover after landing in last week’s dance-off with a quickstep to Damita Jo’s I Won’t Dance.
Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies and her partner Aljaz Skorjanec will perform an Argentine tango to No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand.
- Milica Cosic
Strictly secret stats (Continued…)
There have been 264 contestants in Strictly’s history and 102 — 39 per cent — have worked for the Beeb.
But a BBC spokesman claimed said: “These statistics are misleading. The winner of Strictly is decided by the public vote.”
- Milica Cosic
New strictly secret stats
THE BBC is accused of favouritism as its stars have won nearly half of all Strictlys.
The 18 completed series have seen eight Beeb celebs coming out on top.
That is 44 per cent — and includes mainstream presenters Stacey Dooley, Ore Oduba and Chris Hollins plus Holby City actor Tom Chambers.
Two EastEnders actors — Jill Halfpenny in 2004 and Kara Tointon in 2010 — also scooped the title while no equivalent star of ITV’s Coronation Street has ever won.
The exclusive Sun analysis follows Adam Peaty’s mum declaring the popular TV dance show was a “fix”.
The early exit of the Olympic swimmer had Caroline Peaty saying: “I believe in fairness, it’s frustrating when you can see it isn’t.”
- Milica Cosic
Recap: Who was voted off last weekend?
It was the turn of Adam Peaty and Katya Jones to wave goodbye to the competition this weekend, which marks the halfway point of the 2021 series.
The pair were bottom of the leaderboard after getting only 27 points for their jive to Little Bitty Pretty One.
Adam said: “I have absolutely loved every single challenge. I’ve never had a challenge like this. As an Olympian for 16 years, I’ve pushed my body to places that I never thought it could be pushed.
“This is just a whole new ballgame and I’ve got so much respect for everyone that dances across the world and to all of these contestants and pros that put themselves on the line every single week – it’s just been a great experience.”
Katya added: “I really think you deserve a lot more appreciation for what you’ve done and I was not ready for this.”
- Milica Cosic
Strictly Rose Ayling-Ellis sparks health fears
STRICTLY’S Rose Ayling-Ellis has sparked health fears after coughing around Giovanni Pernice ahead of Saturday‘s live show.
The EastEnders star, 26, started spluttering in rehearsals with her dance partner.
Rose also looked sick in her recent Instagram story ahead of the live Strictly show tomorrow.
It’s concerning after the star, who is the show’s first deaf contestant, has been tipped to go all the way after being the first to get a perfect 40 score on the show.
Rose is not the first person to have fallen sick on the show.
Ex contestant Judi Love was forced to pull out for a week after testing positive for Covid 19.
Just last month Robert Webb quit the competition – just days before the fourth live episode.
- Milica Cosic
Strictly’s Dan Walker reveals which stars have already quit the group WhatsApp chat
DAN Walker has revealed that some of the stars of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing have already left the group WhatsApp chat.
The 44-year-old is competing in the competition with Nadiya Bychkova, and said that a couple of the people who’ve been voted off have dropped out of the chat.
He said: “We started off with all 15. Most people who have left [the show] have stayed in the group.”
BBC presenter Dan also suggested there are things in the chat history that the stars wouldn’t want being made public.
Speaking to the Daily Star, he added: “There are pictures on there that will never see the light of day. We talk about everything from jam to jive. It’s a fun group and a good release for people at the end of the day.”
- Milica Cosic
Who’s left the show so far?
- Week two: Nina Wadia and Neil Jones
- Week three: Katie McGlynn and Gorka Marquez
- Withdrawn: Robert Webb and Dianne Buswell
- Week four: Greg Wise and Karen Hauer
- Week five: Ugo Monye and Oti Mabuse
- Week six: Judi Love and Graziano di Prima
- Week seven: Adam Peaty and Katya Jones
No Strictly curse this year
Strictly pro dancer Graziano is adamant he’s not seen a hint of romance backstage.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, he said: “The problem is we have so much work, so much rehearsals and so much pressure, do you think the couples do something? [laughs]. Absolutely not, man.
“I’m in love with all of them. I can see any spot, any five minutes break; they’re rehearsing. There’s no romance I think this season.”
How do Strictly couples get voted off?
Once every couple has danced they get a score out of 10 from each judge – aiming for a perfect 40.
They voting is opened to the public who can call into pick their favourites.
Then viewers’ voting figures are combined with the judges’ scores.
The lowest two scorers are then dumped into the dance-off that’s aired on Sunday night with the judges choosing who stays and who goes.
Strictly star Saffron Barker’s split with boyfriend
Fans first suspected they were on the rocks when Saffron jetted to Dubai with her girlfriends last month, but sources say they were still together then.
They said: “Everyone thought Saffron and Ty had split in October when she went on holiday and spent time with Love Island star Biggs.
“They didn’t actually end things until this week when they decided it just wasn’t working.
“Saffron is still so young and is super busy with work – it’s just a shame after they grew so close during lockdown.”
Saffron and Tyler met on Instagram during lockdown and she went public with him in an Instagram video in August 2020.
Strictly star Saffron Barker heartbroken as she splits with boyfriend
SAFFRON Barker has split from her boyfriend Tyler Dixon less than a year after he moved into her £1million mansion.
The YouTuber and Strictly star, 21, called time on their romance this week, but insisted there was “no bad blood”.
She told her followers: “Ty and I aren’t together anymore although there is absolutely no bad blood and we will always stay friends.”
- Milica Cosic
Strictly’s Rose leaves EastEnders to focus on her dancing
STRICTLY star Rose Ayling-Ellis has revealed that she’s left EastEnders to focus on her dancing with Giovanni Pernice.
The actress shocked fans when character Frankie Lewis left Albert Square on Tuesday night.
Viewers were left sobbing as Frankie said an emotional goodbye to her dad Mick Carter and departed in a taxi to go stay with a friend.
“Normally, EastEnders makes you work at the same time as doing Strictly, but EastEnders gave me time off, so I can just focus on Strictly completely,” Rose told Metro.
The 26-year-old, who is the show’s first ever deaf contestant, has been wowing the judges weekly with pro Giovanni.
- Milica Cosic
Explained: Strictly’s 2021 judges
Shirley Ballas has returned as head judge for the 2021 series.
Craig Revel Horwood has also taken up his role as judge – which he has been doing since the show’s inception in 2004.
Motsi Mabuse has also returned for a third series.
They are all joined by Anton Du Beke who replaces long running judge Bruno Tonioli.
- Milica Cosic
The favourites
The BBC is accused of favouritism as its stars have won nearly half of all Strictlys.
The 18 completed series have seen eight Beeb celebs coming out on top.
That is 44 per cent — and includes mainstream presenters Stacey Dooley, Ore Oduba and Chris Hollins plus Holby City actor Tom Chambers.
Two EastEnders actors — Jill Halfpenny in 2004 and Kara Tointon in 2010 — also scooped the title while no equivalent star of ITV’s Coronation Street has ever won.
- Milica Cosic
Giovanni’s challenges of dancing with Rose
Rose’s pro partner Giovanni, 31, later spoke about the challenges of dancing when unable to hear the music.
He said: “We struggled a lot with the timing but in the end we managed a routine that was super for Rose.
“Even the beginning, starting solo, it’s hard to do it on your own when you can hear.
“Can you imagine what it’s like when you can’t really hear the music? But we managed to do it, so well done to you, well done.”
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