Justice for Jodie!
I realise it's almost a fortnight since the "Nancy" results were announced, but bear with me while I step back in time.
As with the final of "Any Dream Will Do", we missed seeing the live show as at that very hour we were jetting off to Menorca for a week's family holiday. But before we had set off I had made sure our old fashioned video recorder had been set - and that my Dad had set his too, just in case - to record events as they happened. The question was, would be able to avoid discovering the answer before we came back into the country?
As it turns out we did and on Sunday evening settled down for a "Nancy-fest" and watched back to back shows.
From the outset it was obvious that Cameron Mackintosh and the Lord himself were championing Jessie, but like us John Barrowman and Denise Van Outen were in the Jodie camp.
Like the Lord had been in a previous show, the Cox clan were a bit "angry" at the way the final played out.
After Jodie's first song, Graham Norton only asked John Barrowman for his opinion without consulting the rest of the panel (as he did with the next two would-be Nancys). Cameron then claimed she had won him over, but I don't really think we believed him, and even the Lord was hedging his bets. Some panel members then made it all too clear who they wanted to win, but this was a show where ultimately the public had the final say.
As you know I think Jodie was always going to be a popular choice - she had a great voice and popular personality, and was probably one of the only contestants with the stamina required to sing in eight shows a week.
On the night the right two girls made it through to the final stage - neither Jodie or Jessie had ever been in the bottom two. It's only fair to say that on the night Jessie was better in her duet with one of the Olivers and in the joint solo "As long as he needs me" she was definitely more dramatic. But it seemed wholly unfair for both Cameron and Andrew Lloyd Webber to be so open with their feelings, especially when the show's producer declared that Jessie had been born to be Nancy!! How would that have made Jodie feel - always knowing she was his second choice.
When Graham went along the panel asking them to name their Nancy we cheered when John Barrowman and Denise Van Outen - who had both had concerns about Jessie's consistency and inability to take direction - both chose Jodie.
Throughout the marathon session we had kept our fingers firmly crossed for Jodie, suffering the added frustration of not being able to add our support to the vote.....or we would have been charged and our vote would definitely not have been counted!!
There was delight in the Cox household when the result was revealed - and now I can't wait for the follow up show to see Jodie in action.
What was interesting about "I'd Do Anything" compare with its forerunners "How do you solve a problem" and "Any dream will do", there was no obvious front runner. After the first couple of shows of the previous two series' you just knew that Connie and Lee were going to win, no matter how hard the others worked. But with "I'd Do Anything" it was definitely a closer call. Let's face it, any one of the top four would have made a good go of it and frankly some of those voted out earlier in the series could have made interesting leading ladies.
One of the most telling quotes of the final came from last year's winner Lee Mead who said the winner could look forward to lots of hard work - at last, an honest insight into what was in store for the West End's next leading lady, a world away from the glitz and glamour of the television shows.
Last night we tuned into the final "Apprentice" of the season to see Sir Alan select Lee as his next leading man. A good choice I think. Again he'd been consistent throughout the show and, as with Jodie, had proved popular among his contemporaries. That said, based purely on their performances in the final show, we thought Claire would have been in with the better chance for her slick presentation and the professional way in which she had dealt with some tricky questions from business leaders in a cool and calm way.
Having previously picked both Jodie and Lee to win their respective shows, perhaps - at last - my luck has changed!
And, before I go - here's food for thought - in just over a week's time we will mark the half way point of the year. On June 21st the longest day will come and go. As a colleague said this week, that means the nights will start drawing in as the end of the year approaches - which means, not long to go until Series Six of Strictly!
Published Date:
12/06/2008
Modified Date:
12/06/2008
I'd Do Anything
I'd do anything - well almost anything - to see Jodie crowned as the new Nancy this weekend.
The Cox household has stuck with the show week in, week out and we have seen Nancys come and Nancys go.
The singing standard has been, to quote John Barrowman, "fantastic, fantastic, fantastic" and unlike the show's two predecessors picking the eventual winner has been far more tricky.
A couple of weeks ago my prediction for the final three was Sam, Jodie and Jessie, but after Rachel's performance of "Come to the cabaret" on Saturday night I almost waivered and thought maybe it was Jessie's turn to leave the show. But "The Lord" came good and sent Rachel on her way.
So when it comes to this Saturday, who will become the West End leading lady?
My heart says Jodie. She's never been in the bottom two and has come across in the film clips as having a vibrant personality and no pretensions to be anything that she isn't. My head however says Sam. She is the one who has been on "the journey" and has won the panel round. Although Jessie has a fab voice, the fact that she hasn't improved over the past few weeks and seems unable to do what she is directed to do does not bode well when the prize at stake is to be directed on stage in order to perform eight shows a week.
But as we know from my previous predictions, I am bound to be wide of the mark.
Whilst we're on the subject of television, the latest "Dr Who" series has been great, but I am disappointed that they are bringing Rose Tyler back. How they are going to get her back from her parrallel universe remains to be seen, but personally I wish she'd stay there. As I've said before one of the reasons I enjoy "Dr Who" is because of the underplayed comedy and that has been evident in some of the recent episodes. And although I was wary of her at first I'm warming to Catherine Tate's character and think the duo work well together. It's nice not to have an assistant who is drooling over the "Doctor", for once that can be left to me alone.
As with "I'd Do Anything", Sir Alan's search for his next apprentice has been a tough one to call. At first I thought Lucinda, then Lee and now I'm thinking perhaps Claire has what it takes. While I enjoy the show, the continuous review of past episodes at the start does get a bit annoying as I am sure the majority of those who watch will have been with the show since the series started and are all too familiar with the ups and downs of its wannabe entrepreneurs. I'm looking forward to next week, when the final five get a grilling from businesses bosses. With no team mates to hide behind this will really sort the wheat from the chaff.
Published Date:
28/05/2008
Modified Date:
28/05/2008
New season...new programmes!
After an enforced winter break, due to a complete lack of any telly to tickle my tastebuds, I now find myself with almost too many programmes to choose from.
I have been suffering my seasonal "Strictly" withdrawal symptoms and despairing at the disappearance of "Dr Who". Although I have found some solace in "Torchwood" and even my long suffering other half who generally hates all things sci-fi related has almost (not quite) but almost turned into a "Torchwood" fan.
Now, just as the nights are getting lighter and the urge to sit in our telly-free conservatory and enjoy the open aspects of the surrounding countryside gains momemtum, I find that many of my favourite shows have returned to the small screen.
We are almost into our third week of "I'd Do Anything" and "Dr Who" starts on Saturday, combined with the third week of "The Apprentice" I'm finding myself more often than I'd like turning on the TV. "Turn if off" I hear you cry, but when you've spent a busy day at work, followed by a busy evening providing a parental taxi service, actually a bit of telly to take your mind off life is not a bad thing.
The Cox household is a recent convert to the world of "Sir Alan" having started by watching the Katie Hopkins' series. This latest batch of wannabe entrepreneurs are already making for great Wednesday night viewing. With two programmes gone I've decided that I prefer the lads to the ladies and particularly the quartet who this week kept the laundry going and turned the boys into the winning team. As for the eventual winner - at this stage I'm not sure, but I do like former soldier Simon who so far has just rolled his sleeves up and got on with the job in hand.
We have also started our Saturday night sing-a-long in the company of Graham Norton and "The Lord" as they search for the next West End leading lady. Like "Strictly" the show has decided to show its results on Sunday, rather than Saturday, but I wish they hadn't as it's so much better when it all takes place on the one night. Of the would-be leading ladies Jodie from Blackpool has so far had our vote - she has bags of personality, can belt out a tune and has a smile and laugh that could light up the Golden Mile.
This Saturday sees the return of David Tennant's "Dr". We've already been promised the appearance of three assistants - Rose Tyler, Martha Jones and Donna Noble - and, according to what I've been reading this week, I need to start paying close attention to all the action, the scenes, the words to see if I can pick up on the seeds that are sown for the season's climax. We'll just have to see whether I succeed in my quest.
And just so that you don't think I spend all my spare time telly-watching, we have decided this year to venture back into the world of live theatre. So far we've booked tickets to see the touring production of "Joseph" on its Blackpool leg. The show stars some of the "almost Josephs" from the "Any Dream Will Do" series and in particular has the Cox's favourite - Craig Chalmers in the lead role.
For a more grown-up outing we're heading to Stratford in the late summer to see David Tennant in "Hamlet". The last time we went to the home of Shakespeare was in the "days before children" and because we could we decided on the spur of the moment to pay £4 to stand for hours watching Kenneth Brannagh play the part, this time we are paying a lot more to see sit down and see the "Dr" do his bit.
Published Date:
03/04/2008
Modified Date:
28/05/2008
It was a dream come true!
I need pinching.
I can't actually believe that I have seen the "Strictly" experience first hand.
For the record my weekend visit to Manchester for my much anticpated date with "Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour" was fantastic!
As I settled myself into my seat high in the MEN Arena, I could hardly believe my eyes. Despite a very last minute booking our seats were fanastically located - up in the gods but looking right down the dance floor.
After a short, but sweet warm up it was on to the main event of the day as the lights dimmed, the familiar theme tune played and we were introduced to the dancers.
For the next couple of hours I was entranced - it was just like it is on the TV.
Each couple - to live music provided by the real life "Strictly" singers - danced a ballroom number followed after the interval by their Latin routines.
In between times we were also treated to a group Vienesse waltz, a professionals Latin medley, a group "Dirty Dancing" tribute, as well as dances from James and Ola Jordan and one of the highlights of the afternoon - Vincent and Flavia's amazing Argentine Tango.
First on the floor was series three champion cricketer Darren Gough with Lilia Kopylova, then followed Denise Lewis and Matthew Cutler, and, in no particular, order - Zoe Ball and Ian Waite, Letitia Dean and Darren Bennett, Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace, Louisa Lytton and Vincent Simone, James Martin and Camilla Dallerup and Christopher Parker and his professional partner Nicole Cutler. What more could you ask?
As all "Strictly" fans know since it started five series' ago the programme has been faithful to its format - and the live show was no different, complete with clips of the couples in training, the judges' gold paddles, etc. It was as slick and professional a production as I'd hoped.
The whole thing was just fantastic, from the first second to the last. The costumes were dazzling, the live music great, there was plenty of humour, but best of all were the dances.
What I appreciated more from seeing the show live was the amazing intricacy of the footwork and the speed at which the dancers cover the floor - even in the slower numbers. As the audience was reminded by head judge Len - what we tend to forget is that these celebrities are not dancers, but you'd never know.
Denise Lewis' danced an unbeliveably fast quickstep, Zoe Ball's tango and samba were amazing, and Darren Gough performed his famous paso doble. I even thought Christopher Parker was great - admittedly he can't dance but all credit to him for continuing to go out there and try.
Seeing the show has made me even more of a "Strictly" fan than I was before.
Now not only do I have my annual to look through until the start of series six, but also my very own programme too!!
Published Date:
04/02/2008
Modified Date:
05/02/2008
Strictly Live!
I can't believe it - I've watched the show, read the books and now am about to go and see "Strictly Live"!
Think of it - that theme tune, some of my favourtie celebrities, the glitz and glamour of the professionals, the dances and Craig, Arlene and Len - I am in heaven.
I saw the Manchester show advertised some months ago, but only decided a few weeks ago to see if tickets were still available and luckily for me they were and now this weekend, I will be heading for the bright lights of the big city and my dream day out.
Some of my colleagues are bemused at my excitement and even my husband is in despair as I am more thrilled about the impeding adventure than my four-year-old daughter who will be joining me on my journey
But, will the show live up to my expectations?
I certainly hope so.
Surely with all the key ingredients included in the live show it can't go wrong.
So, the countdown is on, just four days to go until "dut, dut, dut, dut , dut, daa, dut, dut, dut, dut, daa...."
Published Date:
30/01/2008
Modified Date:
30/01/2008
The right dancer won!
HURRAY - despite my earlier prediction that Gethin would be crowned as this year's "Strictly" champion, Alesha actually deserved the title and I am glad she won.
She has been consistent since dance one and in all the clips we have been shown throughout this series of "Strictly" she has come across as a genuinely nice person with a great sense of fun.
After the semi-finals, I was disappointed that Gethin had not get through as he had been great and did dance a powerful Argentine tango. However I will admit that Matt did pull it out of the bag with an amazing waltz and it would have been a disaster if his tango had been anything other than fantastic as his partner is world champion!
Last Sunday's dance off then gave us our two finalists - Matt and Alesha.
It was with anticipation that the Cox clan then took their seats for Saturday's show down.
We decided to let the youngest two decide who we should vote for and at the end of part one, their decision was unanimous. For the sake of fairness the two older members of the team then decided to add their own vote - and as a result Alesha got another two votes.
Being six and four, the youngest two were then dispatched to bed enabling us to watch the final show dances in peace without their constant commentary and comment which had previously added to the atmosphere (not!).
I loved both show dances, the music was great, the lifts and spins daring and we both agreed they were better than previous finals.
After the Spice Girls had done their bit, we sat and waited - would our votes have helped?
Following the usual nail biting dramatic pause, we felt justified when Alesha was crowned the queen of the ballroom, as we punched the air and clapped along with those in the studio (I just hope no one saw us!)
Ten hours later, we had to feign suprise when the other Cox children came bounding in to tell us who had won!
Roll on series six - I for one can't wait!
P.S. I would just like to say thank you to Father Christmas for making sure I got a copy of the official Strictly Come Dancing annual 2008!
Published Date:
24/12/2007
Modified Date:
27/12/2007
Strictly not right!
WRONG! Wrong! Wrong!
Saturday/Sunday’s “Strictly” results were just not right – or so I thought anyway!
Tell me why Matt deserved not a second, but a third chance in favour of Letitia who has put her heart and soul into the last fortnight?
And while I am no "proper" dance expert and definitely no judge, even I could see that Matt had completely lost the plot on Saturday night.
We are now in week 11 of the competition - the semi final is just days away. I appreciate that these dancers are celebrities, but surely to forget your moves, not once but twice is the worst possible thing to do in a dance competition?
As Arlene said on Monday’s “It Takes Two” people were voting to save Matt’s feelings not because he was, on this occasion anyway, the best dancer.
With Gethin getting better almost by the hour and the fact that Alesha ended up in the dance off (what was that all about - she has been by far the best dancer of the entire series!) – and with Matt now clinging on to secure a place in Saturday’s semi-final, I think I need to revise my final predictions.
It now seems certain that Gethin will win.
He has improved and he is fab, he looks like he loves it and we love that he loves it! And obviously after Sunday night showed Alesha is just not getting the votes a. because she’s not been on a “journey” and b. because she’s a female.
All things being equal Matt should bow out this weekend leaving the two consistently best to battle it out in the final.
The other half (Mr C) predicts an all male final - and has declared if that is the case he claims he will be boycotting the tv.
Who is right remains to be seen!
Published Date:
12/12/2007
Modified Date:
12/12/2007
All resistance gone...
We finally succumbed on Saturday night.
After weeks of waiting we could hold back no longer - but who would win our votes?
It was a difficult decision, with almost too many good dancers to choose from.
In the end we had a three way split.
I wanted the Welsh dragon and the other half the lovely Letitia, while we both agreed that Alesha was by far the best.
So in the end we decided we might as well cast a vote for all three - no harm done, we'd each had our say and Children in Need got a bit of extra cash too - a good result all round.
When it came to Sunday's results show, we thought for once that the judges and the public had got it absolutely right. Kelly & John had been the worst dancers and Kelly did deserve a second chance.
Now, with just a few weeks to go, dare I put forward my prediction for the "Strictly" final three?
If everyone comes to their senses and starts voting for the best dancers, which they now seem to be doing - Kenny should be next to go, followed by Letitia, leaving Gethin, Matt, Kelly and Alesha battling it out for the top three places.
All things then being equal, Matt, Kelly and Alesha deserve to be in the final - but who will come out on top?
I daren't say as I always seem to get it wrong, we'll just have to "Keeeeeeeep Watching!"
Published Date:
28/11/2007
Modified Date:
28/11/2007