Snippets: The Voice; Britain' Got Talent

The live shows begin tonight and the songs being sung by Will and Tom's team have been revealed. An initial read through shows a huge variety - and none of the 'usual' tracks you get over and over again in certain other shows!

Will's Team: 

Joelle Moses - I'm Going Down (Mary J Blige)

Sophie Griffin - Titanium (David Guetta feat. Sia)

Jaz Ellington - At Last (Etta James)

Frances Wood - Ain't Nobody (Rufus & Chaka Khan)

Tyler James - Higher Love (James Vincent McMorrow)

Tom's Team:

Sam Buttery - A Little Respect (Erasure)

Matt & Sueleen - Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac)

Leanne Mitchell - Who Knew (Pink)

Asam Isaac - All My Life (Foo Fighters)

Ruth Brown - Get Here (Oleta Adams)

The coaches will perform U2's Beautiful Day. 

Here for you, a nice interview with Delectable Danny.

Over on the other side last week, I caught the audition of Loveable Rogues. I enjoyed the cheekiness of it, see what you think:

Snippets: Strictly Come Dancing; Dancing on Ice; The Voice; Britain's Got Talent

Rival shows, The Voice and Britain's Got Talent are set to air at the end of March, reports Unreality TV.

The Voice is apparently scheduled for the 24th, with BGT making its 2012 debut the week after, on the 31st. The Battle for Saturday Night Viewers will then commence! And we'll become increasingly bored with the 'insiders' and 'close sources' quotes ...

Karen Bruce is the latest, sensible name to be linked with the vacant role of Strictly Come Dancing judge. The celebrated choreographer was featured in So You Think You Can Dance and is well known and liked by the professional dancers. Not being known by the wider public is surely not a problem - who knew Bruno, Craig and Len before the show began? And Arlene was probably only known to those of us who remembered Hot Gossip! Word is, Karen has screen tested very well and isn't afraid to vice her opinion - think Katarina Witt but without any chance of being misunderstood: If Karen says you're a bit s**t, you probably are!

Matt Evers could well be sporting the zombie look tonight, after been slashed by Jorgie Porter's blade during rehearsal yesterday and rushed to hospital for stitches in a gash to his forehead.

Sticking with Dancing on Ice, the tabloids are reporting that Karen Barber has a massive problem with Katarina Witt. Apparently, according to a 'source close to the show', the new judge is making "scathing comments and cruel remarks" to the contestants and Karen, obviously, wants to defend her charges. Now, I don't know about you, but I actually watch the show and I've yet to hear anything from Katarina that isn't just downright honest when it comes to critiquing their skating. It might be said less delicately than someone whose first language is English, but I certainly wouldn't consider anything she's said to be cruel. If the celebrities think she's being scathing (and I think it's the usual tabloid nonsense) they really need to get out in the real world more.

Britain's Got Talent; some gossip.

American actress Carmen Elektra is standing in for Amanda Holden on the Britain's Got Talent panel, while the British judge recovers from the traumatic birth of her second child recently.

Sadly, it appears there are idiots in the audience booing her - because she isn't Amanda! Jeez - what's with these people? Don't take it personally, Carmen, they take their reality TV a little, no far, too seriously and they'd probably do it to anyone.

Nice to hear Alesha is very much her own person and not overawed by The Boss!

Dancing on Ice Twist!

The promised twist alluded to by Philip has been announced - a series of head to head performances will take place on Sunday, with the judges choosing which of each pairing will be safe from elimination!

The producers have matched the contestants with their nearest competitors from Movie Week's leaderboard - which means Jorgatt versus Mattina! I don't envy the judges on that one!

At the bottom end, it's Cookey versus Semmy, which, if they play to Chemmy's strengths this week, should see her through without much trouble. Elsewhere though, it's closer than close, with Romark versus Vindy, Dannifer against Sebianne and Andi taking on Mattene. Toughie.

In other news, Alesha is her normal down to earth self on the red carpet and Ola talks about life as she knows it.

Move It 2012

The UK's biggest dance exhibition/festival, Move It, the show for dancers, teachers, students and enthusiasts, will be held at Olympia from March 9th to 11th.

With 20,000 dancers taking part over three days across three stages, this amazing spectacle has performances from Flawless and the English National Ballet - together, fusing streetdance and ballet; Got To Dance's Akai, Alleviate and Chris & Wes; Britain's Got Talent stars James Hobley and Twist & Pulse and many more, including performances from the best performing arts colleges and streetdance crews.

The Big Dance Interview Sofa returns, with ex-Strictly Come Dancing champions Darren Bennett (with Jill "The Halfpenny", Series 2) and Lilia Kopylova (Darren Gough, Series 3) guests at 12.30pm on the Sunday.

There's a Dance Teachers' Convention, as well as the chance to grab a bargain in the leg warmer department and take part in a variety of different classes, so check out the website today to book your tickets.

Alesha Leaves Strictly Come Dancing for Britain's Got Talent

After three years judging on Strictly Come Dancing, former winner Alesha Dixon has left the show for ITV's Britain's Got Talent.

With Simon Cowell returning to the ITV production and the demographic being more in tune with her preferred audience - plus a reported £350,000 wage, music has won out over dancing as Alesha looks to focus on her singing career in 2012. David Walliams and Amanda Holden will complete the four judge panel. There were rumours last year that Alesha would replace Cheryl on the X-Factor - one year too soon and a different show but hey, they were almost there!

Alesha said: "Music is my great passion and the reason for the other incredible opportunities that have come my way and I am looking forward to getting back into the studio and focusing on making a new record in 2012.


"After three incredible years on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel I have decided that it is time to move on. Strictly Come Dancing will always hold a special place in my heart as it has been such an amazing experience, both as a winning competitor and as a judge. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved in the show, the production team, my fellow judges, and a very special thank you to the fans for their support."

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "Alesha has had three very successful series and we wish her well for the future. The BBC gave her a fantastic opportunity and she has really grown her career and she is now off for a different challenge. We are now looking forward to announcing our new panel in due course."

I hope that 'new' panel doesn't mean entirely new! I loved the dynamic between Alesha and Bruno and they'll be hard pressed to re-produce that with someone else. Series 8 winner Kara Tointon and Series 2 winner, Jill Halfpenny have been suggested, along with retired ballerina and former guest judge, Darcey Bussell, and Dirty Dancing's Jennifer Grey, also a guest judge. The favourite will undoubtedly be the fabulous Karen Hardy and don't discount a return for Arlene either. There's no new series of So You Think You Can Dance and I don't think either she or the Beeb have ever denied the door would always be open - as long as she can keep a lid on those awful alliterative appraisals and avoid calling anyone a dancing pig, she'll be welcomed back. I know Alesha wasn't universally liked (as a judge) but at least she was encouraging and positive. Of the 2 or 3 occasions when she wasn't, she was pretty much saying aloud what everyone else was thinking! My main hope is that the Beeb don't try to fix something that is so clearly NOT broken - that will be a huge mistake. One replacement we can cope with, wholesale changes for change's sake are very unpopular!

Photo: Virginmedia.com

Snippets: So You Think You Can Dance; National Television Awards

Nigel Lythgoe has confirmed on Twitter that the new US series will not have a separate results show like before - let's hope this doesn't signal the beginning of the end of the series in the US. I still can't believe they axed it here, there's definitely an audience for it, even if not on prime time Beeb 1 on a Saturday.

The National Television Awards shortlist has been released and it's the usual suspects against each other for  Best Talent Show: Strictly Come Dancing; X-Factor; Dancing on Ice; Britain's Got Talent. It's a no-brainer this year isn't it - got to be Strictly?

Britain's Got Talent Rigged!!??? *Gasps*

Altough, I wouldn't say it's entirely rigged, just much more of a production than even I thought! I always knew that judges on this and X-Factor didn't actually see all those acts (obviously, come on - those queues!) but I never realised acts were headhunted and bypassed the auditions, even those like the burping man last year (presumably, those novelty 'acts' are there just to give the judges ammunition). I wonder how much influence Ant and Dec have in that - isn't it their production company that run all their shows? It won't stop me enjoying it but I can imagine the acts who queue in good faith must feel a bit hard done by.

New Judges for Britain's Got Talent

David Hasselhoff (yes, really!) and Michael McIntyre will join Amanda Holden on the judging panel, with Simon Cowell jumping in on the live shows too. Let's hope that David resists the temptation to take to the stage for the final - he's been an American Got Talent judge for a while now, it has happened apparently! Michael I'm banking on to make all the usual cliches seem hilarious (it's the way you tell 'em!). Just realised I hadn't mentioned who they replaced ... bye Piers.

Snippets: Don't Stop Believing; Britain's Got Talent

True Dynamix impressed the organisers of the World Streetdance Championships enough to be invited to perform at the championships next week! Well done!

Twist and Pulse, Paul Burling and Stavros Flatley are headlining the For One Night Only show in Torbay.

Snippets: Flawless; So You Think You Can Dance

Britain's Got Talent finalists and Streetdance 3D stars, Flawless, are appearing at this year's Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford this month, on Sunday 18th July. The show is held each year to support the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and is staging special tributes this year to mark 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Trav's rundown of this week's So You Think You Can Dance US style - results to follow!

Snippets: Spelbound, Mary Murphy, Camilla Dallerup, Samba Baby,

Wales OnLine talk to Spelbound... interview with Mary Murphy of the US version of So You Think You Can Dance ... interview with Camilla Dallerup ...

The future is bright, the future is ... am I the only one concerned that a spotter should be round the other side of the table? He's only a tot after all!

baby doing the samba in brazil @ Yahoo! Video

Britain's Got Talent: The Final!

Here we go then, let's hope they all perform to their best ...

Twist and Pulse drop in with a bit of suspended animation - I love these guys, they're clever and funny, entertaining and inventive - the Simpsons and belly dancing the inspiration tonight!

Liam McNally sings Danny Boy again, a bit shaky, nice kid, but I don't think he's as vocally gifted as they're making out - indulging because of his age, I think.

Paul Burling is entertaining and fun, I recognised all of the many many characters. Singing an anthemic pop song in their own voices a cracking way to present them. Well done!

Christopher Stone sings Somewhere. It's simple, measured, emotive, lovely tone. Beautiful, a real pleasure.

Tina and Chandi always bring a smile to my face, the 'teardrops' moment was sweet - should've incorporated some of the ballet from the first audition though.

Connected sing What About Now full of confidence, great song choice, much better vocally than before, Harry I thought did very well. Simon is right that they need to be different - when they're Out There - but for this show they did the right thing.

Kieran Gaffney with another excellent music choice - watch him go - can he keep up this pace? Didn't need the distraction of the dancers. Wow - what a performer! Awesome drumming. And it was his own idea to float the drumkit. Impressive.

Tobias Mead is lowered, head first for an inventive and creative routine mostly done backwards, high energy. He's very pretty with make up.

Janey Cutler sang with No Regrets, lovely lady, but unfortunately completely out of time with the music. Methinks there's some definite indulgence with regard to age going on.

And finally, the act I've been waiting for, Spelbound. The opening wins it hands down, stunning! How shocked were the judges, lol! Spelbound by name, spellbinding by nature. Incredible act, they would so grace the Royal Variety Show and the opening of the Olympics. One I could watch again and again, so much going on but at a pace you can take it all in. Fantastic.

Well, I think I've made it clear who I like best - fingers crossed you lot agree! As for runners up, any two from Kieran, Paul, Twist and Pulse, Tobias and Christopher. But Spelbound to me are clear winners.

Give or take half an hour later and our final three are: Kieran, Twist & Pulse and Spelbound!

And the Britian's Got Talent 2010 winner is/are: Spelbound! Yay!

Britain's Got Talent Semi Final 5

As I said, bit late tonight and out of order again! I did catch some of them, the first was Alesia Vazmitzel, the pole dancer. She's impressive, incredibly strong and artistic - but once you've seen it, you've seen it so it won't have a wow factor again.

Myztikal - will they get it right? And how cute is that little kid? A good mix, singing much better, although I was a bit concerned with the Beyonce, too many musical changes but some good stuff going on.

Dance Flavourz and you'd think I'd love this, but no. Same move all the way through, still don't know what those backward walky thingies are called - ronde? Singing not that good, Bollywood not that good. Disappointing - should have gone for big Latin party, played to their strengths. Oh, hang on though, they played to their strengths where Piers was concerned ...

Kieran Gaffney was brilliant, loved it. Great music choice, raw talent, you could fee the energy.

The Chippendoubles tried manfully to come up with a fresh idea and almost pulled it off, but without that element of surprise it was always going to be tough. It wasn't a bad way to spend a couple of minutes.

Liam McNally warbles his way through You Raise Me Up and I found it a little too high and warbly. I'm being very picky this year. Emotional though and a funny little guy!

A3 were a bit raggedy in places, but one of my favourites dance acts so far, full of fun and energy, bright and cheery - dunno what Piers is on, much preferred these to the previous two.

Father and Son sing Wind Beneath My Wings and my nine year old reviewed for me when I was called away, came back to find this on the notepad: rubbish, to cheesy, old fashin, way over top. And I wondered why he kept grabbing his throat and going "rrrrrrrrrrrr" now I know. Son should go it alone I reckon. Ah, my son just copied the judges ...

Kieron the winner I would say - just waiting for the result vid - and yes, it is. Liam and A3 in front of the judges, Liam joins Kieron in the final. So there we have it, all ten finalists decided, roll on tomorrow.

Britain's Got Talent Semi Final 4

Bit late tonight, my apologies, so I'm catching up on the website! In a show loaded with dance acts, Twist and Pulse the only ones I could say I'm looking forward to ...

So first out Ice and they're pretty tight actually, like the use of the canes, but again no big tricks, a good effort though for a school of dance.

Tyler Patterson does what he does and yes, for his age, compared to most kids, he's very good. But I thought his timing left a lot to be desired at the beginning, it was better in the latter half but doesn't finish moves the way we normally see in hip-hop or streetdancing. Overall, nowhere near the standards set by Akai, Sampson and Davis.

Mark James. I fast forwarded. No, I just didn't bother. Why would I? When will these people - and the judges who put them through - realise that these sort of acts are never going to work unless they can actually sing?

Twist and Pulse didn't disappoint, I love the humour they put into their routine, very creative, the technical moves with the well mixed music choices. Great fun and brilliantly done.

The Fusion have to follow that (for me, anyway - website, remember) the fact I still have to sit through adverts is really beginning to wind me up ... I liked the opening and was expecting them to burst into the Pirates of the Caribbean theme for a dance routine with a difference, it showed creative promise but just didn't go anywhere.

Janey Cutler could be Shirley Bassey in thirty years time, I personally don't like her voice but the audience are going wild and she's funny. What is Piers on? Best of the week? She may have big lungs but come on.

Emille Harris was dreadful - out of tune, flat, put it down to nerves, poor bloke. And singing a song of his own that no-one knows. So he might have been in tune but I wouldn't know. Bit unfair to buzz, considering some of the crud they've not.

And now for something completely different, Shaolin were dynamic and energetic and the closest type of act to Spelbound - they can hold the stage, it's the sort of show act you see on a variety show. But can't see them bringing anything new to the final.

So that's it - Twist and Pusle, as I expected, are my pick of the night and it's hard to see past the build up around Janey and that's exactly how it ends up: Janey wins the public vote; Twist and Pulse get the nod over the Fusion. I still maintain Spelbound FTW.

Britain's Got Talent Semi Final 3

It's looking a better line up tonight, thankfully - Peridot I know will impress, it's up to the others to beat them as far as I'm concerned. Why this huge welcome for the judges, anyone would think it's their show ...

Starburst out first, another big dance group and it doesn't always work ... love that they'll spend the prize on new toilets, now that's proper prioritising. Cute and bright as a packet of Smarties, a lot of jumping up and down on the spot but great fun.

Chloe Higginbottom. I never got the appeal first time around I'm afraid, she's only ten, singing Vera Lyn and she has got an older voice. That makes her different, but not neccessarily listenable. Much preferred her tone in this, but ... some strange pronunciation going on there. Morn River?

Philip Grimmer, Madonna impersonator. Please - the next big thing? What are these people on? Oh, WOW -fantastic, I lost count of how many gorgeous, sexy, topless male dancers there were on stage. Phillip who?

Impressionist Paul Burling - proper good old fashioned fun with a couple of laugh out loud moments, good luck to him tonight. "Good luck Paul" shouts a deep, manly voice from the audience. "Thanks, mum," he quips, quick as, lol.

The Arrangement - now, bizarrely, I liked this lot's audition but caught between comedy and seriousness may be their undoing - having a vocalist who's not actually that good! He's started well, with Bad Romance, now he's rapping and he's improved! Fight For Our Love now, opera stylee, lol. Big finish coming up - JLS, this is brilliant - they've really rehearsed, it's polished, I Have A Dream next and he held the stage alone, the band all around the edges. Really, really well done!

The dancing leprechaun, Jimmy Forde - Simon says this is what you get for letting Louis on the panel! Er, forgot to watch him, too busy trying to do it meself, begorrah ... I'm sure he was quite sweet in his own way.

Ah, now, this makes it a tougher evening - Christopher Stone impressed me before, has a lovely tone to his voice. Singing The Impossible Dream - and how wonderful to hear a BGT contestant sing a song the way it should be sung (and I don't even like that song). Great finish, gave it everything there, definitely relaxed, channelling the nerves, did everything a performance coach would have asked of him.

And finally, a proper dance group! Peridot show the other troupes the way, but could lose out if the audience do decide that Streetdancers have had their fair share of success on BGT. As the lad said, movement, technique, slick, tight, easily the best dance troupe so far - but, needed something more uptempo, funky and musical for the audience at large to get it. Unfortunately, I have to agree with both Piers and Amanda. May have blown it - will be top four and it will be close.

The other three will be Christopher, Paul and The Arrangement I think, perm any two from them. Much tighter than last night, some real choice! Back later x

Quick recap while I amend some spellings ... Pixie Lott with Turn It Up. She's live, I do believe - one of my favourite albums this year.

And the first act through ... Paul Burling - YAY - local boy, see, not that I'm biased! Tough choice coming up though between ... Christopher Stone and Peridot. Actually, for the judges it's not a tough choice at all - I can't see them putting Peridot through over Christopher. Only nine minutes to find out though ... Piers goes for Christopher, Amanda strings it out for crying out loud - unless you're going to completely change your mind on how you rated them tonight, you daft bint - Simon said he would go for Peridot though. Only two shows left, I'm out both nights, so will be a late blog. TTFN x

Britain's Got Talent Semi Final 2

And after tonight's show I'm asking myself: Have we? Really? Hm ...

Taboo were bright and cheery but we've seen it all before, individually no-one stood out, nothing remotely spectacular, could've been in the village hall, music mix uninspiring.

Neil Fullard with That's Life, any Rat Pack song would do the trick. He's holding his nerve and the notes, I didn't find it particularly musical but a notch above club singer.

The Ruby Girls do the hair thing from #Glee and not a lot else. There's a niche in a nightclub somewhere.

Connected do it for themselves tonight and look the part, but they're off key in some places, with a couple of the lads showing their weaknesses. Confident performers all of them though, potential for the future.

Kev Orkian is a cheeky chappie with a smoochy song for Amanda and a bit of boogie woogie for the boys. I've actually heard worse - at least he's in tune. But not right for this show, Simon a bit harsh I thought.

Michael Fayombo Jnr and Snr, Michael Jackson impersonators. Disappointing. Junior stringing a pile of signatures moves together at the beginning - out of time; Senior ran out of steam, got sloppy at the end. No creativity, no imagination. Where's Animaineaxs?

Nothing impressing me so far, can you tell? Tina and Chandi next and this is the only one that made me genuinely smile tonight. Sweetly enjoyable, so much warmth. Chandi is lovely. They'll go straight through on the public vote, I'm sure of that.

Maxxie Oliver. They normally leave the best till last but for some reason they changed their minds tonight. That, or even the production team were really struggling. If he could sing he might have the makings of a decent drag act. But he can't, so *BBBUUUZZZ*

Is Alicia Keys going on manoevres after the show? She's wearing a magazine of ammunition around her shoulders.

I don't think I've ever been so disinterested in an outcome. As I thought, Tina and Chandi make it through - I think it'll be Connected and Neil in front of the judges and it is, with Connected getting the nod. I don't think Spelbound need be too worried.

Britain's Got Talent Semi Final 1

I was thinking there weren't many good acts, but there's a good four or five in this show that may easily have gone through in another - Spellbound the standouts, Tobias Mead, Olivia Archbold, Threebee, Josh Barry. But we'll see.

Simon reckons he'll be using the buzzer a lot ... I might too.

First out: Bollywood dancers Threebee: full of energy, nice Bollywood slant on the Bee Gees, a good mix of different styles, not as tight as maybe it should be - not sure it wil be enough but too soon to tell, Piers "you may have just danced into the final"!

Olivia Archbold next and I loved the song she chose last time - let's hope she doesn't go karaoke tonight. Ooh, Simon just said that! And it's a song not many people know - no, I don't know it but it's a confident performance, although her voice isn't as sweet as the first time round. She's very choked (it's a Kate Winslet song?) and I think that maybe affected her. Ah, the key change, singing from her chest as Simon and Amanda said. No, I preferred the audition performance.

Kevin Cruise *BBBBBBUUUUUZZZZZZZZ* Dear God Almighty, that took me back to holiday camps and not in a good way. And what was all that with the thrusting? Urgh. Amanda needs a shrink.

Stevie Starr: Now Amanda's paying the price, ha ha! If he does pull this off, I will be quite impressed. Although how do we know he didn't have that one prepared earlier? And still just another trick at the end of the day, has to be. See, brought up a phone he prepared earlier. Not something I relish seeing again.

Tobias Mead going for risky, something we haven't seen before. Great timing, super - loving the work with the ball, however that was done, very different, threw in a bit of pole dancing - excellent job, well done Tobias. Creative and inspired, says Piers. Outstanding, says Simon. My vote so far.

Sean Sheehan, a wood chopper? The sweat could make the chopper slip out of his hand and head for the judges. No worries, Amanda's got it covered ... *BBBBUUUUZZZZ* For God's sake buzz Piers, before he takes his hand off.

Josh Barry - again, song choice will be crucial and oh, he's gone for Neyo's Closer, brave, but not carrying it off, unfortunately. Picked it up a bit in the chorus, good dance moves, but vocally weak overall. Shame. Amanda's deaf as well as mad.

Spellbound - will have to go some to top their first performance - OMG - they just did, completely fantastic - the two girls at the front near the end, how on earth did they pull off that move. Unbelievable. Love the fire and ice theme too! It truly is spellbinding. Could we imagine you gracing the Royal Variety Show? Damn right! Sorry Tobias - have to make sure one of you makes it and trust the judges to put you through.

I'm watching Glee now, results will have to wait! So picking them up from Twitter - where would we be without it - Spelbound straight through, Tobias and Olivia up in front of the judges, Tobias goes through! But I missed Diversity, which is a bummer, so I'm off to hunt them down on youtube or the BGT website. Caio. Ok, found it on the BGT website - enjoy it again!