Snippets: The Voice; Nigel Lythgoe; Dancing on Ice; Strictly Come Dancing.

West End star, Kerry Ellis, didn't make it through in The Voice, which does seem incredible until you think about what they're looking for - West End vocalists are a very different breed to pop singers or recording artists.  I remember the first time I heard Joe McElderry on X-Factor - amazing vocal but I thought, he's not a pop star, he's a musical theatre star - and what's the only album so far? Classics. I'm sure Kerry will continue to wow audiences in theatre land and probably have a much longer career than anyone from The Voice will. But I'm looking forward to seeing the show more than ever now, if that's the calibre of vocal they can afford to let go!

A chat with Nigel Lythgoe ... and a snippet of Sebastien Foucan and exciting news from Dancing on Ice, as it seems that the four Olympic champions, Robin Cousins, Katarina  Witt and Torvill & Dean are all going to perform together on ice this series!

The planned Ubisoft video game of Strictly Come Dancing has been pulled, as BBC bosses fear it may not meet our expectations -  a new one is being planned and more details will be announced shortly.

Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two - Sneak Previews

Straight in with Rorin on the sofa but why are we seeing their waltz training? Rory (making an impression) says the salsa is a different animal and he's making Erin (shalsha shizzler) knobbly-kneed (her words) with his Sean Connery impression and cracked us all up with his Julian Clary "he tweeted to say it lacks light and shade" - spot on! They're dancing to Matt and Flavia's song, Vehicle - makes you wonder if they are running out, Foxy! He thinks he needs hip replacement - his replaced with Artem's. Erin's had two inches removed from his waistline! He reckons she should be available on the NHS: patience, good sense of humour, clean driving licence, cleaning, baby sittings ...

Dishing on the dirty dancer - his dream partner is Victoria Beckham - he's the nicest, sweetest pro - wears great vests - biggest guns - it's obviously Robin *fast forwards* yes, it is!

Robbiola on the sofa and Robbie (Blonde Beauty) was embarrassed by Craig's comments last weeks. Ola (Ola- la) says criticism doesn't get easier, you just get on with it. And she's never had a partner with better hair and teeth than her! They're dancing to Ain't That A Kick in the Head.

Alesha should have been on the show but she's unwell so there's a birthday montage from the pro dancers and a pop-up-from-a-box: Russell has done her a full chart!

Maudlin videos of why they don't want to go home and then it's down to Pashee on the studio floor, shaking a lot, much harder than she thought. Trying to teach Pasha some Manchester lingo, like 'daft'! Or 'darft' as Zoe says. It's Sleeping Beauty Strictly Style and her yawning's making me yawn! But their song choice is fab-u-lous: Higher - and the armography looks amazing!

End credits - Jaws theme. Feather Boa Contstrictor. Lots of mugging to camera! But I'm not happy there's no Friday Panel!

In other news: Darren Gough's 10-point plan on how to win the Strictly Glitter Ball; Nigel Lythgoe and Debbie Allen to co-host US art network Ovation's the Battle of the Nutcrackers!

Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two: Dancing debrief!

We've Aleames, Robinita, Danya and Karen Hardy's Choreography Corner! Like the Singing Corner (remember that?) only with more sequins!

And a wardrobe malfunction, as Zoe's bangle catches her sparkly jumper, unravels and tips her into Aleames' laps*; they're first on the sofa. *almost

Alex (Welsh One-der) was embarrassed with the sexy solo - since her dad was right there! James (Dancer Defender) says Craig was too harsh, no-one was being eliminated, he could've been more encouraging; he knocked some of the contestants for six and now they all have to deal with the confidence issues. Foxtrot next and there's already improvement - and they have a prop *eek*!

Choreography Corner #1 - Friday: Artolly - Artem the king - dynamic - interacting - speed changes - but Holly - eyes UP! Brendulu - meltdown tv - car crash - dancing is a leveller - must deliver the steps! Audalie - clever Nat - 3 days training - quite magical - swishes - turns - needs steps! Robbiola - Leading - brings her in - takes her down - in a partnership it's all about the woman, Ola will feel like a million dollars - he's got time - he's fabulous - great body too! Russia - the John Travolta days - if he does panto all the way through, we'll get bored - make him dance! Robinita - quintessential waltz - encases - presents - makes her feel like a lady.

Danya on the sofa and Dan (Danny Long Legs) is confused by the comments, some harsh, some not. Katya (Kat-ya if you can) says he WILL be hitting great lines. Passionate partners - if I yell at you, it's because I love you! Salsa next, looking good, he may be a Latin man and he's going for it 100%! That's what I want to hear!

Introducing Pasha, the newbie. Women want him, men want to be him, 'cept the professionals, who hate him. But not really ;)

Choreography Corner #2 - Saturday: Pashee - ending was too much - but no-one expected her to turn into a lady - less is more next time! Antonollio - shame - she's a prop herself, nothing else needed - got to come out with a rocket Salsa routine next week; Jastina - double whammys - yes, I'm loving this; yes I'm good - great dancing - great choreography - committed; Harriona - lack of hip action - so talented - great things going on - partnering - arms; Rorin - musicality - delivery - classic theatre work; Vinwina - hip action and having a good time!

Robinita on the sofa, general consensus is they're one of the best pairings ever. Both very emotional, Robin (Robin reliant) is welling up again. Anita (Wife of Brian) says it's their shared sense of humour. There may be a Queen tune in their repertoire, possibly! He can be happy or unhappy bobby, but she just calls him squirrel - he can get a lot of grapes in his mouth. Salsa next - it's insane, fast, fantastic - credits are rolling!

In other news - Nigel Lythgoe will be awarded the honorary International Emmy Founders Award at the ceremony on November 21st. And Dancing on Ice stars, Dan, Katie and Stuart turned out for the BIDCA charity ball.

Gong for Nigel; Strictly in 3D; X-Factor marathons.

So You Think You Can Dance supremo, Nigel Lythgoe, will receive the Founders Award at the 2011 Emmys.

The Strictly Come Dancing Final from the Tower Ballroom will be in 3D ... if you're watching the HD channel. And as previously reported, a Children in Need Special will come from Wembley Arena.

Big changes in both X-Factor and Strictly? Er, well X-Factor is now going to subject us to three hours of dreadful auditions apparently, and Strictly are having a double launch show!! *Whispers: They've done it the last two series* Who writes this stuff? Do they actually watch it?

X-Factor' biggest single change of course are the new judges: Gary Barlow, N-Dubz Tulisa and Kelly Rowland replacing Cheryl, Dannii and Simon. But we've still got Louis, so fear not, there's bound to be a 2011 Jedward/Wagner character as usual. *Said with a hint of sarcasm*

Snippets: So You Think You Can Dance, Nigel, Ashley,

Trav's Thoughts are in with the encore and the vids - if you didn't like Stephen King's 'It' you may prefer not to watch the musical version with Robert and Dominic! (But it's fab if you're not easily scared!)

Nigel Lythgoe is rejoining American Idol - and he doesn't want much, just Paul Abdul and maybe some J-LO!

Interview with the lovely Ashley Banjo.

So You Think You Can Dance: Rule Change No.3

Nigel has now tweeted that there will be no Top 20 in the American show this time round! *Gasps* (on behalf of our cousins across the pond - we only had a Top 14 anyway, so not so much a shock for us!) There's still more to come! He's such a tease, isn't he?

Snippets: Nigel and Len

The Examiner has turned their spotlight onto Len Goodman!

Nigel Lythgoe has tweeted Rule Change Number 2 for So You Think You Can Dance. Maybe he read yesterday's post, I dunno - but the partnerships will change every week! Which seemed logical, since there'll be an odd number every other week. I'm excited again already and this is for the American show; we have to wait another ten months!

Snippets: SYTYCD, DOI, SCD, DWTS,

Nigel Lythgoe is announcing changes to the format of So You Think You Can Dance this week - via Twitter! The new series in American will start soon, but presumably any tweak in the format will have a bearing on the next series over here, so I'll keep an eye on that! The first change is that only one dancer will be eliminated each week instead of a boy and a girl - so how that will work with regard to partnerships we can only wait and see. Hoping that we'll have a Top 20, it'd be good to see them mixed up every week - keep an eye on @dizzyfeet.

A nice exit interview with Mattiella, with Daniella promising to keep skating with Matt.

Ray Quinn is appearing in Grimsby in aid of the Big Red Heart Appeal, so get along there to support if you can.

*STOP PRESS* Major news story breaking - the ice dance finalists are wearing sparkly undergarments ... and sadly, Gary is the only one saying he won't give us a flash. Not fair, Mr. Lucy! Meanwhile, Kieron, bless him, is having a go back at Jason for calling him and Gary "pillocks". I might vote for the boys just to hack him off.

An Examiner spotlight article on the one and only *adopts Italian accent* Bruno Tonioli *waves arms around madly*

And finally, the April edition of Dancing in the UK is out now!

Snippets: SYTYCD, SCD, GTD, DOI

Nigel Lythgoe looks set to receive a philanthropy award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation.

Arlene Phillips is involved in bringing 'FlashDance - The Musical' to the West End's Shaftesbury Theatre in September!

Christopher Biggins will be taking part in the forthcoming Dancing on Ice Tour - judging, not skating!

Juke Box Juniors are in demand since their appearances on Got To Dance - and ambitious, too, quite rightly - they don't want to be the next Diversity, they want to be bigger than them!

Strictly Come Dancing has reached "burnout" - Nigel Lythgoe

So You Think You Can Dance supremo, Nigel Lythgoe has told The Guardian that Strictly has suffered "burnout".

"I think that in the UK once something's successful, it's wrung out like a sponge and gets overdone," said the 60-year-old (Sixty? Good grief, I'd no idea!) "There were too many episodes (agreed)... there's burnout. I imagine Strictly will go off air, and come back in 10 or 12 years." (Oh, jeez, I bloomin' well hope not!)

In respect of losing the battle for ratings, he continued: "I don't believe the poor ratings were because of the judges, I think it's that the stars weren't strong enough. It's always difficult, isn't it? You start to run out of celebrities that people are interested in. Or you pay them a fortune to go into the Big Brother house." (see 'A'List? 'Z'List? on Jaye's Jottings for my thoughts on that subject!)

I do agree with Nigel that the show is too long - the 14 week run and the two hour shows - a return to the original original format, including losing the dance-off at the quarter final stage would give it a boost, I think. And the show itself needs to keep moving, less of the VT's. It is hard work when it goes on and on, even more so when you're blogging it! On a plus note, it was a good move to let all the celebs have a stab at both Latin and Ballroom before leaving - the two night show the first two weeks worked very well. But go off air? The ratings would have to drop a lot more than they did! And it's looking like we may not have X-Factor up against it next year!

So You Think You Can Dance ... in short and Nigel.

If you read nothing else today, read this excellent interview with Nigel Lythgoe, by Gerard of Unreality TV. Properly down to the nitty gritty about the show and why it works.

And if you missed the show itself, here it is in Sixty Seconds! Keep up to date with all the gossip on the website or on Twitter @BBC_SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance (UK Stylee!)

The final fourteen have been announced and you can see their profiles here, with a mini clip of the choreography camp audition. Now, it may be that I'm still in Move Like MJ mode, but the Hip Hop dancers stood out for me, possibly because they were so different to the other 12!

Nigel Lythgoe says in that interview he wants to be reborn as 'Nurturing Nigel' - but he's failing miserably, judging by this VT! Did make me chuckle though. Check out the bad and the good auditions while you're there too - it's a testament to the standard we'll see, that those at the end didn't make it through.

So here's the link to the official SYTYCD site - you can also follow the official tweeter @BBC_SYTYCD. and/or join them on Facebook.

There was still a cricket connection in Strictly, even after Phil was out! Chris played cricket for Oxford and his batting figures rival those of Darren and Phil - and only a hundred hundreds or so below Mark!

Alesha is having an operation on her foot in the new year - just as well she turned down a chance to judge the tour!