Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Lilia Kopylova has taken a swipe at Ann Widdecombe for her lack of effort on the BBC One show. Kopylova, who was axed from the reality show earlier this year, backed judge Craig Revel Horwood's assessment of Widdecombe's recent samba performance, which he described as "overwhelmingly awful". Writing in her Reveal magazine blog, she said: "Ann Widdecombe is getting ridiculous now, isn't she? She didn’t even do anything! "The last couple of weeks at least (more)...
- 11/23/2010
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Lilia Kopylova has admitted that she was "inconsolable" after having her role reduced on Strictly Come Dancing. The 32-year-old Russian, who won the show in 2005 with Darren Gough, was one of the professional dancers offered a part in a new dance troupe rather than a celebrity partner. Kopylova turned down the dance troupe offer, announcing that she was leaving the BBC One reality series last month. Her husband Darren Bennett will remain on the programme. Speaking about her departure, she told The Mirror: "I was inconsolable. When I rang the BBC and told them I didn't want to take the new role on Strictly, I felt incredibly emotional. (more)...
- 8/11/2010
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Matthew Cutler and Lilia Kopylova have quit 'Strictly Come Dancing'. The dancers won't return to the ballroom dance show as permanent members when it comes back onto the BBC later this year, but may make occasional appearances as part of the professional troupe. Matt - who is leaving to focus on his the dance school he opened last year - will also choreograph a few of the group routines for the show. He said: ''I've absolutely loved my time on 'Strictly', and now is a good time to focus on developing new areas of my career. I'm excited about having more time to commit ..
- 7/23/2010
- Virgin Media - TV
Ian Waite and Darren Bennett will return to Strictly Come Dancing as part of this series’ new professional dance group, and will be joined by four new recruits – one male and three female – who will be confirmed as the series draws nearer.
Matthew Cutler won’t return as a permanent member of the dance group. Instead, he’s concentrating on a burgeoning choreographic and teaching career, plus managing his own dance school, which he opened last year. He will, however, return to choreograph some of the group numbers – and a few guest appearances aren’t ruled out.
Matt said: “I’ve absolutely loved my time on Strictly, and now is a good time to focus on developing new areas of my career. I’m excited about having more time to commit to new projects and, of course, still having a hand in Strictly without all the training!”
Lilia Kopylova will...
Matthew Cutler won’t return as a permanent member of the dance group. Instead, he’s concentrating on a burgeoning choreographic and teaching career, plus managing his own dance school, which he opened last year. He will, however, return to choreograph some of the group numbers – and a few guest appearances aren’t ruled out.
Matt said: “I’ve absolutely loved my time on Strictly, and now is a good time to focus on developing new areas of my career. I’m excited about having more time to commit to new projects and, of course, still having a hand in Strictly without all the training!”
Lilia Kopylova will...
- 7/23/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Matthew Cutler and Lilya Kopylova have quit BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, after a huge shake up of the reality TV show.
The pair had been dropped from the main line up and were told they would not be partnering celebrities this year. Instead they were offered a place on a dance troupe, who would undertake weekly performances and be paid only by the dance. They followed in the footsteps of Brian Fortuna who quit last month and turned the offer down.
Speaking about his departure, Cutler said: “I’ve absolutely loved my time on Strictly, and now is a good time to focus on developing new areas of my career. I’m excited about having more time to commit to new projects, and of course, still having a hand in Strictly without all the training!”
Kopylova added: “I will miss it, but I am looking forward to new opportunities ahead.
The pair had been dropped from the main line up and were told they would not be partnering celebrities this year. Instead they were offered a place on a dance troupe, who would undertake weekly performances and be paid only by the dance. They followed in the footsteps of Brian Fortuna who quit last month and turned the offer down.
Speaking about his departure, Cutler said: “I’ve absolutely loved my time on Strictly, and now is a good time to focus on developing new areas of my career. I’m excited about having more time to commit to new projects, and of course, still having a hand in Strictly without all the training!”
Kopylova added: “I will miss it, but I am looking forward to new opportunities ahead.
- 7/23/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
It seems that the bosses of Strictly Come Dancing have decided to reduce the number of contestants to 14 this year, and instead of the usual run of 14 weeks, this year’s competition will run for 12 weeks.
Apparently the moves have been made to “hold viewers’ interest” since viewing figures dropped last year.
The Sun reports that although the changes to those parts of the show’s format are now set, none of the show’s hosts or professional dancers have yet received contracts for the upcoming series.
The paper adds, “Last year Brucie pocketed £500,000, the judges got £90,000 and the pro dancers around £30,000 each.”
It goes on to state that Ian Waite, Matthew Cutler, Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett have all “been invited to take part” in the show, but have so far refused to sign a contract.
Brian Fortuna was also offered a role in a new dance troupe planned for this year,...
Apparently the moves have been made to “hold viewers’ interest” since viewing figures dropped last year.
The Sun reports that although the changes to those parts of the show’s format are now set, none of the show’s hosts or professional dancers have yet received contracts for the upcoming series.
The paper adds, “Last year Brucie pocketed £500,000, the judges got £90,000 and the pro dancers around £30,000 each.”
It goes on to state that Ian Waite, Matthew Cutler, Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett have all “been invited to take part” in the show, but have so far refused to sign a contract.
Brian Fortuna was also offered a role in a new dance troupe planned for this year,...
- 7/7/2010
- by Sarah
- Unreality
Ali Bastian has predicted that Strictly Come Dancing will go "from strength to strength" this year, despite the departure of her boyfriend Brian Fortuna. Fortuna quit the BBC ballroom show earlier this month after discovering that producers planned to put him in a dance troupe rather than pair him up with a celebrity. Darren Bennett, Lilia Kopylova, Ian Waite and Matthew Cutler have also been dropped from Strictly's main lineup of stars but will feature in the new dance group. (more)...
- 6/28/2010
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Fiona Phillips has claimed that BBC bosses should have consulted Strictly Come Dancing fans before going ahead with the show's latest revamp. The former GMTV host, who was a contestant on Strictly's 2005 series, spoke out following the news that Darren Bennett, Lilia Kopylova, Ian Waite and Matthew Cutler will not partner celebrities on the next series. The quartet will instead perform regularly as a dance group when Strictly returns in the autumn. The shake-up makes room for new faces who have been recruited for the lineup of professionals. Writing in her Mirror column, Phillips remarked: "At times, TV bosses are like politicians - they have no idea what real people want. Take Strictly (more)...
- 6/14/2010
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Brendan Cole has claimed that Strictly Come Dancing's latest revamp could be "great" for the show. Last week, it was announced that Darren Bennett, Lilia Kopylova, Ian Waite and Matthew Cutler will have reduced roles on the next series, appearing in a special dance group rather than being partnered with celebrities. Brian Fortuna was also offered a place in the troupe but instead chose to quit the programme. The shake-up comes as Us So You Think You Can Dance star Artem Chigvintsev, High School Musical dancer Jared Murillo and Burn The Floor's (more)...
- 6/14/2010
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Julian Clary has admitted that he is unimpressed by the latest changes to hit the show. Earlier this week, producers announced that Darren Bennett, Lilia Kopylova, Ian Waite and Matthew Cutler will not have celebrity partners on the next series. They will instead have reduced roles in a new dance group which will perform regularly. Speaking on The 5 O'Clock Show about the shake-up, Clary commented: "I can't believe it. They keep getting it slightly wrong, don't they? (more)...
- 6/10/2010
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
The lineup changes for the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing have divided opinion on the Digital Spy forums. It was confirmed yesterday that three new male dancers - Artem Chigvintsev, Jared Murillo and Robin Windsor - will be joining the professionals on the ballroom dance contest. Former stars Darren Bennett, Lilia Kopylova, Ian Waite and Matthew Cutler have had their roles reduced on the show. They will now perform in a dance troupe, but will not take part in the main competition. Us dancer Brian Fortuna announced last night that he is quitting the programme after he was initially confirmed as part of the new dance group. Fans of Fortuna, Bennett, Kopylova, Waite and Cutler have protested at the move. "I think Strictly has just signed its own death warrant and lost the battle with X Factor, not to mention the plot," said forum member SilverBird. "Ian (more)...
- 6/9/2010
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
After last year’s introduction of three new female dancers, this year sees three new males taking to the dance floor on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing. There will also be a new group of professional dancers, who will not partner celebrities but instead concentrate on group routines for the live shows.
This year Strictly will welcome new dancers:
Artem Chigvintsev, a Latin champion who is a graduate of So You Think You Can Dance? in the Us and has unique experience of very different dancing genres in addition to his ballroom champion-level skill.
Jared Murillo who, at 21, was a Us open swing youth champion. Trained in America, Jared was a principal dancer in the movies High School Musical 1 & 2.
Robin Windsor has completed five world tours of the worldwide ballroom dancing phenomena Burn The Floor, in which he has starred and choreographed routines.
The new professional group will comprise...
This year Strictly will welcome new dancers:
Artem Chigvintsev, a Latin champion who is a graduate of So You Think You Can Dance? in the Us and has unique experience of very different dancing genres in addition to his ballroom champion-level skill.
Jared Murillo who, at 21, was a Us open swing youth champion. Trained in America, Jared was a principal dancer in the movies High School Musical 1 & 2.
Robin Windsor has completed five world tours of the worldwide ballroom dancing phenomena Burn The Floor, in which he has starred and choreographed routines.
The new professional group will comprise...
- 6/8/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Three new males have joined the professional dancers lineup for the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing. Latin champion and Us So You Think You Can Dance graduate Artem Chigvintsev, 21-year-old High School Musical dancer and Swing Youth winner Jared Murillo, and Burn The Floor star Robin Windsor will all join the Strictly family for the eighth series. There will be 14 celebrities in this year's ballroom competition, but the professionals without a partner will still be part of the show in a new 'dance group'. Featuring Brian Fortuna, Darren Bennett, Lilia Kopylova, Ian Waite and Matthew Cutler, the troupe are to be joined by fellow professionals each week, depending on the style of dance that they perform. Competing alongside the celebrities this (more)...
- 6/8/2010
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly trying to get rid of professional dancer Anton Du Beke before the 2010 series kicks off.
Planning a huge revamp for the autumn dance show, producers are said to be planning to replace many of the current pros with American dancers, however sources claim that they would prefer Du Beke to quit of his own accord.
“Our preference is that Anton decides he’s had a few good years on Strictly and wants to try something new,” a source told The News Of The World.
“We’d rather not get into another messy situation like we did with Arlene. But if he makes it clear he wants to come back then we’ll have to have some tough conversations.
“All the old guard of professional dancers need to be aware this show is changing for the better.”
Bosses are also said to be planning to oust Darren Bennett,...
Planning a huge revamp for the autumn dance show, producers are said to be planning to replace many of the current pros with American dancers, however sources claim that they would prefer Du Beke to quit of his own accord.
“Our preference is that Anton decides he’s had a few good years on Strictly and wants to try something new,” a source told The News Of The World.
“We’d rather not get into another messy situation like we did with Arlene. But if he makes it clear he wants to come back then we’ll have to have some tough conversations.
“All the old guard of professional dancers need to be aware this show is changing for the better.”
Bosses are also said to be planning to oust Darren Bennett,...
- 4/17/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Duncan Bannatyne has admitted that he is very comfortable competing with his Dragons’ Den co-star Peter Jones.
The pair will team up with with Strictly Come Dancing professionals Natalie Lowe and Lilia Kopylova for a Sport Relief special on Friday, March 19 on BBC One.
Bannatyne told Metro: “We’re competing in the Sport Relief dancing competition but we don’t need any encouragement to be competitive.
“There’s rivalry over anything that comes up. We go to a lot of events and compete in things such as charity auctions.”
Related posts:Duncan Bannatyne Partners Peter Jones For Let’s DanceLet’s Dance For Comic Relief: Dragons’ DenDragons’ Den: Peter Jones & Duncan Bannatyne Becoming Friends?Dragons’ Den: Duncan Bannatyne Recommends His Book To Gordon BrownChristopher Biggins To Cut Down On Drinking For Let’s Dance!Copyright © Unreality TV 2009 | Celebrity Big Brother Updates
This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. The...
The pair will team up with with Strictly Come Dancing professionals Natalie Lowe and Lilia Kopylova for a Sport Relief special on Friday, March 19 on BBC One.
Bannatyne told Metro: “We’re competing in the Sport Relief dancing competition but we don’t need any encouragement to be competitive.
“There’s rivalry over anything that comes up. We go to a lot of events and compete in things such as charity auctions.”
Related posts:Duncan Bannatyne Partners Peter Jones For Let’s DanceLet’s Dance For Comic Relief: Dragons’ DenDragons’ Den: Peter Jones & Duncan Bannatyne Becoming Friends?Dragons’ Den: Duncan Bannatyne Recommends His Book To Gordon BrownChristopher Biggins To Cut Down On Drinking For Let’s Dance!Copyright © Unreality TV 2009 | Celebrity Big Brother Updates
This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. The...
- 3/10/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Duncan Bannatyne has said that he and his Dragons' Den rival Peter Jones do not need any encouragement to compete. The pair will team up with with professional dancers Natalie Lowe and Lilia Kopylova for the one-off Strictly Come Dancing Sport Relief special, which airs on Friday, March 19 on BBC One. Bannatyne told Metro: "We're competing in the Sport Relief (more)...
- 3/10/2010
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
Strictly Come Dancing duo Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova will travel around the UK this summer on a 'Latin Fever' tour. Bennett and Kopylova, who have appeared on the BBC One dance programme since the second series in 2005, will perform a 14-date Latin American-inspired show in June and July. The show has been described as a "breathtaking voyage, which takes them from the streets of Brazil (more)...
- 3/8/2010
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Producers of Strictly Come Dancing have confirmed details of the show's forthcoming 2010 UK arena tour. Former EastEnders actor Ricky Groves and BBC Breakfast's Chris Hollins are due to perform alongside fellow dancers from the current series Ali Bastian, Natalie Cassidy and Zöe Lucker, as well as previously announced stars Kelly Brook, Austin Healey and Mark Ramprakash. The eight celebrities are to appear with professionals Darren Bennett, Matthew Cutler, Brian Fortuna, James Jordan, Ola Jordan, Lilia Kopylova, Natalie Lowe, Kristina Rihanoff, Aliona Vilani and Ian Waite. The original lineup of judges - Len Goodman, Bruno Tolioni, Arlene Philips and Craig Revel-Horwood - will also be on hand, commenting on and scoring the performances. 'Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour!' will appear at the following venues: Friday, January 15 Manchester (more)...
- 11/27/2009
- by By Oli Simpson
- Digital Spy
Richard Dunwoody has become the second contestant to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing. The jockey and his professional dance partner Lilia Kopylova found themselves in the bottom two with Craig Kelly and Flavia Cacace. After the dance-off, judges Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli had to decide which couple to eliminate. The panel opted to save Craig and Flavia, leaving Richard and (more)...
- 9/26/2009
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
Former Strictly Come Dancing winner Darren Gough has claimed that Alesha Dixon needs to offer harsher judgements on the show. The retired cricketer, who triumphed with professional dancer Lilia Kopylova on the 2005 series, spoke out following the controversy surrounding Dixon's debut as a panellist on the programme. Speaking to Pa, Gough commented: "I think some of the stick she's taken has been a little bit too far, but she's got to improve and if you're going to be honest about it, she's got to be more critical." (more)...
- 9/22/2009
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Strictly Come Dancing star Richard Dunwoody has revealed that his dance partner Lilia Kopylova has a "fun and furious" attitude in rehearsals. The former jockey has been making slow progress in recent days as he trains for his debut on the BBC One ballroom competition. Writing a blog entry for We Love Telly, Dunwoody commented: "Lilia is still getting to grips with me, slowly! She is competitive, professional and highly capable, though her first impressions of me may have been the complete opposite! We have been training hard for the past ten days and Lilia has the patience of a saint. "It is hard work but we have had a few giggles as well, though (more)...
- 9/4/2009
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Don Warrington has become the fifth celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing. The actor and his dance partner Lilia Kopylova were in the bottom two alongside Heather Small and Brian Fortuna after the male and female celebrities competed against each other for the first time in last night's show. Warrington's performance of the American Smooth had resulted in a lukewarm reception from the judges yesterday and he picked up just 25 points. "Well you were a bit off tonight," Bruno Tonioli explained. "For an actor it surprises me because you should get what the dance is about." Meanwhile, Craig Revel Horwood complained: "There were a few funky gesticulations (more)...
- 10/19/2008
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Strictly Come Dancing star Phil Daniels has commented that he could have done better on Saturday's show. The former EastEnders actor and partner Flavia Cacace left the dance contest after head judge Len Goodman chose Don Warrington and Lilia Kopylova to stay. Speaking on BBC Two spinoff It Takes Two, Daniels told Claudia Winkelman that he is "not that surprised" (more)...
- 9/22/2008
- by By Michael Thornton
- Digital Spy
Former EastEnders star Phil Daniels has become the first contestant to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing. The actor, who was paired with professional dancer Flavia Cacace, found himself in the bottom two alongside Don Warrington and Lilia Kopylova in the first live show of the series. After the dance-off, it was left to judges Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli to decide on the fate of the couples. The panel opted (more)...
- 9/21/2008
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
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