STRICTLY COME DANCING 7 - Week 1 (Part 1)

It's great to have Strictly back on our screens; the BBC's televisual signal that it's time to put your heating back on, then settle down for cozy evenings as Christmas appears like a dot on the horizon. Sure, we'll be mildly fed-up with it by Week 6, but that's how it goes. For now though, savour the moment: we have fresh celebs, some new pro dancers, and there's even a new face on the judging panel...

Yes, cleverly positioned so as not to have directly replaced Arlene Phillips, last year's winner Alesha Dixon is the controversial new addition to the series. Undoubtedly a beautiful woman with genuine affection for the show and first-hand experience of Strictly itself, everyone was unconvinced she'd add anything of value sat behind a desk. The good news is that Alesha didn't embarass herself and her presence certainly changes the judge's dynamic a little bit. The bad news is that Alesha's critics appear to have been proven right: all her comments were the views of a layman, encouraging and brief. I guess she's there to be the "voice of the people" watching at home, but we've definitely lost more than we've gained.

Series 7 begins with two double-episodes every Friday and Saturday, meaning the celebs have to learn two dance for their first week (a complication usually added halfway through the run -- proving that either (a) the aptitude of celebs has gone up, or (b) we've been fed lies about how difficult this dancing lark is for the past six years. For me, this is also the first time I'll be watching Strictly in high-definition, so every sequin's twinkle is in sharp relief and Bruce Forysth appears to have gained another two decade's worth of wrinkles.

Eight celebs danced in this Friday premiere, a mix of Tango and Waltz, with the remaining eight schedule to dance later tonight. As usual, this blog won't go into much detail about dance technique, it's primarily a place for heterosexual male fans to come and discuss the sexy ladies in their tight-fitting cossies. But feel free to chip in with your comments about less shallow aspects of the series -- you're more than welcome!

RAV WILDING & ALIONA VILARA

Tango: The hunky Crimewatch co-presenter has been partnered with a new dancer to the show in Aliona Vilara, the self-proclaimed "pussycat of the dancing world." The flamehaired Euro-hottie made her debut in a purple-blue, open-backed dress with a long skirt that flashed occasional leg. Not impressed given the possibilities, but it's early days.

ERIN BOAG & RICKY GROVES

Waltz: After an apparent facelift last year, Erin Boag's back and dancing with EastEnders' Ricky Groves (who did his best "serious face" throughout this waltz). Erin chose to wear a powder blue, off-the-shoulder dress with a long skirt. Her beaming smile was about the only memorable thing here, sadly.

CHRIS HOLLINS & OLA JORDAN

Tango: How wonderful to see the gorgeous Ola Jordan back on our screens, introduced by "Ride Of The Valkyries" during the training VT. Sadly, the dance didn't make much of an impression, as her curvy body was obscured by a blue dress with black trim. It all looked quite dull, really, but hopefully this moth-like debut will give rise to a beautiful butterfly very soon.

JADE JOHNSON & IAN WAITE

Waltz: Olympic athlete Jade Johnson is dancing with Ian Waite, so she stands a chance of going very far in the competition, I'd say. Her white-pink dress with a long skirt was pretty bland, although she looked more feminine than her ripped body in the pre-dance VT had me suspect was possible.

MARTINA HINGIS & MATTHEW CUTLER

Waltz: The former tennis champ Martina Hingis has been partnered with Matthew Cutler, series 5's winner, so she should go far. She's quite an attractive girl, and her pink dress with arm tassels looked nice on her. But it was still very underwhelming, truth be told. And no grunting? Shame.

LYNDA BELLINGHAM & DARREN BENNETT

Tango: There are always a few celebrity ladies you don't have much of an interest in every year, and Lynda Bellingham's unfortunately one of them. Sorry, maybe back in her Oxo cube days she'd have appealed, but not now. Her dirty gold dress with red trim did nothing for her larger body-shape, either. Very chunky and overly stern.

ALI BASTIAN & BRIAN FORTUNA

Waltz: Quite possibly the sexiest celebrity girl this year, former Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian is dancing with ventriloquist puppet Brian Fortuna. Her sparkly silver dressed with frilly bits did what it could, but it was mainly Ali's incandescent face and blonde hair that stood out.

KRISTINA RIHANOFF & JOE CALZAGHE

Tango: Finally, after being lumbered with John Sergent last year, Kristina Rihanoff apparently gets a decent partner in ex-boxer Joe Calzaghe. Only, he was terrible. Is Kristina cursed? Hopefully he'll improve, as we need more Kristina around -- she's a bit scary, but in a good way. Her rubbery purple dress hugged her bum very tightly, she looked as buxom as usual, and her hair's always great. Impressed.