Ellie is joined by AJ, Milly, Meg, Elliot and Vikki to voyage into the past and appreciate the very first episode of Strictly in glorious standard definition technicolour potatovision! Do topics arising from the dawn of the show shine some light on the current Discourse? You’ll have to listen to find out. Plus: a quick assessment of the cast of the…

It’s over! Ellie is joined by Ariadne, AJ and Milly for an episode covering the final and semi-final of the Sewing Bee and making concerned hoots about safeguarding in Strictly.Topics covered:- Another name for elbow length gloves- Another challenge direct from our family dressing up box- Ailsa made a lot of really hot garments- Unexpected Keith Fl…

Get yourselves ready, it’s another combination Strictly Newsblast and Divas Week recap. Is divas week just drag week for cowards? The makes are incredible either way.Topics covered:- A continued lack of legally actionable content!- Ellie’s tripartite theory of musicals- The Duchess of Crotch, origin story- Suzy’s winter big coat- Ailsa: prophet Wat…

It’s had its knockers, but Lingerie Week is very brassiere focused this year. Ellie is joined by AJ and Ariadne for more pyjama propaganda. Topics covered:- Verdigris… in bed- Muscle tube: is it art?- A Philadelphia punk band gets a mention- Blame Paul HollywoodPar The Keep Dancing Podcast

Ellie is joined by AJ and Milly to coo over the tiny tiny spooky mannequins. Topics covered:- Sequin bomber technique tip- A very clever joke about knowing about films- Fancy dress reminiscences- What jumpsuit should kids actually wear- Week 1 cocoon dress update (derogatory)Par The Keep Dancing Podcast

Ellie is joined by AJ and Ariadne for India week, where no place name pun is left undone.Topics covered:- Patrick Grant for Strictly plz (if not too busy)- Technical buttonhole progress chat- Drawing the All Saints dress from memory- Waffling on about Just Dance- Definitely incorrect finalist predictions…

Ellie is joined by Milly and AJ for a group therapy session about organza. Plus! A Strictly newsblast.Topics covered:- Goodness me, those bags were bad- Organza in some detail- What do Ofcom want with us?- Tendrils and Mullets and Robot NipplesThe books we were talking about:The Golden Thread https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-golden-thread/kassi…

We’re all going on a summer holiday with a suitcase full of indifferently hemmed garments. Ellie is joined by Milly, AJ and Ariadne to voyage to the Riviera of the Mind. Topics covered:- Doing numbers by damaging heirlooms- Sweet baby angel Don rides on- New motto for the rave community- 24/7 pyjama lifestyle- Surprisingly technical pattern grading…

Sports Week! Sew something nice or else you’ll be forced to do it in your vest and pants. Ellie is joined by Milly and AJ.Topics covered:- Eras of Lucy & Yak- What is a coverstitch?- No-one libelled Dickie Bird as far as you know- Make Team GB strips more exciting plzPar The Keep Dancing Podcast

We’re forming a cocoon (with pockets) around you during a chaotic time. Ellie is joined by AJ, Ariadne and Milly for some pure frock chat.Topics covered:- Milly’s Manifesto- Pascha’s Cute Aggression Edit- Content warning for ventriloquism- Godets!- Whose story do we need much more detail on?- Questions about Luke’s workspace…

It’s another ‘live’ shambles pod, as Ellie is joined by AJ, Elliot and Meg to react to the Grand Final of the 2023 series of Strictly. Ellie & Vito won!Also discussed:- The return of the Gene Kelly’s Bum awards- Eurovision? Already?- Hooray for Hollywood (maybe)- A free idea for a podcast- Which small state is your best bet if you fancy doing Eurov…

The final line up is more or less sorted and given that it’s the one we expected there’s time for some digressions. Ellie is joined by AJ, Meg and Milly to read the tea leaves on the Grand Final dance cards. Great thanks to www.strictlydb.com for making the dance card reading section possible. Also discussed:- Nap strategy- Pleather rage- Espresso …

We’re absolutely reeling from a Musicals Week which cost Nigel his rib integrity and his place in the competition. Ellie is joined by Meg and Ann to hope this never happens again. Also discussed:- Caterpillars vs worms- ‘Talky’ vs ‘songy’ musicals- Painkiller stories- How to get your first TV credit now- Does Zawe Ashton prefer snooker?- Who are th…

As sure as December follows November, our faves collide in the dance off just short of the final. Ellie is joined by AJ, Meg and Milly to have a cry about it. Also discussed:- RIP the Paperchase Christmas Baubles section- Tedious segue to get to a Eurovision fact, sorry- It’s hard for the man in the rumba, the musical- The fate of Nadiya’s very rea…

We’re back on the train to Blackpool and you know what that means in terms of sound effects. Ellie is joined by Ann, AJ, Meg and Elliott to experience it all over again. Your episode is late and there is some road noise incursion because things happened, a lot, for two days. Also discussed:- Kai: a good guy- Silk yardage- Dance card tea leaf readin…

We return to our usual mostly sensible format for the Blackpool qualifiers and some of our smoothest segues ever. Ellie is joined by AJ, Ann, Milly and Meg for a session in the tinfoil hatsAlso discussed:- A very silly conspiracy theory- New naming convention for dances just dropped- Who else is annoyed by ‘vegan’ ‘leather’?- New theme week idea ju…

HALFWAY! Ellie is joined by Meg, Milly and AJ to find out why we don’t record on a Saturday night. We’re even sillier than normal, but the takes? They’re hotter than ever.Also discussed:- The key to a good Dave Arch rendition- Nigel’s hypothetical gilet- Paul Zenon digression- Dye transfer incidents we have known- Update on Vito’s shirt allergy- HE…

Why is Halloween? Ellie asks AJ, Ariadne and Ann and you’ll have to work out if we get to a satisfactory answer or not.Also discussed:- Shirley’s compliment sandwich technique- Interview With A Vampire through the medium of gifs- Doctor Who interlude- Who needs a nice dog- The whereabouts of James Newman’s trumpets- Who will win? (We’re not sure)If…

REUPLOAD: this episode didn't work on some platforms so here's a 2nd attempt at getting you the most medium-sized takes in the landEllie is joined by AJ, Ariadne, Meg and Milly to go bobbing for apples in the cauldron of dance. There was breaking Strictly news during the edit process of this podcast but I’m sure you’ll have heard about that elsewhe…

Ellie is joined by AJ, Ariadne, Meg and Milly to go bobbing for apples in the cauldron of dance. There was breaking Strictly news during the edit process of this podcast but I’m sure you’ll have heard about that elsewhere.Also discussed:- Is Nigel, Our Average Anecdote King, on Cameo?- The scrubsubwell is strong with us- One last request for the Sh…

Week 4 rolls out a software update for the Strictly AR team and a whole new set of dances for the Keep Dancing Pod team to analyse. Ellie is joined by AJ, Meg, Milly and Elliott. There is also a cat. Also discussed:- Whatever happened to Adult Contemporary music?- The Doctor Who Restoration Project but for lost early Strictly numbers- A surprise Re…

What light through that window yonder over there? It is Movie Week on Strictly and that is not Gene Kelly’s Bum. Ellie is joined by AJ, Meg and Milly to throw popcorn and cheer.Also discussed:- Nadiya’s celeb partner Geoff (he’s been there literally the whole time)- Tactical choreo from ‘Austrian Ken’- How To Animal Discourse- The Shipping Forecast…

It’s Week 2 and what we lack in coherence we’re making up for with enthusiasm. Ellie is joined by AJ, Meg and Elliot to break down the tropes and tricks of the tactical dance show. Elliot is apparently recording next to a dual carriageway, we’re sorry and we’ve told him not to do that again.Also discussed:- A brief history of the DashCon Fiasco- St…

KDP S8E1: We Know Why He’s Here Ellie is joined by Emily, AJ and Elliot to review the first of the Big Long Shows of Strictly 2023. There are, as always, so many of them. But at least we now have some idea what Nigel Harman is doing here. Also discussed:- A curious focus on the availability of tools?- A terrifying future for Time Travelling Kai- In…

Let’s get warmed up for the 2023 series of Strictly! Ellie, Milly and Elliot preview the cast, sort them into Them, Who and Why and prepare a whole new basket of explicable and inexplicable grudges. Who will we stan? Who is down to clown? Who is this year’s frock fave? Who will we inevitably forget is even involved?If you’d like to get in touch wit…

KDP S7E12: RIP CountryfileOur second WRONG DAY Strictly episode in a row and we’re not so much disappointed as confused and adrift in time. Ellie is joined by Elliot, Vikki, AJ, Ariadne and Meg.Also discussed:- Adding more songs to the Forbidden Strictly list- There are two wolves, but we don’t talk about them- Does your throw match your sofa?- The…

KDP S7E11: Dave Arch the Empath. Gorka the Chair.Life certainly is a cabaret, old chum, and we’ve got a nice table in the corner. Ellie is joined by Ariadne, Meg, Ann and Milly to stare, agog.Also discussed:- Molly’s televote, state of mind- Goodbye songs and who chooses them- Do not let us give DSI ideas- That very particular Strictly audience scr…

After Blackpool we’re all feeling like butter spread over too much bread. Ellie is joined by AJ, Ariadne, Ann, Milly and Meg to do a little bit of a scoring reset.Also discussed:- Elliot qualifying for Blackpool!- Music on physical media, an appreciation- The Wrong Joe- Ongoing Les Mis references- A Terrible HandbagIf you’d like to get in touch wit…

It’s Blackpool week! Ellie is joined by AJ, Elliot, Milly and Milly’s budgie to do a lot of dubious material about The North. And discuss some dancing.Also mentioned:- Play QWOP http://www.foddy.net/Athletics.html- Who vs Them theory- Wigs and Strictly, just say no- Do they have pubs in the South?If you’d like to get in touch with us, email us at k…

KDP S7E8: The Fever of the Saturday NightIt’s the night where we say Blackpool a lot! Somehow even more often than when we’re actually in Blackpool! Ellie is joined by AJ, Vikki, Elliot and Meg to see who is going to be partaking in next week’s legendary afterparty.Also discussed: - some cosy retro dances this week - how much is the right amount of…

KDP S7E7: Sugar Tax SpecialThe merciful absence of any overarching theme from the program means we have to impose our own. Ellie is joined by AJ, Ann, Elliot and Meg to see who is eating their vegetables and who is an unstoppable cinnamon roll. LITTLE SHOES! Fluorescing objects!Also discussed: - A taxonomy of dance cliches - We blame HRVY - What ha…

KDP S7E6: I Have Never Seen BeetlejuiceIt’s Halloween and the glittery trapdoor creaks into life to claim another victim. Ellie is joined by Elliot, AJ, Vikki and Milly to find out who on the winner track and who is full of bees. Also mentioned: - The concept of ‘scrubs up well’ points - Ice levels in various games - Dance moves have names - Tumblr…

The BBC has survived 100 years and we have survived Strictly celebrating the BBC surviving 100 years. Ellie is joined by Meg, Elliot, Vikki, AJ and Ariadne to survey the wreckage. You wouldn’t believe the amount of sighs edited out of this recording. - Vikki questions the entire premise- The vibes-based framework for dance criticism- What doesn’t *…

With the horror of a brand new theme week on the horizon, we experience something close to a vintage all-time great episode of the silly dance show! Ellie is joined by AJ, Elliott, Ann, Emily, Ariadne and Vikki to pull it all apart.On the agenda:- Ariadne has been perceived- The soft reboot of Strictly- The meaning of the Friends VT- Who’s on the H…

POV: you are cinema and news of your death has been greatly exaggerated. Ellie is joined by Elliot, Ariadne, Emily, Meg and AJ to throw popcorn at Movies Week. Sorry if any stray coughs got through - always annoying when you’re at the pictures.Big questions include:- Shall we stop the podcast to think about the Carlos/Nikita rumba?- Who has rage bu…

It’s the Week 2 Slump! Ellie is joined by Elliot, Milly, Vikki and Ariadne to pick the nice dumplings out of the dance flavoured stew. Chat topics:- We’re in favour of Tyler <3 Torches- The Strictly curtain twitchers can DO ONE- How to not be a Joke Contestant- Exactly three new sound effects- Please go look at @CocaineDecor on twitter and instagra…

Strictly is back and so are we! We’re giving you reactions to the pairings and Week 1 dances all in the same episode because of The Event.Digressions include:- Who had some very special Hearsay merch?- Graziano’s dinner- Which pairing name got vetoed?- The Cult of Goss- One of us met one of the celebs one time- Hamza stans, that’s usIf you’d like t…

Ellie is joined by Elliot and Ariadne (plus voice notes from Ann and AJ). We’re previewing the 2022 Strictly cast, crew and overall situation. Asides include:- We’ve all been watching a lot of reality TV- Will Mellor’s highly dedicated fan blog- How *do* bisexuals ballroom dance?- Handball in the UK- Who will, sadly, never be able to do Strictly?Fo…

Oti is leaving Strictly, so we got together to chat about our favourite Oti routines and generally do an audio thank-you card.For the Oti interview episode, listen here!https://soundcloud.com/keepdancingpodcast/keep-dancing-preview-when-ellie-met-otiFor the Every Strictly Result Ever tea towels, look here!https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/837928883/e…

Sometimes Christmas specials are weirdly timed and low effort spectacles that don’t stand up to much scrutiny. Here’s one of those.Ellie is joined by Milly and Vikki live on the call and Ann and AJ on the hot take answering machine.If you’d like to get in touch with us, email us at keepdancingpodcast@gmail.com or follow us on twitter and instagram …

Everyone is feeling even more buoyant than normal as we get the final that we want and wave our demanding little fists in the air. Ellie is joined by AJ, Ann, Ariadne, Meg and Milly to not be in any way triumphalist.Diversions include:- Great graphics packages we have known- The reasonable face of Stan twitter- Contempo-not-waft- John Lewis Christm…

Quarter finals! Where the bold and the brave get dropped on their bums - both literally and metaphorically. Ellie is joined by AJ, Ariadne, Emily, Meg and Vikki to go through the missed lifts frame by frame. Except not really.Also featuring:- Vintage memes!- How do you solve a problem like the salsa?- Someone should do Couple’s choice: a tribute to…

As the end draws near, there’s a sense of jeopardy and tension on the dancefloor. Ellie is joined by Ann, Vikki and Milly to enjoy dramatic readings of Elliot’s whatsapps as we pick apart week 10 of Strictly and run down everyone’s dance cards. The big issues:- Where’s Elliot?- Who should dance to Agadoo?- What have AJ & Kai got left for a show dan…

Thanks to an extraordinary guest judge booking, Musicals week proves to have all the drama and hilarity of [insert your personal fave show here] and we are HERE FOR IT. This week’s big questions:- What kind of Tardis does Time Travellin’ Kai have?- Has Rhys not taken the afternoon off yet?- Chimney sweeps are mystical, deal with it- Nobody is talki…

As promised, this week’s episode is mainly gnashing and wailing about the dance off and the continued success of slightly mediocre men. Ellie is joined by Ann, Meg, Emily and Elliot to wave goodbye to our Angel of the North.The big issues:- Why. Why. Why.- References to nicotine products on family shows- Is it ‘the best’ or ‘the most recent’?- A ‘b…

As a special halfway-through-the-series treat, Ellie is joined by Ariadne and Ewan to look at Strictly storylines over this series, the past few series and the whole 19 year life of the show so far. We chat about how the ‘rona has shaken up the show for better (or worse?) and what the 2021 story so far tells us about who should and who *will* make …

A couple of things have gone missing: the post theme week score reset and also the cold open to this episode. Oops. Ellie is joined by Ann, Meg and Milly to ponder upon it all.The big topics include:- Artistic Swimming and why Peaty ought to try it- Some …creative… ideas for Rose’s show dance- Non-standard cummerbund lengths- Demands for feet foota…

Halloween! And what a heady bouquet of nonsense we have prepared for you. Ellie is joined by AJ, Elliot and Meg to debrief the group after a particularly disturbing set of pro dances. Tag Yourselves, I’m Sexy SarumanBig questions involve:- The exact mechanics of Time Travellin’ Kai - A strongly worded legal statement- Who is this year’s Destroyer?-…

What a beautiful night in the Strictly ballroom! Ellie is your host and is joined by AJ, Ann, Elliot, Meg and Vikki to wax lyrical about the RETURN OF BALLROOM. This week’s big topics:- Does Dan do Halloween?- The failure modes of Strictly Sambas- #BeMoreAljaz- What music should you play your kids?- General Oti loveIf you’d like to get in touch wit…

Ellie returns to somewhat loosely host a podcast and survey the post-Movie Week wreckage of our celebs dance dreams. She is joined by Meg, Elliot and Vikki to ask the big questions:- Are fringed trousers performance enhancing?- Who has ZERO percent chance of being booked for the tour?- Ukrainian chart music: how good is it?- Don’t get Ellie started…