5:09PM, Oct 22, 2009
Anton Du Beke and Laila Rouass are still the story of the week following his lewd comments during last Saturday's show, but have they kissed and made up?
Meanwhile, Tess Daly has been busy spilling a few beans about Strictly Come Dancing's behind-the-scenes romances.
Anton Makes Laila Cry... Again
Despite the Beeb's insistence that Anton and Laila are "getting on great," word on the grapevine is that tension between the pair remains.
Anton got himself into further hot water last Saturday night with a crude jibe about Laila's backless catsuit. The dancer joked that he'd like to see Laila shaking her 'thing' during the samba, and told her: "Pop the frock on back to front - we'll all have a lovely time."
A visibly shocked Tess exclaimed: "Anton! Behave please," while Brucie told viewers: "He's a fool."
A show source revealed: "Laila was stunned. She feels Anton doesn't respect her."
We're not surprised.
During a public appearance this week Anton claimed that he was "ashamed and embarrassed" about the high profile race row.
"All the stuff that came out happened right at the beginning after we first met in the show," he said. "It just turned out wrong and I felt a bit stupid about it.
"You do something stupid and you expect to pay a penalty for it. Hopefully people will forgive me for it."
Joe Still Feels Like Dancing
Boxer Joe Calzaghe has admitted that he will miss the "make-up, spangles and spray tan" after being booted from the show last week.
"It was one of the most nerve-wracking things I've ever done," he added. "I'm a bit disappointed, I did my best dance so I was surprised to go out."
Joe tipped The Bill's Ali Bastian and Hollyoaks' Ricky Whittle as potential winners, saying he hoped Ali would steal the trophy.
Love Is In The Air
Tess has spilled the beans on the various romances going on behind the scenes of Strictly.
In her Daily Mirror column, the presenter commented: "There's love in the air backstage with more than one romance in the making. Not surprising when you consider the physical proximity of dancing and the time spent locked in sweaty training rooms.
"Mum's the word, but keep tuned. I live in hope of Strictly wedding bells, after all the dancing and the dresses are bound to be fabulous."
But former judge Arlene Phillips reckons that all the romance takes the mystery out of the show.
"The thing about Strictly romances like Matt and Flavia's is nobody knew. That's what made it so unbelievably powerful," she told The Sun.
"Everyone was thinking: Are they? Or aren't they? What was happening on screen became extremely powerful.
"But the romances this year - Kristina and Joe, Ali and Brian - are out there for all to see so it becomes meaningless. There is no mystery, no haunting quality."
Ali's Swine Flu Scare
We reckon Ali has bigger things to worry about than whether her love life affects her performance on the floor.
The actress has been ill recently, prompting speculation over whether she had caught the dreaded swine flu.
A source said: "We were petrified Ali had caught swine flu, but she has been downplaying it. She made it to her rehearsal but she fears it's getting worse.
"She is due to perform the American smooth with her very own smooth American, Brian, and she really wants to put in a good show."
Strictly Loses The Ratings War
After weeks of flicking between our two favourite reality shows, BBC bosses have finally relented and moved Strictly to an earlier slot to avoid clashing with The X factor.
From Sat 31 Oct, Strictly will air at 6.50pm, reducing the overlap to 45 minutes.
An ITV source told The Sun: "It looks like they're running scared." But the Beeb insist the move was to make room in the schedule for other shows.
This week's show will see the remaining 11 contestants perform a saucy samba or a sophisticated American smooth. Rather fittingly, this week's special guest is swing singer Harry Connick Jr.
Find out when Strictly Come Dancing is on TV.
