Last week on Strictly Come Dancing, tubby and loveable star-sign fan Russell Grant embraced his role as queen of the dance floor, putting the ‘boy’ in flamboyant and shaking his stuff with gusto like an overenthusiastic uncle at a wedding.

‘Give me a theatre, and I’m happy’, said ‘Royal Astrologer’ Russell to his ever-smiling professional dance partner Flavia Cacace, before this week’s Broadway special, which saw Russell don a cream top hat and suit in a what we can only guess was an attempt to channel a leading man, but instead had the effect of making him look more like an overweight canary attempting to flee the bird cage. God love him. People looking at the Strictly Come Dancing betting will know he is something of a figure of fun.

Flavia danced and Russell jiggled some kind of foxtrot to the tuneful sound of ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’, and got yet another (clearly not impromptu) standing ovation.

Alesha Dixon called Russell her guilty pleasure, and Bruno Tonioli said he had the uplifting quality of blazing sunshine, brightening up our days. Craig Revel Horwood advised a more masculine approach (a little less Barbara and a little more Rambo) while Len Goodman said Russell looked like a little white cloud floating across the stage and his ‘little yellow dickie’ (thankfully he meant Russell’s bow tie) was the sun. This week, Len said, Russell Grant had ‘put the show in showbiz’. The Strictly Come Dancing odds show he could be in for the high jump soon.

As he left the stage, Russell attempted to follow Craig’s advice and take on a more masculine persona, but instead managed to look as though he’d soiled himself. Perhaps he had; it’s difficult to say.

This year’s Strictly Come Dancing is as full of sambas, sequins, temper tantrums and tiaras as ever before, and we love every minute of it.

And as if the main shows weren’t good enough on their own, there’s red button commentary for even more hours of Strictly Come Dancing entertainment, you lucky, lucky people.

Each week, Strictly aficionado Karen Hardy is joined by a super duper celeb guest to chat all things celebrity and salsa, for the red button alternative commentary. It’s a little added extra for people flowing the Strictly Come Dancing betting.

Guests sharing their views with Karen so far on what they think are the loveliest lambadas, the fanciest foxtrots, the wackiest waltzes and the raunchiest rumbas include comedian Katy Brand (she was also in Peep Show you know), former comedian/current psychologist/Billy Connelly’s missus, Pamela Stephenson, and Henry Winkler, aka Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli aka The Fonze aka Fonzie, off of Happy Days. People may also pick up some Strictly Come Dancing tips.

The celebrity guests share their thoughts and musings on all the latest goings on in the sparkly world of Strictly Come Dancing 2011, from Russell Grant’s roly poly appeal, Holly Valance and Artem’s on-stage chemistry, Nancy Dell’Olio’s love of posh bubbly and hatred of feather boas, and Jason Donavan’s smooth moves on the dance floor, to Sir Bruce Forsyth’s wig, Tess Daly’s blandness, Alesha Dixon’s inconceivably small head and Bruno Tonioli’s ever-ready batteries.

And if they don’t talk about all that stuff, well then we reckon they should. Guests we’d like to see on future red button commentary include Ricky Gervais (he’d be rude and hilarious), Frankie Boyle (it would be totally inappropriate), Jodie Marsh (she’d make the dancers look positively pale with her Ronseal Wood Stain-hued skin) and The Chuckle Brothers (just because).

X Factor contestant Sami Brookes has revealed she’s not trying to win the show in order to gain celebrity status.

In fact, the Welsh wannabe is keen to make her name in the business so she can “sing and get into musicals”, she told the BBC.

The hopeful said the showbiz world isn’t “glamorous like you see on the TV”, but is extremely hard work. Those looking at the X Factor betting will be wondering if she has what it takes.

“It has been my dream to be on the show,” Sami, who got through only after Goldie dropped out of the competition after bootcamp, told the news provider.

She said the support she has received from her native north Wales has been “amazing”, and she’s determined to work hard in order to succeed in the talent competition.
The one person Sami won’t be sad to see go from the show is definitely Kitty Brucknell though, as she hasn’t been seeing eye to eye with her at all.

Speaking to The Sun, Sami said: “Everyone has their own opinion of Kitty – she drives me up the wall,” adding that she is certain the eccentric wannabe is not being bullied in the house. “There’s no bullying going on. She’s a tough cookie,” the singer said.

A source, meanwhile, told the newspaper that it was “well known” that Kitty is isolating herself from the other contestants. “The rest of Louis Walsh’s over-25s just can’t bear her,” the insider added.

According to the bookies’ odds though, despite Kitty dividing the public and her fellow hopefuls like Marmite, she’s more a favourite to win than Sami. The X Factor winner odds reflect this.

The latest odds suggest Sami could be the next to go, although with Frankie Cocozza in the bottom two last weekend, he might need to up his game a bit to stay in the competition.