Typecast

WTF Strictly : Week Four - Definitely Maybe Iconic

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 10:11:53 +0000

Icons Week, and the most iconic thing in the building was Danny Dyer sitting next to Ray Winstone.

Craig and Anton arriving as the Gallagher brothers genuinely made me laugh out loud, although the longer I looked, the more Kevin and Perry they became. The costume department had clearly enjoyed putting those two together but had maybe run out of inspiration for the ladies. Shirley’s Lady Gaga was rather harder to identify. When Vanessa asked “Who is Shirley?!”, I helpfully explained that she was an English ballroom dancer, teacher and adjudicator known as the Queen of Latin. Apparently that wasn’t the information required. Motsi's whole look was styled on Beyonce's famous Coachella look - and now I've conducted an image search, I can see it, but surely there were more iconic Queen Bey outfits than a hoodie and some denim shorts?

I did like the couples being introduced as their musical icons alongside their professional partners. A small production change that worked in the new and improved format. And, to not break with the tradition of commenting on hosts' outfits, I adored Emma’s silver skirt but, pairing it with a white blouse? I'm still deliberating.

Before we get into the dancing, we lost Melanie and Aljaž last week, while Delta and Kai were missing this Saturday because of her rib injury. After all my Disco Delta enthusiasm, having her sit out Icons Week felt particularly unfortunate. Hopefully the rest gives her a chance to recover properly but I'm not hopeful - a rib injury is a lot to come back from.

Meanwhile, Vi (remember her? My fellow podcast host) reappeared in the group chat to announce that she hadn’t watched a single episode yet. I'm still not sure if this was an admission of reluctance or a bit of a brag because she immediately vanished again!

“This is your best dance so far” appeared to be the official phrase of the evening from the judges. I mean, it's Week Four so we should be seeing some week-on-week improvement. I think that's what is called 'progression'. But maybe if we had some sort of comparable structure like all couples doing the same style of dance, it would be more obvious. This is actually my dance hill I will die on!

Ok, on with the dancing!

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John’s Paso had some traditional shaping and a bit of Katya edge, which I appreciated, but the theatrics, including the flaming guitar, were another disguise to mask the lack of actual dancing. Vanessa described him as “a stomping teddy bear dragging a tea towel”, and I’m afraid that image is staying with me. Katya can create a spectacle. We know this. I still want John’s dancing to be the thing I remember afterwards.

What I wasn't prepared for was Dani making me enjoy a Rumba. I KNOW....please allow me some privacy at this difficult time. It suited her. She looked stunning as Mariah, the connection with Nikita worked and that final pose was divine. There is room for technical improvements, but I watched the performance without wanting to hide behind a cushion. Given my established feelings about this dance, that deserves recording somewhere official.

Johannes also made a good point afterwards about the version of Dani from two weeks ago not being able to manage that choreography. That says far more about her progress than another generic “best dance so far” - tell us what has changed and give the improvement some meaning.

Lawrence's Salsa was fun, energetic and full of those unmistakably Jowita-style lifts. At least this week I was worrying about where she’d land rather than what colour pants she was wearing. I would quite like her to stop winking at the camera, though - we’ve seen you, Jowita - concentrate on the man launching you and where to buy arnica cream from in the morning!

Tabby actually looked remarkably like RAYE, which was an achievement in a week when several wigs seemed to have been allocated by raffle. Her Samba was a little stop-start, and I was watching the spins and foot placements waiting for Shirley to mention them, but she didn't - very discombobulating! And then Craig produced an 8 while everybody else gave 7s. Craig scoring higher than all three other judges? During a Samba? I hope somebody checked he’d picked up the correct paddle.

Sarah’s Tango, meanwhile, needed considerably more attack. The tango has to be fierce and this didn’t have enough strength for me. I could see the effort, but there was too much bounce and not enough conviction. This put her at the bottom of the leaderboard for me - but she's not really been one of my favourites ever.

Also, whilst I'm thinking about it, was Sarah's video message from the actual Shania Twain a true confidence boost or a conveniently timed promotional appearance? Either way, as Kelly mentioned, surely showing it before Sarah danced would have been more useful?

Cach and Maddie's Foxtrot felt traditional by being in hold for most of the dance, no freestyle detour, no tricks shoved in to remind us that Cach has his own style. He still had flair and it still felt like him. He’d just put that energy and personality into the actual dance instead of using it to wander away from the requirements. For me, this was their first wow moment, and you could see the judges recognising that they’d listened. After the Quickstep criticism in Week One and my moaning about Couple’s Choice last week, this was proof that you can learn the rules and still be interesting.

Bethany properly committed to the Aretha character and I liked that side of her performance. Nancy’s choreography continues to give her plenty to work with, although I’m still not entirely convinced they always look comfortable together in hold. That’s something I want to watch as the partnership develops. The Cha Cha dresses, however, required no further discussion. Excellent.

Then there was Shaun who remains the weakest dancer left for me but gave us a much more confident Couple’s Choice. His timing was on point for most of it, he committed to the performance and, despite the mistakes, I enjoyed watching him. I can already hear somebody asking whether this means I’ve changed my mind about Couple’s Choice. Spoiler alert : no. I can think it arrives too early and still recognise that Alexis got something good out of her partner. His improvement deserves credit and this is testament to her choreography. I also had a feeling that this performance would get people voting for him, and on the strength of Saturday alone I could understand why.

Lacey appeared looking more like Duffy than Adele but we can’t expect the costume department to improve at the same rate as her dancing. Her American Smooth was beautiful to watch, but I didn’t think it was her strongest dance. There was a looseness that I couldn’t quite put my finger on until Shirley mentioned posture. That was it. I wanted more support through the upper body, even while the lifts and the overall performance looked lovely. Kelly thought she seemed more confident this week, at last. I agree, and that’s encouraging after three weeks of wanting to lend her some of Vito’s.

The evening’s next Salsa came with Graeme, Lauren and an ABBA wig situation in which Lauren looked fabulous as a Scandinavian blonde. At first I thought that Graeme was giving us a touch of the Ed Balls (yes, I did mean to type that) but this dance definitely isn't going to be as iconic as that Gangnam Style salsa. However, because he threw himself into this routine, I smiled all the way through it - it wasn’t perfect but it was a lot of fun!

Then Josh appeared in his own ABBA outfit and somehow looked like Anton dressed as ABBA. The impersonations were becoming difficult to keep track of.

And then, Jaime and Carlos gave us a brilliant Paso. She looked incredible, even if the Bowie styling on her veered towards Toyah or Cyndi Lauper, and the skirt swishing happened in all the right places without taking over the dance. There was strength and purpose here, but Craig’s reaction had my jaw dropping. I expected him to like it, but I hadn’t expected quite that level of approval. I called 8s and 9s before the paddles appeared and, for once, the judges cooperated. Joint top with Cach on 34. My entirely unscientific early favourite is making a considerably more convincing case for herself now.

Also, Jaime’s leap into Jojo’s arms upstairs was impeccable. Nobody tell the producers or we’ll have a Clauditorium Showdance category by November.

Finally, Will’s Jive. A big fat NO from me as it was too stompy and I spent an unreasonable amount of time trying to decide whether his bum was sticking out too far or whether something else in the posture was making it look that way. How wrong was I though? According to the paddles, very, because the judges were delighted. I still think the new-dad goodwill helped (lovely news about baby Sonny, obviously, but I’m reviewing the Jive here). I’ve also found myself missing some of Dianne’s usual spark and red hair this series. She’s one of my favourite professionals, so I notice when the partnership isn’t grabbing me in the way I’d hoped.

By the end, John and Sarah were my personal bottom two. That isn’t a prediction or a results spoiler. We’ve established that my opinions and the voting public don’t always occupy the same postcode. I do think that Sarah is in the danger zone this week, while Shaun could pick up the popularity votes because the Great British public love a trier - especially one showing real improvement.

TL;DR - Cach stayed in hold and proved a point, Jaime justified my early favouritism, Dani made me enjoy a Rumba and Craig briefly became the generous judge. Danny Dyer and Ray Winstone won the audience. Kevin and Perry won the fancy dress. Definitely maybe somebody’s best dance so far.

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The Spreadsheet Section!

I am pulling together the usual Latin/Ballroom/Speciality comparison but I think it needs maybe another couple of weeks' data before we make a fair comparison for equality and balance. For now, here are the dances, music and scores for Week Four.

Show Order	Celebrity	Professional	Dance	Song	Artist	Craig	Motsi	Shirley	Anton	Wk4 Total
1	John Nellis	Katya Jones	Paso Doble	It’s My Life	Bon Jovi	6	7	8	8	29
2	Dani Dyer	Nikita Kuzmin	Rumba	Hero	Mariah Carey	6	6	6	7	25
3	Lawrence Robb	Jowita Przystał	Salsa	La Copa de la Vida	Ricky Martin	7	8	7	8	30
4	Tabby Stoecker	Mark Karmalita	Samba	Where Is My Husband!	RAYE	8	7	7	7	29
5	Dame Sarah Storey	Julian Caillon	Tango	That Don’t Impress Me Much	Shania Twain	5	5	5	6	21
6	Cach Mercer	Maddie Ingoldsby	Foxtrot	Theme from New York, New York	Frank Sinatra	8	9	8	9	34
7	Bethany Antonia	Nancy Xu	Cha Cha Cha	Respect	Aretha Franklin	6	7	7	7	27
8	Shaun Wright-Phillips	Alexis Warr	Couple’s Choice	Medley	James Brown	7	7	7	7	28
9	Lacey Turner	Vito Coppola	American Smooth	Hometown Glory	Adele	7	7	7	8	29
10	Graeme Hall	Lauren Oakley	Salsa	Medley	ABBA	7	7	7	7	28
11	Jaime Winstone	Carlos Gu	Paso Doble	Let’s Dance	David Bowie	8	9	8	9	34
12	Will Best	Dianne Buswell	Jive	Crocodile Rock	Elton John	7	8	8	8	31
	Delta Goodrem	Kai Widdrington	Injury bye — did not dance; no score awarded.

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The podcast is on pause, but our Saturday-night opinions are still very much in service. Come and join the weekly chat in the WTF Strictly Facebook group.

Procrastibaking: The Cake Bake That Became A Full-On Cupboard Audit

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:01:09 +0000

I've got a week off work. A whole week with no early taxi ride to an airport, no alarms, no work emails and absolutely no plans to do anything particularly productive. So naturally, I've started it with a cold. Not just a little sniffle either. I feel rotten. Having a new puppy means that it's a bit difficult to take myself back to bed with a hot drink and a box of tissues, so I decided that the most sensible thing to do was bake a cake - a date and walnut cake, to be precise.

Now, I haven't baked a proper cake for ages, so the first job was to check what ingredients I already had. I'd already bought some dates (that's where the idea originated from), but I wasn't entirely sure what was lurking in the baking cupboard. And here's where it all went wrong.

Our kitchen has one of those pull-out cupboard units with four shelves. In theory, it's a brilliant storage solution. In practice, it's where ingredients go to disappear. Nothing is particularly handy, you can't see half of what's in there and retrieving something from the back involves moving approximately seventeen other things first.

After rummaging around for a while, I decided that the whole thing needed sorting out. Because obviously, when you're feeling ill and you've got a week off work, emptying a kitchen cupboard is exactly the sort of restful activity you should be doing. What an archaeological expedition that turned out to be.

First up, three bags of flour that were past their best-before dates. Three! How much flour does one household need to own, especially when nobody can remember the last time they baked anything?

Then came the spices. I'd estimate that about two-thirds of them were past their best-before dates, with most dating back to between 2020 and 2024. But the winners, by quite some distance, were a jar of garam masala and some turmeric.

Best before 2015. Twenty fifteen.

That's eleven years ago. We've had seven Prime Ministers, a pandemic and two more grandchildren have been added to our family since those spices were apparently at their best.

And I know for a fact I've used both of them since 2015 - we're all still alive... just!

To be fair, a best-before date isn't the same as a use-by date, particularly when it comes to dried herbs and spices. They're more likely to lose their flavour than suddenly become dangerous the day after the date on the label. Although I'm fairly sure my garam masala has been contributing absolutely nothing to our curries for quite some time.

I also have to wonder how many times I've bought another jar of something because I couldn't find the one I already had. Probably quite a few, judging by what came out of those shelves.

So, what started as a perfectly innocent attempt to make a cake has turned into a full cupboard clear-out. I've rediscovered ingredients I'd forgotten we owned, established that I probably don't need to buy any more spices for a while and, hopefully, made it a bit easier to find things in future. Whether it'll stay tidy is another matter entirely.

And after all that rummaging, sorting, checking dates and putting everything back in a more logical order, I was still no closer to having a date and walnut cake because I haven't got any bicarbonate of soda or walnuts.

So now I'm going to have to nip to the shops.

UPDATE : the cake!

UPDATE #2 : the cupboard I'm tidying today is the one with all the plastic tubs from the Chinese takeaway that we keep 'just in case we need to store something in the fridge'. Wish me luck!

WTF Strictly : Week Three – Disco Delta and a Fleckerl for Len

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 15:41:32 +0000

Chris Appleton leaving last week wasn’t a surprise to me. I don’t think his following translated into enough votes to keep him in. At this stage, Strictly still feels like a popularity contest, and being someone’s favourite hairdresser isn’t necessarily enough to make you their favourite dancer.

Jaime landing in the dance-off was more worrying, although it needn’t end her chances. Alesha Dixon, Abbey Clancy, Caroline Flack and Ore Oduba all survived one before winning; Ore survived two. I’m not writing her off just yet.

I love that the stylists are leaning into Emma’s own style now rather than putting her in another evening dress. The very loose-fitting trouser suit was gorgeous and very her. Jojo, meanwhile, wore the only two colours that make my teeth itch when worn together: orange and pink. Tara’s verdict in the group chat was that “Only Jojo could make getting tangled up in Xmas wrapping paper look THAT good!!” She’s right. I still wouldn’t want those colours in my wardrobe.

I’m also still wondering whether the presenters are in the right places. Jojo could offer something useful on the floor immediately after a dance: a professional’s perspective, a bit of reassurance and an understanding of what the couple has just attempted. Josh’s humour feels more suited to the Clauditorium, where he could help them relax while they wait for the scores.

Having said that, the comedy on the floor is getting better. It feels more like traditional Saturday evening entertainment than Claudia’s chaotic humour, and perhaps that’s the point of having Josh there. His line about Lacey opening the show and Vito opening his shirt genuinely made me laugh. I’m prepared to revise an opinion when somebody gives me a reason... occasionally.

One production niggle before the dancing: why did Dave Arch and the band have to wait until halfway through the show for their mention? I remember that happening just after the first dance. They’re providing the soundtrack to the whole bloody programme; don’t leave them hanging until we’re several costume changes in.

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A speed run through the dances...

Lacey opened with a Samba and I’m still convinced we’re only seeing about 85% of what she can do because the nerves won’t let her have the rest. She is EXCELLENT. What’s frustrating is that she doesn’t seem to know it yet. Kelly summed it up perfectly: “Lacey is so much better than she thinks she is!” If Vito can get her to trust herself enough to completely let go, this partnership could become very exciting.

Will and Dianne gave us a lovely, if safe, Waltz. After the first two weeks, safe was probably exactly what they needed. It gave him a chance to concentrate on dancing rather than a character, and the costume department finally let him wear more than half an outfit. Progress on several fronts.

Alexis definitely has her work cut out with Shaun. There’s still plenty to sort out, but he’s improving and looks as though he’s having fun. I don’t need everyone to arrive fully formed in Week One. Watching somebody learn is supposed to be part of the attraction, otherwise we may as well hand out the Glitterball at the launch show and reclaim our Saturday evenings.

Which brings me back to Couple’s Choice. Cach can dance and the routine was entertaining, only two weeks ago he was being told to master the basics. This week we’ve moved away from them again. How are we supposed to see whether he’s taken that advice on board?

He also gives me the impression that he’s auditioning for a West End musical. I don’t mean that as an insult: he knows how to perform, and this sort of exposure can lead somewhere beyond the competition. Whitney Leavitt from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives went from Dancing With The Stars to playing Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway. Whether or not that was the original plan, there’s your example. I’d still like Cach to learn the ballroom and Latin before we start picking his opening-night outfit.

A moment’s pause for Jaime’s bronze dress, which reminded me of the Bronze Flip custom colour on our bikes at work. Apparently I can’t even watch Strictly without mentally consulting the Ribble paint chart. Her Viennese Waltz was a much-needed comeback, and I spotted her fleckerl before Anton mentioned it. Len would have loved that too. She looked more comfortable, the performance had feeling and there was proper dancing to get excited about. Fourth on the leaderboard was a considerably nicer place to finish than last week’s dance-off.

When Melanie and Aljaž started with the Cilla Black references, I all but screamed for Vi. This would have sent her into a shit fit, given her (ir)rational hatred of the woman. If you’ve listened to the podcast or you’re friends with Vi on Facebook, you’ll know exactly why I wanted her there. Melanie clearly enjoyed the Charleston, but enjoyment alone wasn’t enough to make the dancing work. That has nothing to do with her being an “older woman”; I’m watching the steps, not checking her birth certificate. Aljaž’s humour is getting room to shine this year, though. Between him and Vito, there’s plenty of entertainment without anyone needing to write them a sketch.

Sarah had some good shaping in her Paso, but I kept getting distracted by the facial expressions. I described it in the chat as the gurning on a comedown from ecstasy, which is probably not the performance note Julian had in mind. The general consensus was that her score was too low compared to other dances. I can appreciate the drama while still wanting the face to calm down a bit.

And then, to save the evening: DISCO DELTA. I am totally loving her partnership with Kai. Yes, she comes with performance experience, but that doesn’t automatically create chemistry with a professional partner. These two have it. She trusts him, he knows what to do with her ability, and I’m enjoying watching them far too much to pretend otherwise.

You all know I hate a Rumba. It gives me second-hand embarrassment and I’ve previously likened watching one to hearing your parents have sex. There has been the occasional routine that’s made me reconsider, but Lawrence’s wasn’t going to join that very short list. Shirley was right about the control and this is another dance I’d rather see later, once the celebrity has enough confidence and technique to make it work, rather than relying on the atmosphere to do the job. And a small note to costuming: I’d have put Jowita in orange pants rather than white.

Dani’s Tango was much better than I expected. There were a few stumbles and little foot adjustments to find her balance, but this was a massive improvement on the first couple of weeks. It gave us something to build on rather than another debate about how much practice she may or may not have had. Her dramatic eyeliner also deserves its own mention. Excellent work.

Graeme is very light on his feet, if a little pigeon-toed, and I love how Lauren dances WITH him. She doesn’t seem to be trying to out-dance her partner or distract us from his inexperience. She lets us see what he can do.

Katya took a different approach with John. She did plenty of spinning around John, with slower silhouette sections that felt designed to disguise the bits he was struggling with. She’s inventive, but I still want to see his dancing rather than admire how cleverly she’s covered it.

It made me think how much we understate the professionals’ job. They need versatility across dance styles, the ability to teach and choreograph for someone who may never have danced before, a personality that works on camera, and chemistry with whoever they’re paired with, all while making their own dancing look effortless. Being brilliant at the steps is only the starting point.

Bethany and Nancy gave us some lovely heel turns in their American Smooth. After all the discussion of performance and personality, it was satisfying to notice a specific piece of footwork and think: yes, that.

Tabby’s Argentine Tango closed the show and had the group buzzing. Vanessa called it “Dance of the night”, and I could see why the performance had people excited. I still want more discipline in the dancing, though. She wasn’t doing a bad job; I just kept thinking how much stronger this could be with more weeks of technique behind her.

I know I sound like a stuck record about Couple’s Choice, Charleston, Rumba and Argentine Tango arriving too early. Yes, early appearances have happened before. That doesn’t mean I have to like them. I want to see the celebrities establish their ballroom and Latin basics, then use that foundation to tackle the other dances. We’re in Week Three and there is plenty of time.

Meanwhile, Vanessa neatly summed up the voting dilemma: “I'm not voting for the best dancers but those mid table I want to save!” We judge the dancing all evening and then vote to protect the people we’re worried about so are we back to that popularity contest?

TL;DR - Lacey needs to borrow some of Vito’s confidence, Jaime gave us a fleckerl for Len, Dani is improving and Disco Delta can stay. I’m still policing the dance order, the choreography and, apparently, Jowita’s pants. Nobody is safe from the Faffing Police.

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The Spreadsheet Section!

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Week Three : Dances, Songs and Scores

Show Order	Celebrity	Professional	Dance	Song	Artist	Craig	Motsi	Shirley	Anton	Total
1	Lacey Turner	Vito Coppola	Samba	Bamboléo	Gipsy Kings	6	6	7	7	26
2	Will Best	Dianne Buswell	Waltz	With You I’m Born Again	Billy Preston & Syreeta	6	6	6	7	25
3	Shaun Wright-Phillips	Alexis Warr	Quickstep	I’m a Believer	The Monkees	3	4	3	5	15
4	Cach Mercer	Maddie Ingoldsby	Couple’s Choice	Beware.. The South London Lover Boy.	RAYE	7	8	8	8	31
5	Jaime Winstone	Carlos Gu	Viennese Waltz	Never Tear Us Apart	INXS	7	7	7	7	28
6	Melanie Walters	Aljaž Škorjanec	Charleston	Ooh Ahh… Just a Little Bit	Gina G	3	5	4	5	17
7	Dame Sarah Storey	Julian Caillon	Paso Doble	California Dreamin’	Sia	4	5	5	6	20
8	Delta Goodrem	Kai Widdrington	Salsa	Always There / Ain’t Nobody	Jocelyn Brown / Chaka Khan	8	9	8	8	33
9	Lawrence Robb	Jowita Przystał	Rumba	back to friends	sombr	5	5	4	6	20
10	Dani Dyer	Nikita Kuzmin	Tango	Show Me Love	Robin S	7	7	6	7	27
11	Graeme Hall	Lauren Oakley	Jive	Reet Petite	Jackie Wilson	6	6	6	7	25
12	John Nellis	Katya Jones	Cha Cha Cha	Rock Your Body	Justin Timberlake	4	5	5	6	20
13	Bethany Antonia	Nancy Xu	American Smooth	Love Song	Sara Bareilles	6	7	7	7	27
14	Tabby Stoecker	Mark Karmalita	Argentine Tango	hate that I made you love me	Ariana Grande	8	8	7	8	31

Pupdate : Our First Puppy Date

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 16:29:47 +0000

There's something quite lovely about having a favourite walk that you can do over and over again and never really get bored of. The short route up to the Wainwright Memorial is one of those for me and Rowena. A bit of fresh air, a decent catch-up and a brew at the top. Sometimes that's all you need.

This week we'd made plans to do it on Saturday morning, but with two additional participants. Kaizer was going on his first puppy date with Hatter, Rowena's Jack Russell x Manchester Terrier. Our two dogs had never met before but, given that their owners have been best mates for years, they're probably going to have to get used to each other.

I'd already decided I wasn't going to parkrun this weekend. The Blackburn Road Runners club championship event was in Skipton and, lovely as that would have been, it was a bit too far for me this time. I'm genuinely gutted because it means I won't complete the 12-in-12 championship I'd planned for this year. That's another story for another blog post though.

Instead, we made plans for a walk. Of course, the weather had other ideas. It has rained heavily for most of the week, often sideways, and I was beginning to wonder whether we'd be going anywhere at all but Saturday morning arrived, the clouds broke and at 8am we were off.

This was actually quite a big morning for Kaizer. At 15 weeks old, he's still getting used to the world outside our house and garden, and this was his first proper car journey that didn't involve either leaving his first mummy or visiting the vet for vaccinations. Not exactly a glowing introduction to trips out so far.

We have bought a special enclosure for the back seat to keep both him and the seats protected, along with a harness and seatbelt attachment to keep him secure. He LOVED it, sitting nicely for part of the journey and even laying down for a while. Considering how much excitement was waiting for him, I was really pleased with how well he travelled.

Getting in and out of the car was another matter. thought He hasn't quite worked that bit out yet, so I had to lift him in and out. At the rate he's growing, that's something we'll definitely need to practise sooner rather than later!

It was also his first meeting with Hatter. There was a bit of initial chaos, as you'd expect when introducing an enthusiastic Akita puppy to another dog, but Hatter is a year older and has spent time around bigger dogs before, so he wasn't particularly fazed by him. There was plenty of excitement from both of them, although I suspect Hatter was responsible for encouraging some of Kaizer's enthusiasm!

One thing I was particularly interested in was how Kaizer would manage on the lead. We've been having a few challenges with pulling and chewing recently, so I decided to use his bungee lead rather than the extendable one. It turned out to be a good choice. It gave me a little more control while still allowing him enough freedom to investigate his surroundings. He did have the occasional chew on the lead, but nothing like some of the battles we've had on our usual walks. He was inquisitive, enjoying the space around him and taking everything in. And he didn't eat any sheep shit so I'm counting that as a significant achievement.

The route to the memorial isn't particularly long but it did present a few new challenges. First there was a stile, which Kaizer negotiated by going underneath rather than over it. Fair enough. Why make life difficult? Then there were two kissing gates to navigate before we reached the memorial.

We had planned to sit, drink our brews and have our usual debrief of everything that's happened in our lives over the previous week but what we hadn't quite accounted for was the wind.

It was blowing an absolute hoolie up there. At one point we genuinely felt as though we might get blown off the hill. My nose was running constantly - delightful - and drinking a brew without spilling it everywhere required considerably more concentration than usual.

But we struggled through. We're nothing if not committed to our Saturday morning refreshments.

By the time we got back to the car, I think Kaizer had experienced enough excitement for one morning. On the journey home he looked completely spaced out with exhaustion. All those new smells, meeting Hatter, exploring somewhere different and negotiating the countryside had clearly taken it out of him.

Once we were home, he took himself off into his crate, curled up and went to sleep. The door was open and he was perfectly happy having a proper rest. To be honest, he's not moved much for the rest of the day either!

I love this walk whether we're accompanied by dogs or not. It's familiar, it's not too far and it's a lovely place to sit and put the world to rights for a while but taking Kaizer along made it a little different this time.

He's still learning about walking on a lead, meeting other dogs and generally existing in a world where absolutely everything is new and potentially worth investigating. We've had some difficult moments recently, so it was genuinely lovely to see him enjoying himself and managing so well.

Hopefully this is the first of many walks with Hatter. Given that their owners have been friends for years, it would be rather convenient if the dogs became best mates too.a

For now, though, I've got one very tired Akita puppy and I'm enjoying the peace while it lasts.

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I've added some more pictures on Instagram.

WTF Strictly : Week Two - Movie Week? What Fresh Hell Is This?

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:29:08 +0000

First things first: there will be NO spoilers in these posts. I'm writing this on Sunday afternoon before the results show has aired. There are confirmed spoilers, unconfirmed spoilers and people on the internet who apparently cannot survive until Sunday evening without knowing who has been eliminated. I'm definitely one of them but you might not be so, if you're reading this before the results show, you're safe here and I won't mention an elimination until the following week's post.

Of course, the reason we can have spoilers at all is because the Sunday results show still isn't live. It's filmed after Saturday night's live show, complete with pre-filmed pro group dances and impossible costume changes but the BBC continues to describe the Strictly results show as being filmed "as live" for years.

It's well documented on the WTF Strictly podcast and I'm going to continue moaning about it because it remains ridiculous. If you're going to make us wait until Sunday, at least make the bloody thing live. Otherwise, of course there are going to be moles in the audience leaking the result before we've even gone to bed.

Anyway. Movie Week.

I complained about this last week and, having now watched it, I've decided I was right. It's too much, too soon.

We've had two weeks of competition and already we've had a Couple's Choice, Charleston, American Smooths, a Viennese Waltz, lifts, harnesses, hoops, CGI penguins and enough faffing around at the beginning and end of routines to fill another entire dance.

My friend Matthew summed it up in one word via WhatsApp: Chaos.

I come back to what Motsi said last week about learning the rules before you start breaking them. I want to see the celebrities learn the basics first. Give them time to understand hold, footwork, posture and the difference between their heel and their toe before we suspend them from the ceiling and ask them to recreate Wicked.

And then John and Katya gave us a Couple's Choice in Week Two. ACTUALLY. FUCK. OFF.

I know I have an irrational hatred of certain dances turning up too early, but Week Two is taking the piss. For me, Couple's Choice belongs much later in the competition. Personally, I'd save it until the semi-final and then have the Showdance in the final.

John was top of the leaderboard last week after a lovely Foxtrot which actually showed us what he could do. This week we got a lot of running around, jumping on and off things and Titanic-jig-themed tricks. Even Katya, who I think is one of the most inventive choreographers Strictly has ever had, couldn't make me love it. When you compare it with what she produced for Lewis's Couple's Choice last year, they are worlds apart.

And the scoring didn't help. Craig gave it a 4. Shirley and Anton both gave it 7s. I'm with Craig and think that the other two might have had a little snifter before they came on set...

Delta and Kai's American Smooth was beautiful. The colour of her dress was gorgeous and Kai's ballroom teaching really came through, but halfway through I caught myself thinking "no lifts!" before remembering that, yes, lifts are allowed in an American Smooth.

But should we already be doing dances with lifts? Delta can clearly dance and she's going to be good, but I want to see the progression. Last week Samba, this week American Smooth, already throwing lifts into the equation. Where do we go next?

Graeme and Lauren were probably my biggest surprise of the night. No faffing, despite Graeme starting behind a desk, and once they got into hold he looked like a completely different dancer. He covered the floor, the footwork was good and I think we've found somebody who could become a serious contender in Ballroom.

The group chat agreed. Tara thought he was going to be particularly strong in Ballroom and Vanessa described it as an "incredible ballroom dance".

Motsi also noted that this partnership was working well because Lauren was able to 'let go' and also be in the dance rather than solely being a choreography whisperer. That's as much a compliment to Lauren's teaching as it is to Graeme's dancing.

At the opposite end, Chris looked absolutely terrified. His training footage had looked better than the actual Cha Cha he performed on the night and I wondered whether nerves were getting to him before he then admitted exactly that. The bare-chested Baywatch distraction didn't really help either. There seemed to be rather more concentration on Chris's abs than on whether he was actually dancing.

Meanwhile Lawrence and Jowita produced a lovely Viennese Waltz, although there was far too much messing around at the beginning and end. Apparently I have become the Faffing Police this year but if you've only got around 90 seconds to show us that you've learned a dance, stop spending a third of this time pretending to be a chef!

Long-term WTF Strictly listeners may remember that Shirley's tiny shoes once warranted an entire podcast episode title. Well... SHIRLEY'S TINY SHOES ARE BACK and are being used to demonstrate foot postion. I don't know why this pleases me quite as much as it does, but here we are.

This sounds ridiculously insignificant but Strictly has a long and distinguished history of dressing a couple as though the costume department received two entirely different briefs, so I want to give Will and Dianne's matching shirts a shoutout because, apart from the enormously appreciated Tom Cruise sock-slide, their Foxtrot didn't really hit the mark - it was in the safe zone though.

As mentioned last week, Jaime is still one of the people I really want to do well but... NO, JAIME, WE DO NOT DO TALKING BEFORE THE DANCING, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I can't cope with the little scripted bits before the music starts. Dance first. Talk later. Her Pretty Woman Cha Cha did, however, give us one of the better costume ideas of the night. She arrived dressed in the prostitute outfit and then changed into the polo-match look. Very clever. Although if you're going to do a costume change on Strictly, I want a Katya Jones-style transformation where somebody spins around and suddenly appears to be wearing an entirely different dress and half the audience has to rewind to work out how the hell she did it.

As for Jaime's dancing, I still think there's a very good dancer in there. She just seems to be trying slightly too hard at the moment. Sometimes it looks as though she's concentrating so much that she loses her balance; other times it feels like she's trying to put her own personality into the choreography before she's quite secure enough in the steps to do it. She doesn't need to force it. She's on her way to being good enough already.

Can someone please give Lacey a cup of confidence because she is so much better than she thinks she is. She still looks terrified before she dances, but once she gets moving something changes. This week's Quickstep was fun, she looked as though she was finally enjoying herself and I think Lacey and Vito may become one of my favourite partnerships.

The group chat seems to be heading in the same direction. Vanessa called them her favourite pairing and Tara made exactly the point I've been thinking: Lacey looks terrified beforehand and then goes out and dances really well.

Cach was another huge improvement even if he does think he's Danny Zucchini. I enjoyed his dance last week but understood Craig's criticism about the amount of freestyle in something being judged as a Quickstep. This week's Grease Samba was much more controlled while still feeling like him. I also feel that it was an easy choice to dress them as Danny and Sandy and use the finale song from the film - I honestly think there was a MASSIVE missed opportunity to use the dance-off from the film and dress Maddie as Cha Cha DiGregorio. Come on, it was right there!

Tabby was another one who looked much more settled this week. I could have done without quite so long in the hoop at the beginning but there was some nice shaping and once she started dancing, she was lovely.

And then there's Shaun. Last week he looked as though somebody had accidentally pushed him onto the dancefloor and he was desperately searching for the nearest fire exit. This week was so much better and much more fun. Alexis was working overtime to protect him with the choreography, but there was more control, more energy and, most importantly, he looked as though he was actually enjoying himself. I'm also torn between whether Shirley is feeling motherly towards him or has a little crush on him!

Dame Sarah's Charleston was way too slow for me. The final 16 bars showed what the whole routine could have been. Suddenly it had pace and energy and I thought YES, THERE IT IS. Unfortunately we'd spent most of the preceding dance waiting for it. The cartwheel wasn't bad though.

Bethany and Nancy looked dramatic as hell, helped enormously by the lighting again, but there was far too much going on before Bethany actually danced. Nancy dancing around while Bethany attached herself to wires is exactly what I mean about Movie Week being able to hide the actual dance.

And Melanie - turning up looking like Gail Platt was a bit unfortunate - but she seemed to completely lose her way with the footwork during her Waltz. Edelweiss always makes me cry however, this time I was crying for an entirely different reason. Aljaž appeared to be trying to steer her back into the dance at points but his response afterwards was possibly my favourite line of the night though, joking that they'd choreographed the mistakes in and were pleased the judges had spotted them.

And finally... the presenters. I feel like they are finally settling into their roles. Jojo was much better in the Clauditorium this week. There were still a couple of hesitations, but the production issue with his cues from last week seems to have been sorted and there were fewer moments where it felt as though he was waiting for permission to speak.

The Clauditorium itself works best at this stage of the competition because everybody is crammed in there. I love the noise and the chaos and the in-jokes. It always gets a bit more serious later in the series when half the cast has disappeared and there are just the pros and a handful of celebrities rattling around upstairs.

I'm still not sold on Josh, although some of his little comedy/sketch moments worked better this week.

Emma remains the consummate professional. Calm, collected but took a cue from Jojo's Week 1 style of presenting and read the voting terms and conditions whilst everyone was partying to the VOTE OPEN call! Can she repeat them please? I didn't quite catch them.

TL;DR - Movie Week in Week Two is ridiculous. Couple's Choice in Week Two should be a criminal offence. Graeme may be our surprise Ballroom boy and everyone else needs to calm the fuck down. We need more appearances from Shirley's tiny shoes. There's a bonus spreadsheet section for those who love them!

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The Spreadsheet Section!

First I wanted to compare if each couple had done one Latin and one Ballroom as that would provide an even-ish playing field (let's not get me started on when couples had to all dance the same style each week because an actual level playing field would be bonkers, wouldn't it?).

Of the 15 couples, 12 followed a broadly Latin-to-Ballroom or Ballroom-to-Latin pattern, if we count American Smooth as Ballroom. Dame Sarah and John were given speciality dances instead, while Shaun and Alexis were the only couple to get two Latin dances: Cha Cha followed by Salsa.

Couple	Week 1 Dance	Week 1 Style	Week 2 Dance	Week 2 Style
Lacey & Vito	Cha Cha	Latin	Quickstep	Ballroom
Dani & Nikita	Samba	Latin	Foxtrot	Ballroom
Delta & Kai	Samba	Latin	American Smooth	Ballroom*
Chris & Amy	Tango	Ballroom	Cha Cha	Latin
Cach & Maddie	Quickstep	Ballroom	Samba	Latin
Will & Dianne	Samba	Latin	Foxtrot	Ballroom
Dame Sarah & Julian	Quickstep	Ballroom	Charleston	Speciality
Jaime & Carlos	Tango	Ballroom	Cha Cha	Latin
Bethany & Nancy	Quickstep	Ballroom	Paso Doble	Latin
Shaun & Alexis	Cha Cha	Latin	Salsa	Latin
Graeme & Lauren	Cha Cha	Latin	Waltz	Ballroom
Lawrence & Jowita	Paso Doble	Latin	Viennese Waltz	Ballroom
Tabby & Mark	Jive	Latin	American Smooth	Ballroom*
John & Katya	Foxtrot	Ballroom	Couple's Choice	Speciality
Melanie & Aljaž	Cha Cha	Latin	Waltz	Ballroom

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Week Two: Movie Week Dances, Songs and Scores

Show Order	Celebrity	Professional	Dance	Song	Artist / Film version	Craig	Motsi	Shirley	Anton	Total
1	Dani Dyer	Nikita Kuzmin	Foxtrot	Beauty and the Beast	Beauty and the Beast	6	6	5	6	23
2	John Nellis	Katya Jones	Couple's Choice	An Irish Party in Third Class	Titanic	4	5	7	7	23
3	Delta Goodrem	Kai Widdrington	American Smooth	I'll Never Love Again	A Star Is Born	8	7	7	8	30
4	Chris Appleton	Amy Dowden	Cha Cha	I'm Always Here	Baywatch	4	4	4	5	17
5	Lawrence Robb	Jowita Przystał	Viennese Waltz	Le Festin	Ratatouille	4	5	4	6	19
6	Dame Sarah Storey	Julian Caillon	Charleston	Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious	Mary Poppins	6	6	6	6	24
7	Graeme Hall	Lauren Oakley	Waltz	The Godfather Waltz	The Godfather	8	8	8	7	31
8	Will Best	Dianne Buswell	Foxtrot	Old Time Rock & Roll	Risky Business	4	5	5	5	19
9	Jaime Winstone	Carlos Gu	Cha Cha	Oh, Pretty Woman	Pretty Woman	5	5	5	6	21
10	Melanie Walters	Aljaž Škorjanec	Waltz	Edelweiss	The Sound of Music	3	4	4	4	15
11	Cach Mercer	Maddie Ingoldsby	Samba	We Go Together	Grease	7	7	7	8	29
12	Tabby Stoecker	Mark Karmalita	American Smooth	Rewrite the Stars	The Greatest Showman	7	7	7	7	28
13	Bethany Antonia	Nancy Xu	Paso Doble	No Good Deed	Wicked: For Good	7	7	6	7	27
14	Lacey Turner	Vito Coppola	Quickstep	I Knew It, I Knew You	Toy Story 5	6	7	7	8	28
15	Shaun Wright-Phillips	Alexis Warr	Salsa	You Should Be Dancing	Saturday Night Fever	4	7	7	7	25

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WTF Strictly : Week One - Are 8s the New Week One 10s?

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 09:16:25 +0000

Strictly 2026, Week 1. Last week I wondered whether Emma Willis would be the glue holding the new Strictly presenting team together. One live show later and I might have called that slightly too soon.

Emma seemed nervous, Josh was doing an awful lot and, at times, it felt as though he was overshadowing her. I’m still not sure how the three-presenter arrangement is going to work once they settle into it, but I’m prepared to give them time. It was their first proper live show and, if nothing else, nobody fell down the stairs or swore before the watershed.

Johannes seemed more comfortable up in the Clauditorium (which will forever be called the Clauditorium even though Ms Winkleman has rudely abandoned us) however there was a strange production issue when the couples were coming up the stairs. Jojo was talking to camera, but the camera remained on the dancers, so we could neither see nor properly hear him. If he’s delivering a line or some support, we need to see and hear that. Who do I write to at the BBC? Where is 'Points Of View' when you need it?

A few viewers have suggested rotating the three presenters between roles each week. I can see the thinking behind it, but constantly moving them around won’t give any of them the chance to settle. The production team seems to have decided who belongs where, even if we don't agree.

Meanwhile, Motsi has apparently decided that Shirley is now “Miss Shirley”, like she’s the resident dance teacher, while she herself sets out her own judging stall in the firm-but-fair category!

Motsi also nailed the disagreement over the freestyle content in Cach and Maddie’s Quickstep. I liked the freestyle element, but Craig had a valid point from a judging and scoring perspective. If a dance is being presented as a Quickstep, the rules and required content still have to matter. Motsi’s insistence that you should learn the rules so you can break them was genius. Respect the dance first, then add the freestyle. Don’t replace the actual dance with it and still expect the points.

The scoring was exactly as restrained as we’ve come to expect, by which I mean not restrained at all. Anton has already screwed with the scoring scale by handing out 7s like they’re Jelly Babies, so perhaps it was inevitable that we’d see an 8 in Week One. That doesn’t discredit John and Katya’s score, though. Their Foxtrot was comfortably the best dance of the night and Motsi and Shirley also gave it an 8, so Anton wasn’t alone.

However, an 8 in Week One is basically a 10 trimmed up in Carlos's fur coat. Where do we go from here?

A low score in Week One doesn’t automatically mean it was a bad dance. It gives the couples a starting point. With more training, more experience and a few weeks of learning how to perform live, the scores should increase. If everyone is receiving 6s and 7s for their first dance, there isn’t much room left to show that improvement.

The audience also needs to stop booing every time a judge produces anything below a 6. In later weeks, it will be anything below a 7. The judges are there to give an expert opinion, not choose the number that gets the nicest reaction from the crowd. If a dance doesn’t deserve a 7, what is the point of giving it one? PACK IT IN!

Delta and Kai’s Samba was confident, controlled and had definite shades of Oti and Danny about it. I’m not putting it in the same league as Magalenha just yet, but that is a promising comparison after one dance. Also, who gave Kai this glow-up? The hair, the fire-waving and the more relaxed personality are all working for him. He usually looks tall, yet somehow resembles a shortarse next to Delta. He will love her height when they get into ballroom hold, though, and I’m still hoping she brings out even more of his cheeky side as the series goes on.

Lacey and Vito are definitely ones to watch too. She looked nervous in the launch show and, during the introductions at the top of this week’s programme, she had the expression of someone who would rather be anywhere else. Despite the unnecessary faffing at the beginning of their Cha Cha, once the dancing started she was great. She had plenty of energy and looked far more comfortable performing than I expected. Vito obviously performed enough for both of them, the studio audience and several neighbouring counties.

Jowita and Lawrence also looked like an interesting partnership. As Vanessa put it during our Facebook watch-party, “Jowita could make a telephone pole look good.” Lawrence definitely isn’t a telephone pole, but it remains a fair assessment of Jowita’s ability to get something watchable out of almost anybody.

Dani and Nikita’s Samba did nothing to change my opinion from Launch Night. It certainly didn’t look like the result of twelve months of secret lessons, but it wasn’t bad either. Dani had good Samba posture, brought plenty of energy and looked as though she was enjoying herself. She needs to point her feet more, but there was a solid foundation there and obvious room for improvement, which is exactly what I want to see from a Week One dance.

Chris and Amy’s Tango was a bit of a mixed bag. This is entirely about how Amy comes across on Strictly rather than her credentials, because she is an award-winning dancer with major Latin titles to her name. Even so, I’ve always thought she looks most at home in traditional, in-hold ballroom. The harder-edged ballroom dances and more forceful Latin choreography never seem to sit quite as naturally on her. I’m interested to see what Chris can do when they get something that plays more to that softer, traditional side.

At the other end of the leaderboard, Shaun and Melanie looked like the weakest links. That doesn’t mean either of them is doomed, especially when nobody leaves in Week One, but both will need a noticeable improvement next week. Dame Sarah also scored low, although there felt like much more potential in her Quickstep than that number suggests.

My early favourite is still Jaime Winstone, even if her Tango didn’t quite deliver the moment I’d hoped for. There’s something about her that makes me want her to be good, which is obviously an entirely scientific method of judging a dance competition.

TL;DR - Nobody went home, the judges found their 8 paddles worryingly quickly and all fifteen couples have survived long enough to experience Movie Week.

Except... Movie Week is next week. What absolute nonsense is this?

Movie Week traditionally belongs in Week Three, after we’ve had two relatively normal dances and at least one elimination. We’ve barely worked out who can dance yet and now they’re all going to be covered in wigs, costumes and enough themed prop-faffing to disguise half the footwork. Some of these couples need another week to learn the basics, not three days spent pretending to be Shrek.

I enjoy Movie Week for what it is, but this is far too early. We haven’t earned the themed nonsense yet.

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Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Week One: Dances, Songs and Scores

Show Order	Celebrity	Professional	Dance	Song	Artist	Craig	Motsi	Shirley	Anton	Total
1	Will Best	Dianne Buswell	Samba	Rock DJ	Robbie Williams	4	5	4	5	18
2	Tabby Stoecker	Mark Karmalita	Jive	Gnarly	KATSEYE	4	6	5	7	22
3	Dame Sarah Storey	Julian Caillon	Quickstep	C’est Magnifique	Kay Starr	3	4	4	4	15
4	Lawrence Robb	Jowita Przystał	Paso Doble	Aperture	Harry Styles	4	5	5	6	20
5	Shaun Wright-Phillips	Alexis Warr	Cha Cha Cha	Lil Boo Thang	Paul Russell	2	4	4	5	15
6	Bethany Antonia	Nancy Xu	Quickstep	Stop This Flame	Celeste	6	7	6	7	26
7	Lacey Turner	Vito Coppola	Cha Cha Cha	How Will I Know	Whitney Houston	7	6	7	7	27
8	Chris Appleton	Amy Dowden	Tango	No Roots	Alice Merton	3	4	4	5	16
9	Melanie Walters	Aljaž Škorjanec	Cha Cha Cha	Don’t Go Breaking My Heart	Elton John and Kiki Dee	2	4	4	5	15
10	Cach Mercer	Maddie Ingoldsby	Quickstep	I Just Might	Bruno Mars	3	6	5	6	20
11	Graeme Hall	Lauren Oakley	Cha Cha Cha	Hound Dog	Smokey Joe’s Café cast	6	6	6	6	24
12	Jaime Winstone	Carlos Gu	Tango	I Feel Love	Donna Summer	5	5	5	6	21
13	Dani Dyer	Nikita Kuzmin	Samba	Lush Life	Zara Larsson	6	5	5	6	22
14	John Nellis	Katya Jones	Foxtrot	Ordinary	Alex Warren	7	8	8	8	31
15	Delta Goodrem	Kai Widdrington	Samba	Baianá	Barbatuques	7	8	7	7	29

The Birthday Card That Made Sense To Me

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:00:10 +0000

This was Michael’s birthday card this year.

It might not seem like a particularly traditional card for your son’s 33rd birthday, but as soon as I saw it I knew I had to buy it. There wasn't even really a decision to make. That was Michael's card.

When he was about two years old, Michael went to a special nursery centred around speech therapy because he struggled with forming words. He could communicate what he wanted or needed perfectly well, but the sounds in the words didn’t always come out in the right order. If he said “table”, for example, it came out as “batle”. I can still hear him saying it now.

But there was one thing that apparently didn't present the same problem.

Wonderwall.

Michael could sing Wonderwall word perfect in the car whenever we played (What's the Story) Morning Glory? And we played that CD a lot.

There are some completely insignificant bits of your children's childhood that somehow lodge themselves in your brain forever. You forget entire minor events, appointments and probably quite important milestones, but thirty-one years later you can still remember a two-year-old singing Oasis in the back of the car.

Which is why, when I saw this card, it made perfect sense to me and probably no-one else but I suppose those are the best birthday cards really. The ones that aren't particularly funny until you know the story behind them.

Although there has now been an unexpected development.

Michael informed me yesterday that he's not actually that keen on Oasis. Thirty-one years I've been carrying this lovely little memory around and apparently he's moved on. I may have to disown him.

I said maybe...

WTF Strictly : Launch Night - Is Emma The Glue We Are Looking For?

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:50:24 +0000

Strictly 2026, Week Zero. Strictly is back, although this year it feels a little bit like somebody has moved all the furniture around while we weren’t looking.

There are new presenters, new professional dancers, a largely unfamiliar celebrity line-up and, for us, no weekly WTF Strictly podcast. Vi and I have other commitments this year and we always said we would keep recording for as long as it was enjoyable and manageable. I still need somewhere to put all my Strictly opinions though, so here we are. Welcome to Week Zero, aka Launch Night.

The biggest change is obviously the new presenting team. Emma Willis was always one of my favourites for the job, along with Zoe Ball. I still wish Zoe had got it, but Emma immediately looked as though she belonged there. She was comfortable in the studio, good in the rehearsal room and generally gave the impression that, whatever happened around her, she had it covered.

Johannes already knows the programme and everybody involved in it, so I’m sure he’ll settle in. At the moment I’m still undecided about how he fits into the presenting team, although he seemed much more at ease once he was upstairs with the couples.

Josh Widdicombe looked awkward - there’s no point pretending otherwise. Three presenters also felt like one presenter too many at times, but it was a pre-recorded launch show full of scripted links and forced reactions. The live shows will hopefully give them a better chance to find their own rhythm. I mean, we were still criticising Tess's presenting skills 20 years down the line - this is just the first episode of the new team!

I liked the new pairing dance much more than I expected to, both in and out of the rehearsal room. It gave us the chance to see the celebrities with several professionals before the final partnerships were revealed, and made much more sense than pretending the pairings are all a lovely surprise. We know decisions have been made behind the scenes based on things like height, personalities and potential chemistry. It was interesting to see some of that process played out on screen.

As for the celebrities, I knew more of them than I initially thought. The crowd’s reaction when they were introduced could best be described as mild, but that happens every year. Within a couple of weeks we’ll have completely forgotten that we didn’t know who half of them were.

My entirely unscientific early favourite is Jaime Winstone. I can’t give you a sensible reason yet, but paired with Carlos she has the potential to be brilliant, chaotic, or both. I’m also really pleased that Amy Dowden seems to have been given what could be a good partner in Chris Appleton. I still think it’s such a shame that she didn’t get to see her series through with JB Gill when the foot injury forced her to leave, so hopefully this one goes well for her. People are already saying that Dani and Nikita have an unfair advantage because they were paired together last year, but Dani fractured her ankle before they even reached the first live show. It’s hardly as though she’s been having secret lessons with Nikita for the past twelve months. Lacey and Vito are definitely ones to watch, as are Delta and Kai. He’ll love having her height for the ballroom and I’m hoping she brings out more of his cheeky side. Finally, Will and Dianne look like another promising pairing. I genuinely thought she wouldn’t have a celebrity this year after returning from maternity leave and getting her own slot on It Takes Two, but this feels like a good one for her. Definitely better than Stefan last year.

Then there’s Neil. No celebrity partner again. He joined Strictly in 2016 and, in eleven series, has only been partnered with three celebrities: Alex Scott, Nina Wadia and Toyah Willcox. I wish somebody would confirm whether this is his choice because he wants to concentrate on the choreography and group numbers, or whether it’s a production decision because he’s pissed somebody off somewhere. He always seems to be front and centre, but hardly ever gets to be the professional dancer. There has to be a story there, surely?

I’m already missing Karen and I think it will take a while to get used to the new professionals, although their dancing credentials clearly aren’t in question. Mark Karmalita is giving me AJ Pritchard vibes, which is not necessarily a compliment.

My only real complaint is that we didn’t find out what everybody will be dancing in Week One. The launch show was filmed a couple of weeks ago, so they’ve already had a decent amount of training time. Give us the dances and songs so we can start making wildly premature predictions.

Still, the pairings are done, the glitterball is back and we survived the first night of the new Strictly era. It’ll be fine. Emma will hold it together.

My sunflowers survived... both me and the dog!

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 17:44:12 +0000

Earlier this year, I planted some sunflower seeds and then promptly forgot about them.

By the time I remembered, they had grown to around two feet tall and were all crammed together in one pot. I decided the sensible thing to do would be to separate them into individual pots, at which point every single one immediately wilted and looked as though I had killed it.

This probably tells you everything you need to know about my gardening technique.

Somehow, though, most of them survived. Not because I followed a carefully researched growing plan or knew what I was doing, but seemingly through a combination of water, sunshine and their own determination to live.

They grew, they flowered and, for a while, they made the yarden look properly summery. Then we introduced an Akita puppy into the mix.

Kaizer didn’t destroy all of them, but he did chew through several stems as part of his ongoing investigation into whether absolutely everything in the garden is edible. I’m not sure his pruning technique would be recommended by the Royal Horticultural Society, but a surprising number of the sunflowers survived him too.

Today I picked the final flowers and brought them indoors so I can enjoy them in a vase for a little while longer. The other heads that had already finished flowering have been cut off and put aside to dry. I’m hoping to save some of the seeds for next year, although I still don’t know whether they will grow into the same kind of sunflowers. Apparently that depends on whether they were F1 hybrids, which is another gardening term I have learned several months later than would have been useful.

So, what have I learned for next year?

I should probably remember that I’ve planted the seeds. I should separate them before they reach two feet tall. I might even label them so I know what variety they are. Or perhaps the wing-and-a-prayer method is exactly why they did so well.

Either way, these are the last of this year’s sunflowers. They survived questionable gardening skills, an unnecessarily dramatic transplanting episode and a puppy with absolutely no respect for horticulture.

They are now sitting in a vase in my house and The Chelsea Flower Show is shitting itself.

My Fastest 5K Isn't My Current Personal Best

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:09:20 +0000

I BLOODY DID IT - 38 minutes and 37 seconds.

I've been working towards getting a "3" in front of my parkrun result for a while. I'd given myself until the end of this year to run a sub-40 minute 5K but, apparently, I didn't need quite that long.

Yesterday, at Blackpool parkrun, I crossed the finish line in 38:37 - except I didn't actually know I'd done it.

My friend Rowena (and her sidekick, Hatter) was running with me and, despite knowing exactly what my goal was, she had deliberately not told me what pace we were running. This was probably helped by the fact that her watch works in miles and mine works in kilometres so any mid-run discussion about pace would require mathematical ability that I definitely don't possess whilst trying to breathe.

She knew though. And, more importantly, she knew it was achievable.

I knew Blackpool was probably my best opportunity to have a proper crack at sub-40. It's a very flat course apart from the incline by the bandstand and I'd been getting closer over recent weeks.

I also knew I'd set off faster than usual and had managed to run for longer stretches.

The weather was changeable but actually a great temperature for running and I felt OK that morning. To be fair, I nearly always feel OK when I arrive at parkrun. There's something about the atmosphere that gives me a lift before we've even started.

It was also the Blackburn Road Runners parkrun Championship meet for September, so there were loads of clubmates there. I hadn't announced that I was going for sub-40, although some of them may have seen me banging on about it on Instagram or Facebook. This goal was just for my own benefit (and a few bragging rights).

For most of the run, Rowena just kept me going without telling me how we were doing but what I didn't know was that we weren't just sneaking under 40 minutes - we were well under it. With about 500 metres to go, Rowena started pushing me as, by this point, she already knew the sub-40 was safe. She wasn't trying to get me under 40 anymore; she was trying to see just how far under it she could get me.

I thought I was done. She disagreed. Rowena knows me well enough to recognise when I genuinely haven't got anything left and when my head has simply decided that my legs have had enough. Apparently this was the latter... so she kept pushing. Then another woman running just behind us realised what was happening and joined in, telling me that if I didn't go faster she was going to overtake me.

Well, obviously I couldn't be having that so there was even something vaguely resembling a sprint finish. I crossed the line, stopped my watch and looked down.

There wasn't a huge emotional finish-line reaction. I was a bit overwhelmed, definitely, but this was also our club Championship. There were other runners finishing around me who needed congratulating and people still out on the course who we wanted to cheer across the line.

And actually, the lack of some enormous reaction doesn't mean I was underwhelmed by what I'd done. This goal wasn't for anybody else - it was for me.

There are runners who will look at 38:37 and not think it's particularly fast and that's fine. Outside of my short-lived sprint career as a teenager, I've never been a fast runner. Even when I was running at my best, I never broke 30 minutes for a 5K. My all-time PB is 31:13 and, if I'm realistic, I don't know whether I'll ever see that number again.

For a long time I think that's made it very easy to judge what I'm capable of now against what I used to be able to do. I'm trying not to do that anymore - I'm simply starting again... again.

Running has been a massive part of my life before. I was a team leader with Blackburn GroupRun and helped hundreds of people through Couch to 5K. I've stood alongside people who were convinced they couldn't run and watched them discover that actually, yes, they bloody could. I've run 10Ks and half marathons and I've chased PBs. I've had periods where I've loved running and periods where I've completely fallen out with it.

Then I broke both ankles within the space of four years. Throw lockdown into the middle of that, followed by a gradual and significant weight gain, and running quite literally stopped in its tracks.

Last year my husband was diagnosed with heart failure and we both made the decision that things had to change and part of that was losing weight. But part of my own recovery was deciding that I wanted running - and particularly parkrun - back in my life. Not the running I used to do but the running I can do now.

One of the ways I made myself commit to parkrun again was by returning to the Run Director team at Witton. These days you'll find me there most weeks as Volunteer Coordinator, checking everyone in, handing out hi-vis jackets and walkie-talkies and generally making sure everybody is where they're supposed to be.

I try to run every week now but most importantly, I'm there and I've realised that this has become a major part of getting myself back. And slowly, the speed and stamina has started coming back too.

I've now lost six stone and I've run a sub-40 minute 5K.

Those were two goals that, at various points over the last few years, felt a very long way away. I've hit them both so what happens to the 31:13?

Nothing. It stays there. That's what I ran when I was a different version of myself and I'm bloody proud that she did it but I don't need to beat her and that's probably been the biggest change in how I'm approaching running this time around.

If I spend every Saturday measuring myself against my fastest-ever 5K, I'm setting myself up for failure because that is based on an age category, a body, a fitness level and a life that I had years ago.

So I'm setting smaller goals.

Get a 3 in front of my parkrun time. Done.

Lose six stone. Done.

So what next?

Obviously I've immediately moved the goalposts. I want the sub-40 at Witton parkrun. Blackpool is flat and fast. Witton is very much not. It's a two-lap trail course and each lap contains The Beast, a hill which has absolutely earned its name and has always been my nemesis (I think I've only ever run up it once and that was many moons ago).

My recent Witton time is 42:57, so on paper there are only three minutes between where I am and where I want to be but, unfortunately, The Beast doesn't give a shit about what's written on paper yet my time at Blackpool has shown me that there is more in my legs than I sometimes think there is.

Rowena already knew that and now I do too.

Blackpool gave me my first 3 and now I want one at home.

Pupdate: Life With a 9 Week Old Akita Puppy

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:51:17 +0000

Because whenever anyone talks to me these days it’s “how’s the doggy?” and not “how are you?”

Kaizer is now 9 weeks old and we’ve decided we do actually quite like him.

For anyone who hasn’t been following along elsewhere, Kaizer is our Akita puppy and he’s been with us for a few weeks now. It turns out that introducing a puppy into your life is an excellent way of ensuring that nobody is remotely interested in anything else you have to say ever again.

He has what we affectionately call his Mad Hour at least three times a day. This is slightly misleading because (a) it doesn’t necessarily last an hour and (b) there can be several of them, so really it’s less of a Mad Hour and more of a flexible working arrangement.

Crate training is going well. He actively likes going in there for some downtime, which is fortunate because sometimes we also actively like him going in there for some downtime.

He has an entire basket full of his own toys and has finally accepted that the box containing all the accumulated toys for the grandchildren from over the years is not simply a second, more exclusive toy collection that we were keeping from him.

This has taken some negotiation.

The glamorous world of puppy training

House training is going exactly as you’d expect. Sometimes he goes outside and we celebrate like he’s just won the lottery. Sometimes he looks us directly in the eye and pisses on the floor.

We’re calling it a work in progress.

He’s also currently exploring the fascinating concept that clothes are generally worn by people and aren’t interactive tug toys.

Negotiations remain ongoing.

There are times when I feel as though the majority of my vocabulary has been reduced to NO, GET DOWN, LEAVE IT and various sentences beginning with “What have you got in your mouth?”

RIP, yarden

All the beautiful flowers we had in pots around the yarden have also recently been reclassified as interactive enrichment activities. Apparently their primary purpose is to be ripped apart, chewed enthusiastically and then spat back out onto the floor. Gardening and Kaizer currently have very different definitions of deadheading.

I suspect he thinks he’s helping. He isn't.

But we quite like him really

In amongst the teeth, the zoomies, the suspicious puddles and repeatedly saying “NO” or “GET DOWN”, he’s bloody lovely.

He’s funny, clever, increasingly confident and already very much part of the family.

There is something fascinating about watching a puppy gradually work out how his new household operates, where everything is, who is most likely to give in, which noises make everyone immediately look at him, which things he's allowed to chew and, more importantly, which things he's not allowed to chew and are therefore infinitely more desirable.

And he's discovering that being adorable gets you out of an astonishing amount of trouble.

🐾 Obviously his legal team advises that all allegations made in this post are strongly denied 🐾

My Recent WIP : The Whirl Mandela Cardigan

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sat, 16 May 2026 13:02:05 +0000

My recent crochet WIP has been this Whirl Mandela cardigan/shawl. I'd bought what I thought was enough yarn but it became blatantly obvious when I was three-quarters of the way through that I'd completely misjudged the amount I'd need.

I jumped back on the website but as the yarn had been in their outlet, they were sold out. I thought I'd throw myself on their mercy with a cheeky email asking if they had any languishing in a dark and dusty corner of their website, but didn't hold much hope and Plan B was to finish it off with a contrasting colour.

To my joy, Matt at The Wool Factory offered to search their Sheffield store, sourced 5 balls (more than enough), sent me an invoice and posted them off to me. That's the level of customer service that keeps you returning to feed your needs!

I've made this as a shrug type evening cozy for the summer and it was an easy pattern to follow so I could lose myself in it during the evenings. It was also the smallest hook I've used for any project.

Hook : 3.5mm
Yarn : Next Gen DK (100% recycled fibre)
Colour : Mid Grey
Amount : 8 x 100g balls
Total Stitches : 18,386

Should Under-16s Be Banned from Social Media – Or Are We Asking the Wrong Question?

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:29:00 +0000

Every so often, a headline lands that feels less like news and more like a collective intake of breath.

Recently, it’s been the idea of banning under-16s from social media. Australia has acted. Spain is talking seriously about it. The UK is 'consulting', which is political code for we know this is complicated but we need to be seen to do something.

If you’re a parent, carer, or anyone who has ever watched a teenager scroll at lightning speed while claiming they’re “not really doing anything”, this probably sparked a mix of relief, confusion, agreement, and dread. Relief because something might finally change. Dread because banning something rarely makes it disappear.

Twelve years ago, and in partnership with Jump! Mag, I made a lot of noise about the access that children had to social media. Parents reported that they were already anxious about safety, peer pressure, screen time, and digital footprints that felt permanent before kids even understood what permanent meant however they were the ones that were allowing the access. For younger children in particular, another component of that conversation can also include creating more opportunities away from devices through screen-free activities that encourage play, creativity and interaction.

What’s changed since isn’t the worry. It’s the scale. Childhood doesn’t just brush up against the internet anymore. It forms part of it.

My research (and your input) isn’t here to defend social media, and it’s not here to shout “ban it all” either. It’s here to slow the conversation down long enough to ask better questions. What are we actually worried about? What do children get from being online that adults often dismiss? And what happens when policy tries to fix a human problem with a technical solution?

I’m also launching a short podcast series in the very near future, digging into the reality behind the headlines and using research, lived experience, and voices that don’t usually make it into government soundbites. If we’re going to talk about banning childhood from the internet, we should probably understand what childhood online actually looks like first.

This is where I need your help. I've created a survey which I would like you to fill in. It's completely anonymous but does need you to spend about 15 minutes completing it. I'd also like you to share it so it reaches a wide audience with the results being fair and measured, providing a real snapshot of children's online activity in 2026.

You can complete the survey below or by clicking on this link

https://forms.gle/vYdCP9z1m6qPKmnY9

Thank you in advance and stay tuned for the next update!

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The accompanying short podcast series will explore childhood in the age of social media. Through lived experience, research, and real voices, it will look beyond headlines to ask what children actually need to grow up safely, confidently, and human in a digital world.

Children in the Public Eye: From Blogs to Brooklyn Beckham

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:11:00 +0000

Everyone is talking about Brooklyn Beckham’s statement, and I’ve had thoughts about children in the public eye for a long time - though mine are rooted more in the blogging and vlogging world than celebrity culture.

It was this quote that stood out most to me in Brooklyn’s exposé:

“For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives [..] about our family. The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.”

You can scroll back through this blog and see that it started around 2009. Before that, I used various precursors to blogging platforms to document my thoughts and memories. Before social media (fuck, that makes me sound so old), blogging was a way to talk to people about… well, literally anything and everything. I shared family pictures, started discussions, and built a small but respectful community.

As the internet developed and my readership grew, I was approached by some forward-thinking brands who recognised the power of blogging. That was the beginning of what is now called “online influencing”.

With that power came great responsibility. I always felt I had to be genuine and honest, so my reviews were balanced. Some of those reviews were family-focused products or experiences, which meant including images or quotes from my children (and later, grandchildren).

But as they grew older, I had to respect their wishes not to have their pictures or thoughts shared online. I was also very aware that the internet had changed - once something is published, you relinquish control.

Bear with me, I’m getting to the point…

As blogging evolved, some of my peers built hugely successful careers from their writing. Some of us moved into vlogging, and we watched the rise of daily family vlogs documenting everyday life. On the surface it sounds mundane, but people wanted to watch other people doing normal things. It gave a sense of comfort, and of normality.

In these vlogs - and in “normal” family life - everything appeared to be shown. But it wasn’t. What we saw was a carefully curated version of reality. An entire day edited down into a 10-minute to one-hour snapshot. The parents controlled the edit. They controlled the narrative. Exactly as Brooklyn is now describing.

Because of my interest in blogging, social media, and vlogging, I’ve followed a number of families who film their lives day in, day out. I’ve watched their children grow from newborns into pre-teens, teenagers, and beyond. I’ve arguably been shown more information about those children than I have about my own grandchildren.

But it’s still a constructed story - one designed to draw viewers back every single day.

I could easily name the worst offenders, but what’s more concerning is how this behaviour has bled onto newer platforms like TikTok. Parents identifying their children by name. Using them in monetised content and product placements. Making a life lived through a phone screen seem completely normal.

What worries me is that those videos - the footage, the captions, the Instagram grids - may end up being the most damaging thing these children face when they eventually step out into the wider world. They’ve been filmed, often without meaningful consent, for most of their lives.

Parents will argue that there are private moments, that the camera isn’t on all the time. But the reality remains: fortunes have been made - real, life-changing money through brand deals and ad revenue - by turning their children into content. Into performers. Into the product.

And once that narrative is out there, it can’t be edited back out.

Brooklyn Beckham speaking out feels less like celebrity drama and more like a warning shot. He’s simply one of the most visible examples of something that’s been quietly normalised for years - parents controlling the narrative of their children’s lives for public consumption. Whether it’s a global celebrity family or a YouTube account filmed in a kitchen, the mechanism is the same. Childhood becomes content, consent becomes assumed, and the edit belongs to the adult holding the camera. The uncomfortable truth is that many of these children won’t realise the weight of what’s been shared about them until it’s far too late to take it back.

Using My Scrap Yarn To Make A Storage Basket - a crochet project with pattern

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 09:39:00 +0000

I recently finished a yarn basket made from those little ends of yarn balls. You know the ones – not enough to make anything useful, but somehow still too much to throw away. When I showed it to a couple of fellow crafters, they asked for the pattern… except there isn’t one.

I took inspiration from a few scrap yarn projects I’d seen on Facebook groups and YouTube, but mostly I just winged it. I’ve never written a pattern before, and I don’t even have progression photos, so we can dive straight in without you having to read my life story or a tale about how this was my grandmother’s pattern, passed down through generations using a secret code.

PREPARATION

I used a 6mm hook and two strands of contrasting colours, joining the next colour with a magic knot when I reached the end of each ball of yarn. The entire basket is worked using half treble crochet (UK terms - I believe the US equivalent is a half double crochet).

BASE

Chain 6, then join with a slip stitch to form a circle.

Work 6 half trebles into the circle and join with a slip stitch.

Chain 2 to start, then work:

2 half trebles into the next stitch
1 half treble into the following stitch

Continue this pattern all the way around and join with a slip stitch.

Tip: Use a stitch marker for the start/end of each round so you don’t lose your place.

Carry on increasing in this way with each round until your circle (the base of your basket) is the size you want. Don’t worry if you don’t have the exact number of stitches to keep the 2–1 increase pattern perfect – no one will ever know.

SIDES

Work 1 half treble into each stitch, with no increases

Continue working in a spiral until the sides are tall enough for the handles.

HANDLES

Lay your work flat and find the middle stitch. Count 10 stitches either side and place a stitch marker at each point. Repeat this on the opposite side of the basket.

When you reach a stitch marker, chain 21, then join back to the stitch at the other marker. Work your way around to the next stitch marker and repeat.

On the next round, when you reach the first chain, work a half treble into each chain stitch, then join back onto the main structure of the basket. Continue around until you reach the second chain and do the same.

On the following round, carry on as normal.

FINISHING OFF

Work three or four more rounds to add some thickness to the top and the handles, then finish off. It doesn’t matter where you end, as you’ve been working in a spiral. Weave in your ends so there’s no obvious start or finish.

My Storyteller Blanket (pattern by Attic24)

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 19:55:00 +0000

You may already have seen my images on Instagram but I couldn't be happier with how my version of the Storyteller Blanket by Attic24 turned out! But there's a bit of background to how we ended up here...

One of my team at work was interested in relearning how to crochet a granny square after trying a few years ago but losing interest. We started a mini crochet club in our lunch break and by the end of the first week, she was stitch-perfect! I went on annual leave for a week and, by the time I returned, she was crocheting pumpkins for Halloween and decorations for the office.

We both spotted the Storyteller pattern announcement on Facebook and thought it would be a perfect project to work on side-by-side. She ordered the official yarn pack but I saw it as a great opportunity to use up a good chunk of my yarn stash, which seems to have accumulated a lot of pink and purple.

On top of this, rather than following the pattern to the letter, I went a bit rogue. I opted for fewer rows than suggested, and - just for fun - I added pattern-matching squares at the top and bottom before edging it with the border. That's the beauty of handmade craft though - you aren’t bound by rules. You can take inspiration from a pattern and still make it unmistakably yours.

Me and Vicki checked in with each other occasionally and I worked on mine mainly in the evenings, It took about six weeks all together and now it sits at the end of my sofa for when I need it on these colder winter nights.

The Attic24 pattern list is always my first port of call if I'm looking for a new project to start, or a tutorial for a specific stitch pattern so I can totally recommend giving the Storyteller blanket a go, regardless of how long you've been crocheting - it's a good starter for a beginner or something relaxing for a more experiened crocheter,

Don’t be afraid to colour outside the lines. Use what you have, follow your heart, and trust that what you create will be uniquely yours. Because that’s the real magic of handmade.

Soundtrack To My Life - Songs I Found By Accident

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 19:24:00 +0000

For those of you that are new here, I used to host an irregular series called "Soundtrack To My Life" where I invited friends to share five songs that transported them back to a specific moment in time. It didn't have to be a major life event; just a treasured memory that you associate with that particular song. I occasionally interjected with my own lists of music and now I think it's time to revive the series.

This time, I want to share songs that I discovered by accident. Now, back in the day (haha, that makes me sound SO old!) the only time I heard anything outside of my comfort zone was by friend's recommendations or... well, you'll see. Nowadays, it's more likely to be by following 'you might like this' recommendations on Spotify. But it provides an eclectic playlist

This time, I’m sharing songs I stumbled across completely by accident. Back in the day (I know, that phrase instantly adds years on me, doesn’t it?) the only way I’d hear something outside my usual playlist was through a friend’s recommendation - or, well, you’ll find out in a minute. These days, it’s all thanks to those sneaky “you might like this” suggestions on Spotify. The result? A gloriously random, wonderfully eclectic playlist.

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Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks

When I was 16, I went on a caravan holiday with my parents to Trewan Hall in St Columb, Cornwall. Caravan holidays were always met with a sense of freedom and the knowledge that there wasn't much emphasis on time. We were holidaying with some lifelong family friends and the campsite catered for kids of our age with a dedicated hang out space called the Loft Barn (stereo, pool table, table tennis, seated areas with cushions) and a heated swimming pool. We were away for two weeks and made some great friends. There are so many treasured memories of this holiday (I might write about that another time) but on a couple of occasions, we snuck off to the local village and somehow managed to get served cider, making sure we were back before the campsite 'quiet time' at 11pm. In this local pub, the jukebox music left a lot to be desired, but this song ended up as the anthem to our holiday. We didn't listen closely to the lyrics but sung along together every time we heard it. I have glorious memories of this holiday and it was the last time I went away with my parents which is probably another reason why I remember it fondly.

YouTube link | Spotify link

Band of Gold - Freda Payne

It's another jukebox story but this time from my local village pub. I was the youngest in our friendship group (still only 17 when everyone else was between 18 and 21) but they took my under their wing. One night, in The Ship Inn, at Freckleton, someone selected an Elvis number from the jukebox but out rang 'Band of Gold'. We all jeered and said that the wrong numbers must have been pushed so we tried again... and the same thing happened. I fell in love with the song but no-one knew what it was called. I visited a small record shop in the next town and tried to describe the song and some of the lyrics and, to my surprise, the owner of the shop knew which song it was. I ordered it, waited a couple of weeks, and then picked it up so I could play it any time I wanted on my own record player.

YouTube link | Spotify link

All God's Creatures - The Houghton Weavers

Village life presents very strange opportunities and for some reason, The Houghton Weavers (a Lancashire folk band) held one of their concerts in the village hall. Even more bizarrely, my dad bought tickets for the whole family. I can't have been very old (9 or 10) and I remember Dad giving me money to buy one of their albums and then lining up to have it signed by the band!! Moving on a few years, we had a cassette of their music in the car and All God's Creatures was one of the ones we sang together as a family

YouTube link | Spotify link

Chippy Tea - The Lancashire Hotpots

Back when the internet was very young, I discovered a website called diffusiononline which was full of daft songs (one that sticks in my head was about David Dickinson and another was a remix of the Phoenix Nights theme tune). Fast forward a few years and the team behind this website have morphed into the Lancashire Hotpots. I'd heard "Chippy Tea" ages before it went viral and knew these guys were something a bit special!

YouTube link | Spotify link

Drama - Spencer Sutherland

I don't listen to a lot of new music but occasionally Spotify will chuck a random song in the middle of a 'music you might like' playlist and this is how I discovered Spencer Sutherland. He sounds a bit like Mika, which is probably why it appeals to me.

YouTube link | Spotify link

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Find out more about Soundtrack To My Life here then read and listen to all previous Soundtrack To My Life entries. If you want to participate please let me know.

What Does A Volunteer Coordinator Do At parkrun?

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 14:52:00 +0000

I thought you might be interested in the Volunteer Coordinator set up at Witton parkrun. This is the table where all volunteers come to register for their high-viz hero stint and where they receive all their training (if needed).

I have my clipboard which has a list of all the lovely volunteer's names and their assigned role for this week. I check them off as they arrive and issue them with their bib (in a bag, just out of sight).

As our route is mainly on trail paths, in the woods, we issue most of our marshals with a walkie-talkie and a lanyard which holds laminated directions to their marshal point and emergency instructions if needed (including the 'What Three Words' reference for their marshal point). They are asked to radio through to the Run Director when the first runner and when the Tail Walker has passed, on both loops. This information is also radioed through to all marshals so everyone has a good idea of where all runners and walkers are on the course.

On the table you can see our tokens - sorted back into number order from last week on our custom-built hook system. These are then lifted off and put on a shoelace - retaining their numerical order... VERY IMPORTANT - and go into the little bag that our ED Michelle made so it's easy to carry to the Finish Funnel.

We have a sign-up sheet so that you can jot your name down in advance to volunteer next week - or at any point in the future.

The plastic box houses a keyring full of laminated printed barcodes of most of our regular participants so they know they have one less thing to think about each week. We also have another box that you can safely leave your keys and/or mobile phone if you don't want to run with them.

Next is the noise! We pride ourselves on having enthusiastic and LOUD marshals as encouragement and praise is very much needed at all parts of our course. Marshals can take a cowbell or a tambourine or just rely on their vocal chords.

We have our first aid kit to hand just in case - we also have a defibrillator close by, because you never know! It's better to have these items and not use them, than not have them and need them.

After you have finished your parkrun, we occasionally have cakes available - these here are left over from my 100th parkrun a few weeks back. We ALWAYS have dog treats though - these are in the Celebrations box so don't be dipping in there and expecting a Bounty or a Malteaser mini bar! You can pick yourself up a free 10 year anniverary Witton parkrun keyring though - we have lots of these left!

Well done on getting to the end - I'd love to know if you found this interesting. And let me know if you want to volunteer next week - I'll pop your name down on my sheet.

Finding That Perfect Short Hair Style

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:50:00 +0000

I have always had short hair. It has rarely been long and the one time in my adult life that I let it grow past my shoulders, it was scraped back in a hair tie, Croydon facelift style. Many people seem to think that my short hair would make it easier to manage but it actually isn't.

I have a Pinterest board dedicated to short hair cuts because I am forever on a quest to find the perfect cut. even though my hair will almost always look the same after a trim, cut or re-style. I can never decide what I want my hair to look like and even if I take a picture or two of a celebrity with a great short haircut along to the hairdressers it will never look like *that*. Also, before I settled with one hairdresser, all stylists would ask, "Are you sure you want it this short?" which was always a tad annoying but, I suppose, if it doesn't look right after it's been cut, you have to live with it for a very long time - no pinning it up out of the way.

Once you are happy with your new short hair you may presume that you can brush-and-go but, oh no! We use ALL the products you can think of... mousse to thicken, wax or putty to style, spray to keep it in place and a myriad of other lotions and potions to make it look natural and 'just so'. You can guarantee that if you don't have time to wash your hair in the morning there will be a tuft that sticks up at the crown or on the side of your head and no manner of product will make it look right. There's just so. much. faffing...

What I have done is watch a number of YouTube videos to learn how to blow dry my hair. My favourite person - of a similar age to myself - is Dominique Sachse. She has some great tutorials which make me reach for my mdlondon BLOW hairdryer and give it a go!

Part of my problem is that my hair is very fine. It looks great when I leave the hairdressers but I struggle to get it looking the same after I've washed it. After a week, the small amount of growth gives it a totally different look and my ~~very grey~~ roots show through quickly. In fact, there's so much messing around with it that I sometimes decide to let it grow out again. But then it takes so flipping long to grow that I end up going to get it cut again. I haven't even touched on other annoying aspects such as 'hat hair' (more tufty, sticky-up bits) or 'runner's hair' (plastered to your head). In fact, I would just like a personal stylist to follow me around, making sure it's always glossy and perfect. Any takers?

#FirstWorldProblems... *sigh*

How I Managed A Team Building Exercise With A Remote Working Team

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Fri, 17 May 2024 18:07:00 +0000

Based on an idea I saw on TikTok, I have been hosting a team-building exercise under the guise of an interdepartmental battle - Ribble Rivals. It was time our Customer Service Team and our Showroom Team got to know each other a bit better.

I meticulously planned a five week knockout tournament, created a set of rules, and sprung it upon everyone in a Teams group chat one random Friday. Week 1 aside, the challenge would be presented at 10am on Monday, the entries had to be in by 3pm on Friday. The winners of that round would be announced at 4pm on the same Friday. Once participants had been eliminated from the competition, they could be called upon to support and assist other players if required. Or they could jeer from the cheap seats… whatever was their preference.

Round 1 - Draw a perfect circle : everyone was invited to participate in the first game but there were only 32 places available. First come, first served. You snooze, you lose! Using the website perfectcircle.net they had to draw a perfect circle, screenshot the result and send it to me by Teams direct message. They had a week to practise and their private message to me was their one and only entry. I concocted a system to randomly allocate battle partners and 16 people made it through to the next round.

Round 2 - Are You Ready For Your Close Up : I took 15 high(ish) resolution pictures of items from around my house and zoomed them in. The 16 participants again had to submit their entries to me in private and if there was a tie-breaker, then I would look at how specific the answers had been.

Round 3 - QUARTER FINALS : Dog Poo Golf : it is on occasions like this that I applaud the time that the members of b3ta put aside to make seemingly pointless but addictive games for nerds. Dog Poo Golf was a ‘lowest score wins’ game but the tie breaker in this situation depended on what size dog you selected (size of dog, weight of poo bag).

Round 4 - SEMI FINALS : Singalong : I think I made this round too simple, if I’m being honest. I used Audacity to mash together 2-4 second clips from intros of popular songs from the past 40 years. I didn’t announce how many songs were used but it was obvious from the first listen. The clips should have been shorter and merged better, and I should have used a ‘songs that sound like each other’ twist that I have talked about on my radio show, but I’ve had requests from participants to use it for their own family quizzes, so not all is lost and I didn’t get a full house from the four remaining participants.

Round 5 - FINAL - Paper Planes : I had to take it back to basics for the last round. The two finalists had a week to research and practise the best fold for their paper plane and they were only allowed to use one sheet of A4 paper - no sellotape, paperclips or other weird and wonderful accessories. The final throw had to be filmed and measured in a one-take shot to ensure there was no cheating and both attempts had to be completed indoors to allow for equal environments and no wind assistance.

The two finalist worked in different areas of the business (one at HQ and one in a showroom) - it was the ultimate battle and the video evidence was comical, including a battle with a tape measure, doubt regarding whether the measurements were accurate and would be accepted, the involvement of family members and colleagues, and… of course… the tension!

The desired impact from each round was

Round 1 - icebreaker, accomplishment, friendly competition
Round 2 - attention to detail, creative thinking
Round 3 - randomness, humour, strategy
Round 4 - simple entertainment
Round 5 - skill, precision, creativity - plus tension, excitement

Overall, this exercise hopefully fostered team spirit, encouraged creativity and problem-solving, and provided an opportunity for employees from different departments to interact and get to know each other better.

I would love to know if you’ve done something similar with your team.

Resources :

Perfect Circle https://neal.fun/perfect-circle/#google_vignette

Dog Poo Golf https://vole.wtf/dog-poo-golf/

B3ta https://b3ta.com/

Audacity https://www.audacityteam.org/

Prize :

A fidget toy pack to relieve stress https://amzn.to/3WOjsDU

As It's 35 Years Since I Left School, Lets See What Was Going On In 1988?

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Mon, 01 May 2023 12:24:00 +0000

I've just realised that it's been 35 years since I left high school and I can't help but feel a bit nostalgic. It was the 1988 and so much has changed since then. But there are certain things that will always stay with us, like the music, films, and news stories that shaped that year. So, take a trip down memory lane with me and revisit the top five number one singles, films, and news stories from 1988 in the UK.

First, let's talk about music. 1988 was a great year for pop music, with some of the biggest names in the business releasing hit after hit. But the top five number one singles in the UK chart that year were:

"I Should Be So Lucky" by Kylie Minogue
"Especially for You" by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan
"The Only Way Is Up" by Yazz and the Plastic Population (definitely my anthem of the summer)
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Hollies (I'm sure this was because it was used in an advert)
"Mistletoe and Wine" by Cliff Richard

These songs may seem like relics from a bygone era now, but at the time they were the soundtrack to our lives.

Now, let's talk about films. The top five most popular films in the UK from 1988 were:

These films are still beloved classics today, but back then they were the talk of the town. Whether it was the heartwarming story of Rain Man, the groundbreaking animation of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, or the zany comedy of A Fish Called Wanda, these movies captured our imaginations and took us on unforgettable journeys.

Finally, let's talk about news. 1988 was a year of big events and changes in the UK, with many major news stories capturing the attention of the nation. The top five news stories from that year were:

Lockerbie bombing
Piper Alpha oil platform disaster
Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea
Publication of the "Westland affair" letters
Colin Wallace, a former Army intelligence officer, is cleared of manslaughter charges

These news stories may not be as immediately recognizable as the music and films of the time, but they had a profound impact on the country and the world.

Looking back on all of this, it's hard not to feel a sense of awe at the passage of time. So much has changed since 1988, but so much has stayed the same. We may be older and wiser now, but the music, films, and news stories of that year will always hold a special place in our hearts.

My First Yarnbomb!

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 18:41:00 +0000

Fellow yarn enthusiasts! Today, I want to chat about yarnbombing! I know, I know, some of you may have heard about it before, but I saw my first one in the wild today!

For those of you who don't know, yarnbombing is basically when crocheted or knitted pieces are installed in public spaces to add some color and texture to the urban landscape. And let me tell you, it is just the most delightful thing to stumble upon!

Today, on the way back from parkrun I saw a postbox that had been covered in the most beautiful rainbow-colored crochet. I couldn't help but smile and feel a little bit of joy in my heart. It was just so unexpected and charming!

Now, as a crocheter myself, I can only imagine the amount of time and effort that goes into creating something like that. But you know what? I think it's totally worth it. Not only is yarnbombing a way to brighten up our surroundings, but it's also a way to bring attention to the art of crochet and knitting.

Speaking of crochet, I have been a fan of this wonderful hobby for years now. There is just something so relaxing about the process of creating something with my own two hands, and the satisfaction of completing a project is just the best feeling in the world.

If you're interested in picking up crochet or are already a seasoned pro, you should definitely check out some of the other crochet posts on this website. From tips and tricks to patterns and project ideas, there's something for everyone.

So, there you have it - my first encounter with yarnbombing. I have to say, I am officially hooked (pun intended!). I can't wait to find more of these delightful installations on my travels, and who knows, maybe one day I'll even contribute my own piece of yarny goodness to the mix. Until then, happy crocheting!

Buying My Stationery On TikTok

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:49:00 +0000

Today is "Blue Monday" but I'm going to help you beat the blues by telling you about my friend's stationery shop.

I've known Jules for about 20 years. We met on an online forum where mothers supported other mothers, and many a friendship blossomed from there. Thanks to the internet, most of us have managed to keep in touch even though the forum shut down many years ago. Side note : if you listened to the WTF Strictly podcast last year, it's the same forum that I met my co-host, Violet, on.

She does have a website - FluterbyHT - but the main action is on TikTok @flutterbyht where she 'goes live' most days, chatting to existing and potential customers, showing new products, promoting special offers and providing that unique behind-the-scenes view where she packs orders as they are received.

What started out as a little side-hustle just over a year ago has grown into a multi-faceted business. Jules' husband started out helping to pack orders but has now opened his own TikTok shop selling sweets! Jules has even spoken at a TikTok conference, talking about building up a business using their social platform.

I've purchased a couple of times from Jules (try and stop me purchasing stationery.., GO ON, I DARE YOU) but just had to buy some metallic coloured pencils to go with a stress-busting colouring book that I received as a Christmas present from my son. I also bought some highlighter pens that are now locked in my desk drawer at work along with 2023 Hobonichi Cousin.

I'm so proud of Jules for following a dream and turning it into a business that she loves and is growing. Take a look at her shop and support this small business where you can. There are some hidden gems in amongst the pens, pencils and planners.

Is 2023 Ready For Me?

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 20:42:00 +0000

Ok…

🎂 2022 was the year I turned 50. FIFTY YEARS OLD!

💼 2022 was the the year that I started a new job which allowed me to use existing skills and build on those in a brand new, exciting role in a world-renown company.

🏃🏻‍♀️ 2022 was the year that my running was sporadic - I only entered one race but I did hit my 50 parkrun milestone.

✈️ 2022 was the year we went to Menorca for the first time and managed to completely switch off and do nothing.

🍅 2022 was the year that I grew tomatoes for the first time. My crop of 17 was a huge success!

🎧 2022 was the year that my radio show ended but I used my expertise to create a podcast that went global in a very short space of time.

➡️ 2023 has a lot to live up

❤️‍🩹 2023 will include more running, maybe a bit more writing, definitely more books and more crochet and more jigsaws to help with my own well-being.

🌍 2023 hopefully brings a bit more travel than the past few years. UK or further afield - I don't mind.

👩🏻 2023 is the year I want to look at personal growth to create a better me in the workspace and develop my role.

❓ 2023 will be a more healthier year and who knows what else is around the corner?

(this post can also be found on my Instagram account)

My Diary For 2023

typecastblog@gmail.com (Nickie O'Hara) — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 16:15:00 +0000

Every year I write a blog post about which diary system or set up I am going to use for the following twelve months. In recent years, I have moved away from a Filofax (I trialled something earlier this year - more of that in a minute) and fallen in love with the Hobonichi printed diaries.

For the last two years I have used a Hobonichi Weeks as my personal planner and I won't be deviating from that this year. I have tried a Hobonichi Techo A6 a couple of times but have never managed to feel comfortable with it size-wise. I have always lusted after the Hobonichi Cousin A5 as a main work planner so, this year, I have bitten the bullet at launch time and invested in my very first one.

Hobonichi Weeks

The Hobonichi Weeks is a slim diary with a yearly, monthly and weekly layout. The main section is a "week to view with notes" and there are an additional 70 note pages at the back. This year (2022) I used the "Mega" version which comes with almost three times as many note pages and has meant that I haven't had to carry a separate notebook but I feel that section went underused so I have reverted back to the original style this year.

Every year there are new cover design launches which means that certain styles are sold out very quickly. This year, I have managed to purchase a Liberty cover design which is slightly textured so may protect this with a clear cover that I already own.

Apart from my Filofax, this diary is the most practical for my needs, hence it being the third year in succession that I will be using it. I have been down many a rabbit hole on YouTube and Instagram looking at decorations and page divider options but I just need somewhere to jot down reminders and appointments so will very probably only use a simple sectioning layout that I find useful.

Hobonichi Cousin

I have invested in the Cousin to use as my work planner as it houses a yearly, monthly and weekly planning section alongside a day-on-one-page diary which means that I can plan my day plus take meeting notes where required. I can also use the Saturday and Sunday pages as spill-over.

The cover of the Cousin is plain card so I have purchased a cover from Etsy to make it a little bit more sturdy. There are pockets on the inside of the cover and two page markers which will all come in useful. The cover is suede, which isn't really practical and should be protected with a plastic 'cover on cover' but I feel this will bulk it out too much.

The Pens And Pencils

I like a chunky pen and write with my Monteverde Prima every single day and I always have my real ink J Herbin rollerball to hand. As a result, my handwriting is quite big which doesn't suit the small spaces of the Hobonichi so I have treated myself to a couple of new writing implements just for use in these diaries and Muji was my first port of call.

Firstly I have a Muji 2-colour ballpoint pen (red and black ink) with mechanical pencil. The nib on the pens is 0.7mm which is the finest I have written with in recent times. A recommendation for the Hobonichi planners is to have a 0.5mm nib so I bought a box of 10 gel ink ballpoint pens - also from Muji - which have a retractable tip.

I always like to use a pencil when forward planning (hence the inclusion of the mechanical pencil in the multi-pen) and was sent a pack of pencils to try out from *Sprout. Mine were from the 'Mindful Thoughts' range and are personalised with an inspirational quote. As pencils go, they look and feel like a regular, practical pencil but the one reason I'm happy to give them a mention is that when you have finished with the pencil, you can plant the stub and it will grow into herbs, flowers, vegetables or even spruce trees. I'm all for supporting fantastic sustainable products like this!

Tried and Tested

Earlier this year, I thought about stripping down a Hobonichi Weeks and housing the pages in my personal Filofax so I bought an out-of-date diary to test this. Aesthetically, it looked good but the paper (tomoe river) is a little too delicate for movement on the rings and reinforcement stickers would be needed. Six on each page for around 150 pages was more dedication that I was prepared to give. Plus, even though I gently cut the cotton binding, the pages were still a little rough on the inner edges and would possibly need guillotining. Way too much time and effort BUT if Hobonichi were to offer inserts for a Filofax then I'd be first in the queue.

*This product was sent to me earlier this year as a review product. For more information about this, and other brand relationships, please view my disclosure policy.