Aha, yes, here is where you will discover it all, Tish loving, SCD mad darlings. Forget the documentary (actually don't; go watch it! Again! And again, damn it, resistance is futile my friends!) Forget Saturday night! THIS is where you will discover in what lucky publications Tish & Darren have appeared in the passing weeks.
I will give a weekly rundown just so I know I'm on top of things. Masses of thanks go to the magazine scouting girls set up over at IAL, wouldn't be doing this without your help!
Note: I do not claim ownership of ANY articles displayed here. They remain solely copyrighted by their respective publications. They are simply watermarked so that the effort of scanning for this site does not go unnoticed. As long as the watermark is NEVER removed, you are very welcome to use them.
Woman celebrate Letitia's incredible weight loss and gorgeous new size 8 figure! Well done Tish, be happy!
Darren speaks exclusively about Letitia's Strictly journey
Click the icon to see the full article
Thanks to Kelly for the scans
Thanks to Laura @ IAL for finding this article
SOUTH Yorkshire dancer Darren Bennett today praised his Strictly Come Dancing partner Letitia Dean as "fantastic" - as he confessed he's looking forward to a well-earned rest over Christmas.
Darren, who lives in Rotherham with his dance partner and wife Lilia Kopylova, has spent months rehearsing and performing in the smash-hit BBC show.
Now Darren is planning a festive break with family and friends in South Yorkshire - before going on tour with Strictly, including a date at Sheffield Arena, in the New Year.
Darren and former EastEnders actress Letitia became the tenth couple to be voted out of the BBC show last weekend after making it through to the quarter finals.
But Darren, born in Deepcar and brought up in Todwick and whose family runs City Limits dance studio on Penistone Road, Sheffield, said he was delighted with his partner's progress over the weeks of the competition.
He said the moment he and Letitia realised they were in the dance-off with the bookies' favourite singer Alesha Dixon he knew they were out.
"Letitia was fantastic. She did brilliantly well getting through to the quarter finals - we didn't think we would be there at the very beginning because there was some really strong competition this year," he said.
"But Letitia grew in confidence and ability and at the end she was right up there competing with the best of them.
"Everyone is better at one style and for Letitia it was ballroom rather than Latin but she worked really hard on the Latin. She just didn't like the feeling of dancing on her own.
"The Waltz she did on Saturday was fantastic and if she had not been ill the week before with her Quickstep she would have nailed that one too."
He said despite leaving the show he and wife Lilia are both still working hard and filmed a Christmas Day special this week.
And they are busy rehearsing for a celebrity dance they are due to perform in tonight's show.
"We have the semi and then the final to go and then we are going to have Christmas and the New Year off at home with family and friends before going on tour around the country with the show," he added.
"We are looking forward to coming to Sheffield in February and believe that tickets are selling really well there."
Letitia's run
[11 December 2007]
Praise has been pouring in for Letitia Dean after she became the 10th celebrity to leave the competition this weekend.
Strictly fans have been posting messages of support on the boards for Letitia praising her determination and graciousness. So we thought it was only fitting to publish some of the best ones. Letitia you did yourself proud!
ballroom-belle - She looked stunning and danced beautifully in the dance-off, knowing full well it would be her last dance with Darren. She made me smile with her mock excitement, then disappointment at Craig saying he was choosing the person he thought was the best dancer in the competition...and then not picking her!!
treetopsquash - Letitia was great and I agree she's been the finest embodiment of what this show is all about and why people love it.
loveshowbizz - Letitia upped her game in the whole show in every way but she double upped her game for the dance-off even though she must have known that she was going home. She has every reason to be very proud of herself for showing sheer determination and professionalism all the way through and even more so this week.
coolquicksilva - Could you PLEASE first of all tell Darren and Letitia how proud their fans are of them? They did themselves justice and were very gracious on their leaving.
Remember if you need a Letitia fix at any time, you can watch all her dances again in our video section. And if you're feeling really soppy, why not go back and remember how it all began.
[11 December 2007]
Well, after yet another sensational show this week, we sadly had to say our goodbyes to Letitia. But what a girl! She did so well. It was like she finally had the confidence to get out on that dance floor and give it her all on Saturday, and it was plain to see that she was loving every minute of it. It's so sad to see her go, and we're all going to miss her so much. I'll miss her giving me a big hug at the end of every show, she was so much fun to be around. But one thing's for sure, she's had an absolute ball. Well done Tish � you're a star!
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs from 6:30pm on BBC 2.
[07 December 2007]
Despite having less time than usual to train for Saturday's show, Darren and Letitia have still found time to sit down and reflect on their amazing journey so far.
'Dancing with Letitia for three and a half months has been amazing' says Darren. 'We've had days that will go down in Strictly history � we've laughed so much. I've not laughed quite so much on Strictly in the four years I've done it.'
'Darren and I have formed a lovely bond,' says Letitia. 'We have been together now since September � we get on well and it has been a joy. I would like to have private lessons with him afterwards.'
'To dance in front of an audience with Darren Bennett World Champion is second to none � he is amazing. When my last dance comes I'll have mixed emotions. I feel like I have won a prize by dancing with him.'
Darren says their last dance will be emotional for both of them. 'We've been through a lot. It's not been straight forward. We've worked hard for every mark this series.'
'For me, Letitia couldn't have do anything more than she's already done. She's worked harder than anyone. I've seen a massive change. The public have got to know the real Letitia Dean.'
Despite struggling to squeeze in training sessions between panto rehearsals, Letitia's determined to make it to the semi-final. 'I play the fairy in the pantomime who grants wishes, maybe I should have a word with her and she will help for Saturday night,' she smiles.
IT was supposed to be a strictly secret training venue.
But today the East Anglian Daily Times can exclusively reveal where Letitia Dean and her Strictly Come Dancing partner Darren Bennett are rehearsing ahead of the hit BBC show on Saturday.
Together with a camera crew, the duo arrived at the Lait Dance Club at Ipswich's Clarkson Street shortly after 4pm yesterdayfor a gruelling five hour training session. This followed the first day of rehearsals for Ms Dean at the town's Regent Theatre where the former Queen Vic landlady will take to the stage as the Fairy Godmother.
Tom Lait, 77, founded the club with his wife Pat in 1974 and said he had never had a celebrity there before. �It is a bit strange,� he said. �We do not normally have this sort of thing.
�My son and daughter both used to dance with Darren Bennett so we know him from old. We said to Darren about them using the hall and he said yes. The place is empty half the day so they might as well use it because they only have to travel across Ipswich.�
The venue will provide an ideal base for the pair to practice in due to Ms Dean's commitments at the Regent Theatre.
And according to former East Anglian dance champion Mr Lait, who has been dancing for 50 years, the pair now have every chance of success - not least because of the chance to practice on the club's Maple sprung floor in the large ballroom.
�They will not get a better dance floor to practice on in the whole of East Anglia,� he said.
�She is good and has improved so much since she first started. I think she could go on until the end.
�I saw Letitia when she came in and wished her the best of luck.�
Original article
Thanks to Laura at IAL
TV Times (8-14th December 2007) With thanks to Kelly at IAL
With a feature on what would have been the last three girls of the contest before Kelly Brook's sad departure.
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs from 6:30pm on BBC 2.
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs from 6:30pm on BBC 2.
[15 November 2007]
Letitia has been working hard to remember the steps of their dance this week, but it's not been easy for her.
'My poor little brain!' she exclaimed. 'There's just so much to remember.'
So Darren suggested a trip to a tea dance, where they could rehearse their routine alongside a group of Ballroom regulars.
After a run through of their routine, Letitia was keen to see what they thought. 'They are regulars, the ladies and gentlemen who come here,' she explained, 'so I'm sure they've got some good tips for me.'
'She did beautifully,' said one on-looker. 'They looked like the best couple on the dance floor this afternoon!'
Another member of the group added, 'I think Letitia has put in a lot of practice, she's got much better over the weeks. To us it looked very good, I think they will pass alright.'
These scans credited to Kel
Most of these publications came out Tuesday 6th November and will be available until Monday 13th
Reveal Click to see full size image
I will be scanning in the front cover and typing up the article ASAP but I will add it to the HELLO page here
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs from 6:30pm on BBC 2.
[26 October 2007]
Darren has been encouraging Letitia to get into character this week. 'Imagine you're on the red carpet in Hollywood being snapped by photographers,' he suggested. 'I want this to be a BAFTA-nominated performance!' Letitia is feeling more positive: 'I've really enjoyed this week,' she said, "It's been my favourite so far!'
The Paul O'Grady Show airs from 5pm on Channel 4.
View the clips here
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs from 6:30pm on BBC 2.
Click each image to be taken to the full size pic
...that when fellow Strictly contestant Kate Garraway was asked in First's interview who she thought would win the competition, the poor injured lass went with our very own Tish!
Taken from Strictly Come Dancing's BBC website
It's not only the dancing, she's learning about herself too
[10 October 2007]
Training has been a challenge for Letitia and Darren, with Letitia's confidence at a low, and nerves about performing on Saturday getting higher by the day.
'I know I will be terrified,' says Letitia. 'What I'm going to do is try to focus on Darren and dance with him. The reality might be a different thing! I might fall over. This is just Darren and myself, that's what I'm going to channel into.'
'I'm not that competitive with the girls, I think that starts this Saturday. But, what is competitiveness? I'm competing with myself � I'm dealing with my own issues at the minute.'
Darren explains, 'This year you have a group of female celebrities who have long legs. Models, pop stars, all in their twenties and thirties, so Letitia is feeling a little vulnerable at the moment. She thinks 'What do I look like in comparison?' as opposed to thinking 'how much better am I at dancing than them?'
'For Letitia, it's not only about learning the dance, she's learning a lot about herself. The only person that will defeat her is her. It's about me giving that strength to Letitia so she can go out there with confidence she needs to perform.'
And the next...
It's their turn to shine this week, so how are they feeling?
[12 October 2007]
Letitia has been getting to grips with the dance steps, and her partner by the sounds of things. 'I want to squeeze his bum today, sorry Lilia, artistic licence!'
Click each image to be taken to the full size pic
...that when Strictly co-host, Tess Daly was on The Paul O'Grady Show this week, pressed to say who she thought was the most nervous of the contestants, she went with Tish! Blessums!
Also...
When fellow contestant Aleesha Dixon (ex Misteeq singer) was discussing the Strictly couples on Loose Women, she said she couldn't believe how short Tish and Darren are! I subscribe to that! But then of course, the best things DO come in small dancing packages!