Given how outspoken James usually is, I'm sure there'd have been a denial by now if there wasn't a grain of truth in it.
I think I saw mention on Twitter earlier that James and Ola are doing a show tonight so maybe they haven't got back on Twitter and seen this story has broken.
But I do agree - if this is not true expect James to say something by tomorrow morning.
Poor Ola if its true as she has a decision to make ....
The last "high profile couple" were Darren and Lilia and look what happened to them.
The BBC are constantly apprehensive about the situation, because the quality of the contestants isn't that great and it does seem a bit embarrassing when some of the professionals are more well known than the "C-listers."
They can't improve the quality of the contestants, they have to find "celebrities" with sod-all to do from September to the end of December. Or some relatively unknown or fading sports star.
So they're always scraping the barrel.
Solution?
Fire some well known dancers, so they don't overshadow some soap actor.
The last "high profile couple" were Darren and Lilia and look what happened to them.
The BBC are constantly apprehensive about the situation, because the quality of the contestants isn't that great and it does seem a bit embarrassing when some of the professionals are more well known than the "C-listers."
They can't improve the quality of the contestants, they have to find "celebrities" with sod-all to do from September to the end of December. Or some relatively unknown or fading sports star.
So they're always scraping the barrel.
Solution?
Fire some well known dancers, so they don't overshadow some soap actor.
It's the way the BBC works.
And yet the most famous two dancers are Anton and Brendan and neither seem under threat so I think there's more to it than that.
I do hope this isn't true, I have always liked James & Ola and it seems to me that James is the 'cheeky schoolboy' of the professionals. No real malice in him and often very endearing.
I expect the Jordans may go this year - but Strictly has always treated them as a pair.
IN the tour a couple of years ago Robbie Savage Toured but Alex Jones did not - so they put Katya with Robbie and left them both off the tour.
Now the presenter thing is sorted I hope the producers have the balls to put us all out of Anton's misery.
The last "high profile couple" were Darren and Lilia and look what happened to them.
The BBC are constantly apprehensive about the situation, because the quality of the contestants isn't that great and it does seem a bit embarrassing when some of the professionals are more well known than the "C-listers."
They can't improve the quality of the contestants, they have to find "celebrities" with sod-all to do from September to the end of December. Or some relatively unknown or fading sports star.
So they're always scraping the barrel.
Solution?
Fire some well known dancers, so they don't overshadow some soap actor.
It's the way the BBC works.
A more likely scenario is that the Strictly bods got fed up of James gobbing off and generally being a pain in the arse. Add to that his age and injury issues at the end of the last series. They already have dancers who can deal with the more mature/less able contestants, so they do need some 'new blood'.
A more likely scenario is that the Strictly bods got fed up of James gobbing off and generally being a pain in the arse. Add to that his age and injury issues at the end of the last series. They already have dancers who can deal with the more mature/less able contestants, so they do need some 'new blood'.
YUP, toldya so months ago. Still, it'd be awful if Ola goes, BUT Insider Info claimed she's cowed by him so may opt out to keep marital harmony--NOT worst decision, but'd be a real LOSS for us fans as she's a joy to watch dancing [unlike jealous, dreary, but pushy rival Karen?? Mee-owww].
The People article says Featured Dancers get £30k/season so loss of James's income could impact badly on them unless he's set up a fall-back option: eg Dance show tour, private tuition school, Show choreography, etc. Being a Dancer is GRIM as, like footballers & athletes, one's 'washed up' by mid-30's mostly unless you've pre-planned a lucrative FallBack option. Article also points out £££ from Ola's 'calendars', etc which is another earner for them and once off screens, fickle public quickly forgets [eg Lilia & Darren].
I would rather have James and Ola than mean Karen and smug Kevin From Grimsby!
I totally agree I wasn't at all keen on Kevin from Grimsby or Karen or Aljaz for that matter all too full of themselves burn the floor dancers are okay in their own field but not on SCD really much prefer the old team and James will be missed he put a little bit of spice into the programme I hope it isn't true.
James is one of my favourite pro dancers, and imo Ola is lovely. They will be missed if rumours are true. I think we have really seen the best of SCD...
I totally agree I wasn't at all keen on Kevin from Grimsby or Karen or Aljaz for that matter all too full of themselves burn the floor dancers are okay in their own field but not on SCD really much prefer the old team and James will be missed he put a little bit of spice into the programme I hope it isn't true.
BIB Blimey aimee! That means no Karen, Aljaz, Jeanette, Kevin, Robin, Artem, Anya, Pasha (even Mathew and Nicole Cutler way back when!) and guest spots for Brian Fortuna and Kristina.... They're not each and every one a favourite of mine, but I wouldn't lump them all together. Burn the Floor's just another place for talented dancers to find work after all, it's not their entire training and experience.
I wouldn't be upset if James left (or disappointed if he stayed), but would rather see Anton go if they need to lose a male pro. I'd give Kevin another chance, but I'm not wild about him... Be sad to lose Ola.
That's a real shame Like him or loathe him at least James has a personality, which can't be said for most of the recent additions.
Totally agree. You need pros like James and Brendan who have a bit of fiery personality. If all the pros were like Kevin, Aljaz and Pasha (Who I like by the way) it would be a pretty bland show IMO.
I thought this was old news that James and Ola are not going to return .
All I hope is that they bring Natalie back . SCD definitely needs a tall female pro as there are far to many tiny female pros now in SCD and the pairing of some of these partnerships look ridiculous .
StigOfTheKrump
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Comments
It says that James has been demoted to a backing dancer, Ola may quit and Karen is definitely back. Still, I'd take it with a pinch of salt.
I think I saw mention on Twitter earlier that James and Ola are doing a show tonight so maybe they haven't got back on Twitter and seen this story has broken.
But I do agree - if this is not true expect James to say something by tomorrow morning.
Poor Ola if its true as she has a decision to make ....
The story in the link provided by Stig (above) states that they want Ola and therefore she has a decision to make.
The BBC are constantly apprehensive about the situation, because the quality of the contestants isn't that great and it does seem a bit embarrassing when some of the professionals are more well known than the "C-listers."
They can't improve the quality of the contestants, they have to find "celebrities" with sod-all to do from September to the end of December. Or some relatively unknown or fading sports star.
So they're always scraping the barrel.
Solution?
Fire some well known dancers, so they don't overshadow some soap actor.
It's the way the BBC works.
And yet the most famous two dancers are Anton and Brendan and neither seem under threat so I think there's more to it than that.
IN the tour a couple of years ago Robbie Savage Toured but Alex Jones did not - so they put Katya with Robbie and left them both off the tour.
Now the presenter thing is sorted I hope the producers have the balls to put us all out of Anton's misery.
A more likely scenario is that the Strictly bods got fed up of James gobbing off and generally being a pain in the arse. Add to that his age and injury issues at the end of the last series. They already have dancers who can deal with the more mature/less able contestants, so they do need some 'new blood'.
Couldn't have put it better myself.
Still remember how unpleasant he was about John Sergeant.
YUP, toldya so months ago. Still, it'd be awful if Ola goes, BUT Insider Info claimed she's cowed by him so may opt out to keep marital harmony--NOT worst decision, but'd be a real LOSS for us fans as she's a joy to watch dancing [unlike jealous, dreary, but pushy rival Karen?? Mee-owww].
The People article says Featured Dancers get £30k/season so loss of James's income could impact badly on them unless he's set up a fall-back option: eg Dance show tour, private tuition school, Show choreography, etc. Being a Dancer is GRIM as, like footballers & athletes, one's 'washed up' by mid-30's mostly unless you've pre-planned a lucrative FallBack option. Article also points out £££ from Ola's 'calendars', etc which is another earner for them and once off screens, fickle public quickly forgets [eg Lilia & Darren].
I totally agree I wasn't at all keen on Kevin from Grimsby or Karen or Aljaz for that matter all too full of themselves burn the floor dancers are okay in their own field but not on SCD really much prefer the old team and James will be missed he put a little bit of spice into the programme I hope it isn't true.
It might be the case that they're waiting on Ola's decision or James has sold his story to the press, so it keeping quiet for now.
BIB Blimey aimee! That means no Karen, Aljaz, Jeanette, Kevin, Robin, Artem, Anya, Pasha (even Mathew and Nicole Cutler way back when!) and guest spots for Brian Fortuna and Kristina.... They're not each and every one a favourite of mine, but I wouldn't lump them all together. Burn the Floor's just another place for talented dancers to find work after all, it's not their entire training and experience.
I wouldn't be upset if James left (or disappointed if he stayed), but would rather see Anton go if they need to lose a male pro. I'd give Kevin another chance, but I'm not wild about him... Be sad to lose Ola.
Depending what's happening with Natalie Lowe/Aliona Vilani, they're also going to have to let one of the female pros go.
Unless they're flipping the numbers this year and having an extra male celeb.
karma
I certainly wouldnt be upset if this were true - never liked James and I never will
Totally agree. You need pros like James and Brendan who have a bit of fiery personality. If all the pros were like Kevin, Aljaz and Pasha (Who I like by the way) it would be a pretty bland show IMO.
All I hope is that they bring Natalie back . SCD definitely needs a tall female pro as there are far to many tiny female pros now in SCD and the pairing of some of these partnerships look ridiculous .