I could not believe my eyes when I picked up my paper today and found that the BBC had appointed Darcey Bussell
as one of the Strictly Judges on the next series -ever since SCD began Anton has always maintained that he would like Darcey Bussell as his dance partner and only in December was quoted in the express as pleading with the SCD producers to let him have her as his partner on the next series ,so what a cruel twist that she is finally on the show but as a judge -what has Anton done to deserve this ?

Fixated on Darcey Bussell!!

There was never a possibility of Darcey being a competitor - she is a professional dancer!!!!! (and a seriously brilliant one)

She will be an excellent judge and commentator, I believe.

JJ

Note: I am also an Anton fan!!

I love Anton and thinks he deserves a decent partner for once

But I don't think they are being cruel to him as Darcy Bussell would never have been a contestant, as she is a world class ballet dancer.
They probaly done him a favour as now he'll get to be on the same show as someone he's obviously a big fan of

Agreed, it was never going to happen.

Can you imagine the outcry on this forum if Darcey Bussell had been named as a contestant?

It would have been like the Bay of Pigs.

All be it Pink Fluffy Pigs!!! (lol)

JJ

Not to mention the fact that yes, Darcey is a FANTASTIC ballet dancer but that ballet requires a different style to ballroom and latin, and so she might not be as good as one expected. She'd certainly be far too upright and stiff in certain dances that do not require such posture.

Just because she can do ballet does not always mean that the skills are transefrrable to other styles

*This* cruel to Anton?!?! Talk about the past I don't know how many series when they've given him crap partners so that he wasn't gonna even have a chance of getting to a decent stage in the competition!! Give him one of the best...Anton is one of the biggest draws for me watching SCD...that and a certain Mr.Cole...sorry he still does something for me!! hahaha!

I'm sorry but I still think the beeb are pulling a very cruel stunt on Anton,as you say WakingUpInVegas she is a world class ballet dancer ,but to my knowledge has never done ballroom or latin and I think far from doing Anton a favour they are just playing a cat and mouse game at his expense by having her on the show and then taking her away from him because she's a judge!

Here Here minihoy, Anton is the making of SCD to me and without him there would'nt be a show ,he is one of the niceist people around and does'nt deserve to be treated like this by the beeb!

I'm sorry but I really disagree with you and I do very much like Anton. A professional ballet dancer was never going to be a contestant on SCD. People kicked up enough fuss with Cherie and her ballet training at drama school!

I doubt they have done it to spite him! I bet they never even considered having Darcey on as a contestant, or Darcey never considered doing it.

Anyway if the rumours are true, the BBC will be able to make it up to him by partnering him with Judy Finnegan

waltzingmatilda. Perhaps when Anton sees Darcey sitting there he can keep that vision in his mind's eye, close his eyes and pretend that he's dancing with her as he leads Sharon Osbourne, or whoever he is partnering, across the floor.

Why, oh why does Anton nearly ALWAYS get the, ahem, older ladies? I know he's a lovely, old fashioned style of gentleman but surely they can find him a partner under 50? The only one I can remember is Patsy Palmer who Craig called 'a chav in a puffa jacket', nasty! But I don't think that her and Anton got on that well did they?

Please let the BBC give Anton a partner this year that he might actually have a chance of winning with, poor man, it's long overdue.

PS - why didn't they partner him with Cherie Lunghi last year if they like him to have older partners, she was brilliant! Even James liked her and he's hard to please

I think we all know the answer to that

I don't know Please, please tell me

I think Anton must have said that jokingly. Frankly there is not a cat in hells chance she could ever appear as a contestant on the program. There's be the standard "has she had dance training question" and even Bruce may be able to answer that !

You could take this not as rubbing anton's nose in it but actually listening to what he says by his keenness on her appearing on the show and them doing it.....

You must have read my mind as I was just going to say the same thing!

Great minds......

Please tell me you are joking katie_P ,how could that be making it up to him ,it would just be making him a laughng stock yet again !

That was suggested to me yesterday by another pro dancer. The BBC seem to excel in giving Anton the lame ducks and JF is certainly one of those. surely the BBC wouldnt be that cruel.
The same pro suggested that Judy should be given to James and lets see what he makes of that.

Yep....that'll make up for it

Yep I'm all for that ,but does that mean Anton will then end up with Sharon Osborne -lets hope not !

They're not going to do the wife swap thing again and partner Richard with Ola and Judy with James?

Richard would be far too tall for Ola, but then she always seems to get partners who are too tall.

My money would be on Anton getting Sharon Osbourne. It would be a good audience puller, although I would feel sorry for Anton.

Sharon is 5ft 2- I reckon she'll get Darren