While I agree with the showmances etc I do think that some couples want the publicity as they say there is no such thing as bad publicity if it gets the public on board.

Thing is if you know the paps are around and you do not want pictures that we have seen you do not give them anything to print.

Never remember anything from Matthew, Ian, Eren or Darren & Lilia they just get on with the dancing - although I stand to be corrected!!

Would you always know? I know that a lot of celebs do play the media, but a lot of these pictures get taken without people knowing as paps can work from quite distance.

I just don't believe that they would set it up. Not this early and especially not considering all the hassle they'd know it would cause. Joe's got kids and he has just split up with someone - I may be wrong, but I can't imagine him putting a bit of cheap publicity for a reality show above all the consequences it would cause. He knows how ruthless the tabloids can be.

I work in the media, so I don't think I'm simply naive. I just don't believe the majority of dancers in a reality show are THAT bothered about whipping up a tabloid campaign to get a few extra votes. Not at this stage, before the competition whips up.

Who knows though. One thing is for sure - tabloids won't leave them alone now for the rest of the series. Every move they make will be exaggerated as far as possible.

They may not have known the paps were around, but they've already seen the speculation, Kristina must already know the reputation she has after the Vincent affair. It wouldn't be difficult to avoid hugging and holding hands in public and if they know the hassle it would cause, as you say, you would think they would try not to give the paps anything to work with.

I'm not saying they've actively encouraged it, but I don't think they're trying too hard not to deny the speculation.

That's my main point really. I don't think they've set it up or actively encouraged it. That's not to say I don't think they're stupid to hold hands and hug so openly when they know how it will be spun if anybody saw them!

Want to take a bet on it?

I'd rather not. Truth be told, I want to be the woman to change his mind.

I personally think it is more to do with the media looking to make a mountain out of a molehill (one brush of the hand = full blown affair), and epecially with the likes of the Sun & Daily Mail

The thing is, once the show interest kicks off then the media seem to be around 24/7. If the couple actively try to stay apart then the paps just photo them apart and a story comes up that they are together but trying to stay apart to keep it out of the news - they can't win either way!

Well no, with female partners you are not going to see Matt or Ian (although the paps did try to insinuate Christine & Matt were "good friends" a couple of times but to no avail). Darren & Lilia are happily married and this is clear to all. It would take a brave reporter to try bs'ing on this score! As for Erin, well as I recall there was actually speculation about her and Martin Offiah but can stand corrected as this was a long time ago now

lol, and which number ticket have you got in the very long queue then (I didn't even bother drawing a ticket!)

I think you are right about Erin & Martin O. They deliberately posed for photos to get the publicity, and naturally the media invented the rest.

When 2 people dance together they do form a relationship, in fact I would say it is not only inevitable but almost essential for a successful partnership.

However, what the media can't seem to grasp is that the relationship is based on friendship, and a shared interest; if people read more into it than that (as imo Louisa Lytton did with Vincent) they are likely to get hurt.

It is like acting.... When the couple leave the stage, or in this case the studio/dance floor/comp floor or whatever, the acting stops.

Did Louisa fancy Vincent?

Joe and Kristina it seems.

I tend to think the pro dancer has a responsibility to the celeb not to draw them in too far if they know the celeb has "fallen" for them.....it may be "acting" to the pro but for the non dancers out there (ie celebs) how are they supposed to divorce feelings from having to create emotion for a dance and having very close physical contact with another person ?? (ie,the pro).......to the pros the creating of emotion and the physical contact means nothing (because thats their job) but i don't think it can be that cut and dried for the celeb and this is where i think a dancers professional responsibility must kick in not to encourage it or take it too far.

Now if the pro falls for the celeb and it's no longer acting and the physical contact starts to mean something..........well,complications arise ++++ esp if they then fall out and have to go on in the show to perform in front of millions of people regardless.

I do tend to think (as i've said )the pro has a responsibility to the celeb not to take advantage of the intense environment of Strictly.......which after all is only temporary and a sort of false "bubble" of life for 3-4 months.

Everyone who learns to dance (at least in one to one lessons) has to do this to some extent. My dance teacher is very attractive, but it would distract from the lessons if I started thinking of him in any way other than as a tutor and at most a friend.

Admittedly, the schedule for strictly is very intense, and the pressures of performing on tv greater and so I suppose that might make a difference. But none of these celebs are naive teenagers and many already work in showbiz. But as has been mentioned, romance generates publicity,

That's not to say that true romance couldn't or shouldn't happen. But it should develop in the same way as it would in other environment and not simply because of the close physical contact.