TBH I don't think she'd be petty, she's meant to be professional!

I doubt it.

It doesn't seem in Andrew's nature and we'd have heard about it if he had.

I just saw it as being a reference to a specific move, nothing more and nothing less. I suppose it could have been made in a more diplomatic way, but I still think she has a point... *shrugs*

That is incredibly mean spirited, btw.

I sit on the fence where Alesha is concerned lest anyone think that I am a basher. I do see her appointment as a waste of time, but everyone deserves a chance and she should be reassessed at the end of the series. I did however think that the comments were, shall we say, unwise. And if I'm honest they annoyed me. I doubt they were calculated to hurt but it goes to show that with only a thirty to forty second window in which to critique, things will come blurting out that just sound wrong.

A bit like Arlene, eh?

I do agree with you Taz and Sid, it seems very unlikely on both counts that such a spat has occurred.

Nope, mean spirited would be to do it when there is no cause to do so, or to do it just to try and get one over a poster or for kicks. However if I or anyone else criticises someone for a weakness in a particular area while showing myself to be equally as weak at the same thing, I or they should not be surprised when we're picked up for it.

That's not to say there aren't shining examples of people being mean spirited on this board, it's just that you've just picked a bad one.

What gets me about all the judges (and used to get to me about Arlene) is the feeling that certain dancers are going to get a '8' even if they do a less good dance and others are going to get a '6' whatever. We've hardly started the series and they've already got them in boxes as 'serious contenders' or not - and it's depressing to see Alesha doing that already. She said Ricky did a disappointing cheesy dance and he should be doing better and I can't say I liked the Andrew Castle dig as a way of saying it, but I can see what she meant, and she still gave him an 8. This is Ricky's fourth dance. He's very good and I liked his dance, but it wouldn't hurt his chances to get a 6 once - if that's what she really thought of the dance.

So nothing's changed then? Arlene annoyed people with her comments, now Alesha's just taking over. Personally I thought she was referring to the arm moves in Andrew's chacha and wasn't deliberately trying to be mean.

However, how many people would remember Andrew did the same arm moves in 2007? If you didn't know you'd think 'ooo what a cow for saying that', I agree with what Monkseal and Zankoku have said.

I'm not overly keen on Alesha or Ricky W but I thought his score was justified.

I got the impression that Alesha was trying to push Ricky and Natalie to be the best that they can. Compared to the other couples, their dance was still pretty good, but Alesha knows they are capable of more.

Lol two things I remember about Andrew - the arm punching and head banging

For what it is worth, I am in agreement with those who -
[LIST][*]Think the comment was spot on and Ricly knew exactly what she was getting at[*]Have no problem with Alesha making comparisons, as it makes it clear she has watched previous shows and is not just using the series she was in as her point of reference[*]Are now looking for things that are not there to criticise the show[*]Welcome any opportunity to have another go at Alesha[*]Think Alesha is not mean spirited[*]Think too many people criticise Alesha for doing things the other judges have done for years[/LIST]
PS As a regular SCD viewer I definitely remember the arm punching and head banging by Andrew and it says something to me that other people posting about it on here don't.

My problem with things from previous series being referenced is when the comment is made to a pro that wasn't on that series. If a judge - any judge! - had said that to Ola or any other of the pro dancers from last series, it would have made sense because they would have seen Andrew & Ola's performances. However, neither Natalie nor Ricky would necessarily have seen them so the reference isn't particularly helpful, unless they're going to go off and watch all of Andrew & Ola's performances to see what she's talking about.

Must admit, I don't think it was a particularly kind comment. Hope Andrew's got a thick skin if he caught the comment at home.

Iirc there was much worse said to his face by the judges.

If Andrew hasn't reconciled himself to the fact he was shit a year later, he needs therapy, not a thicker skin.

It wasn't wonderfully cuddly. But it worked.

Hopefully Ricky has taken from that the fact that he can't coast to the final, he needs to work at it.

His salsa was rubbish. 32? Ridiculous.


You think Andrew is still under the impression he was any good?

In my view there were at least 3 other salsas better than his.

:yawn::yawn::yawn:

Made me laugh out loud, she is better when she is just natural like that, rather than trying too hard. Even more amusing as Andrew Castle was so surprised he wasn't a good dancer and quite precious about his poor performances.

I do think it was ridiculous for Aleesha to 'have a go' at Ricky for that arm movement, the remark should have been directed at Natalie L. if anbody, she is the professional and choreographed the routine after all.

But it is Ricky that is being judged, do you know for certainty that Natalie hadnt been telling him all week about it ? maybe he forgot about it under the pressure.

What annoyed me was not what she said, ok a bit tactless, but the fact that it wasn't good and still got an 8. That was a really rubbish salsa, very little cuban motion, no salsa steps till 1.01 in the routine and then only for a few seconds, Ricky walked around behind Natalie for quite a bit of the routine. rubbish, rubbish, rubbish - 5, 6 if you're being generous. Trouble is for the good dancers if they are overmarked and it is quite obvious then it will work against them - the Lisa effect.

Oh, maybe I misunderstood, I thought she was commenting on the fact he did it all, not how he did it if you see what I mean.

I have to argee - when Andrew was interviewing Ewan Thomas and Jane Middlemiss about the final of celeb Masterchef he said something along the lines of 'well you could have escaped the pressure of the competition by being rubbish like I was'. He doesn't strike me as a guy who is under any illusions about his lack of ability on SCD or is precious about it i.e he'd probably be argeeing with Alesha.

[quote=BuddyBontheNet;35994109]For what it is worth, I am in agreement with those who -
[LIST][*]Think the comment was spot on and Ricly knew exactly what she was getting at[*]Have no problem with Alesha making comparisons, as it makes it clear she has watched previous shows and is not just using the series she was in as her point of reference[*]Are now looking for things that are not there to criticise the show[*]Welcome any opportunity to have another go at Alesha[*]Think Alesha is not mean spirited[*]Think too many people criticise Alesha for doing things the other judges have done for years[/LIST]
Im starting to feel that its a real no no for anyone to criticise Alesha at all without feeling the condemnation of her supporters. Surely in her position as a judge its absolutely fair to be able to criticise her for poor grammar, references to previous contestants and that laugh (these are just examples) if we want to. People have criticised Bruno for his innuendos, Craig for his nastiness and Len for his grumpiness for years, never mind what poor old Brucie and Tess have to endure on these boards.
Its almost as though Alesha is untouchable. Surely its just the par for the course that she is loved and loathed (or just unliked) in equal measure. Are we not allowed to point things out that annoy us because she's new ? As I have previous said I was a fan of her as a contestant, and surprised at her appointment (annoyed with the BBC not her), but have not taken to her as a judge. I also am fed up with Len's overmarking and inconsistency, but to criticise him seems to be fair game, with Alesha it's apparently not. I dont get it.