I actually think smiling and laughing at the judges’ comments is the right thing to do, it's just confirms to Craig that it's pantomime and for entertainment and reminds him not to take it too seriously, and he is obviously not taking it too seriously as he still has a positive attitude despite the mauling from the judges he gets every Saturday. ,

I actually think she might be too encouraging and patient with him and maybe he needs a little bit of tough love. She's certainly not been seen throwing pens or shouting at him until he gets it right like other pros. He remains positive and certain that he has potential and he certainly isn't getting that from the judges’ comments. Flavia even paid him a great compliment by letting him join in a bit of the choreography for their Jive and he obviously loved being able to do that.

So that means that she is? Surely it's better to be nice about someone (not that you aren't, hard to express myself in writing ..as you said she's a fantastic dancer), but that is just misinterpretation, the people that have met flavia can vouch that she's a lovely person. I certainly don't think she would laugh at Craig..the pairings build up a rapport together, and Flavia (like molly says) is just trying to show Craig that it's all just a show and that he should enjoy it while it lasts. Again like Molly brought up, she let him choreograph part of their jive, surely that shows encouragement for him to enjoy the dance?

Anyways, like you said each to their own...least we can agree she is an amazing dancer

I know what you mean Molly, take Ola, she has given Chris the tough love this week and he did do a lot better (not great but he did well and didn't forget his routine). Flavia maybe needs to do that, but then people would think she hates him and can't bear him anymore

Possibly. But only because, unlike Ola, we have yet to see Flavia express any real warmth for her celebrity partner.

Not saying it isnt there, mind you, I just think she isnt a natural in front of the camera.

Flavia is in a very dificult position. Her job is to get her celeb to perform to the best of his ability and unfortunately that doesnt always mean that they can go from Quentin Wilson to Ricky Wittle in 6 weeks it means hard slog and sometimes to no avail. Dancing is like any skill some people just dont have it in them and Craig is one of them, so what is she to do tell him its all to no use and not actually try to bring out a performance in him. Ofcourse not so she does the best she can and keeps smiling because thats what you do in show business, smile no matter what.
On the other hand she will remember all the fuss there was last year at John Sergeant being kept in week after week and I am sure she doesnt want to be involved in one of those situations. Unfortunately she has no control over anything she cannot tell her celeb to 'shut up' when he asks for votes as that is what the programme is all about and it is all down to fate in the end.

When they go to the judges she must hope for some better comments but she is a dancer she KNOWS he isnt good and what is she supposed to do storm off like Brendan ??? I wouldnt want her to do that, it isnt in her personality.

Ola is able to be tougher with Chris because she KNOWS that he can infact do it she has had proof in week 1 that he can do it and just needed a rocket up his bum, Craig is a very different person both on and off the dance floor to Chris.

In addition Ola came across as grumpy with Andrew Castle last year when she was in the same position as Flavia is this year.

At the start of the series Flavia said Craig was a good dancer,and has moments of genius.I just wonder what happened,and why he hasn't shown us this... and wonder why Flavia seems not to be pushing him.Craig comes out every week and is genuinley shocked when the judges tell him he is awful.....now I just cannot understand why Flavia isn't tellig him....surely she has told him what he is doing wrong.

Have to say that I do find it hard to understand what people mean about lack of warmth. Last night she was putting her arm round him, patting his chest, speaking encouragingly to him. Given she seems quite a reserved, modest woman it's hard to imagine what else she can do to express solidarity with her pupil.

She could refrain from laughing when the judges make not pleasant comments about him ie:Alesha saying he was like a dad down the disco....also she ran over to the judges when the dance had finished,and just left him on the floor....I am sure she is a lot to do with Craigs downfall.

I think Craig is absolutely terrified. His frozen '0' fish face has the look of sheer terror to me. I doubt he can remember a second of it once he's off the floor, and says all that stuff about loving it with absolutely no conviction.

Not much you can do with that.

What so she should do a Brendon and storm off? Cos that would get her support...no she laughs and doesn't look mad or angry because people don't like that. She can't do right for doing wrong with some people. She is nothing to do with Craig's 'downfall'...the truth of the matter is he cannot dance. There isn't much you can do with that, and by laughing and smiling she is trying not to look upset that after all the training they have done, that they are still getting bashed. When they have got incredibly low scores she has looked shocked, then put a smile on her face again because she wants to keep up her celebrities spirits. And when she "ran over to the judges", she didn't leave him, he was, what...one second behind her? She just happened to be ahead of him. She hugs him and puts her arm around him like all the other pros do...she encourages him and lets him choreograph part of the dance himself...she pats him on the chest and makes sure that he stays positive and he is always saying what a lovely person she is and how great a teacher she is.

Only with the devine Signore Simone

What downfall's that then he is still in the competition

Its because she is the best pro IMO that he is still in the competition she is certainly the reason why i have been voting for them weekly

While I agree they dance beautifully together, I can recall Flavia dancing brilliantly with many of the other male pros in pro dances last year.

She is a fabulous dancer, whether on her own in last years Proud Mary jive for example, or partnered.

Yes I agree danced beautifully with Anton last year too in their 'fun' dance and did fantastically well with Gethin on tour.

I was afraid this was going to happen to her I wish they had gone out already.

Trying to bolster his own confidence, Craig told Claudia that at least the judges hadnt told him he couldnt dance. Flavia chipped in with "They've alluded to it."

Come on now miss. Just how is that encouraging?


Jan, if you check my posts back to week 2, I think it was, in the "mismatched" thread I said then I didnt think Flavia was the right pro for Craig. I would dearly love to have been proven wrong and I actually think that had he been with a pro that could actually choreograph around his short-comings (Kristina, Erin, Lilia..) and allow Craig to loosen up a bit, he would probably have been out earlier.

I think if you look at iplayer you will find it was Claudia who said that and NOT Flavia

That was Claudia.

Its here their interview starts from 17 mins in

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode..._7_20_10_2009/

I will take your word for it as I cant remember what day it was. However, again it says something about Flavia that she didnt refute this comment and leaves one with the impression that she is NOT supporting her celeb partner.

EDIT: Thanks for the link.

My apologies. When he says the judges havent said he can dance, Flavia chips in with "yet."

I'm not a Flavia fan, but I can't believe people are saying she could be the reason Craig isn't doing well in the competition!

Flavia is the reason he is still in the competition!

The man can't dance on the beat! He is a lovely chap and I feel for him, but he just can't hit the beat and to make matters worse, he doesn't recognise that he can't hit the beat!

Flavia has been busting a gut as far as I can see to choreograph suitable routines for Craig, and he now gets through those routines, but he will never dance a good routine because he can't hit the beat!

She is great with him and I love when they are on ITT because they are so sweet. She doesn't come down on him like a ton of bricks after every routine because she knows he has tried his best, but as a professional dancer she knows he is a lost cause in the competition because he can't hit the beat! So she starts again trying to work out a routine that will suit him even though he can't hit the beat! They are getting on great together, and Flavia must have the patience of a saint.

For heaven's sake give the woman a break and try appreciating what miracles she has worked with Craig so far.

Personally I think this is all getting pretty ridiculous.

I really dont see what any of the other pros could have done for Craig that Flavia hasn't. Any of the pros that have already gone were no good for their own celeb so what makes anyone think they would have done any better with Craig.

He doesnt have the type of personality that you could choreograph a comedy routine around without it looking even more ridiculous....so I dont get what she should have done differently.

..And I certainly dont see what some of you others do in saying that she doesnt like him and isn't supportive of him.

Outside of these forums I can honestly say that i dont know any strictly viewers that dont think Flavia is the ultimate strictly dancer. From people I work with to family members....I truthfully cant think of anyone who doesnt rate her as the best pro and they all think she has done very well to get Craig so far in the competition.

I think maybe its time she got a break from the negativity on this thread. I do realise though that its only a couple of posters thats doing this and the rest are posting in her defense.

I'm actually not going to bother reading any more of this thread.....

Buddy, with all due respect, platitudes like "patience of a saint" don't do Flavia any favours. She is a professional who should work well with whatever she is given, Craig isnt a charity.

EDIT: Just to make it clear I appreciate Craig cannot dance. I don't blame Flavia for the fact he cannot dance.

Lol....Kind of what I was trying to say..Thanks Buddy

So, does the same go for Matthew, Lilia, Darren, Aliona, Kristina......and any others that I'm too weary to think about..