Phil is the celeb i was most looking forward to seeing in strictly but things from his camp just seem so quiet. No controversy, average scores, new professional maybe... not sure what to make of it, and not being any kind of dance expert I can't tell whether he is actually showing much potential or improvement, although I just know I enjoy watching him dancing. Anyone have any views? (please be gentle, new to ds today )

Welcome milmol

I think in some series he would have been more 'out there' but he seems to have been taken over somewhat by Ricky Groves who is in the likeable bloke role.

His ballroom dancing is quite good actually, his latin is a bit blah apart from the hips which are good. He doesnt seem to have had a wow dance yet...Tango this week so that should be interesting.

Here is Katya (his dance partner) doing the tango with Antonio Banderas so tuffers has a hard act to follow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-kgP4HoGWQ

I keep saying he will be in the dance-off not because i dont like him but he is not great at latin i do like him though

I just don't get the Phil love, especially after hearing about how he treated his ex. The cheeky chappie thing just seems really misrepresentative now.

I think he exaggerates it because he knows it's what the public warm to.

I was a bit disappointed to hear about the treatment of his ex wife. Seems so out of character.

But I guess everyone deserves a second chance in life. And I must admit that I have grown to like Phil on Strictly (despite thinking he'd annoy the hell out of me at the start). He has an easygoing attitude and his dancing always puts a smile on my face

I must admit I really liked Tuffers until I read on here about his treatment of his ex. I think maybe the reason it is so quiet in his camp is because they don't want all those old stories re-hashed. I still like him but, I know I wont pick up the phone to vote for him now as I wouldn't feel comfortable doing so.

I don't think he's that anonymous, he's just not featuring in the show's storyline as much at the moment. He got plenty of airtime when he went into hospital and I think the producers have just swung the spotlight elsewhere for the time being. If he stays in long enough it will no doubt swing back his way as the numbers start to dwindle.

Welcome milmol from me too!

I replied to your post on the 'Favourites' Poll saying I am surprised how few votes Tuffers is getting on there (sorry I didn't notice how new you were then ).

I doubt if his history with his ex is a big part of his lack of votes tbh, but it does make me wonder if he has as much of a public fan base as first thought.

I like him, but can see him in a shock exit this year.

The business with his ex is certainly nothing new. He was fully open about how much of a tw*t he was in his youth in his autobiography (excellent, by the way.) It was all rehashed when he was in the jungle. I'm a little surprised that there are still some people around who weren't aware of it. )

I, somehow, don't think he will make it a cricketters 3 for 3.

I know he`s had problems with his knee etc., but I just find him lazy and not putting in much of an effort compared to the others.

JMO

And a great deal of the accusations were never proven, of course.

But you're right - Phil is not just a 'cheeky chappie'. He used to be a very troubled one in his youth - which actually makes him much more interesting from my point of view. Moreover, he gives every appearance of having sorted himself out now that he's mature.

OMG thanks for that Jan. I could watch it all day. Antonio Banderas (swoon) And how amazing was Katya.

I think Phil may be falling into the not a favourite but I like him category for a lot of people at the moment. Obviously this isn't affecting his votes on Saturdays as there is no limit to how many times a person can vote, and he is getting through ok, but on forum polls where you only get a chance to vote for one person once, most people will put their absolute favourite. I like him, especially when he does ballroom, (Fred Astaire - swoon), and if I like his dance I will vote, but on the poll, he wasn't my favourite.

Thanks it is quite something isnt it

I'm of the same opinion as well. I just don't think trying really hard is in his nature as he's fairly naturally gifted so probably doesn't really need to IYKWIM.

I don't particularly mind him I just don't find myself getting excited about him as I can't see him pushing himself to a really high level.

Gosh I had not seen this before - Katya is amazing wish they had not kept cutting away from the dance though!!

I like Tuffers and enjoy his dancing very much. However I also get the impression (apart from his knee trouble) that he can be a bit lazy. I feel he has more to give and could be a lot better. I think Katya probably gets a bit frustated with him to be honest. Lets hope we see a good Tango on Saturday as I would like to see them get higher marks.

That clip is amazing, she is a wonderful dancer and if she can get anything close to that out of tuffers, they will stand a good chance.

He is a self-confessed lazy bugger - and obviously not a morning person - but I wonder if he actually trains any less than the others? (excluding Ricky ofcourse as he has no time to put the hours in).

Ive been shocked at how little many of them do when the hours for the week are commented on by Claudia: "You've topped this weeks training leaderboard at 13.5 hours"

Seriously, I didn't know. I don't how I missed it as it sounds as if it was big news at the time. Until IACGMOOH I only knew him as the cricketer who got caught smoking a spliff.

thank for the welcomes guys interestin to hear everyones views. I'm also disappointed to hear week after week (it seems to me - always?) phil is bottom of the hours-trained thingy on ITT , i think i'm just rooting for him to suddenly do a goughie/matt dawson and "click" and become hopelessly devoted to dance/training and become miraculously marvellous all of a sudden !!
Hmmm... aint gona happen is it?!

I don't follow cricket so didn't really know Phil before scd, but I can't say I can take to him. He seems a bit full of himself and I find him very irritating. He's clearly popular with the judges though - perhaps they just like cricketers?

He's the token sportsman - usually beloved of Len.
But Tuffers is a slow bowler. He wasn't ever a wrathful rampaging quickie (Gough) or a swashbuckling batsman (Ramps) so he doesn't have the macho-factor.
And, as Jan said, Ricky G has taken the comic spot.

If you listen to Tuffers long enough (Test Match Special) you get the impression that what you see is what you get. A chilled fella with a great capacity for enjoyment and pleasure and not taking anything terribly seriously.

So I don't think he'll ever blub or stress or despair or do anything very dramatic. That may put some people off....

I love watching Phil - he just has to walk onto the dancefloor and he puts a smile on my face. I never expected him to be good at it but have been pleasantly surprised at how competent he is.

Saying that i don't think he really has the drive to be very successful on the show. Personality and a modicum of talent will get you so far but when it comes down to it the ones who are the most talented/appear to be working hardest are the eventual winners.

I'd like to see him stay in until the later stages though - i'd even be happy to see him in the final but i confess i'd be very disappointed to see him win.

Bobbla, that's it. He hasn't the drive to win it.
I love him - more to do with TMS than SCD - but he won't win and probably doesn't "deserve" to.

No he hasn't enough drive. Funnily enough thats one of the main things i love about him as a person but as a SCD champion - no way