I agree but I was impressed that he kept his cool during the live show...he must have been SO annoyed and upset.

That's how I remember it too Tissy. He mouthed off about John resigning from the show, not staying and putting better dancers out.

James won't keep quiet about this ... Wild stab in the dark here, but might that be one of the reasons he keeps exiting unexpectedly early with competent dancer celebs?

Now he's got some spare time, maybe he can sit down and analyse why so many opinions seem to have changed about his missus Ola this year. Clue for him, it's not because she's got the best celeb dancer as a partner.

As I remember it, it was a strop about being voted out when John was still in, and then JS quit later the same week. But it's a long time ago, apologies if I'm wrong

Sorry for double post - just realised he appeared on ITT twice at that time, first time saying he and Cherie didn't deserve to go that week, and then the second time, after JS quit, talking about JS letting the public/Kristina down. He kept saying that it sounded like he was contradicting himself, which he was when compared to what he'd said earlier.

Which is a long way of saying yep, you're right!

I agree with this! However, imo, Craig definitely improved on all his previous performances!

Hopefully this is the last we see of James. Any of his previous partners could have done better with other pros.

Oo, James won't keep quiet.

We're so scared!

After the way he treated JS last year I sincerely hope that he does keep quiet. It's not Craig's fault that the public prefer him over Ali and Zoe. Yes, they are better dancers but, I do find it a tad hypocritical of this forum to all of a sudden start moaning about a poor dancer getting through over a good one, when we've seen countless threads continually berating one of the best dancers SCD has seen for years. There have been posters who have said in no uncertain terms that they want ANYONE other than Ricky Whittle to pick up the Glitterball. After tonight I would like to remind them of that old saying "be very careful what you wish for".

Oh I remember it very well. His behaviour on the Monday night ITT was appalling and what made it worse was that poor JS was on at the end of the show practically apologising for being so popular. I can remember feeling so sorry for JS that night.

Then on the Tuesday James made himself look a right twit for going back on almost everything he said the previous night.

He's a very arrogant man. I'm not surprised the public refuse to vote for him. Craig should have gone though. I don't care that he's from Blackpool. It should be of NO consequence!

I'm one of those people and I love these shock exits.

These kind of shock exits never happen to very likeable couples anyway so i'm not fussed...

I wonder if James will do Strictly next year? He must be thinking that being booted out earlyish even though he has a good partner 3 years running might be down to the publics opinion of him rather than his partners.

And he was still rubbish!

What else can he do? He may as well stay there and collect his pay cheque!

He will stay if Ola does, surely?
And she could go far this year if rumours are true about Cola being a big hit with the voters.

I completely agree. We were all shocked how high scores Zoe received this week, especially when you compare to some of the dances that scored less.

I agree they weren't the worse, and at least 2 or 3 dancers are below them, but based on this weeks performance they were not that great.

Well, how wrong could the OP be?

Both James and Zoe were as gracious in defeat as they had been on Saturday. I think it was probably a small comfort for Zoe that she shared the "dreaded" dance off with Ali, the celeb considered by many to be the best female this year.

I take them at their word when they tell us they have become great friends but it didnt come across on the sofa just as it didnt transfer to the dance floor.

Good interview though.

James and Zoe were exemplary.I wish I could say the same about Claudia and the production team.

James was very gracious in defeat on ITT - I think he has brushed up his PR skills and, if he comes back for another series, I think he will find the public might warm to him.

BUT, if I remember rightly, having berated the public when he left last years SCD by reminding them it was a DANCE contest, he then laid into JS and, I think, called him a coward for stepping down.

I think, from the weird and wonderful word of TV phone votes, JS knew damn well there was a high chance of him winning the thing and the venom from Mr J was too much.

To call a man who has reported from war zones - and been handbagged famously by Mrs Thatcher - a coward for standing down from a Saturday night dance show was pathetic - and I think it may well have dawned on James that the lack of votes is as likely to be down to HIM as it is to Zoe.

I like James and I was sorry to see him and Zoe leave. Especially with the judges tonight saying it could have gone either way. Cold comfort I suspect.

I think he has behaved graciously and obviously been very supportive to Zoe. Maybe next year the viewers will give him a break.

As the man himself would say 'He done great.'

Hmmm....I've always wondered if last year's rant actually came from an actual dislike of JS on James' part for some reason, no one knows what was going on backstage last year I guess.

Still I've always felt James' had a point with what he said and has been judged too harshly for it, although he made his point very badly!

I loved his absolute refusal to say "Team Cola" and get the pronounciation of his wife's name wrong. "Team Collar" it is.

JS had almost "disappeared" before Strictly last year. The show raised his profile and "graciously stepping down" was in my opinion a calculated move to enhance his stature where staying in would have ultimately had the opposite effect.
He's gone from strength to strength, he now hosts a rubbish show ...on a fringe channel.

But ITV have recently given him something.
He will become another of what I dislike about many of such people on TV, another; "In your face presenter."

Can't stand the man, the epitome of "smarm."
But he certainly isn't daft.

I'm afraid I believe that James, along with others involved in the small world of dance, is ludicrously unsophisticated about aspects of the wider world. To him, not being too bothered about a light entertainment show involving dance is tantamount to treason - he simply had no idea of the esteem JS is held in for his journalistic past by many, including some very highly placed in the BBC. James was fortunate not to suffer worse punishment for misplaced spleen against JS. At least one other was not so lucky!