I was thinking that too
And was it me, or was James and Caroline's dance using more of the music than Chris and Ola's, even though they're both supposed to be the same length....

She doesn't come over well on that blog.
I am glad she didn't win now. I wanted her to win as well.

Very inteesting. I don't agree with the previous poster I'm afraid, we know she's a very forthright person and clearly has strong opinions, and it's interesting to get the insider's view. I shall look forward to reading more when I have time. Still, at least she's happy she didn't win!

Really? What's the problem with someone who is articulate, intelligent, forthright, candid, amusing and entertaining? And a beautiful dancer as well.

Why didn't she come over well?

Di was very gracious and extremely complimentary about James and Caroline. There were no sour grapes at all, and her comments about James Jordan only confirmed what had been hinted at on screen already - that he favoured James and Caroline. Revealing a judge's preferences is, I think, hardly a big deal - after all, we've lived with years of the panel on Strictly barely concealing theirs ...

As for her comments about the BBC Three commissioning editor and his obsession with age: I kind of find it heartening that we have more confirmation of television executives' limited intelligence. BBC Three's remit is deeply flawed, has repeatedly drawn criticism and rightly so. Great television should appeal to all ages and Being Human, Gavin And Stacey and now Dancing On Wheels have all proved this. So why view programmes - and people - in such a blinkered way?

Couldn't disagree more- its a wonderful blog and really made me feel pleased for her and Mark and I was soooo disappointed last night when they didn't win!

I have to say that I wasn't impressed with the result but will watch next week to see what happens.... I hope we do get a proper catch up with all the dancers as promised and don't just see the European Championships- lost interest in that when Di and Mark didn't win! *hangs head in bad sportsmanship shame*

I really wanted Di and Mark to win, I do like James and Caroline.. I just.. really like Di and Mark.

I'm not sure you actually read the blog in the spirit it was intended. I found it very interesting and moving in places and am looking forward to seeing next week's programme. I think Di is an inspiration to all wheelchair users and I hope she manages to find a professional dancer so she can start competing in the wheelchair dance championships. I might be completely wrong but I somehow doubt that James and Caroline will continue with wheelchair dancing.

I agree with your last statement which is one of the reasons I wanted Mark and Di to win last night. James and Caroline just didn't click for me- either with each other on the floor or with the dancing itself.

Before anyone says anything they clearly got on but for me that didn't translate to the floor in the same way it did for some of the other couples.

In your opinion.
You don't speak for the world.

I thought she made a load of excuses on the blog imo.

Quote

Do I think the judges made the right decision? Yes – at that time (July 2009) for the following reasons, which include what I consider to be the reasons behind their decision:

James and Ola are both Latin Ballroom dancers (they are, of course, brilliant at ‘ballroom’ dances) – they are professionals after all, but their principle field is Latin.

This, of course, again, is a ‘visual’ factor – v imp for tv – not so important for competitions where the judges would base on ability and connection of and between the couple. And as Pippa (dance trainer) Roberts kept saying: ‘Mark’s height would be an advantage in wheelchair dance competitions – on the tightly packed dancefloor, all the judges would have no problem in seeing him!’

However, skills aside (please notice that during the Quickstep, Mark and I are moving so fast, all five wheels of the wheelchair come off the floor!) this year I will turn 50. There, I have said it, one of the possible key factors in the final result is age.

Why is what Di wrote 'a load of excuses'?

Her arguments are very persuasive and chime strongly with what we've seen. James pushed for his wheelchair-bound namesake repeatedly, even when he and Caroline turned in a very uneven performance in the quarter-finals. We even heard James (Jordan) using James' 'guns' as a reason for him to kept.

The point about age is extremely interesting. Given the BBC commissioning editor's comments, is possible that the judges might have been steered in James and Caroline's direction? I dunno - maybe that's a conspiracy theory too far - but it's perfectly valid for a contestant to make a comment about her age possibly being an issue if it's been referred to repeatedly. Hell, James (Jordan) should know that only too well after dancing with Cherie Lunghi.

Di didn't make any excuses on her blog. She simply gave a perspective on what had happened. Which she is entitled to do.

And of course you are entitled to your opinion. But you seem to be in a minority ...

Cool.
There is not a lot of people posting on this thread.
I am not going to change my opinions because i am in the minority. I form my own views. Should i change my opinion to be in with the crowd? Would you?

Of course not.

But that's not the point I was making. You feel Di made 'a load of excuses'. But why? Where is the evidence to back up your argument? Could you not accept Force Ten's point that you might have misread the blog?

Feel free to believe what you like - we all do. But it's not uncommon to be asked why ...

I feel i should point out to anyone who hasn't read Di's blog that she ends her comments by saying


Doesn't seem like an excuse to me

I don't really know what to make of that blog... Di irritates me a little (I'm sorry, I know a lot of you like her, but I just get the feeling that we really wouldn't get on with each other if we met) which may make me a little biased, but it definitely seems like she's making excuses, making her seem (to me) quite bitter, and the statement about Caroline and James being deserving winners to me seems a bit contradictory and insincere...

The bit about the chair skills grated on me as, not being at all biased on this aspect, I always thought that she was the second best mover after James who I thought was incredible.

Obviously I don't know her intentions or true thoughts though, this is just what I have made of it.

Hmmm!

I thought she was being VERY generous when she said that James and Caroline were excellent at both disciplines when it was very obvious that they weren't that hot at the ballroom side of things (and even the judges and James and Caroline agreed!). I think the judges had a very hard decision to make, and I think that Di has a point when she says that the Jordans are Latin specialists so may have preferred the candidates stronger aat that side. It was interesting that they showed you that the judge having real problems deciding was Ade.

Check out Youtube for videos of the Championships - age does not appear to be an issue in this field as there are some quite chronologically challenged competitors shown....

Having found the results on line - it appears that James and Caroline wimped out of doing the Ballroom section of the championshps - as James had suggested that if they won Di and Mark might choose not to do the Latin.

I agree that I too probably wouldn't like Di much f we met in real life but I don't think she comes across badly in her blog. As she says - its her blog and she can say what she likes

Just posting in the hope that my timed-out posting will appear.

Apparently not.

The short version is that I thought it was a fair result over the 2 dances, but Di and Mark's Quickstep was the dance I liked most. Caroline is a much better dancer than Mark, so that is another reason why they would have been chosen.

I hope Di contines to enjoy dancing, as she seemed to on the show.

Last nights follow-up episode was good!

Nice to see how the show had a positive effect for most of the participants, the bit with Di and Boris was funny

Best of luck to Harry, hope he gets his job in the police force.

Not surprised with how James and Caroline did at the Championships, it was only to be expected given their limited training compared to the other competitors, but they gave it a good go. And they did seem to have made a good effort with their training, despite the judges doubts they might not be commited enough.

The final show was well produced and gave us most of what we would want to catch up on.

Paul and Simone seemed happy with life before the show, so hadn't changed much.

Although James did very well on the show, I think he may get more kicks from doing things that are going to give more of an adrenaline rush than dancing, although he does have an artistic side. I think James and Caroline did very well to come 15th out of 17 competitors, when they had so little time to practice. I dont think many people will tell him he cant do anything after seeing him on the show.

Di has taken on the most ambitious challenge of all the dancers, to promote the sport and I wish her every success. She seems to have a lot of drive and enthusiasm, and the dance talent.

Harry came across well on the show, as did his partner Michelle, and that has been a boost that has given him a new path in life - great to see.

Carolyn, I was sad to see leave the show so early. She was an instantly likeable girl, and because of her injury had a harder challenge than everyone else on the show except perhaps Harry. I was more delighted for her than anyone else to see that she hadn't let her early exit get her down , but was taking all the good things she could from the show. Worth watching the last show just to see that.

A great summary, thankyou

Thanks Glistener.

If I had a choice of tickets to watch the NBA stars in the Olympics, or the wheelchair basketball, I would choose the wheelchair basketball. I found it more entertaining, because it is slow enough to follow all the action, they have to shoot every time -not dump it, and there is more rough and tumble. It's quite a tough sport, as Ade Adepitan could testify.

One example where I prefer to watch wheelchair sport.

I agree with you, that does sound like a load of excuses to me.