I agree she would have stayed if she was partnered with a celeb, but that wasn't what she was offered and she turned down what was on offer. Her husband and partner Darren was made the same offer and chose to stay with the show. They each made their own decision.


Exactly. Ian is hoping to dance with a celeb next year and for the same reason, I just wish Lilia had chosen to stay with the dance troupe and keep ties with the show. I might be wrong, but I can't see Lilia ever being asked back now in any capacity.

Nicole was kept dangling for ever waiting for an answer, then dismissed with a no, was it by email?

Lilia had salt rubbed into her wounds. The inference from the Beeb's decision is that Anton can teach celebs better and enjoys better audience rapport than Lilia. Lilia is good enough to dance in the chorus as background scenery but not good enough for front of stage so had to make way for Anton.

In that case, surely the same applies to Nicole, and in fact she was arguably treated worse because she wasn't even considered by the BBC to merit a place dancing professionally on the show at all, never mind the teaching of the celebs. The same inference that Anton is better also applies to her.

I'm not arguing against Lilia's decision, based on what I've seen of the dance troupe she made the right choice (and it'll only be wrong if the dance trupe pros get the chance to compete with celebs next year, because I highly doubt Lilia would get invited back after snubbing the BBC this year). But it was her decision, Nicole didn't even get that choice.

She didn't exactly snub the bbc she just turned down their offer, the same as Matt Cutler and he's still working on the show behind the scenes. I don't think she's exactly cut all ties with the bbc either as her husband still envolved in the show I wouldn't be surprised if she did turn up somewhere along the way this series.

Sorry, I didn't word that well. What i meant was that the BBC could well see it as a snub, therefore they won't mind inviting her back to do the likes of ITT reports and choreography, maybe even the odd exhibition dance with Darren, as they have previously done for other dancers who've left (Karen and Camilla spring to mind), but I don't expect her to be offered the chance to compete in the show again because she said no to any real involvement this year. I know Nicole skipped a series, but was that her choice or theBBC's (if anyone can enlighten me, I didn't watch the show back then and don't actually know)?

Oh ok, I see what you mean.
I'm kind of hoping that Darren's involvement this year hasn't completely closed the door for both the Bennetts next year but that's just me clutching at straws

I'm not sure about the situation with Nicole but the impression I got was that she chose not to compete in series three because she had such a horrendous time with Diarmuid Gavin. But came back for series four as she and Matthew had decided to form their partnership again.

I also had the impression it was Nicole's choice. I thought it was something to do with wanting to focus on competing profesisonally?

In any case, I'd tend to think the BBC wouldn't be against the idea of either Matt or Lilia returning as a pro on principle, because they bowed out tactfully... unlike Nicole and the unfortunate NOTW article, and Brian who did come across as acting a bit petulantly. After all Matt and Lilia kept shtum until the press release by the BBC, whereas Brian I think announced on facebook within about 12 hours that he wouldn't be returning? So I don't think the 'snub factor' is in issue in the case of Matt or Lilia.

What remains to be seen, however, is whether the BBC would see any attraction in asking either of them back, given that they didn't want them this series. For that reason I don't see either of them returning. Which is a shame for the show in my opinion, as in both cases they've been extremely popular on any series where they had a decent celeb who put them a decent way into the series. Judging by DS, anyway, for what that's worth!
Also choreography, teaching skills etc. but I think we've covered that elsewhere!

Ah ok, thanks to you both, I didn't know whether it was her choice or if the BBC had decided not to ask her to do series 3 and then invited her back for series 4 because she and Matthew were dancing together again.

I think it would be a shame if neither of them came back, for the choroegraphy and teaching skills reasons you mentioned, as well as the dancing! I agree about their decorum, which was very dignified of them both, and definitely a plus point in their favour. But I do stand by what i said earlier that the BBC may now see them in very much a Karen or Camilla role given that they have no dancing involvement this series, and therefore they're not likely to be asked back, although with this new format of Christmas special I'd like to see them both in that!

Nicole was 35 when she was let go. Karen and Camilla did not wait to be pushed. Sadlly women seem to have a shorter shelf life, often pushed by other women with a view on public preference. Lilia is only 32, so age does not yet come into it, there is another reason.


Not much privilege to be offered the choice of joining the chorus line from leading lady.

Erin's 35 and Kristina 33, so the age issue is irrelevant, and I don't even think it had anything to do with Nicole being let go, Karen was older before she left. It may not be much privilege to be offered a pro dance job every other week, but you can't argue the fact that it's more than Nicole got.

In terms of SCD though, Lilia contributed alot more to the show (tours, lots of ITT appearances e.t.c) than Nicole did and was alot more popuar and successful than Nicole. Athough Nicole wasn't lucky with partners, arguably, Dom could be considered a dud and got further than he should of with Lilia's help so in my opinion it's only fair that Lilia shouldn't be written out competely.

I think you're right Katie, and given the beeb's record in how they treat the pro dancers I doubt that either Lillia, Matt C or Ian will be turning down other opportunities on the grounds that the beeb might just ask them back...perhaps.

I do think that is a distinct possibility, for various reasons. I think the Christmas Special is going to be really naff, so I don't really care either way, but it would be nice of the BBC to throw them a bone

They are going to pop up in a couple of the dance troupe routines as well, from what I understand.

The biggest Strictly ruction was over John Sergeant. National dailies covered the story. In the end he was subjected to such animosity (somebody rang up his intensely private wife at home to let off steam) John felt unable to stay on. His withdrawal was covered by 15 TV crews, Kristina was in tears, ITT became a battlefield with DS forum split. Although James contributed something to this breakup I believe most of the bile was led and encouraged by 3 judges: Craig, Len and Arlene. Bruno said once, "Your dancing stinks," then left it at that.

The following year another sustained furore over another judge, a situation which no doubt will once again overshadow Strictly this year. For all these reasons Strictly changed from a feelgood show to an arena of anger . But far from tackling the judges the management ended up losing the most popular professional dancers.

I understood it only became clear to Nicole that she was not being asked back after 3 series, when she found out that other pros (including Matthew) had already been approached to do the new series.

Initially Nicole thought there had been an error, but on further enquiry it turned out to be true and the official reason given to her was that there was no suitable celeb for her.

In August 2008, the NOWT printed the exclusive 'SCD exposé' interview with Nicole and you can read some extracts from the article here. She was understandably angry about the decision not to invite her back. The original article is no longer available - probably because the NOTW published an apology to Nicole for making up part of the article - you can read the apology here.

I'd love to see Nicole back on the show, but in reality I think the older pros will gradually be replaced with new younger pros.

I agree with those who say it would have been better if Lilia had agreed to join the dance troupe and not severe all her ties with SCD. I've read of many a celeb who regretted leaving a show too hastily .
Who knows what will happen next season. I'm sure the BBC are hoping the changes they made will increase the ratings but if they don't some of the new pros may not be kept on. Lilia I would say was probably the most popular female pro with the viewers and at 32 has many years of dancing still left. Corky Ballas at 50 is still doing well on DWTS.

I understand why Lilia refused the dance troupe and looking at the first outing she made the right decision.

Even if the ratings do not rise the BBC won't get rid of the new pro's, that would be an admission that they'd made a mistake and the BBC never admit mistakes. Look at the furore last year about Alesha, yet we are still having to endure her as a judge, and as her single isn't exactly rushing up the charts, she'll probably be back next year as well.

Me too!

It was like watching once proud wild animals trapped in a circus having to do cheap tricks for our amusement What have they done to you Ian!!!

You are missing the point though, because things have moved on since we first saw the dance troupe perform. Ian has recently said on his blog, that he hopes to dance with a celeb next year. That gives us hope that being in the dance troupe doesn't mean you will never dance again with a celeb.

However, as Lilia is no longer part of the show at all, it seems doubtful that we will see her on the show again, because someone new is more likely to be chosen, than someone who has walked away from the show. The same would apply to Matt and Brian.

Based on Ian's comment, I'd say it does now sound a bit like DWTS, where there is a pool of pros and some dance with celebs and some do pro dances and help in the back ground.

He's mostly used as a choreographer on DWTS. He's competed twice as a pro now (out of 11 series) and both times with ancient old fossils, using beginner level choreography and mugging to get through dances. I doubt Lilia would see that as "doing well".

I don't think that is true. I think the fact that Lilia and Matt played the game and announced via BBC press release, would stand in their favour if there was a possibility of being invited back. As would the fact that they have both hinted at popping back at some point, and of course Lilia's connection with Darren if he is invited back to compete again. Sometimes it's the way you leave, rather than the fact of leaving, that does the damage. As we said earlier in the thread, Nicole chose not to take part in series three, but was still offered series four.

However if the BBC don't see the value of then this series, I doubt they are suddenly going to rediscover it next series. For that reason I doubt they'll be back.

I do agree with your point and Matt still being part of the show in some capacity was clear from the outset, as it was part of the release. But I must admit I haven't seen any hint that Lilia might pop back at some time (quite the opposite in fact) and wouldn't mind a link to it.


I'd love to know if that was really true. I wonder if Mystic could tell us if that was speculation or a fact.


Agreed.

I asked the question because I didn't know, it wasn't me who said she chose not to do it, I asked what the reasoning behind her skipping series 3 and being able to come back was...

Thanks for explaining Mystic.

There isn't a link, it's just something I heard