Gloria was a similar size and managed elegance well. Probably helped by having Darren as a partner.

Half the problem the BoD has is the difference in height to Anton.

I certainly agree they made an effort and like most, were full of enthusiasm in their attitude, but I'm not sure they were inspirational. Willie Thorne was only 53 when he took part (such a nice guy).

At the end of the day the only way some of the celebs (mature or otherwise), inspire people to start dancing would be because they think they can only be better than those celebs!

This board runs 12 months of the year and doesn't need someone like Ann to keep it going!

Hello Buddy - I'd definitely include Don Warrington in any inspirational list and another forgotten mature lady - Stephanie Beacham (63) both elegance personified. Cherie Lunghi although slightly younger than the 60+ benchmark also proves that passing years don't necessarily mean a lack of grace.

I don't even cringe anymore - I simply shudder.

I wasn't sure if Don would be considered mature enough! I did forget Stephanie and wish she had lasted longer. Cherie fits the same bill as Felicity and Pamela for me, in that she's not really typical of a mature woman today. It's hard to describe what I mean, but some celebs suffer a lot more for their art than others when it comes to their physical appearances and I don't think they are typical of their generation. Actually I think Pamela stands out on her own in many ways and if people just watched SCD and not ITT, or didn't read anything she's written about her experience (), I think she could be inspiring.

Well yes but people do. Even if they don't say it they think it. If somebody is fat and rolls around the floor like a wallowing Hippo then it creates an impression. Some appreciate the act others don't.

It's interesting though, that Ann is getting hammered for 'not trying' and being prescriptive about what she will and won't do dance wise. My recollection is that Stephanie was somewhat similar (although not highlighted because she didn't last beyond the first week). She hardly put in any hours training and was fairly open about being relieved that she was out before she was expected to do any Latin dances in public. The difference was, of course, Stephanie is beautiful (as well as much cosmetically enhanced) and charming whereas Ann doesn't even try to look glam or dress up her requirements in camp diva talk. I maintain that, even if people won't acknowledge it, women get criticised when they refuse to 'look the part' or conform. Hence the really insulting physical descriptions dressed up as annoyance because 'she isn't trying'. All complicated by her political background of course.

Stephanie's escape from blandishment was nothing to do with her appearance. It's futile to lambast someone for not trying when their non-effort gets them voted out in the first week - they've clearly been dealt their punishment already. However, when someone doesn't try and yet seemingly escapes their due "reward" for it, of course they're going to get some people's backs up.

The physical element is probably a factor. Ann is not only lacking in charm, she's also very abrasive and quite rude. I don't think that's ever excusable.

I agree with that to an extent but it doesn't deal with the point that Stephanie was being cited as inspirational to older viewers of SCD and it can't, on the evidence we have, be because she was actually trying harder to learn to dance than Ann.

She is certainly very abrasive and a poor listener, who often talks over others to make herself heard (many years in the House of Commons has probably contributed to this). Beyond that, I don't find her any ruder than the judges, especially Craig, and a few of the other competitors, like Paul D for eg. But, again, we're talking men and they get judged in a different way.

No it doesn't and I think that there are some rose-tinted glasses being worn when people remember Stephanie. However, Stephanie's first dance achieved a higher score than anything Ann has managed and her protestations about the Latin were destined to remain only that. Had she continued and treated the Latin dances with the same jokey disdain that Ann is doing, I'd hope that she'd have had similar treatment. She may not and may have been down to the fact that she's "fabulous dahling" but that's pure speculation.

The judges are paid to be rude to an extent. I find Ann much worse than Paul was, so I don't think you can turn this into a gender issue.