I've seen this asked on another thread and it occured to me too while watching ITT tonight. I've missed it the last few days but there's certainly a cooling there- they were getting on famously, very at ease with one another, but now seem really distant and cold.

I think Pamela's jive really knocked her confidence, and she now lacks the exuberant side of her personality.

What's been going on?

I havent seen ITT tonight - can you fill me in?

I did think things seemed a bit strained between them but I hope it is all resolved for Saturday.

I just asked on the ITT thread what's going on as I have no idea but then again have been watching less the last 2 weeks.

I think James has turned on her. She does feel sensitive at the moment and james' treatment is not helpin! He should be kinder. Though I still love him. So I think they are not getting on as they did before.

Why would he turn on her though

Maybe he's tired of reading and hearing Pamela's missives in the newspapers and radio, about sex and falling in love with your dance partner.

Its probably just fatigue, they have been dancing for almost 3 months now or perhaps James has had enough of the playing the nice guy and returning to his bad boy image !

I don't think he has- I think that there is some careful VT editing going on somewhere.

I didn't see any of the major angst that some saw on ITT and from James' point of view he is simply trying something different.

Personally I can't see Pamela putting up with carp from anyone least of all James somehow.

Did no-one pick up the obvious irony of the 'everything is fun- we are happy' fakeness they were on about- people here go on about how fake it is all the time!

I may be reading too much into this but:

James badly wants to lift that Glitterball.
Pamela started off so well that he may have thought he had a chance.
He's now realising that may not be the case, she's not scoring high enough to be safe and the public support may not be there.

This is only a theory though.

They're both very strong minded people and this might be causing a bit of a clash.

They don't seem as relaxed as they were at the start of the series (when I had high hopes for them as a couple). Certainly on ITT, the laughter seems a bit forced to me.

I think Pamela may be hard work to be with for long periods,the constant talk and laughter and banter would wear very thin for me after a short while .Maybe James feels she is a bit too much and perhaps not easy to teach ,I cant say I blame him to be honest .

Pamela looks hard work to me. Her need for the attention to be on her (my opinion only) may clash with James's work ethic.

I think the Billy Conolly interference may be more than we are informed about. James could handle ego et c but not the constant background of a jealous husband.

This has crossed my mind also.

I can't see much difference in them to be honest. They have to put a different slant on things for each interview and vt on ITT. I wouldn't read too much into it.

Like someone said earlier fatigue, or familiarity perhaps?

I think you may have a point there.Pam had done really well up to the jive when BC was in the audience.

I don't see any difference, other than the fact that they've realised the push-ups VT isn't going to work on repeat, so they're saying different things. It all amounts to the same: they're both determined, strong-willed and feisty and as a result they do clash occasionally, but they always make up and get on really well most of the time.

Everyone looks fatigued, I don't think James and Pamela are any different to anyone else in that regard, and I certainly see no reason for James to turn on her even if he does think he can't win now (although judging by Ola's comments on ITT yesterday I would say he does still think he has a chance!)

I hadn't noticed anything, they seem OK to me.

Yes, I didn't think James has turned on her. I think he was being sarcastic about some of the other contestants' nauseatingly happy and optimistic view of SCD. Perhaps Pamela was wondering why their relationship is not more like, say, Patsy and Robin, and James is now trying to show her what it would be like.

I think James is just trying to be a bit too funny so he stands out (he thinks). Remember the viewers questions on ITT about annoying habits, Matt said about James keeps pinching his bum and he doesn't know why. Robin said about the tickling. I think it's all to do with him trying to get noticed more.

Exactly, I think Pamela would drive anyone dotty after a few weeks of her company. Personally I think she may have over done it in the media about her feelings for James!!! All this talk about sexual chemistry, how her husband "had to speak to James" at the beginning of Strictly etc. Perhaps he is fed up with the whole ridiculous situation of a 60 year old woman gushing on and on about him when he is married to the gorgeous Ola and is not interested. It has been very one-sided and quite frankly embarrrassing to listen to. All her analysing gets on my nerves. She is terribly me, me and more me, isn't she!! Ghastly woman.

That is exactly what I think, I can't say I blame him.

She should just stick to the dancing and leave the psycho babble at home.

Regarding James' happy, happy happy act on ITT last night!! I do not blame him emphasising how American the show has become!!!! Now we have constant smiling, HAPPY, contestants, just LOVING Strictly. A bit like the manic Happy Osmonds!!! Or the hysterically happy workers at Disney!!! I loved Linda from Loose Women when she said she hated Strictly and was delighted when she was voted out or Fiona Phillips who talked about how awful Brendan was to her and how fanatical the professional dancers were to do well in the competition. They CANNOT always get on with their celeb partners and it is just plain daft to think that it is always HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY on the show. I think showbusiness people have HUGE egos and are highly competitive people!!

You should have a go at out-psyching a psycho for a couple of months and see how it makes you feel.

I actually have no idea what you are talking about. I saw them on the sofa with Claudia the night before and they were perfectly as normal - like a bickering married couple (which is what they've always been, and why I rather like them!).

I think it's true to say James was possibly more rattled than Pamela about the jive scores - then Pamela started giving herself a hard time about it ... hence some underlying tension in foxtrot week. But it seemed to be business as usual to me.

As for Pamela being hard to work with - no more so than any of the other celebs, I'm sure. Look at neurotic Patsy, Felicity talking nine to the dozen, Gavin preening himself - they all need managing and I think the pro's do a great job. But Pamela being all 'me, me, me'? I don't see that at all. She's generous with the other contestants and always thanks the audience and the people voting. Unlike some other contestants I can think of ...