No, not everyone is doing that, but some of us are. I still maintain that whoever the audience wants to vote for they should vote for and the couple should be allowed to stay in (this wasn't my issue). My issue was inconcistency as to whom we are supporting and the reasons why. For instance, one year I might have argued for one couple on the basis of dance and another year I argued for a couple on the basis of entertainment, effort and personality. It doesn't mean that I would want to get rid of another couple because they don't fulfil my expectatons (that comment was tongue in cheek).


But I didn't make the point that this shouldn't be possible or that people shouldn't support Ann and Anton. Where did you get that from. I just said that like some of us on here, James might change his goalpost on what he thinks is good entertainment and dancing like we do on here. It's about consistency. However, we expect a pro to stay ueber-consistent when we aren't consistent ourselves (e.g. some people on here want Anne to go (based on dancing), and would be happy for Gavin to stay longer than Pamela (based on her personality).


I disagree, although you might have a point (yes that is possible). I disagree from my point of view, I think her approach is not non-nonsense but respectless. The only saving grace is Anton's routines IMO. However, I can see that some people might find them entertaining for the reasons you state.

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but before we go off on too much of a tangent about what James said, could you all just please watch it? Nowhere in that interview does he say he prefers things to be judged on the dancing! He was asked if he found it funny and he said, 'no, not any more', at which point Pamela whacked him and he started saying how much he admired Anton, and that it was Anton's choreography that had kept them in the competition.

Actually you are right. Shows you how quickly things can be turned into something else.

At least you admitted it - which is more than the Daily Heil or The Scum are likely to do. I'm sure some half-wit 'journalist' is already creating some headline about James 'attacking poor Ann' ...

And now there is a bandwagon building blaming the BBC for 'losing the World Cup 2018 football bid' (:yawn, expect it to come under more fire than ever and Strictly to get a good kicking ...

Well done Peeve for an accurate transcription.

In SCD5 Mrs Logan and Mr Jordan were turfed out in round 3. Mr Logan and Mrs Jordan lasted until round 8. No doubt James did not like it, but he did not tell the public how to vote.

In SCD6 James as good as told the public they should have turfed out John Sergeant and kept himself and Cherie in. This brought a firestorm on James' head while doing Ola no favours.

In SCD8 Jame has learnt better. He conceded it is up to the public how to vote with their own money. As for expressing a view, he was entitled to say he was underwhelmed by she who must be named -- Thank God for individuals who can talk straight, regardless of £££££.

Not much chance of instructing James to perform a standing ovation.

Me i admit to anything (and see below one of my earlier post, I already was aware that he had not said anything of that sort.

I agree with you on everything else, and the stupid notion that the loss of the football bid is due to the BBC.

It's crystal clear that Ann makes the minimum effort - pretty easy when you refuse to learn half the dances you're given. She doesn't want to do them because they're 'inappropriate' and that's why she chooses to make them into 'comedy' sketches.

Pamela admitted this morning in the BBC Breakfast interview that she was terrible with exercise and would always put it off but now embraces it because it's made her feel so much better.

Ann obviously hasn't even tried. The footage of her AS on ITT this week shows her with the same appalling posture she's had since the start. She's no more 'unphysical' than many other contestants past and present and, if there was any medical reason for her not to dance, she'd never have been allowed on SCD in the first place. If she wanted to work on things the judges (and pro's) have suggested, she could have. But she doesn't bother. Because she doesn't care what other people think or say.

And Ann isn't being self-deprecatory at all. All the talk of 'having fun' is just that - talk. Everything about Ann is about promoting herself - the only person she is really interested in. And, in that mission, she is extremely serious.

I don't think Ann has put 100% into her training either, but not because she refuses to perform certain moves that she deems too sexy or distasteful. I think that's a separate issue.

She could have worked harder on things like her posture though.

As Erin has said to Anton, the American Smooth looks better and I tend to agree. Miles behind the others though.

As for Ann's attitude. No she's not very self-deprecating, and yes she is exceptionally arrogant at times. But she's honest, I'll give her that - and that would be something I would think James would appreciate.

I think Sid has some valid points in his post. Although personally I do not want Ann to remain in the competition, I accept that the wider public may feel differently and won't lose too much sleep over it. Although I'm not keen on her performances I do want to be fair to her. So I will try and give some constructive comment.

I think Ann does put effort in. Not sure how much. There are two problems with the way that effort is directed as far as I can see.

First problem. She is selective about where to put that effort. Now there are two ways of being selective. One is to refuse to do certain steps. I don't mind this as long as she does enough of the other steps (we don't have the concept of compulsory steps). The other way of being selective is to put effort into only certain aspects of the dancing. So the effort goes into footwork. You can put a lot of effort into this aspect (medal exams put big big emphasis on it) and so she is not necessarily being lazy or dismissive, but unfortunately it is not something that is very visible to the public. They tend to focus on presentation (such as posture, leg and hip work) which Ann doesn't do partly because she finds certain aspects distasteful, and partly because she may genuinely find it difficult - which brings me on to my second problem.

Second problem She's not very good. Even where she does put in effort (i.e.. footwork) there won't be great returns. Also there are physical factors which stop her from improving. Her posture is hampered by years and years of standing/walking in a certain way and so it will be difficult to correct. And there is the height difference which genuinely will be a problem. Also look how she walks normally. Her legs are splayed (this could be due to a physical problem or may just be down to habit which is difficult to break). Because she doesn't pass her legs under her body (she swings her legs round), she looks a lot worse. Natalie Cassidy had a similar problem with her legs although to a much lesser extent.

And yes, as much as I admire James as a teacher, i think he is a bit selective about how he sees things.
Last edited by Vivacious Lady : 03-12-2010 at 17:24

I agree with you Sid

Perhaps James should stop moaning and withdraw if he is not happy.

Have you watched the clip being discussed in this thread?

Anything to do with Ola?

Chris wasn't the best dancer BUT he was still quite good. I think he had natural rhythm and really improved as the weeks went on. That's what its all about- the entertainment IS the dancing. I am not entertained by someone plodding around half heartedly and then shouting abuse at the judges. What is the point in training every week if all you need to do is plod around an iceberg???

Spot on!

I could quote every post of yours in this thread Sid, I agree with everyone of them.

I dont see a conflict in James personally wishing it was decided based on the dancing, and him accepting that it is a popularity/dancing competition.

Ann is relying almost entirely on what Anton is doing, whereas Chris tried very hard while holding down a job and did dance to a reasonable standard. So again I see it as reasonable to think that Ann doesn't deserve to win based on what she has done.

Poor old James is getting a right rollicking in this thread tonight, when all he said was that he didn't think Ann was funny any more. Nothing about the dancing, nothing about entertainment value, just an honest answer to the question: 'Do you think she's funny?', to which he answered, 'no, not any more'.

A lot of people seem to find Ann and Anton funny; I don't, despite the BBC assuring me at every opportunity that she's 'hilarious'. For all we know, James might have gone on to say, 'she's not funny any more, because now she's really trying hard and improving her dancing and has had such an amazing journey that I really, really think she should win based on her now amazing dancing.'

Well, that's an equally valid interpretation.

Love James and think he dealt with the question honestly

Agree with everything you say Sid. I could not stand it last year how he changed his mind saying it was an entertainment show i.e because his wife was dancing with Chris when he knew Ricky was the better dancer.

You are a star!

Great interview and Pamela came over much better than in recent interviews. I thought James said the right thing about JS and Chris Hollins and I think he said the right thing about Ann. I don't see any inconsistency in his opinions tbh. It seems to me that all he wants is for the person who wins to be a decent dancer. Not necessarily the best dancer, but a dancer nonetheless.

Everyone knew Ricky was the better dancer technically. Just like Rachel was arguably the best dancer technically in SCD6.

But technical precision isn't everything. Strictly winners have to combine learning to dance with a personality that viewers engage with and want to invest in. Evidently neither Ricky nor Rachel succeeded on that level - however technically good they were. No, Chris may not have been the best dancer technically, but he worked hard and put the hours in - which is more than we have seen from Ann. That is the difference and, therefore, there is very little inconsistency in James' opinion. Tamsin Outhwaite echoed his thoughts on ITT tonight and Len has been far more outspoken about the prospect of losing good dancers, both in print and on the radio.

Completely agree, Buddy () - and I'd add that there would still appear to be some posters who have leapt on a 'let's bash James' bandwagon without having listened properly to what he had to say. He didn't say anything Karen Hardy hasn't said already - and a lot less than Len ...

I disagree with you 100% -Sid-.

What else is he supposed to say? He's got to show support for his wife, and Chris (his friend).