I haven't seen what he said tonight yet, just read that he made a dig at her.

I have to say, in her first series - when she had the uselessly lumbering oaf Rav - I remember Len picking on her and thinking it was unfair. He was off with her last series too, though not as directly (though many seemed to agree her choreography was sub-par; I didn't agree).

Has any other pro been so singled out before by a judge?

None of the judges were keen on her last year when she had matt and slated thier austin powers jive either which i thought was brilliant.

I think she said on It Takes Too she does not care what the judges tell her, and I dont blame her, they are all over the place, seriously over marking, under marking, giving a 9 in week 1?

Seriously in the good all days they had to bloody be great to get a 9, and usually didn't see the 9's until at least week 5/6

Like I say, I've never had a problem with her; the judges usually don't, but Len often has some unflattering thing to say either directly about her or about "the routine". I actually really liked her more gimmicky and quirky routines last year with Matt.

I think Len hates everyone who does not bow to his great judgement. If Craig criticises a contestant, Len goes out of his way to praise them, but if Craig is kind, Len himself gets nasty about the contestant. He needs all the attention he can get. He wants to be Papa Smurf.

When she had that strange ex-cop Crimwatch bloke (Rav somebody), I think it might have been Len who said she made the dance all about her and didn't make the most of whatever it was that Rav had. She was very offended by that and showed it on ITT, she said what was was she supposed to make the most of and she was right! She has proved herself to be a good teacher since then.
She takes judges' comments with pinch of salt and I don't blame her. But, no, I don't think Len hates her, there is just a bit of distance between them now.

Yes he hates her .

Maybe he does. I loathe her choreography. She didn't do Matt Baker any favours. There's just something "off" about her...

This is what she actually said on ITT

"in general I LISTEN to the judges comments and I respect them but I kinda dont take them on board"

and yes, I have just watched the interview on youtube and typed what she said so Len turning to her and saying "I know you dont listen to the judges comments" or whatever he said - is wrong

Hate is a bit of a strong word, but I would hazard a guess that he isn't particularly keen on her.

She was marvellous with Matt Baker! He very nearly won.

Yeah, finishing in second place to a purely average and unexceptional couple like Artem and [what'shername]. How very useless she is!

Len was completely out of line because Katya, Ola and others have all slated the judges on ITT. Aliona even said it in a respectful way. He obviously dislikes her for some reason

I don't care if he dislikes her choreography, that is no reason to dislike her personally. I have agreed with him in the past for calling Brendan out for being a prat, but this was just unnecessary.

I don't think the other judges have an issue with her at all. But Len seems to be offended because she doesn't think he is a god or something

It wasn't her fault Rav was awful!

IMO he would have walked it with any other pro. He lost because of her and not in spite of her. Her choreography, at times, was appalling and didn't showcase Matt to the best of his abilities, but this is a rehash of last year.

Yeah it's best to leave this tedious and fallacious rubbish back in last year where it belongs.

Rav had never danced before and this is what Aliona got out of him in week one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lx38kc1veo

Given how difficult men find the Rumba, this was how comfortable she got Rav looking in the other week one dance that Len criticised her for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rqx8tMaLkE

Len is a traditionalist and does not like her modern style of ballroom dancing.

Plus, he slates Craig on every occasion he gets.

I dont think Len hates her, more isnt keen on her. I think her choreo is more suited to DWTS than Strictly to be honest.

Sorry, but given her record with the judges I thought Aliona was a fool to say what she did on ITT and I'm not surprised Len called her on it. Even Harry picked up on what she was said and immediately told Zoe that he did listen to the judges.

Aliona's problem is that she has made no secret that she choreographs routines that please the viewing public and not the judges. It is the judges' job to point out when as far as they are concerned she has not done her job properly.

She is definitely not the only pro to be singled out by the judges, but apart from Brendan who has been singled out loads of times, I think she's probably the only one to have been singled out every series she's been in.

THis! Evening BuddyB.

Also, as I said somewhere else- why do it so early in the series?? Wait until your vote is secure methinks.

Actually, Matt did well DESPITE of her, not because of her. The only routine I liked of Matt last year was the Charleston. The Samba was good but the back-flip was so unnecessary and he already did that in his cha-cha...


See above.


No pros were singled out like this but Aliona has herself to blame for being too esoteric in her choreography. Though I have to say her cha-cha last week was pure cha-cha. Very good. This week, she didn't do very well with the foxtrot, because once again she was doing all the dancing and Harry was just positioning her and presenting her. I think she forgot that Harry was not a pro but the celeb that needed to be showcased.

I felt Aliona was a little bit too dismissive of the judges on ITT (even if she felt the way she did, it was best to keep those views to herself).

However, I thought it was wrong of Len to bring it up on the main show in front of 8 million people because it could harm Harry's chances (and he's done nothing wrong).

If Len did want to raise the issue, next week's ITT was the place to do it.

I get tired of all the choreography arguments. Yes, some people like her choreography, some don't.

But I am tired of hearing "Matt did well DESPITE her" from people who don't like it, or "Matt did well BECAUSE of her" from fans. People don't vote based on choreography or dance partners.

Look at some of the rubbish dancers who have got far. If people are gonna vote for someone, they will vote for them regardless.

Len might be a traditionalist, but the second part of your post is just not true. If you don't include the required elements of a dance, it doesn't matter whether your style is modern or traditional, you won't get high marks.

So far this series though, I think Aliona's choreography has been good - some of her best yet.