I didn't vote for Gavin BTW. I thought his waltz was fantastic (I had very low expectations though). His other dance weren't that good but Katya did try to bring out the best in Gavin, though I agree that Gavin was NOT a natural mover.

Matt is not a bad looking chap either. He works hard and he had natural talent. So when he had Kara who's basically the female version of him (i.e. good looking and had natural dance talent) then it boils down to how the audience perceived to be more pleasing the choreography was. Of course, some idiots out there might vote for Artem's chest, but I doubt there were enough of those idiots to make Kara win. I actually thought despite some questionable choreography of Artem (his AS was one such example) Artem did a much better job in keeping with the spirit/rule of the choreography than Aliona to clinch that trophy from her.

My take of course...

Agree 100% here with SCD-O.


I think the problem with Rav was that he was her first celeb on the show and she fell into the trap of not concentrating on showcasing her celeb and looking too good along side him. A few pros on SCD and on DWTS have done the same thing - it's an experience thing.

But Len offers little advice as he doesn't want to be "nasty".

I'll probably have to eat my words next week! Mind you it is a themed week and a prop or two might fit in well with some Broadway numbers!

As I said before, my problem is that Len only called Aliona out for this when many other pros have said the same thing, without saying they respect the judges like she did.

I guess he doesn't like people who he thinks disrespects him. That's why he has had many spats with Brendan (that and Brendan being an idiot).

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"

Over the years though Len has called out other pros including Brendan.

But then again can anything be said of the others? Alesha never gives any technical detail- Craig- though I agree with almost every mark he gives- seems to overload with the improvements. For me, Bruno is perhaps the best- giving critique, but in a flamboyant style so he's not turned on.

Len- to give him his dues, gives probably just shy of enough. He points out obvious technical flaws- but doesn't get pernickety- he fits very nicely in the middle of Craig and Alesha- he seems more understanding over nerves and the learning process than Craig, but provides at least SOME technical appraisal. I think maybe he feels if he goes to the same lengths as Craig does, celebs may get disheartened. At least with CRH it's very much a panto villain type thing- which seems to suit him down to the ground!

I don't think you want to be engaged at all. You don't seem to want to accept that there are vast number of forumites out there that weren't thrilled with Aliona's choreography for her celeb partners. Rav was a red herring. I agreed he was bad and he had a personality of a toilet roll cardboard, but Matt had SO much potential and going by how people kept saying most viewers/voters of SCD were women, Matt could have easily walked it last year.

Matt's flippin' back flippping was UNNECESSARY for the dances he did. What is he, a freakin' seal? Alright first week, he needed to get people's attention with the cha-cha, but what's with that silly binoculars, stupid backpack and wellington boots that Aliona was wearing??? It made Matt look like a leacher stalking Aliona, the lap dancer on a holiday in Lapland. Not the prettiest sight.

And what's with that JUMP Aliona did with Matt's foxtrot as if she wanted him to ravish her on the dancefloor? What was that all about?

Rubbish, chavish choreography that's what!

Aliona's choreography went down very well on the tour.

Len was deeply unprofessional tonight. When Craig criticises, he criticises the dancing, not the dancer. Aliona made a general comment about the judges, he made a personal comment. I think he should be made to apologise.

He's an arrogant old man, whose marking is often (as someone else said) affected by Craig's marks. His comments to Harry were ridiculous. He plays the kindly old man to some people "Yes, there are some things that could be approved, but overall I think you did a good job". He constantly plays to the audience, and I think it's time for him to move on, as well as Mr. Forsythe. And some of his comments to the women border on the perverted (both of them).

He also is kinda biased in his scores. He always overmarks sportsman!

I do agree. Craig can be an overload of things to correct, as he wants nothing shy of perfection.
Len does have some points of criticism and understands that couples need to be supported, but it irritates me how he sometimes scorns Craig on what he says.

Alesha's is just there to say: you're great blabla...

Bruno does indeed give good measured advice, but it sometimes drowns in his overly flamboyant metaphors.

And Aliona shouldn't? Len may be outdated but Aliona's blatant disrespect should not be tolerated! I'm hoping she makes a public apology on ITT instead! Len had every right to be peeved. The judges are there, nicely or not, to do a job- and Aliona behaving like she knows best would be enough to rile all 4 of them!

I doubt good old Saint Arlene of Phillips (I promise that isn't sarcasm- I still mourn her loss to this day...) would have approved of her comments! And quite right too!

That annoys me greatly. You saw how seriously annoyed he was tonight when the crowd booed him, saying he was giving serious advice.

But when Craig gets booed giving advice, Len needs to add to the negative by insulting Craig. So Craig's advice is not worth listening to?

People will vote for a showstopping performance. Choreography has everything to do with that. Choreographing a routine that plays to the strengths of the celebrity, and that hides their weaknesses, is something that the best pro's (for example, Natalie) excel at and that the weaker pro's (I would put Aliona in this category) don't.

Matt quite possibly should have won last year, especially with the number of mistakes that Kara made in her showdance but his showdance didn't really show off his dancing in any way at all (although it did well to remind us all that he used to be a gymnast).

Arlene woud have said nothing, but would have fawned over Harry's tight pants.

I don't mind that flmaboyance though... If this is an entertainment show then provide entertainment, but still do your job.

Bruno certainly does that well, as does Craig in his panto-villain role. It was quite nice seeing Alesha give a 2 for once! Maybe she's starting to turn a corner...

Len just knows what he likes and as the most experienced I don't care to blame him for his more elderly critical eye...

Applauds!! Couldn't agree more SCD-O- I really wanted to like Matt last year but couldn't because of the 'added extras'- no real dancing for me.


Actually he did not make a 'personal comment' - he made a comment to Aliona which is different.

It will be interesting to see what the other pros say on ITT and whether Harry manages to get her to shut up or to make more considered comments this week on ITT.

I thought Harry's marks tonight were very generous actually. It was one of the dullest routines of the whole evening and he didn't actually do a lot.

I can perfectly accept that people didn't like her choreography. What I don't accept is their extremely shaky "reasons" for dismissing her ability as a choreographer, or for accusing her of ruining Matt's chances, or that if it weren't for her he would easily have won.


She was making it fun; it made him stand out. I became attached to the couple because of those quirky touches. She was brave enough to make him unique and show off his acrobatic talents - which, in that line-up, were unique to him.

Arlene- to my memory- is the only other judges to Craig to have given a 1... (Good old Q Wilson's Cha Cha!)
She certainly wouldn't have stood for any of the rubbish Aliona says.
However yes, Craig and Len would have had to keep her on the same tether as Bruno... can't help feeling she's cursing not having messers Savage, Donovan and Judd on the show back in her day... I wonder if Ramps has recovered yet?

I'd disagree with that; choreography is important. For instance, in series seven, Ricky Whittle had been in two dance offs and then comes out in the semi-final and performs a stunning Waltz and a dramatic Argentine Tango and doesn't get eliminated.

I think one part of Kartem's appeal (probably a small part, but a part nonetheless) was the fact that they had a showmance.

I wasn't a fan of either of them (I was initially a Matt supporter, but Pamela had won me over by the end) - but I do think that might have endeared them to some viewers.

Yes, it was dull, but at least he wasn't dragged across the floor like some of the other celebs.