Where have I said I didn't like her?

I agree too! I like all the panel this year.

Have you ever heard Sebastien Vettel's English. Perfect in every way with all the idomatice English phrases. How clever these Germans are with the English language.
Witt is very clea and so easy easy to understand although she has more of a Germanic tone to here excellent English.

She is a credible judge with very clear spoken English, albeit with an accent. The best panel line up they have had of all series.

The wiki quote (see Tiggergirl's post) suggests that far from hating the East German regime Katarina lived a very comfortable lifestyle under totalitarian rule..

I'm not judging her choices - but I do think that KarlHyde is in a better position than we are to comment on her fellow Germans public perception of her character.

Having said that, as a skater she enchanted me and I think her knowledge and expertise of skating adds value to the panel. That is all I expect from a judge.

She came over a bit too Arlene Phillips for my taste last night, but as Louis was squealing like a wee girlie too (and Christine kept on and on about it), I suspect the production team had put them up to it.

Or maybe I am just cynical as I just cannot seriously believe that anyone thought an already unattractive Matthew looked "hot" in tacky pleather?

In general though, happy with this year's panel.

I really like Katarina - in fact I like the whole panel this year - they've replaced some questionable celebrities (I like Emma Bunton, but what does she have to do with either dancing or ice skating - and I don't count Spice Girls routines as dancing!) with some real credible judges. And Katarina made me laugh out loud at the TV last night. I like how they are asking Karen her opinions too. Up yours, Jason!!

I read the wiki quote and it said those sweetners were given to her to stop her from defecting - she would also have had family to consider if she had chosen to defect.

A 'comfortable lifestyle' doesn't compensate for lack of free speech - I said 'probably' hated it but who knows what her true feelings were about that regime - but I don't agree it's as simple as her being fully for it - the speech to the German parliament that Karl mentioned notwithstanding. I do agree that he's in a better position to comment on how Germans view her though.