me too

Some of you guys seem to be a bit harsh about Karen . I have to admit Im not her biggest fan, far from it but give her a chance guys.
Remember how Aliona's choreography left a lot to be desired for her first 2 consecutive years and now she seems to get how should I say it nicely ? " better ". As you can see she is certainly not my favourite .

There's more to it than that but we shouldn't really stray from the topic which is about the pros. Specifically I'm addressing the lack of credit as I see it for Karen.

I believe there is a strong case for Nicky as the most improved dancer and I hope I've been able to promote that idea. Given that and, for example, the amount of praise (mostly deserved in my opinion) that Natalie gets for the job she did with Michael, it's interesting to me how little credit generally Karen seems to get. I think the disparity is too wide. After all, she has helped Nicky achieve (at worst) the runner-up spot amongst the male celebs after a very unpromising start.

I'm not suggesting that the improvement of their celeb is the be-all-and-end-all when it comes to rating the pros. Far from it. Also I'm certainly not attempting to belittle the efforts of Natalie (or Michael). However it strikes me that many people are wildly inconsistent in applying the criteria they use to evaluate performance.

It's hardly a radical proposal but, to sum it up, people have a tendency to be biased.

Maybe the people not giving credit to Karen just don't think Nicky has improved as much as you do?

I do tend to agree though that Karen deserves a second chance with a contender. For my money, the problem with the Karen/Nicky partnership is Nicky. Exactly why a young man in the prime of his life and without physical impairment finds it so difficult to stand up straight and extend his limbs in straight lines has been a source of bafflement for me throughout this series.

So I say give Karen a good 'un next year and we'll find out if it's Nicky or her that's the problem.

That's the thing though, on paper Nicky was a 'good 'un'.... then we saw his dancing .. producers probably thought they were giving their new pro a good chance (like they seem to do with every new pro) but that's the nature of this show - it's all expectation and surprise.. oh and don't forget the 'journey'!!

No problem with that but that's where this started...with someone querying my opinion that Nicky is the most improved...and that's why I brought up that Nicky has accumulated more points than Michael etc..

Which 'proves' nothing of course but at least their comparative points totals is not a matter of opinion (in contrast to whether or not they deserved those points).

Kristina can go, boob & bum wiggling too much for me.
Theres only so much u can do with a celeb if they cant dance. Give anton a decent partner & then judge. Karen can go doesnt do it for me. Natalie definitely to stay. Brendan stay, vincent irritating but stay, pasha not bothered, artim, flavia same. Ola an james go, Erin i love but maybe time to go unless again.they give her a decent partner next year. Loved ian, maybe give him brucies job, ditch tess drives me nuts bring in claudia, aliona not bothered. Job done

Oh i'd keep robin but give him a decent partner

Bib 1 - But given what has become obvious about just how scripted the show has become, I'm now wondering if the producers told her to do it, thinking to make good telly by making her controversial. Would explain both why she ignored those who told her on twitter that it was against the rules (it's ok, the PTB told me to) and why she looked so stunned when it didn't go down well (but the PTB told me to do it!) - and also why she hasn't done it since, as she wised up!

BiB 2 - I'm in the know-nothing-but-what-I've-picked-up camp, and even I can see how Nicky's technique is very little better now than week 1. How anyone can think he's improved more than Michael (contrast the jive and samba) is beyond me.

BiB 3 - Yes please!!!


Absolutely agree. The show has always been scripted to a degree, but it's become blatant this year. I'm wondering how long it will take for there to be a backlash from the GBP, like there was after the judges constant beration of them for keeping John Sergeant in.



I'd never thought of the Natalie/Ian comparison before but that's exactly it! Her first two years she had definite-possibles but one didn't really connect with the public and the other seemed to run out of steam - next year I hope she gets someone who's not that good to start with but who is capable of big improvement, who will be really popular with the public. <strokes chin and muses over possible candidates>

Robin really has to stay for me, I like him.

What about Fabrice Muamba? I suggested him for Natalie on the Christmas Special thread. If reports are to be believed the PTB want him to do a full series after his stint on the Christmas Special. Apparently he loves salsa dancing and he's a fan of the show so it could be fascinating to see him learn all the other dances with Natalie, I think she would be the ideal teacher/partner to guide him through the epxerience. I can imagine he'd be very popular with the public given that he's an ex footballer and his dramatic story of how he had to retire from the sport has touched a lot of people - I suppose it all depends on his health and if he wants to do the full series.

I would love to see Fabrice take part on Strictly Come Dancing if he is well enough.

BiB - I think I read somewhere that his health precluded him from doing a full series and that's why he was keen to do the Christmas show. Can't remember where I read that though so it's possible I dreamed it! If he was able to do the full series he could be ideal!

I`m in the bring back Matt and Ian camp!!

The only female pro who really impresses me is Natalie. I love watching Flavia as a dancer but haven`t been really impressed with her routines tbh.

Vincent, Pasha and Artem can stay too

It was a shame to see Ian leave.

Erin is not so incompetent a latin dancer. She has a different approach to dancing with beginners. She doesn't try to outdance them, whereas Ola will flutter around them.

Natalie did such a good job with Michael, it's a true reflection of how good at coaching the pros are when they get a no hoper and bring out the best in them. I like Arte but he has not really been really tested with a "not so able" partner. The Jordans neither of them I like, Vincent and Flavia my personal favourites, Pasha more pleasing than when he started, Brendan still like him although he expects the best quickly from his partners, Anton and Erin beautiful to watch live, and the rest well I can take or leave them. The show seems to be dying, whatever they do to make it more exciting and appealling

I must admit Natalie did an amazing job with Michael.

Aw that's a pity if that's the case but his health comes first. I think I read he turned down DOI because he thought it was too risky and he himself said he would be up for doing Strictly which is why I think he was contacted by producers for the Christmas Special. I think a lot of people would love to see Fabrice do a whole series - so perhaps if circumstances change re his health.

I like all the pros apart from Anton I think they should bring back Brian Fortuna, I loved him

I don't really understand this idea of being too harsh on someone - like you said, Aliona got lots of criticism her first two years (heck, she still does), so I don't see why Karen shouldn't get the same if that's what a person's opinion about her is!

James - I would like him to have someone rubbish next year. It's his turn. He's a good choreographer, though.

Brendan - I veer between loving Brendan and hating him. Often within the same sentence. I think he could still win the show, if he doesn't get carried away/lost in the 80's again.

Vincent - I can't warm to him. I'll admit that he's a good choreographer, and he does bring things to the show, but I can't bring myself to like him.

Anton - I would like him to leave, please. Even if he could do the Latin dances - which at this point, I doubt - he can't teach them. His partner will always be disadvantaged from the start and, even if she is the comedy contestant, it isn't really fair on her.

Robin - I liked him when he first came in, but now I'm slightly bored. He hasn't (for me) produced anything better than average, and I think that maybe he should go next year.

Artem - I like Artem, but I think he's always going to be better with a contender. I would like him to stay, but I think he may have peaked too soon.

Pasha - I want him to stay. I would like to see how he deals with an average or worse than average contestant.

Aliona - This series shouldn't be held against her, since it's not her fault that she got injured. However, I have no strong feelings as to whether or not she should stay.

Ola - Again, shouldn't hold this series against her, but I don't like her choreography in general. She needs to teach her contestant how to dance properly, not just dance around him. I'd give her one chance, with a good celebrity. If she manages to avoid her usual choreography issues (dancing around her celebrity, headbanging during a tango etc), then keep her.

Erin - I love Erin. Really, I do. But maybe she's a bit worn out. Same as Ola, give her one year with a real contender (it's her turn, she hasn't had one since Austin) and see if that inspires her competitive streak again.

Natalie - Yeah, keep Natalie. Give her someone decent next year, and a ringer the year after (since I want Ola and Erin to have the contenders next year).

Flavia - Maybe keep? I'm sorry, I'm just not very enthusiastic about Flavia anymore.

Kristina - Same as Flavia.

Karen - It's possible that my lack of affection for her is Nicky's fault, so I'd give her one more chance to impress me.

I think Series 4-5 was the exact same set of Pros and is the only time that they havent added or taken 1 of them away

I could never be disappointed in Artem or Robin!!

I've never taken to Robin - I mean he seems nice enough - but he doesn't thrill me dance or personality wise.

Why they hired him & retained Anton over Ian & Matt Cutler I will never know!