According to people on here, she and James were friends before the show so who is to say the way they interact isn't how they did before we saw it on Strictly and is perfectly real.

Denise seems to have the Kelly Brook and Lisa Snowdon effect, they both too semmed to have a general dislike aimed at them by forumers. I had no problem with those two or Denise either.

Nah, I liked both Kelly and Lisa but never liked Denise from when she appeared as a judge on I'll Do Anything. She is without doubt a good dancer but I watch her as a professional and for me it's also a double wammy as I have never really been a fan of James.

There are others in the show that I would rather watch.

I always liked Kelly. I don't think I liked Lisa at the time, but now I look back at it, it might have been more to do with her partnership with Brendan as I quite like her now.

I dont think it helps that shes partnered with James, he appears to be one of the least favourite pros, reading on here. I liked her on the ALW shows, but for some reason on this show I just cant warm to her much. I like to see somebody improve throughout the show and the fact shes been like a semi-pro since the start probably puts me off voting.

She just seems very cold and false to me.

And James'(who Ive always liked) tantrum in the results show will do them no favours either.

I liked them both and adore Denise. But even if I didn't, the comments made about her on here are terrible. We should be thankful we've had some good dances this season - without her it would have been thin gruel.

Great post. Thanks for being the voice of reason. But I doubt if this lot will take any notice - they hate her and that's it. So there

Problem is, what's happened to Denise will probably put off other celebrities who may have dance experience from taking on SCD. Then we will be left with only sports people and boy band members. Nice one, Denise haters - you should think what you are doing.

They go nicely (or not nicely) with your comments about Queen Vic.

I doubt this. Theatrical types in their thirties will always succomb to the lure of prime time exposure on TV and the chance to revive/boost a career. The appearance fee will help to offset the pain of not being very popular.

Agreed. Much better put than what I said in another thread. I would just add in the amount of ballet Louis will have had as a gymnast.

I would definitely agree about the actress thing. I don't think that's is Denise's strongest ability.

I don't vote for Denise and I won't vote for Denise. It's got absolutely nothing to do with her previous professional experience or drama school, I always voted for Kara and she had the same, it didn't bother me. Denise is coming over as cold, calculating and ambitious, I suspect she had lots of practice with a professional teacher even before she would even consider SCD . Also I find her dancing unemotional and clinical, and although she does look a bit like a pro, it's just not enough to get me voting for her.
Megs

I was going to say the same thing. It always hurts when it's about your favourite, doesn't it, whilst it is your opinion when you are slating other people's favourite.

I actually like Denise, I understood why she looked devestated yesterday (e.g., yes she was third from the bottom, but she has been top for most of the weeks so yesterday was an indication that the public support may not be there).

I don't have an issue with her previous training (don't know how much she had), it's pretty clear that she is putting in the training in Strictly.

Hope she stays in until the final.

I find it is only Denise & James that puts my back up. IMO I could imagine her putting in training as soon as she heard she would be on the show. This is the impression I get whether right or wrong. Her desperation to be the best comes across as arrogant and cold. The more I watch her, the less I like her. I wonder if she was really criticised by the judges how she would handle that, but I doubt if that will happen.

If she does not win, she will hit the tabloids with her sob stories. "Poor me", and the reasons she did not win.

I have never seen Denise Van Outen in anything before Strictly so had no opinion on her either way. I do think her stage career gives her an edge over other Strictly celebs, as she is already a semi-pro dancer, and do not think she should have been in the show but that is more the fault of the producers. I don't think she comes across well on the show because of her grim determination to win. There is nothing wrong with competitiveness in a Michael-Vaughan-raise-my-game kind of way but with Denise I dislike the phone-fingers, the constant canvassing for votes, the excuses, the sob-stories, the implicit running down of other contestants etc, etc. Contrast Denise and James with Nicky and Karen last night. Nicky was certain to go home and yet handled the situation with humour and good grace but Denise and James approached the situation shamelessly. Denise has been working hard (and Nicky hasn't?), Denise is missing her young daughter (and Nicky hasn't been missing his young children?), Denise is being criticised (and Nicky hasn't been slated by the judges and in the dance-off twice before?). Denise's whole attitude goes against the whole spirit of Strictly.

Ballet training is not part of the gymnastics set up in this country. (although god knows most of the girls could do with it...) You're right that it's used by some countries as part of their programs - the Romanian girls are pushed into ballet classes as soon as they show the slightest sign of promise in the gym - but it is very rarely part of the training routine for any male gymnasts, and certainly isn't in this country.

Excellent post.

It's an entertainment show, they are not entertaining.

^^^ This.

And it doesn't help that her partner is a total knob either.

Well said.

I don’t dislike her. I just don’t particularly like her. She leaves me cold, as do her performances so I can connect better with others. However, she’s a good dancer and I’m sure she will get loads more work out of being in this show.

Blackdog

My dog is blacker than your dog

or (I trained harder than insert name ) or ( my dance was quicker than the others)

I dont think she is fake, more true to her self and people cant handle that

You worded that perfectly

Louis showboated (backflip, one-arm stands) in dances where there was no rhyme or reason for the stunt, so did Matt Baker (series of samba backflips), so did Ricky Whittle (Natalie spun overhead, balanced precariously on the back of Ricky's neck) . So did Gabby Logan (cartwheel then splits) and Denise (synchronised cartwheel with James). Somehow when a man does it he is brave, when a woman does it she is brash.

The closest parallel I can think of is Annie "Get your gun" Oakley. She outshot her boyfriend in competition and he walked off in a huff. She then shot wide, lost the comp but won her man.

Please James, you are damaging Denise. Just smile sweetly and keep your gob shut.

When your gob is shut people suspect you are a fool,
when it is open people know for sure.

Probably been said somewhere here before, but imo she comes across as over-confident and a touch self-centred.
Two examples are the "blame" incidents when she was secretly incandescent at James forgetting his moves; and then the wardrobe malfunction when she just had to keep on displaying the hole in her dress to the nation. In other words, she always has an excuse for not being the perfect star she thinks she is.
I also detest the way she implores the GBP to vote for her by all those fake telephone antics when her number comes up on the screen.
Great dancer though she is, I really hope her "number is up" this weekend!

Kara Tointon did it in her showdance, backflips I think, hurt her wrist if I remember rightly. No one called her brash.

Haha love that bit of advice!