Perchance - and quite possibly on the way back home, too.

No cancel that - he'd have been off to the gym after school. Olympians aren't made in a day.

I've been saying that since week 1, though mostly to people who claim Denise is the only contestant with experience ever...

Too many people think that only direct dancing experience is relevant, when in reality if you only think outside the box the tiniest bit all sorts of experience is relevant and useful for Strictly.

Sportspeople have the stamina for training, TV presenters are used to camerawork, actors (should) know how to perform, models have poise etc.

Anyone who claims Strictly is or ever has been a level playing field is mistaken in my view - just because experience isn't directly related to dancing doesn't mean it isn't relevant. Experience shouldn't disqualify a celeb from competing because we'd have no-one left if it did!

I really don't care about contestants' levels of experience - they all have strengths & weaknesses in different areas.

It's an advantage to be an Olympic gymnast, but then it's an advantage to have performance experience. Louis is good technically but struggles with the acting, the girls struggle more technically but put on a good performance.

Personally I want to see a range of talent, experience & different skill sets...

Agreed.

Life isn't a level playing field...

Louis came into SCD with some definite advantages - physical fitness, competitive nature, suppleness and agility and his ability to learn a routine.

However, while Louis has been a competitor, all the remaining celebs are performers, and learning how to perform has been the hardest thing for Louis to learn and master.

Louis has butchers hands and he looks like Bluto in the paso.
Flavia should grow her hair, she'd look a lot like Olive Oyl

And with this show the bumps and holes are not always that visible.

People play roles - but some play them better than others. Some Roxie's can do the full Chicago routines - Ali can, Michelle couldn't - there's no youtubes of Denise.

Kimberley has played Fiona in Shrek - but did she do the dance number well?

Some actors can't act. Some actors can only play themselves. Some have been cast as themselves always but could play anyone. Some actors work better on stage than they do down a TV camera. Some SCD music, outfits and themes would defeat the best actor.

Even dance training may mean different things. Louis has been taught how to position his hands and arms at teh end of moves in a way that will please Craig as much as any ballet trained contestant will. Somone who has been taught other forms of dance may do something he or Len doesn't like.

You can't even tell experience or training completely from Cv's - and most people don't even look. . Some agents say nothing, some give full CVs. Some link to people's spotlight page - others don't. We know what some people say they can do - but not others. Some CVs are like most people's Cvs - they accentuate the positive.

Was Olive that good looking ?

Do you mean cheryl in the shampoo add

Ermmmm no lol

OK I will think again.

Well Louis has been doing street dancing and break-dancing since he was a kid according to Ashton from JLS.

So we have Dani who has been performing in musicals since the age of 6, has extensive theatre school training and was rehearsing for a dance based musical when she was called up for strictly.

Kimberley who has years of theatre school training and even taught dance at theatre school, has performed on stage in the west end and has learned dozens of choreographed routines for Girls Aloud.

Denise who has had years of theatre school training and performed in musicals in the west end.

Lisa who has theatre school training and years of acting experience allowing her to give great performances in her dancing.

Louis who has been dancing and learning gymnastic routines for years which along with his athletic ability, full body co-ordination and flexibility give him huge advantages compared to a novice.

Oh my god! Ringahs everywhere! Bring back Victoria Pendleton so a non-dancer can win!!!!

That was interesting to hear from Aston.

Surely she had athletic ability? I think we need to bring back Johnnie Ball.

... At last some SENSE!!!

Nah, Johnny Ball has the advantage of ever having been on tv, which makes him a "performer". The only TRUE winner would be the resurrected corpse of Sir Isaac Newton.

I don't really understand this at all.

I don't buy Flavia's excuse that Louis isn't good at performing because his pommel horse discipline doesn't allow it.

Here's a video of Alexei Nemov, one of the most medaled gymnasts of all time, doing this exhibition performance on the pommel horse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNY5qjCEdeY

and his exhibition floor exercise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FEK9-SHXgM

Yeah you know I wasn't calling him a 'ringer' I was stating, fairly simply, that he does have a level of significant experience that is advantageous to him in this competition.

This was a general observation in response to the people that I have heard calling for him to win because he is a 'non-professional' and, as you have so helpfully described, all the remaining contestants have some type of professional experience, so nobody should be considered to be a more worthy winner on that front, should they?

vid #2 would be great for Louis's showdance - defo10 from Craig lol

I would love to see Craig give a 10 tonight.

The only advantages that he has is stamina and dedication and is fit.

Standing on your hands on gymnastics equipment has no effect on dancing ability which requires much more such as an appreciation of music, timing and rhythm as well as performing while clutching and being clutched by a partner. His skill is as a lone performer.

Victoria spent hours and hours pedalling a bike and she couldn't dance well.

You obviously have an issue with him because you started a thread about him.

Actually, I hear he could cut quite the minuet when the occasion demanded.

But he was a mathematician and physicist.

Anyone who can count one, two, three; one, tow, three should be banned.

As for understanding the laws of motion - ringer!