What is all of this nonsense that Lisa, (you know, that jobbing actress who appeared in some soap show), is claimed to be the 'Peoples Champion.

Entertaining? Yes - up to a point.

Talented dancer? Well Craig thought so, but no other Judge.

Surely the whole popularity thing is getting out of proportion here. There are, and were, better dancers on the show.

She did her best, she was certainly energetic, she may have been mildly entertaining, but 'people's champion'? No!


The People's Champion will be decided on Saturday night when the winner is announced.

He, or she, will be the true Peoples' Champion. Not one of the also-rans.

Len's use of the term was simply meant to show that she wasn't the judges' choice as semi finalist. That being so, even her thus far buoyant public vote would have been hard pressed to save her in a five way scrap for four places in the final.

The problem IMO is the fuss being made about the remark, not the remark itself.

As always with this kind of programme the judges (and producers) have created a monster of their own making. Now poor Lisa really does believe she can dance really well, created a "famous" dance and has the full support of the nation.

I feel sorry for her and irritated by Strictly for creating this delusion.

I agree that's probably what he meant, but I think there is a definite problem with the remark and the choice of wording, as it's simply untrue.

She isn't the people's champion, that really can only be the person who wins the show. No-one else is a champion of anything, no-one else has won the popular vote, so no-one else deserves any link to such a title.

It's problematic also because of the massive generalisation that she was popular without any proof that she even so much as topped the vote on Saturday. She could well have come last.

I'm so glad you got that off your chest.

I feel a bit sorry for her to be honest, it's one thing Len calling her that, then people repeat it, it gets a bit tiresome, but then when she called herself it on it takes two personally I found that a bit of a turn off. It's not her fault, of course she will revel in the hype but it won't do her any favours.

But Len was talking prior to Saturday's vote.

I think she actually believed it too ............

She's been this years big talking point,. She consistently received the loudest cheers from the audience (look at Wembley), she's proabably had the most column inches written about her and she's probably going to benefit more from her raised profile than anyone else.

Like it or not, I suspect among the general viewing public, she'll be the first name that comes to mind when discussing this series in future. Everyone has a strong opinion on Lisa Riley.

Many rightly regard Lisa as this years Peoples Champion, without the judges & dance off there is every likelihood that Lisa would have triumphed

Hate to state the obvious, but if she were the 'People's Champion', she'd still be in the bloomin show, no?!

Precisely my point!


All of this 'praise' is unfair on the other, hard working and talented finalists.

I don't think you are crediting Lisa with having any sense.
She fully understands her abilities and points out where they are lacking in every interview.

I'm so glad that she did as well as she did and negativity now is pointless imho.

Exactly .

Does this mean Denise is the people's reject? I wonder how she feels about that.

She has gone out now guys - so your bitterness and vitriol would be best directed elsewhere. I know it must be devastating for all of you not to have someone to insult.

Would all the anti Lisa posters give it a rest for crying out loud. One there is already a thread on this so was there any need to start another beyond the excuse for another Lisa bashing thread and two she has gone from the show she isn't going to affect the final result so you have no need to keep whining about her.

So she was not a favourite on here so what she was obviously popular enough to keep her in the show until the semi final and to a lot of people out there she will be the champion regardless of the fact she hasn't won. I really can't believe that posters on here want to see people belittled on tv to entertain them the judges Len in particular was trying to be nice and effectively sugar coat the fact that yes she is only really there because of the public at that point not because of her dance abilities.

On dance ability Lisa didn't probably deserve to be in the final however it would have been a lot more entertaining IMO than the ones that are in the final. At least she looked like she was enjoying herself in the show which is more than can be said for some of the others sometimes and she was trying her best which does not seem to be enough for some DS posters.

Free speech and all that jazz

I thought that she looked genuinely surprised when she was the first called out as being in the dance off on Saturday (I don't buy into the Sunday nonsense) - I think that she really thought she was the "people's champion" and that would see her make the final.
She most certainly is/was not my champion - I hold no animosity towards her just did not want her to progress as far as she did on the show

Exactly.

She was a great asset to the show, hardworking and enthusiastic. Quite an achievement for someone so recently bereaved.

She was also extremely popular with the public.

I am beginning to think that she did come last, even below Denise is that is possible, based on certain rumours. Could have been a result of Len's ITT comment. People at this stage do not want to vote for the Monster Raving Loony Party.

So Lisa giving Denise her own few votes won't amount to much.


Don't want to be unsympathetic, having been recently bereaved myself as have all of us, do you know how many of The Olympic medallists were recently bereaved?

Not sure how "extremely popular with the public" can be justified. Perhaps "popular with the public" I can go along with.

To be fair though, it is not really relevant to invoke a back story - many folk will have, sadly, suffered recent bereavements and continued with their life without asking for sympathy from strangers.

Certainly hard working and enthusiastic, but hard work and enthusiasm are no substitute for talent.

You will see four excellent examples of hard work, enthusiasm and talent in the final - give those competitors their due!

Popular with the public, yes, as all contestants are, or were, to as certain extent, but 'extremely', that is I suggest, with the greatest respect, wishful thinking.

I think It's because she is very very overweight and people were surprised that she could manage to move around the floor and keep in time to the music.

Which is all well and good and i think people automatically put her in the category of "underdog" and i also think sympathy has played a part to some extent.

If she wasn't as big as she is I doubt she wouldn't have got this far in the comp, cos it's all been about her weight.

This is my personal opinion, not fact.

Not another thread bashing Lisa. She has left so lets leave it there. Some people have to go on and on about things. Cant you find something original to post.