I believe Chris Fountain was an ice hockey player - the skates are different, so he had experience of a kind. However Ray Quinn was a junior Latin and ballroom champion who had done a lot of inline skating (I think... roller skating of some variety). Everything needed for skating on ice, just without having done it on ice.

He was miles ahead of anyone else - probably ever on DoI. He won.

I'm talking about in voting. Regardless of how well (or terribly, it's a possibility. she's not a trained ballroom dancer) she does, Natalie will be blackballed by some viewers because they already think she is a pro.

Don't worry too much folks, this is a popularity contest as much as a dancing one.
The best dancer rarely wins. As so many viewers and voters are female the lads will do better than their dancing skill would suggest, and the most popular contestant whose dancing improves will do better than the best dancer.

Ray Quinn, he was sensational, another natural. I could watch him all day on the ice.

Agreed some of the bile is unbelievable.

So what were Kara, Natasha, Jill, Alesha, maybe even Mark and Harry?

You can't be popular and the best dancer?

I think only Darren and Chris could be claimed of as not amongst the best of their years.

Complain to the BBC if you have a problem.I thought Natalie was great and my five votes went to her.

Me, too; and listen to him singing, too.

I think you make some good points. She does appear to have an unfair advantage.

But is it an advantage? It seems to be going against her on here.

Her CV says - MUSIC AND DANCE
* = Highly Skilled Cabaret Dancing*, Contralto*, Jazz Dancing*, Latin American*, Tap*

http://unitedagents.co.uk/natalie-gumede

True yellowlabbie, but "here" doesn't matter. "Here" is like a bucket of water taken from the Pacific ocean.

Ray thingy (I can't remember his surname either) was a competition-level ballroom and latin dancer so, technically, ice skating was a new skill. But once he'd learned to stand up on that slippery stuff, he was unbeatable. I think that was the year I stopped watching DOI.

Every year we have our nominated 'dirty ringah' and this year Natalie has won that prize, poor woman. Her dance training is no more than Jill Halfpenny's or Kara Tointon's, but nobody seems to care about that - we have to have a forum-designated ringer.

I don't think it's 'unfair' to have more experienced dancers on the show: what I do find unfair is when we learn that other celebs have had secret training prior to starting on the show, or have managed to erase their dance experience from their CVs - Natalie has been open from the start about her dance training, which is more than can be said for celebs like Pamela Stephenson or Jason Donovan.

Latin America I.e rumba :/ point made thanks

*waits for people to explain this away*

It doesn't. It does say she is highly skilled in Latin.

And Jill Halfpenny attended Reavley Dance School as well as drama school (which would have included dance training - she should give back her glitterball?

Me as well....I hope and I think Natalie will go all the way and hopefully win it...She deserves too....

Ray had skated - on land. Roller skating or inline skating or some other such.

Why would we, you're obviously not changing your opinion? I'm obviously not changing mine. C'est la vie.

Well said.

I have the feeling that either or both of Abbey and Susanna have had private dance lessons before the start of the show. I can't prove it and it doesn't bother me, I still love Abbey, not keen on Susanna but their dance experience has no effect on my opinion.

Give it a rest......you are so boring

I agree with that. I'm far more inclined to vote for her because she has been honest and open about her past experience. But equally the people who bring out the old chestnut that lack of ballroom training means other dancing expertise is irrelevant does make me think they have a lack of perspective equal to those who think she shouldn't be on the programme.

To those who say SCD is merely an entertainment show with dancing almost a side-line and that therefore ringers don't matter.....

Winning has made an enormous difference to the career paths and therefore lives of some, especially Kara, Louis and Tom, either revived or enhanced or resuscitated or completely altered. It's not a serious programme but the outcome can have important life-changing consequences and make a serious impact on winners' lives.

Therefore I'd say that SCD isn't trivial.

I have to agree with many on here. It's kind of pointless her being on the show. That sounds harsh but I mean it's lovely for her and some will enjoy watching the dancing but as a trained dancer all she's really doing is just learning some routines and shaking a bit of rust off her. It's irrelevant if she admits to her training. From reading many peoples comments it seems lots don't know about it anyway and so think she's done incredible in these few weeks. Of course she has! Even Bruce said tonight 'no surprises there' Honestly I find it baffling that she's there and even more so that some people can't see the problem with it. Oh well.