At first I found it quite funny, but now it's getting boring and predictable to me. If Len was drooling over the girls like that, would people accept it as much? Not that I am suggesting a man drooling over another man is more accepted. Bruno and Craig play it for laughs, otherwise people would probably complain just as they would if Len salivated over Abbey, for example But people have no problem with Darcey drooling over the men. I don't find it offensive, just repetitive and dull.

I just wish they would focus on the dancing more rather than all the innuendos. Fair enough he is an attractive bloke and they all think so but do they have to bring it up every week? Anyone agree with me?

The women are always drooled over, though, and no one bats an eyelid. But when a woman drools over a man, it suddenly becomes offensive.

Seriously? As a woman I notice that no one gets offended when women drool over handsome guys like Ben, but if Len were to keep drooling over Abbey it would be called "objectifying".

My issue isn't with the drooling itself, I don't find any of it offensive. Just finding it dull after a while when the same thing is said to Ben every week.

Yes I do agree with you and Ben running up to them and kissing them does not help, also why did he preform his dance without his jacket it did not add anything to the dance,in the tesspit he was wearing it the whole time so was it just to get more votes personally I think it would have looked better with him wearing the jacket.

I very much agree with you - the judges are employed to use their knowledge of dance not only to score competitors but to inform the audience about what is and is not skilful dancing. Ben could not dance a step and still be fanciable. I find it worrying that Darcey and Bruno openly ogle him, critique his physique, and then overmark him. (Yes, I know other celebs are overmarked, probably for reasons other than their ability).
Last edited by Duckfeet : 03-11-2013 at 15:37

I wouldn't mind the constant frotting if it wasn't being accompanied by constant 8s and 9s for doing very little and doing it badly. Patrick had to hurl himself around the dancefloor like a demon with a sprained wrist for those scores. Ben had to get his nips out.

Agreed. That is probably what gets me. When Gavbot got his tits out but did terrible dances the judges weren't swayed. Not that I think Ben is on that level, but he is definitely being over marked. I am just getting tired of the same events each week I guess.

I guess people become blind to it, because it happens so often, but women are always judged/complimented over their looks, everywhere. But people pay attention only when it happens to men as well.

Very true. Women are objectified more which is why it gets criticised more and rightly so. As I said the drooling isn't the problem, it's just the repetitive nature and overscoring that is getting me.

I can't tell you the number of women I have seen saying "I don't care how he dances, he is fit". Not as bad as Gavbot coming 5th though Wish we had a dance off back then...

Agree completely. It always bothers me too.

Also Ben has always seemed a bit like a giant block of wood to me - not much movement in the hips, dahling - so I don't see why he gets good marks. (I admit Spinning Christina up in the air was quite spectacular).

Nah, he's not a patch on Gavin.

I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that it was better if you were there, going on the audience enthusiasm as well as the judges. It's always a problem, I think, that the judges haven't seen the same thing we've seen on the TV. But I am baffled that Ashley and Patrick get less enthusiasm from the judges for, it seems to me, much better and more difficult dancing. I do wonder if Ben is miles ahead in the voting and the producers have decided he's going to win and they need to get the judges to make him look like he's improving.

eta: but I do agree with the OP's point. When Ben is anywhere near the judges, I'm embarrassed for the judges and for him. Hopefully now he's run over to Bruno as well, and Bruno needn't feel left out, that will stop. But Len's prejudice about 'manly' sportsmen annoys me more than the drooling, tbh. It brings back very very bad Darren v Colin memories.

Confess Ben didn't get a lookin from me once the music started.
Too busy being gobsmacked at the band and straining to see Trev rocking it!! I was musing out man.
One of my favourites now so will be watching again.
Might grant Ben a little glance and confirm if it's worth the adulation

Ben is much worse than Gavin ever was - at least Gavin actually tried.

Has he mainly received marks of at least 7 ? I can't remember as I have gone past caring.

Except on Strictly, where it's the men instead

Sophie gets destroyed on every level this weekend on this forum (just like Rachel last weekend), but Ben has his chest out and all you get from the women is

I don't care if he is bare chested or not. But it would be good if the judges got over it.
He's an athlete, he's got a chest ....... now move on to the dancing.

I liked Gavin, but not because of his chest.

He did seem to learn a bit of dancing as he went along!

But they're not on Strictly are they ? Len and Bruce are the only straight males and they (thankfully !) don't do much drooling.
It's kind of one way traffic on Strictly and ITT when it comes to perving.

I find it insulting that they seem to think a bare torso is all it takes for us mere females to go all a quiver!!! its boring, old, transparent and patronizing!!!

Very dubious though whether you should get high marks for that when you are built like that. He's lifted far heavier weights in training I suspect.

I can't stop drooling over Ben !!!

Its' bordering on sexual harassment now.

I wish they'd all stop drooling and concenrtate on the dancing. That's why i watch it, the dancing, am I the only one?

Judges go on about reasonable dancers finding themselves in the bottom two. Don't they realise that constant overmarking of this plank of wood is one of the main reasons why. He has actually made virtually no progress since week one but the judges have seemingly convinced him that he is actually doing well. He is a complete joke. Kristina is the only one who seems to appreciate how limited he is - hence the routines literally playing to his strength.

Exactly and by giving him the same points or letting him come within a point of Natalie they are creating a tie and unfairly making better dancers such as Abby and Patrick share the same score.

Quite agree. There is no point in getting po faced about the "public" not voting for Abby when they are overscoring Ben. There were so many ties that the difference in scores between top and bottom of the leaderboard was insignificant. If the judges want to treat this as a joke and simper after Ben has performed, fine, but don't then moan when the public don't get it right either.