There's a world of difference between people posting in a discussion forum and a celebrity (who is a performer and has been a judge on BBC shows) commenting on TV. Whilst he's speaking as a fan of the show (as the rest of us are), because he's a celeb who is known as a performer and has been on the Strictly Christmas show, his views are likely to be taken way more seriously by the viewing public than the views of people posting on here or on other forums.

Wow. This thread's turned into a right laugh. As far as I can make out Barrowman was asked to go on to the show and give an opinion and that's what he did.

He didn't say anything nasty about anyone. Some people seem to take any comment about their own favourites personally, which is rather strange as they're really no more than characters in a seasonal soap opera based around dancing.

I seem to recall he was on once before a few seasons back and couldn't have been more dismissive of Anton and whoever he was dancing with then if he'd tried.

I imagine those opinions would have seen him venerated by most on here with people defending his right to say what he thought.

The whole tone of this discussion puts me in mind of Michael Winner, and I really don't like that.

So, basically, JB made a couple of interesting points interspersed with a load of rubbish. Some of the latter possibly less than kind.

Come on, confess - which DS forum member are you, John?

It was a bit ridiculous to claim the public weren't warming to Natalie with no evidence. But, for my two penn'orth, I have very animated Strictly conversations every Monday with a couple of work colleagues. We dissect the dances, discuss the 'popularity', mourn the loss of Deborah... but I don't think we've once mentioned Natalie. Make of that what you will.

I don't have a fave. I just think Barrowman's comments are ridiculous.

I dont have a problem with John Barrowman voicing his opinion ,I do have a problem with him proclaiming to know mine and the other few million out there who enjoy and like Natalies dance .

He was out of line giving the opinion that Natalie was not liked and would be out, nothing to do with fav's. had he been that unkind to any of them I would say the same thing.

And as I said before if he wants to say things like that then everyone else has a right to reply. Had he said that HE did'nt warm to Natalie personally well thats fine as its his opinion....but stating that the voting public did not and she would be out was not nice imo.I think its past time that Dave went but if he had said the same as he said about Natalie then I would have defended Dave also.

I think he did that to wind up Barrowman who hadn't let him get a word in edgewise.

I used to quite like JB gone off him now. He seemed very personal about Natalie - it's ok John -Tyrone is fine now Maybe he is jealous because he wants to dance with Artem !! ----------- Now that is understandable

Certainly think John's views were based more on who he fancied than the dancing - I mean Ben for the win really ? and think he was really bitchy re Natalie - wonder if they have worked together in a show ??

I agree. You could not make it up.

I must admit, when John Barrowman said what he did about Natalie's chances, I had a little open-mouthed "did he really say that?" moment, but I think that is only indicative of how fluffy, often insincere and for-the-love-of-all-that-is-sparkly-let-all-comments-be-positive ITT is.

It was refreshing to hear someone giving a frank opinion for once, whether I agreed with their opinion or not. ITT generally doesn't discuss Strictly in the way we do on these and other forums. John did. I don't see the issue with that.

As for Suggs, I won't attribute anything other than a 'IVETA. IVETA. IVETA. Shit, my mind is numb, what are the contestants' names again?' brain fart, for his naming Dave as the person he would like to win

As John is past his sell-buy date in the West End, he now does the BBC game show hosting bit and was being opinionated on purpose to get more attention to his own activities/profile.

Seems to be working. Can't say I agree with his opinion, but I have not 'warmed' to him since Captain Jack on Doctor Who. I was not a fan of him on Torchwood.

In terms of the other panelists, who is this Emma person? Did I understand she is going to be on The Voice?

if he was basing his opinion of Ben on more that the fact he had his legs out in a pair of shorts, he should have made it clear.

Otherwise, he just makes himself look a bit of a 'nana. If he doesn't mind looking a 'nana and having people think he only based his opinion on the fact Ben had his legs out, then that's fair enough.

I see that the odds of her going tonight are 66-1 I wonder if J.B. will be putting his Money where his mouth is.

Well said, I was going to say the same, but I really couldn't even bother to reply to such an idiotic prediction.

I think that Barrowman's remarks will just get Natalie's fans voting even more. I will definitely be giving her a few extra votes this week.

Aren't you doing exactly the same? Do you really know a few million people are enjoying Natalie's dance? It's what you think and I don't object to you saying what you think. Why not let him do the same without taking offense?

I am not on TV and there is a huge difference between being on ITT and on a forum or in your own home chatting to mates .
Someone is voting for her arent they ? She is topping the poles here on DS and John Barrowman came acrioss as spiteful and a prat IMO. He just needs to engage a filter when on TV and not spew out what comes into his head.Bit of a difference between saying . ,like Zoe does , "We all love you " and proclaiming no one likes you like John did

I usually vote for Abbey and Nat some free and some by Phone but tonight I will be voting only for Nat as I cant stand the way some of Abbeys other fans are speaking about Nat.

I agree. He has absolutely NO PROOF that Natalie is not engaging with the public. We know for a FACT that she got more votes than Abbey last week.

Regarding this forum's polls, Abbey's been similarly doing well (usually top 3/4) and we all saw what just happened there...

This forum historically, across all shows, has a bias in favour of attractive young women. Just because one is popular here, it doesn't mean jack in terms of the wider audience.

If they were doing their job properly they would save Abbey

Ah but what if in the Dance Off Abbey fell over & Natalie danced a blinder? The judges are constantly banging on about how it is the dance off performance that they judge between the two couples on.

I don't buy into the argument that there is a difference between what you say on DS forum and on TV. The judges gave their opinions on TV and yet week after week, voters at home vote contrarily. I much rather listen to honest opinions from invited guests than diplomatic comments expected by some here.

It'd also depend who gave the 10 and what the other judges gave. A dance that got 9,9,9,9 could easily and logically beat one that got 9,9,9,10 or even, given that Len has the casting vote 9,10,9,10.

Then obviously Natalie would deserve to go through.

My point is, the only person who has any chance against Natalie imo is Abbey, but she would have to dance the dance of her life and Natalie make an error or two for that to happen.

I totally accept that Natalie is the best dancer on the show. But I do love to see someone, like Abbey, come onto the show with no previous dance experience and discover a talent and a love for dance that she was unaware of previously.