I thought it was one of Brucie's saner comments! I think older people can get away with sometimes pointing out the, erm, elephant in the room, as long as it's done matter-of-factly and without malice like Bruce did. Mark's size does put him at a disadvantage - eg he's penalised for being flat-footed and not rolling onto the balls of his feet, but maybe he just can't physically do it.

I don't think it was back handed at all, This day and age everything has to be PC it's ridiculous. The man meant nothing by it other then support. PC taking the slightest remark , sentence, word and twisting it into some thing bad. it's a world gone mad !

Sigh....I don't particularly 'admire' him so much (he's ok as an entertainer) I just get a bit sad at some of the quite unpleasant things that are said about him (and anybody else for that matter) on this forum sometimes. I know people have different opinions on things which is the point in having a discussion forum obviously . I just thing that sometimes it gets a bit spiteful and personal to people we don't even know .

He said it in support and I'm sure Mark could see that. It probably didn't come out the way he intended but you could tell no upset was meant by the comment and he was standing up for Mark. Mark has never tried to shy away from the fact he is a bigger man and Bruce was praising him on his jive. I thought it was quite a sincere comment and Bruce meant well.

We don't have to "know" them.

We are judging them on their current performances and not on their "history." We're paying them in some cases, a ridiculous amount of money and if we consider they are not coming up to the mark, then we've every right to say so.
I've said nothing unpleasant, I've said exactly what I see in Bruce's behaviour, you might not like what I said (why it should bother you I've no idea) but it's as I see things.

I'm not arguing. I haven't got the time or energy

Oh er, what have I started (or added to maybe)?! As I said before, I in no way meant that Bruce (sorry Sir Bruce!) was meaning to be offensive, on the contrary as others have said I think he genuinely meant well, I just found it tactless and was interested in what others thought. I mean him no ill will. .

Hmm..

Considering you quoted a post of mine not directed at you and then have come back at me four times after my first and my subsequent responses to yours to me, you surprise me.

But spare me the "sarcastic smiley" it does you no credit.

Hi Karly. Anything I wrote was not directed at you. This is a discussion forum and everyone has the right to voice opinions. It's just all the nasty comments that some people make sometimes leaves a bit of a sour note on things xxx

Whether it was well intentioned or not, he said it immediately after saying something along the lines that the jive wasn't for him (Mark). Personally, I think Bruce is paid to cohost the show, not provide a critique of any celebrities performance, that's what the judges are for.

I found Bruce's behaviour last night particularly bad.. From the shouting at the beginning to the badly timed jokes, that just don't work (seagulls).

BF was once a respected celebrity, but now, he is undermining himself by continuing to host a prime time entertainment programme. Someone posted earlier an analogy about an elderly relative, and how there was a fine line between gentle amusement and embarrassment. That's how SCD is for me, I find myself cringing at BF and his behaviour.

The comment to Mark was tactless, with no malicious intention, but WAS uncomfortable to watch and hear for me. I don't dislike BF, but the days when he was a funny, entertaining man are long gone.
Last edited by Lordsally : 17-11-2013 at 16:58

You have put it so much better than I, DR!

Mark did not take offence from what I could see and I'm not going to take offence on his behalf. All seems very much mountain out of molehill stuff and as others have pointed out weight wasn't even mentioned.

Everything he says makes me cringe, he is unfeeling and tactless

BIB.. well you have spoken for yourself.

The man can be cringeworthy, however, as a non fan of "sir" Brucie I genuinely do not think his comments were insensitive or taken as such. Mark in fact, thanked him for his remarks.

Hmm..


Very few people on Strictly have answered back to either the judges or Bruce "and lived."

Quite

Well, quite

Whether or no Mark regarded the comment as encouraging or not depends on how he said thank you. It could have been in a sarcastic way for all I know.

I was doing something while having Strictly on and couldn't keep muting Fforsyth this week, so I heard the comment, but not the inflection in Mark's voice. Only Mark knows if he received it as tactless or a compliment.

As an overweight person myself, only I and medical people can comment on the fact - it's no concern of anyone else. If it had been said to me by a TV presenter, he'd have been flat on his back with a black eye.

Janet, Bruce didn't say Mark Was "overweight" so...thankfully no need for you or indeed MArk to give old Brucie a black eye

Bruce (whome I am no fan of) made a sympathically, nay complimentary) remark to Mark, who I might add, accepted it gracefully and in the manner it was intended.In fact THANKED Bruce.

Guess it's all in the delivery and acceptance. Both in my opinion were done with grace and the best of intention.

I'm sure I saw Mark thank Brucie too.

Terry your drive me up the wall, but in this case , we concur

I did feel uncomfortable with it. It surprised me. He might as well have said Mark's jive was "good for someone of his fatness". Such comments you don't often hear on the radio or television or in a show. It could be deemed as politically incorrect.

However you seemed to have missed the context and manner in which those words were uttered. The context was that Mark was receiving a "dressing down" from Craig who was criticising his movement and style and generally rubbishing Marks jive.

Bruce then uttered the jive was pretty "good for someone of his weight", without any malice and totally in support of Mark. Mark didn't at all look uncomfortable from Bruce's words - he was looking uncomfortable and upset from Craig's harsh comments rubbishing his performance. Mark actually thanked Bruce for his support and seemed positively grateful for his intervention. Once Bruce intervened that stopped Craig in his tracks and the other judges piled in in support.

And Bruce was right - it is difficult for someone of his weight (& lack of dance experience) to perform the Jive. Of course there are also many of Mark's "weight" who do know how to dance, & who do seem bouncy & light on their feet.

Actually, I think more to the point, there was no reason for Bruce to make any comment on a competitor's performance, it's not what he's there for, but it's often what he does and it's more to do with trying to draw attention to himself. Shut up Bruce and let the judges voice their opinions, complimentary or critical. Perhaps he'd get less criticism on here if he stopped trying to make it more about him. Yes in this instant he may have been trying to be supportive, but far too often he opens his mouth before he engages his brain.

Spot On. I'm No fan of Bruce but don;t think his words were intended with malic or accpeted as such.

I think you'll find there is no law which stops people saying that others are overweight ….


… but there is one, or more, about assault.