God bless him, I went all gooey.

yes tore the cartilage in his knees in week 2 and had epidural steroid injections
yet not a squeak about his injuries
very admirable man

That's like proper news, instead of the underwhelming BS Zoe usually comes up with. Foxtrot on Saturday ...

He's a pro! (in the best possible way)

Was a huge huge fan of them anyway. Even more respect now. The man just exudes the right spirit of what this show should be all about. Their VT's are hilarious too. They will be near the top of my quite short list of favourite ever Strictly couples

Good on him. We knew he had trouble because of the strapping, but tough cookie for keeping going

it now makes me wonder what he could have achieved if he had full movement, he's done brilliantly though

He's just gorgeous. No drama or attention seeking,just getting on what it. He's a true pro..the show must go on

I love Mark & Iveta. They just get on with everything with no fuss & dramas.

He didn't have to take time off for resting either.

Good on him.

Was falling in love a bit with Mark anyway but now completely head over heals with the man.
To be able to smile and laugh when in pain is a fantastic character trait.

One thing though,
How can the judges expect bounce and precise kicks and flicks if they new about Marks knees.
They can not judge on something a person physically not do. Can they?

Hmm.

I'm just wondering when he said on tonight's ITT, to the effect "he didn't want to make a fuss or draw attention to his knees", why he was so often seen practicing in shorts, with double support strapping very visible below both of them? Why not just wear trousers?

I had mixed feelings about that part of the interview.

Whilst I commend Mark's attitude (I do like him), the timing of this conversation doesn't show Natalie in a very good light. As someone who likes her and don't doubt her health problems, I wasn't happy about how Mark's comments could be taken.

In particular, we have to remember we only get shown what the producers decide to show us, not everything that happens.

A lot of the men do though DR. First and foremost, I imagine it is so they and their teachers can see properly what the legs are doing. Same reason they have full length/width mirror on the wall.

ETA: Veri said on the ITT chat thread that if Mark didn't want to make a fuss, why not discuss it with Zoe backstage. Of course Zoe was probably fully aware how and when Mark sustained his injury and probably its extent and it's quite likely (to me) that Mark has been asked in the past if he minded discussing it and I can further imagine him saying "could we not?"

But people will keep asking - we have even had threads on here asking what is wrong with Mark's knees/Why are Mark' knees not being talked about etc. So perhaps it was felt it could be discussed and moved on from once and for all.

Why is this any different from say for example Tony Jacklin being too old?

The judges are there to score on what they see.

or a couple of knee burkas, or done the whole thing standing behind a screen.

Be careful.

Exactly. And its obviously how Mark felt/feels, so that should be respected too.

I think those knee braces would be restricting enough without trouser material getting caught up in them, when he doesn't have to wear full length trousers he chooses not too. I have bad knees too so I know, easier for me I can wear a skirt

I agree. As I said, it is the timing that I wasn't comfortable with, not what he was saying. With hindsight, I wish Sophie had raised the subject soon after we saw Mark wearing supports in the training room.

Be careful of what?
I've posted about what I've seen and heard.
I've no particular axe to grind.
Mark has to be admired for the way he copes with his physical disadvantages.

It was obvious to anyone, that he had problems with his knees, from the first time he was seen in shorts.
It seems strange that he wore shorts and at the same time didn't want to draw attention to his bad knees.

I do to think they would be epidurals
More likely just steroid injections into the knee.
Not that that lessens it, obviously.

I know a few people who play golf wearing them, they say you get used to them and forget they're there, they aren't restrictive, they're designed not to be.

The judges are very forgiving of Amber's knee problems on Dancing with the Stars, but then she's a favourite contestant, paired with a pro who's also a judges' favourite, namely Derek Hough. The judges seem to be a lot less forgiving when the contestant and/or pro isn't a favourite.

Except that I got the impression the braces were more of a support because Mark's weight was making it a bit tough on his knees. Because there was nothing said, I thought it was just wear and tear on his knees, not an actual injury.