I believe that without Anna Scher it would be impossible to cast Eastenders...

On a serious note, Anna Scher (and Pauline Quirke) have worked tirelessly to change lives, hurrah for them!

And I agree with the OP, society (and this forum) is far harder on women than men.

I feel the exact same way

Natalie was my favourite last year, so I really couldn't care less about previous experience or not. It's just irritating to see how the women get treated differently on here compared to the men. If people are going to give Denise and Natalie flack, Jake should get it, too.
Frankie and Pixie were already getting bashed when the line up was announced, yet now we all know Jake can give them a run for their money, not a murmur? Funny that.

I don't care what he is. He added charisma, zest and some good movement to a rather flat show. Long may he reign.

Yes, but I didn't "bash" Denise either, I enjoyed her dancing. I just pointed out that she had been a recent West End/Broadway star in musicals, that's a lot different to Jake's experience in the field of dance.
I also think it was some way short of "perfection". As usual, some of the judges had overmarked previous contestants, so when Jake produced a far better performance they had no alternative but to go for a "9".
I didn't hear Jake's perfection comment, but perhaps they had been struggling with something in the routine and he thought they had pulled it off..maybe the final lift ?
A previous lift had actually turned into a bit of a mess, so he couldn't have thought the entire routine was "perfection".

Yeah that is how I feel. I don't care if someone has danced before, it's just the double standards. Simon has danced befofe but he doesn't get the vitriol Pixie or Frankie do. I don't know if Jake has danced before, and I dont care either way. It's just frustrating to see female competitors on here get attacked so much.

On Dancing With the Stars, many of them have had previous dance experience and no one seems to bat an eyelid. I certainly wouldn't want to watch a show purely consisting of "dancers" like Scott or Judy

Also being a good dancer early on doesn't mean you have had dance training, some people are naturally good dancers.

Well, my speakers are perfectly clear and he says "Perfection!" then says it again as he sighs/breathes heavily, "perfection..."

I'm not trying to bring Jake down - I'm discussing the fact that a male contestant can get away with murder whilst the females can't. I don't care whether Jake, Simon or Gregg said it, it's not them I'm personally making a 'dig' at. His comment didn't bring out any negative emotions in me, the lack of reaction on this board did. That's not to say I want to see this board baying for Jake's blood, I'd rather see this board NOT baying for the blood of the best female contestants instead... but that will never happen. If I'm guilty of anything, it's trying to bring down this board with its double standard ways

As for relaxing and enjoying it - don't you worry, I do relax and enjoy the show when it's on, but this is a discussion board, a place to come to discuss anything we like - or not! It's unfortunate for you if you dislike the negativity, but it'd be a boring place if we all sat here and said how wonderful and nice the show is every week. Which it is, to be honest - like I said, not a dig at Jake or the show, it's an observation about the kind of posters on this forum.

Kara, Holly, Chelsee, and Kimberly all danced pretty well from the off, probably/definitely had some dance experience and didn't at all get monstered by the board. Jason pretty much got steamroller'd here week after week and Ricky Whittle was never particularly liked either. I don't think Frankie or Caroline are being criticised particularly either this year, certainly not stronger than Simon who is routinely called over-competitive and arrogant. I agree the women get it harsher than the men generally but a neat "ALL of the women get hammered and NONE of the men do" is too black & white imo.

I think the answer to your question is - no. Other people didn't hear it. It's difficult to give someone an absolute battering if you're unaware of what you "should" be giving them an absolute battering for.

As regards Jake - I do think women with previous experience get a harder time with the "ringah" tag than men do. On the other hand, comparing Jake with Natalie, Denise and even Pixie and Frankie is (at the moment at least) unfair. Natalie's previous training was shown in the launch show, Denise was well known as having starred in a professional West End show known for its dance routines and Pixie and Frankie perform dance routines "such as they are" on stage regularly.

Jake is none of those things. From what has been posted, he hasn't even gone to stage school, just drama school. Evidence may emerge that he has had previous training but until that happens, why should he be knocked for something that's pure speculation? (Obvious answer, cos it's a forum and we can do what we likes missus ). Comments like "There's no way he could be that standard without having learnt to dance before the show" aren't evidence. They're opinion.

*awaits proof that Jake has learnt several forms of dancing since being a foetus. doesn't care anyway*

I would not be too sure of that. IIRC the year Tom Chambers won there was a great deal of grumbling going round because he could tap dance.

Yeah you have a point. People are much quicker to attack females they think have an unfair advantage, but there have been men who have been attacked. I think sometimes it depends on whether people warm to someone or not. I have seen a lot of people say they dislike Simon because they think he is arrogant. So it's not completely black and white.

Love your blog by the way

Mainly female viewers..attractive women are going to have a hard time.
As you say, I don't care at all about previous experience. If they really did insist on only absolute beginners, with no previous experience whatsoever, can you imagine how dull the show would be ? The first few weeks would be almost unwatchable.
We always get a few of the novices who break through to surprise everyone, and sometimes one of them will actually win the whole thing. So I don't see a problem ?

I don't care about previous experience. It did not bother me that Natalie could dance and so could Denise. I liked Natalie but wasn't keen on Denise but thought the abuse she got on these forums was uncalled for. I don't care if Jake has had previous experience, I just cant take to him. Don't like him. Find him a bit creepy. Sorry.

Hear, hear! Well said.

There's been a lot of talk on here about there being double standards and sweeping generalisations about other posters....let's keep this civilised, shall we, and in keeping with the spirit of this usually lovely thread.

Finger pointing at those who disagree with your own opinion isn't really helpful, and puts people off adding their own posts. After all, this isn't the X Factor , just a light entertainment dance programme. The world is still turning.....

Your putting me off posting here saying stuff like that, so you're just as bad for making me feel like I shouldn't express my opinion.

I already don't contribute to 'The Great British Bake Off' thread due to pack mentality about "no negative posts", despite the fact it ISN'T an appreciation thread.

I enjoy the show for what it is... but that doesn't mean I can't post a few negative comments now and again. Fed up of feeling like I have to bite my tongue, yet everyone's happy to jump on the bandwagon when the likes of Denise and Natalie are getting bashed.

I never came into Natalie threads last year to tell you all to play nice because it's just a "light entertainment" TV show, despite her being my favourite, so I'd appreciate the finger wagging to stop and not to be told how and what to post.

Then may I suggest that you perhaps reword your posts so that you aren't seen as an aggressor. And as for finger wagging, I believe you commenced that gesture with your sweeping generalisations. I won't respond to anything further that you post.

I used to think this actually mattered but looking at last series, it dosent, just because someone has dance experience dosent mean they can sell the performance, dosent mean they can project passion or heart, IMO (humble) Natalie feel short in these aspects last series whereas Abby, for me, was captivating.

for me was the complete opposite, Abbey left me cold where as Natalie gave me goose bumps when ever she danced

Naturally, but the issue is if expensive dance experience really gives a huge advantage, I would, now say, it dosent, and it didn't in the end, give Natalie a huge advantage.

Well a bit of previous experience or a bit of dance school is fine by me . Anything would be better than having to endure Judy walk around in a lack lustre fashion and bore me to tears

Its not even only the female v male distinction thats made. The ringer comment is often just uninformed - one year recently the person who claimed most dancing ability on their spotlight CV just slipped through unnoticed. The problem is when people vote for the best qualified dancer of the year and they win , and then don't vote for a better dancer,, because, as a singer, they did some dancing in their videos. Or when they don't vote for a less qualified dancer another year because they are too qualified.

The show's problem is that its never found a dividing line that makes sense. People who have spent years at top stage and drama schools learning dance are let in, but the people who specialised in dance are not. Some of the former are as good as the latter. the latter we never get to see. Its not easy to see how they should draw it though. Patsy Palmer and Sid Owen also went to Anna Scher . Patsy and Jake seem to have learnt a lot and been good at dancing - Sid obviously less so.

Don't stop posting you have just as much right as anyone to post. Your posts are perfectly civilised. If people want to sing a celebs praises they can always visit the appreciation threat. I enjoy your posts.

DING DONG!

I am a bit confused.

Come on - she wasn't that good!

Don't be put off. You have every right to express an opinion, as we all do.