Wow- I so did not take that from her question.

That was my reaction too- and if his point was that it's a southern thing, then where is it that Kevin and Joanne are from... let me just google that...oh yeah!!

It was a mischievous question in response to a daft implication.

I'm really glad I wasn't the only one who caught that and was a little annoyed/angry about it... and Simon didn't seem to miss it either. Poor bloke.

Favorite post of the day.
Very well said.

My husband and I lover her and we think she and Tess are a great combination

Well said. She would have asked anyone where they came from. And as someone who comes from Manchester, I didn't really appreciate Simon's comment that there was no dancing like that where he comes from. It's one of the biggest cities in the country, not the arse-end of nowhere and yes, Simon, if you look for it, you can find dance classes in little old Manchester. I don't have a lot of disposable income and I used to go to dance classes fairly regularly.

I saw no race angle to her question and I think it is disgraceful to accuse her of such.

100% agree with this. I can see a few people in this thread have chips on their shoulders.

On topic <3 Claudia. She's fantastic.

She was certainly embarrassing with that sheet & fake teeth routine, too infantile. Should stick to the Ts & Cs comedy, because that works!

Claudia is a breath of fresh air, i think shes wonderful

Love claudia and tess - thought the teeth and the sheet were hilarious. Saw nothing exceptional in her comments to simon. Long may the kookiness continue

Totally agree. I adore Claudia, but find Tess lacking. She is so stiff...

I'm beginning to wonder if there was a touch of arrogance in Simon's remarkably odd response to Claudia's innocent question.
Perhaps it was a case of 'do you know who I am?'
I may be wrong, but perhaps he thought that as he is a pop star she should have known where he came from?
Just a thought.
Having said that, I'd never heard of him before seeing him on Strictly, but then I could say that about the bulk of the contestants each year! I get to know them as the show progresses.

I took it as Claudia lampooning Simon's plea for special sympathy. She's a fast thinker but it can often backfire with slow-witted people and she doesn't always allow for this.

I can't believe that anyone could see a racist remark in Claudia's question. I'm sure that, like me and most other people, she's colour blind and Simon is just another celeb. I notice that he's male and quite young, but nothing else about him. As there has been said there are obviously people with a chip on their shoulder if they see colour in an innocent question following a comment which includes "where I come from?". The natural response is "Where?". Would they have thought the same if it had been Jake instead of Simon?

Has anyone else noticed how much more genuine laughter there is now that Claudia is on the show?.... Its so different to when Bruce was trying to do his!, 'Ad lib' jokes that never got off the ground!.......


No, no..... I love Zoe and she has the same sort of humour as Claudia but the two of them on the same show would be too over the top!....... Tess is best where she is!... her role of greeting the dancers after they have finished their dance and passing them onto the judges doesn't ask for anymore than she is doing!........ Claudia upstairs is much the best job for her, she does it so much better than Tess did in the same role!.....


'Where do you come from?' ..... a simple enough question anyone would ask after hearing someone say 'there is none of that where I come from' !...... Why oh why?, do people have to jump on the 'racist' bandwagon as soon as anything is said!... you cant open your mouth nowadays without this happening!......



Ah... but have you noticed how different she is starting to behave?....She was actually giggling at something last night!... she managed a natural smile when Claudia was messing about with the teeth!....... I think there is a definite change in her since Bruce has gone she is really starting to relax into the job!...... It will take a bit more time I expect but I think the two of them are really coming into their own and doing a great job!..

That made me Mrs Winkle is so intelligent she didn't think that what she said could be perceived as racist...as I have said many times I wouldn't watch/listen to her if she was the last female on tv. How she got that job is mind boggling. Imho she is one of the most irritating/annoying women on tv.....

If you don't watch her, why are you commenting?

It's only a few who thought what she said could be perceived as racist. Most of us don't look for racism in everything that's said - but sadly there are a few who look for it in everything. And for me, they are the ones who are racist.

And if you didn't watch/hear her, how can you judge? Clearly you can't and are just prejudiced again her - prejudice is part of racism.

I can assure you I don't listen to one word she says , but I can read and have seen what the unblinkered FM's have said. Mrs Winkle is what sky+ and my FF button is made for
TBH if it wasn't SCD she wouldn't bother me as I just wouldn't watch. You like her I don't ....end of.

I don't think race came into it all. I think Simon was making a similar point to Sunetra a few weeks before about a person from Liverpool the glitter etc of Strictly is a totally unique experience. I think Claudia caught him mid sentence if she had let him finish instead of jumping in with a pretty pointless question all would have been clear. I adore Claudia but I do feel she caused the awkwardness on this occasion.

Because I am a member.... and am allowed to comment...

Yeah, I took it as her gently puncturing his dealing out of the old bad-boy cliche. Had he been a bit sharper, he could've returned it with something like 'the West End'.

Love her.

It wasn't racist. If some people want to take it as such, then that is their problem. Claudia should not have to dumb down to take account of people who choose to not get it.

People usually only comment on something they know about, not just read about. Reading doesn't give you he context, the tone, the atmosphere and gives a false impression. OK you don't like her, but you can't comment on this incident.