I've never heard bad things about either Anya or Robin either (unless you count Robin spilling the show's secrets to that dance class and it going up on YouTube I guess but that seems very minor). And for what it's worth, although rumours of his prima-donnaness abound, according to James (DON'T LAUGH) they really were trying to keep hold of Artem until it wasn't feasible.

How do you know that?

I think the Strictly producers liked the dimension Artem brought to the show. Whether or not he was a pain in the bum backstage, who knows? As far as I know it was him who chose to leave Strictly and he wasn't given the push. He wanted to get his US citizenship and wasn't spending enough time there to qualify. The pay on DWTS, and the pay from spin-off opportunities in America, is a lot better than on Strictly.

I don't watch DWTS but I do wonder, aside from the pay angle, if it really is a better deal for the pros than Strictly. The Strictly pros seem to have a bigger following and are bigger fish in a smaller pond, Strictly itself seems more fun, more creative and less tacky, and, that awful homunculus Derek Hough aside, the pros on Strictly seem to have a lot better experience. People who watch the show tell me if you're not Derek Hough you're stuffed and if the fans like you better than him you get ditched.

In an interview recently Gleb said he would like to return to DWTS in America. Given that Strictly is the original in the franchise it would be a bit annoying if people start regarding it as auditioning for DWTS. If they poach Aljaz I think we should nuke America before he gets there (not that I'm a possessive bunny-boiler or anything).

They'd have to spring him from your bunker first....

Yes, money aside, the pros on DWTS don't seem to get treated very well. Over here they get told months in advance that they will be in the show, but on DWTS they seem to get told about a week before the series starts and can still get swapped out at the last minute if Derek decides he wants to do another series. There's also a series of desperate troupe members waiting in the wings for your job, constantly retweeting people telling them they should be a pro next series. I thought the producer manipulation over here was bad, but over there it seems to be storylined like a soap opera and as the vote from the previous week is combined with judges scores from the current week, they know exactly what they need to score people to get rid of them. Artem went from being, arguably, the top male dancer on Strictly to playing second fiddle to Derek, Mark and Val (who seem guaranteed pro spots along with Tony) fighting it out for the last two spots each season with a load of others, so the money must be really good (along with all the spin-off opportunities as you said).

I made the mistake of drip-drying some undies during a cold snap and Aljaz was able to saw through the bars on his window with some frozen BHS thongs. He is currently at large until I patch up the holes in my man-size butterfly net and disguise myself as Russell Grant again.

I stand corrected in relation to Anya - I too have never heard any justifiable criticism of her professionalism nor personality.

I *think* if you get to the in group of DWTS, there are tons of out of season tours, shows etc to offer. Val's crew seems to be easier to get into than Derek's. I guess for Artem the pros of going to DWTS outweighed the pros of staying on SCD.

One of the advantages about DWTS as opposed to SCD is that there are 2 series every year, which adding in the out of season shows, means almost a whole years steady work against Strictly's 5 months. It is also the reason why they keep pros involved by having them dance in the pro troupe.

Then there's the £££ v $$$. DWTS pays its pros more - a LOT more - than SCD. According to an American friend of mine who has worked on the show, the pros who just dance in the troupe are paid almost double what the Strictly pros are paid for teaching & appearing in a whole series.

As far as Artem is concerned, I feel DWTS Hollywood pizz-azz style is far more suitable for his type of choreography than Strictly.

I'd say it's the $$$$$$

Wow, I guess that explains why dancers like Sasha and Henry who've had one season as pro and then get dumped back into the troupe still hang around even though its a bit of a comedown.

Makes me wonder why Artem didn't just go for DWTS in the first place. I know everyone said it was because he'd dated Carrie-Ann, but I believe she'd dated Tony as well at one point, plus they have no problem with Julianne judging her brother

Tbh, a place in the troupe would be a dream for most dancers. Val made a point to thank one of the troupe members being a huge help this season. Basically in troupe you get tons of perks, can dance a lot, get your name out there, but you get none of the stress of being a pro.

On DWTS many times the pros are more famous than the celebs, which can be good for the pros. They get huge fandoms from the show, and these fans follow the pro to their tours and off season shows. Like the Val & co Sway show and the Hough tour.

I can see the appeal of DWTS vs SCD to many dancers.

I agree. Being part of a troupe of dancers can also be great fun. Think you meant "....none of the stress of being a teaching/partner" though, as they are all pro dancers!

DWTS pros do get followed by their fans on their off-season shows, but then so do the Strictly pros. Brendan, Vincent & Flavia, even Anton & Erin's stage shows are nearly all a sell-out.

Even so, I think dancers are far more appreciated in the US - where dance is huge - than they are in the UK, where, generally speaking, non-dancers have only ever heard of the Strictly pros.

Fern was obviously not enjoying it with Artem. It's a shame that she wasn't with Robin as was the intention according to Producer on SCD cruise. Robin was paired with Lisa at the very last minute as they saw how well they got on when they met.

She would have had a far better experience has she been paired with either Robin or Anton...who knows, she could have taken Anton some way in the competition...

I don't think she would have tbh...at most I think she might have been able to beat Richard Arnold and made it to Wembley but unfortunately for her, she competed in a year where they had quite a good line up with some big name signings.. Denise Van Outen, Dani Harma, the popular Olympians, Kimberely Walsh, Nicky Bryne, Michael Vaughn plus the unexpected popularity of 'doing it for the big girls' Lisa Riley...so I doubt she would have gone much further in the year she competed, even with Anton or Robin...she may have had a more enjoyable experience though, but tbh, I think it's a shame she keeps on bringing it up, because it seemed towards the end she'd made up with Artem and he'd softened in his attitude ....I think he learnt from his experience of working with her as he's coped very well with the older contestants he's had on DWTS.

Who both have style, musicality, integrity, and talent while poor fern has to somehow scratch a living from the dregs of a failure on strictly several years ago
Ps I can't believe this thread still has legs.

I'm not the biggest Artem fan out there but geez....talk about being over dramatic Fern...... " insert roll eyes emoticon".

All scd pros want the best for their pupils no matter what their level is. I'm sure he did everything to make her shine on that dance floor. All pros have different methods of teaching ; it doesn't mean that he hated her , he just did what he felt was the best FOR her.


What is she trying to promote ?

Yes I know that Gleb is gorgeous and allergic to clothes but he's really lovely ; very friendly and quite the opposite of Artem as far as personality goes. The viewers will love him.

Artem wasn't exactly the most charismatic or likeable character. I'm glad we don't have to put up with him any more.

I liked Artem the way he was. Slouchy, cold, sensitive, grumpy at times, dry wit, a bit of a philosopher, artistic, laid back, caring, blunt.

My recollection is that one time when lifting Fern in celebration of being saved, he quietly said something like 'God - you're heavy.' Which was true and he did have to lift her, but she had already lost a lot of weight up to that point. Maybe it was effective - maybe not.

I like the show to be a bit gritty and real and the celebs not to get pampered. I like to see them form a team and if there are rows that can be part of it too but I would like to see them work together and achieve something.

I don't think Fern is perfect either, but that's OK.

Another thing I liked Artem for was his dancing with Aliona. They seemed to be on the same page artistically when they danced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isaf9N0DIqI

I always thought Artem was very charismatic - especially when he danced. As for likeable, he was someone that grew on me when I got more of an understanding on what was going on with him

Its interesting how people are willing to make a lot more allowances for Artem than they were for James when he commented on Georgina's weight (I don't mean you specifically BTW, just general comments and comments on the article itself). I guess it depends on how much you like the people involved to start with.

I think Fern and Artem were put together as they were 'left over' after Robin had been switched to go with Lisa and there wasn't a lot of consideration as to whether their personalities would suit. I think it was probably six of one, half a dozen of the other, but Fern should realise she just makes herself look two-faced with these stories considering she and Artem were all over each other on ITT etc. At least couples like Brendan and Lulu hated each other all along and stuck to it .

BIB - You are right that a lot of people were and still are very critical of James for that. James was keeping his weight low and giving it 100%. He knew Georgina could do better and it was his job to try to persuade her. Lots of people seem to think he didn't do a good job. Georgina isn't one of them.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+Won&.....-a0152451264

I prefer Strictly to be a challenge for the celebs and would like to see them rise to the challenge and succeed. Letittia Dean was a fine example of someone who did.

I think that is the difference between a celeb who wants to be taking part, rather than one who has been press ganged into by their PR, record label or bosses and could take it or leave it.