Not a single bit of mean spirit on this thread at all.


Jo was more than capable as a presenter last year. So the idea that she's an overgrown baby like this forum like to perpetuate is overplayed.

No one cares to be honest. I wish they'g both go back.

Bunch of miseries.
Don't like then don't watch.
Bring on Zoe.

Horrible thought - Robin still being around on ITT probably means we've not seen the last of Miss Funnity Fun Fun have we?

This might sound ridiculous, but I honestly think that maybe they just didn't want three Cliftons in the line-up, hence Joanne demoted to reserve.

Well each to their own,and I, of course respect your opinion. However, I find her incredibly childish and annoying. Her clothes &wacky facial expressions shriek of attention seeking at its finest.

I sorta feel guilty about it but I agree. There was a rainy day recently, and the paparazzi snapped her going to rehearsals with her midriff showing from just below her boobs to as low as you can decently go - with a coat on, but opened way up so no one would possibly miss her bare stomach. WTH? And some other photos with her pulling her top up to show off her bra - there were 3 or 4 pictures like that, as she walked down the street. Also a lot of pictures of her in Giovanni's lap, wrapped around him, kissing him, etc., though she did tweet to let everyone know they were NOT a couple.

And that voice! No one could possibly sound like that unless it was an intentionally cutesy widdle gurwul "act." I think she's such a phony. And after hearing she'd lived in Italy for 14 years, I was really expecting une femme du monde - a sophisticate or something - and she intentionally acts like a child - not even an adolescent. I watched a periscope she did in her bedroom, and she had a bunch of minion toys - spoke of being afraid of the dark, afraid of the shower, etc., all in her babytalk voice. Gwow up Jwanne! U firty now!!

I just don't get it All I can figure is she's very insecure.

To be fair if I had a stomach like hers I'd be showing it off and if I had the chance I'd be draped over Giovanni but I do get what you mean.

No way CurvyB...you're way too classy for that

Well, point taken I'd be stunned if he didn't bat for the other team tbh though. But I'm chuffed enough we have Tristan Gleb and Aljaz! Oh hell what difference does it make when you're not in with a chance lol...

And I 'do' feel bad about bad-mouthing Joanne. I get the feeling she has some kind of self-image issues. Maybe going to live in Italy so young, away from family - well, it can't have been a bed of roses. A similar thing happened to Julianne Hough - she came over to live with the Ballases in London at age 10 and has spoken about feeling abused - I don't think she means the rougher stuff - just being alone; she said Shirley didn't know how to raise a girl and expected her to do dishes and housework and had more restrictions - while Derek and Mark could do anything they wanted etc, the main thing being, I think, that she was just too young to be taken from her real family and fostered out, just to be a star comp partner for Mark - I assume that's why Joanne went to Italy so young, to be groomed to win comps? But anywayz...

Joanne isn't the only exhibitionist - I was annoyed the other day with another periscope - someone called Giovanni fat and he lifted his shirt to show off his 6 pack - and Janette ran in to show hers off and then strutted out of the picture, smug nose in air. So Joanne is certainly not the only one to join in the silly teenagers-on-spring-break games... Or maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy and that's just what one does these days, even into one's 30s, alas... (and I'm a fine one to call somebody else smug!)

this is the spin off magazine show that fills a teatime slot. under any circumstances its got to be take it or leave it TV i just can't make the effort to get worked up about anything to do with it...

I'll be happy as long as there is NO LISA RILEY tagging along with Robin

dont think Joanne is reserve think it was planned her on presenting side, the stuff she did for ITT was ok imo last year she will be involved with choreography and will be dancing in pro routines - her ballroom expertise on ITT will make a good balance to Karens latin expertise but pity someone of her calibre is not in main show - there are some poor ballroom dancers (namely the BTF girls) which is a shame

Joanne had Scott "two left feet,no rhythm" Mills. Come on. I thought she did very well. The Addams family routine was one of my favourite Strictly routines ever.
I was actually looking forward to see how she did with someone a bit better but sadly not.

Not looking forward to the Friday audience. I assume it's going to be Top Gear stood up style. Not a fan of this at all.

Must admit I'm also wondering whether Joanne has half an eye on the longer game - she managed quite well with the presenting bits she did last year so maybe she's got an eye on the future and a move into TV/presenting, rather than just being 'One of the pros from Strictly' in the future?

I'm sorry that she's not in the main show though - it would have been interesting to see how she would have got on with a celeb who had a modicum of ability because her ballroom is clearly streets ahead of some of the other female pros. I agree with RoseAnne - that Addams Family routine was actually very clever choreography and if Craig/Bruno/Darcy any of them had half the eye for Ballroom that Len does, then they would have kept them in when they were in the DO with Alison as it had far more content than her wafting around as Kathy did

The section where Craig comes on and explains why he gave the marks he did seems like a waste of time to me. I don't think he actually enlightens us in the way Karen does when she is reviewing the shows. I like that he is the more consistent judge and it says something that he stands out for that.
I don't think the judges can contribute a lot to ITT - better to use the pro dancers, or Karen and Joanne, although given the way the show has moved towards Burn The Floor, I think they have to limit their criticism.

I'd like to see the interviews opened out a bit. There is too much of the standard set of questions. Looking back at Claudia ad-libbing and going off-piste, it was much more interesting and had less of a controlled, scripted feel to it.

Joanne seems to have been taking courses at Pukka Presenting - based on the quote from her on their homepage, anyway - so my guess is that she genuinely does want to move towards presenting. Strictly, where like her or loath her she's an acknowledged expert, would be a safe starting point for her.

I too loved The Addams Family routine despite not liking the couple (although my favourite bit was the hand in the box).

Claudia was really a better fit for ITT, imo, though I'm ok with her on Strictly but there isn't time to really enjoy the whimsical delight of her wit, with those very brief post-dance interviews, if you can even call them that. Tess was fine for that. Zoe's good for that. Either one could front in Bruce's place just fine - not sure about Claudia as fronter because she's not as mainstream as the other two.

As for Joanne and Karen, I don't like listening to either one of them - one is smug and schoolmarmish and one is a giddy kiddy. Robin bugs me too, though less than the other two. I like Ian and think the regular pros, as they're booted, would make for good panel discussions, even with the longer Friday format. They could occasionally have Karen, Joanne and Robin, but I think it won't be as much fun with them every week as it would be with the eliminated pros starting to file in - it would be MUCH more enjoyable and interesting, imo, to have a variety of personalities and a changing group each week, and I wouldn't mind the judges occasionally, and we could get to know the newbies that way as well.

Oh well, it's not up to me - maybe most people will like the new set-up and maybe Joanne will do a better job than I think she will. And at least it's not Lisa Riley!

Right, so - all we need now is ITT to start a week before the main show - and a formal wrap up one after the final

She comes across to me as a nice person.
With her Ballroom background I was expecting her to be more towards older than her age - a bit staid - so colour me surprised. I like people to be different - as long as they aren't harming others - so I'd say Joanne being different is a plus. I would also hope that she is growing up in the ways you need to, to be a successful adult and mother, and I don't think her behaviour excludes that.
I haven't seen her enough to form a more solid opinion of her, but in the presenting role, we may get to know more about her and who she is.

Possibly (and this is only a thought which crossed my mind) Darcy may have given the producers notice that she only wants to do another year (or maybe 2) and they are seeing how Joanne fits into the presenter/non-dancing personality to see if she has potential as a new judge - although it might be somewhat difficult if she had to criticise either Kevin or Karen .... So maybe not!

I do think it is as simple as BBC wanting a couple of spares and a girl to balance up the pro routines. Joanne fits the bill.

Despite this, she became one of the best dancers on the planet and has gone on to be both a country music star and a leading actress. Triumph over adversity? Or just a combination of real talent, hard work and determination? She was trained by the best, of course.

Well, I'll be glad to see Joanne and Robin back.