What with Anthony Ogogo and his shoulder injury and Iwan Thomas being just about anywhere but in a dance studio, why have Strictly been forced to sign up at least two celebs who have not met the full criteria for taking part - fitness & committment?

you need committment to Strictly, and Iwan isn't.


Anthony could have been better, maybe next year, if he's recovered 100%.

so you're absolutely right about those 2 celebs

When did those two criteria get written then? I seem to recall other celebs who might not have qualified.

I'm annoyed about Iwan because I like Ola and was delighted to see she was back. The celebrities always have other commitments/day jobs - to varying degrees - but he seems to be finding it especially difficult to fit in training. It does seem very odd to me.

I am not saying they are "written" but good old common sense tells me that you do not go into such a huge (possibly lengthy) physical challenge with an injury serious enough to rule you out of your own profession. In addition, Strictly is predominantly about learning a new skill and if you do not have time to train towards learning that new skill, then what is the point of entering?

What an odd thing to say. Surely the fact that the celebrities taking part have other commitments is an indicator of their perceived success and "value"? If the entire lineup had all day every day to train for Strictly, would that not imply that they were not in great demand in their day job? I know it's popular amongst many critics to view this sort of show as a vehicle for resurrecting washed-up careers, but in fact it now seems that that the participants are game for criticism for actually HAVING jobs and commitments.

I think it's more a case of "reasonableness", eg, if you can't train for more than one or two hours a week (say) then there's not a great deal of point in doing Strictly.

Didnt Iwan say he had been busy but was now full on SCD?

Yes Von Trapp I'm sure he did say that on The One Show - I have just been trying to find the clip.

I hope very much that you are right!

No, there are always enough desperate celebs in need of a career move or those (usually older) celebs who just want a bit of fun.

Anthony would have hurt his arm after he was signed up for Strictly. So they had to make a call as to whether he could continue. It was a dislocation, not a break, as I understand it, so the doctors would probably have said it should recover in time. I'm hoping that he just kept it rested this week because the Jive is such a jerky dance and not ideal for a recovering injury. If he does a one-handed waltz, then it's daft that he's in.

This is the worst line up ever on SCD. I'm not even bothered about watching this year.

Exactly.

Nobody is saying that they can't have day jobs - it is a case of whether you amicably juggle both at the same time. If not - do not take on the extra workload. It is just like saying I want to be a boxer and have to train towards it. If that means having to take a large amount of time off from my office job, then where does my priority lie?

So your "full criteria" exists only as an opinion then, as I can certainly recall other celebs sometimes struggling to commit fully by way of their day-jobs, whilst a few others were hardly at the peak of fitness (especially some of the more senior amongst them).

It didn't stop them from competing though, and a few gave it a fair crack too

Yes, I'm sure I heard that too.

Oh, my impression was that the shoulder injury was why he couldn't box so that was why he had time to agree to the show. I thought he said something like it was either sit at home or learn a new skill? If he injured himself after he signed up, then that's different, I agree.

I hope that they are getting experts to judge if Anthony is fit enough or not. Steve Backshall last year had a lot of pain from his injuries and I remember Mark Benton having was looked quite serious strapping on his knees, and of course some people are simply older and less flexible than others. There have always been people doing Strictly with physical limitations. But as long as it's being assessed properly - Anthony shouldn't be risking his career - that does seem daft.

They always had celebs that were busy-busy, even if it was just sipping champagne. As for Anthony, well, I hope he won't end up with a more damaged shoulder that he started with.

Whatever - you know what I mean.

Its one thing not being able to fully commit - quite another to be flying off all over the world every single week.

As for fitness, there is a clear difference between an injury and being at the peak of fitness. Doing Strictly is not designed to potentially do more damage to an individual, even older ones. Anthony, however, is risking his career which, while his choice, I don't think is a risk worth taking - and I am surprised Strictly seem oblivious to this.

Anthony was injured in July, and the Strictly casting process from first contact to confirmation lasts from the start of May to the start of August (based on what a few celebs have said recently), so I would guess he was quite far along in the process but not yet confirmed when he got crocked. Either way you have to wonder at the wisdom of comitting to celebrities who are active in a sport where they get repeatedly punched in the face. I mean...serious injuries are likely.

In your opinion, perhaps. Ultimately, it's a light entertainment show - not running the United Nations. I'm not aware of any established rules imposed on participants as to how many days they must train, so if they don't put in the hours, it's to their own detriment in the long run. It seems as if you're possibly taking it all way too seriously.

Iwan Thomas has a contract with BTSport to present their MotoGP show featuring the 2015 World Championships of motorcycle racing. (Which is turning out to be a very exciting series).

What we don't know is whether that means that Iwan will be on the other side of the World while the Strictly live show is going out. If so then the BBC must have pressured him into going on Strictly knowing they have to eliminate him very early in the series.

Its not very edifying news about Strictly's status and ability to attract celebs if that is the case.

It's more dignified than eating bugs in the jungle or sharing a house with "celebs" with no name recognition.

Of course it is. As I said, it's about reasonableness. (I think you're the one who is taking posts a little too literally instead of me taking it too seriously to be honest!)

it also gives you more freedom to fly around the world whilst taking part - which neither of those mentioned above do.

My point is why do any reality TV when:

1) You have a perfectly adequate career/job?
2) You do not have the time to fully commit and, therefore, not even fully learn the discipline you have signed up for?