I thought there was a minimum number of training hours per week that the couples were supposed to do (with it being left up to them if they want to do more). I remember it being discussed on here - was it 12 hours per week?

BIB
Iwan had to go to the MotoGP in Italy as part of his contract with BTSport, and Ola flew to Italy to try to get some training done there. He then flew to Japan and Ola was not sent there to try to get some training time with him, so they had 3 days training in the 3 weeks before the first show. MotoGP takes place at the weekends and there are rounds in Japan, Australia, Malaysia and Spain still to come.

Until it is known for certain that Iwan will be at those future rounds (aka "flying off all over the world"), especially when Strictly is scheduled, then it's all entirely speculative.

I agree, but there hasn't been any statement AFAIK that an arrangement has been made with BTSport to accommodate Iwan's time on Strictly, so the status quo would be that there is a problem. There has been 3 days of training in the first 3 weeks.

I wouldn't worry too much - the way things look now, it's likely he'll be a goner before those rounds come around.

Not at all. I see Strictly as precisely what it is - entertainment - and do so without investing too much emotion or thought as to the motives of everyone involved.
You asked the question, but you shouldn't expect everyone to concur with your train of thought. Although I happen not to agree with your assessment of the situation, it doesn't indicate that I take anything to do with Strictly "seriously".

Very true.

I seem to remember - probably in the years when training hours were seen as a badge of honour with leaderboards on ITT and everything - that the celebs are contracted? to train 12 hours a week and anything above that is optional. Whether those 12 hours also include VT filming is moot

I think the training hours stopped being such a big thing when it was noted that Louisa could do a stellar jive on 5 hours of training and Michael not so much on. 10 times that!

To be fair to Ewan they would have known his shedule before hand, so it was obviously not seen as s problem - and it's not the first time a celeb has had work commitments overseas while taking part - Colin was filming The Arrow meaning both he and Kirstina flitted back and forth.

Presumably, if he is in breach of some contractual obligation, the BBC would intervene if thought to be detrimental to the show.

Yes, Anthony did injure his shoulder before signing up for Strictly and "My choices were sulk (and) sit on my backside whilst rehabbing my shoulder or whilst I'm unable to box make the most of this amazing opportunity."

He apparently wouldn't be able to box until December and I believe he will not be able to do lifts in any of his routines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/34017448

If he does not practice enough he'll go very quickly. He's not somebody popular people want to keep in. It all comes down to if/how much the celebs are paid and if BBC think they got their money's worth.

of course they get their money's worth. Someone has to go every week - regardless, so if it's him.... so what? That may be entirely acceptable to all concerned as it would allow someone else to continue for one more week.

Eh? I certainly don't expect everyone to concur with my point of view (how boring would it be if we all agreed all the time?) You were the one who said other people were taking it too seriously, not me! Lol.

It was a completely independent statement, that I don't take the show "seriously"... because I don't. I didn't say that YOU said I was taking it too seriously. I just don't agree with you, that's all.

I said you were taking posts too literally ... if you cast your eyes back you will see! And believe me, I really don't expect/want everyone to agree with me. I merely pulled you up on your criticism that everyone taking the show too seriously ... just my opinion in response to your opinion.

Hope we're sorted now!

No, I said I thought YOU were taking it seriously - not "everybody".
Anyway, not an issue. It's supposed to be fun... and indeed it is.

The two celebs mentioned are both sportsmen and this year it was always going to be hard to get sports people as the rugby World Cup is on so a lot of rugby players aren't available due to commentating or playing or injured and it is also the year before the Olympics so (especially after Jade getting injured) it is not a good idea before an Olympic year. Other sports like football or tennis and so on are ongoing so therefore strictly need sportpeople who have retired.

Obviously someone pulled out and that is why Joanne didn't end up without a celeb. As for Iwan and his lack of training or time I'm sure that the producers knew of his previous commitments.

I'll let you have the last word and it's obviously important to you

Good point about the Olympics but in terms of rugby, Strictly is always on during the rugby season so by default any players would have to have retired. Having said that, most retire in their early 30s so they're not exactly has beens.

Yeah you're right but there are a lot of the retired players commentating either on TV, radio or in papers because the world cup is on and they could have been available if it hadn't been. Personally I would love Brian O'Driscoll on strictly.

Greg Rutherford seems to be keen to do strictly in the future ☺

There are a lot of potential future strictly sport contestants out there but whether they want to do it is another thing and it seems pretty obvious that they struggled to get many this year with both Iwan's and Anthony's situations however I did like Anthony's jive but with Anthony it is a catch 22 situation he wouldn't have done strictly if he wasn't injured but without the injury he would actually do really well I suppose it depends on how his shoulder heals

True. Brian O'Driscoll would be most excellent (better than DO'D!)

... LOL.

Didn't Esther Rantzen leave the show after a few weeks to go a cruise holiday? At face value, that seems worse than missing some training time. A lot of the celebs (and judges) regularly sign up for the Panto season and that eats into the training time just when they need it the most.

I completely disagree - I stopped watching last year for the first time in all the series, because I could not warm to any of them and once Caroline started getting 10's in about round 4, I fell out with the show and the judges in particular
( I was a Kara fan and that girl had to sweat blood to get a 10 and she was WAY WAY better than Caroline - they dish them out too soon and for too little to me)

This year's line up I mostly like and the first dances were pretty much to a decent standard. So unless they go all stupid with the 10's again - I'm hooked

Or perhaps Joanne's involvement was always planned to be as a member of the dance troupe but without a part(ner) in the main show to leave an uneven number of couples - this has happened before of course.