We've all complained on the horrid outfits Kellie have been given and the naff music for their routines & how some Celebs gets wonderful outfits and music, all these are sanctioned by the Producers (they have the final say).

We've complained about the ridiculous hight difference between Jeremy & Karen & how Jeremy would have been better suited with Natalie.

We've complained about how some Celebs have been over scored some weeks and we've even said the Judges are trying to manipulate the leader board to keep their favourites out of the DO.

We've all seen Mr Craig Revel Horwood's Tweets and Blogs regarding his favourites. (shouldn't Judges been unbiased).

We've seen the Judges underscore certain Celebs week in and week out and never give them any credit.

We've complained about all above in the forum every week.

Ola is just echoing everything we've said on this forum, I for one is happy another Professional has spoken out.

It's not just Ola, lots of EX Professionals who loves Strictly have come out and said the same things. The Professionals are treated like shit, it's about time the BBC gives them more respect, without them we wouldn't have Strictly.

Re : Georgia - she was top of the leaderboard by 5 clear points. ALL of the judges (not just Darcey) could have knocked a mark off and she would have been in the exact same place.

I do think some of what she says has merit but a lot of it is sour grapes or her being wilfully naive. "In years gone by nobody had any training" is particularly ludicrous. She's also kidding herself if she's complaining about not doing the Christmas Special and Children In Need after making a public show of quitting. They've got no obligation to include her in anything, and she sounds quite entitled.

Any article which has the 'I don't want to come across as bitter - but...' line is going to side swerve the point by quite a distance.

Mr Jordan in particular did extremely well out of the ringah category and as for Chris not winning in these days of trained dancers - Ali wasn't exactly a novice.

Ola really is a desperado! I expect she'll be chewing on marsupial scrotum this time next year!

Ola is saying that Jamelia is the only person left who's not had dance training. That's not true is it? Anita hasn't had any, and I'm not sure that Katie has either.

More attention seeking from the Jordan's here. Sadly I don't think they'll go quietly either.

I never have and never will like the Jordans. They are your typical poser couple who just come across as false. She looks trashy and he looks cheesy

I don't disagree with you (have no idea tbh) just don't think Peter is being protected (even if that was the intention). Not only does it not work imo, it has the exact opposite effect. As I said, more people are put off by his overmarking - his popularity is decreasing because of it. And a really low mark like Craigs 6 only makes more people vote in response. Even if a higher position in the leaderboard managed to keep him in for an extra week ..being overmarked/the favourite ruins your chances of winning....and being harshly marked ensures plenty more votes.

I find it hard to believe they manipulate the leaderboard for the sake of having X men and Y women, otherwise, we wouldn't have had a final like the year before last with 4 women in it. I don't think it matters that much to them but that's just my opinion.


It amazes me that after all these years people haven't picked up on that yet. It's so crystal clear you'd need to be Stevie Wonder to not see it. The moment the judges are harsh on a contestant the pity votes flood in, "My favourite was undermaked, woobie, woobie, whaaahh, I'm going to vote 2000 times to save him/her now". Like you said, Jay doesn't really need this as he's got enough support to win anyway (and he will), but with any other contestant that's the truth.

I know

Its not just a case of the overmarking doesn't help their chances, it actively goes against them. And any kind of undermarking, horrible criticism, embarassing moment or moment where the celeb looks upset will ensure a surge in votes.

I don't know why she's complaining anyway; she and Chris very unworthy winners imo

I was going to say "How rude of you!" but then I realized you were talking about I'm a Celebrity, lolz!

They're wannabe celebs - the kind of idiots who call the paps whenever they leave the house! No doubt they'll be angling for a 'fly on the wall' documentary series on ITVbe (James and Ola: Behind The Sequins - "In this week's ep, the Jordans find out if James' personality transplant has been a success, and Ola meets her fan when she does a meet and greet to promote her 2017 calendar...")

I think I have mentioned before a book by a tabloid reporter that I read many years ago. He told of 'doorstepping' someone's home all day with reporters from all the other papers etc. After many hours they all went to the pub for some food - on the condition that everyone went in case someone did get an exclusive. In the pub they all concocted a story that they claimed the person had told them. It was printed in all their papers so it was impossible for him/her to deny.

Yeah I agree with you absolutely, it doesn't help their standing with the public, and likewise the judges picking at you helps win you votes. How many times have they finally got rid of the comedy duffer by damning them with faint praise.

However giving inflated high scores does help them get further and avoid the dance off for longer, regardless of public opinion.

If Jay is the only guy to make the final this year that will make 4 male finalists out of 12 over the last 3 years.

As I said I've never been into conspiracy theories regarding strictly but I don't think the idea that they want a more equal final in terms of male/female mix after the last two finals is particularly out there.

Of course maybe I could be wrong and they just really really like Peter's dancing. Who knows?

I haven't waded through this thread but I think your post is spot on. I have just read what Ola has said and, before I started, I thought it was going to slag off certain celebrities and praising others but, I'm pleased to say, she didn't.

As you say we have all said what she has in the past and, especially during this series, noticed the overmarking of some people - Peter - and the undermaking of others - Anita (and Craig last week giving Jay a 6). Perhaps its time to replace the whole of the panel.

I don't think they will ever be able to have a series with everyone not having previous dance training and I don't think I would like it anyway. Its interesting that Ola has only picked out Jamelia as the only one who hasn't had past dance experience from the remaining. I know it has always been said that Anita hasn't had previous training but we saw the clip about her mother loving indian dancing so I would suspect that Anita has also done that which requires you to be very flexible which Anita is.

I don't like James Jordan but I think what Ola has said probably needed to have been said as she echoes what we have been saying for ages.

Anita specifically said in her BBC twitter session yesterday that she had never had dance or gymnastics lessons before. Ola is effectively calling her a liar.

Ever since Wee Shimmy Jimmy Jordan was on CBB, I've said that those two would be appearing on a Ch5 Reality Show.
Their desperation is nauseating.

Yes, there is a chance that they may get one or two weeks further (not guaranteed) but overall it works far more negatively against them - most definitely when it comes to the final stages - and if as you suggest, its because they want to see him in the final, I don't see how that would help? As underwhelming as Petes dancing has been, I think the judges have done more to ensure he doesn't get to the final than Pete has.

I just don't see how the male/female ratio would be so important to them - so many are as invested in the pros these days anyway and I'd imagine they'd just want to see a show thats pleasing to the audience....I don't really notice tbh if its male or female, I get too involved in their dancing, their partnership etc to care what sex the celeb is. If it is a conspiracy by the judges to get Pete to the final though, I'd be more concerned about their stupidity in thinking that plan would work than their bias!

I would reckon the payment for CBB will be equivalent to 4-5 years on SCD and as everyone needs Money that is where she will be at the start of the year imo. Ola would be a good H/M in my opinion.

As she has done in every ITT interview and training clip

Ha ha. I take your point about the final they probably don't care at that stage, although I don't think they'd be happy with another all girl final.

but...

The other thought could be that with more than half the men gone before halfway, perhaps they just don't want Peter in a dance off and in a position where they may be forced to send him home (due to possibly being worst dancer of the two) and having just one guy left for the last 6/5/4 weeks.


And as I said, the reasoning would be worry about being able to attract more male celebs, especially if the rumours are true that they struggled this year.

I absolutely do not believe they love Peter or are desperate for him to win. I don't even think they want a male winner. I don't think they care who wins at all.

I do think they want a balanced show next year in terms of competitors and that means they need to attract males who don't think they'll be shown up by the prowess of the females. That's all I'm saying is that it probably is in their interests to ensure that its not seen that increasingly the women are leaving the men for dust and generally that has been the trend in the last few years.

Me too. I don't think she said anything that we don't already know. We know they try to manipulate the leader board and influence the voting. It's a given. I think it backfires at times. They were desperate last week for a Jamelia v Anita dance off. Didn't happen. So they can try but it doesn't always work.

What? They were desperate for Jeremy to go! It was blatantly obvious!

By giving him the pimp slot? And saying what he was planning to do in Blackpool?
Absolutely not. They wanted Jamelia out. They put Anita on first and gave her (or rather Gleb) a bad VT. People have commented on this elsewhere.