I don't think it's a question of pros being beyond criticism .. it's just that some are more well liked so there will be strident (and numerous) responses to any criticisms of them.
The Cliftons (on here anyway) are less liked so there are not so many people coming to their defence.
Some pros are a bit marmite (particularly their choreography) and some are hard to hate (Aljaz for instance .. does anyone hate Aljaz or dislike him .. or think he's a rubbish choreographer?)

That is so true.

I don't see why some pros get loads of criticism on here and others don't. good question and point to make. The Cliftons aren't god and I don't think ADB deserves all the criticism he gets here (I agree his Latin is a little suspect) but I don't understand the rest of it. Like I said at the top of this post good question to ask and a good point to make whoever said this. And why does Zoe never get criticism on here for her job on ITT?

A dancer has been named in a countdown of some of the most beautiful footballers wives and girlfriends was wondering if she would come under for criticism if she joined Strictly as one of the new Pros for 2016, also Abbey Clancy listed.

Will find the article on MSN.

I would say this. I don't think any Pro has escaped criticism from what I've seen over the years.

Sometimes it can depend on the series too, the volume in which they get critisised.
If they have a dud year, they don't get talked about much.
A good year, there is plenty of discussion on them.
Depending on the celeb, they may get more sympathy, support etc.

Someone said the likes of Natalie doesn't get much said about them, but her first series she was rained on like the Gods were mourning something major.

Every pro has their time when sh*t comes their way. Granted, some more than others.

My favourites seem to be leaving in their droves - Lilia, Flavia, Ola and Aliona.

I think the women are subjected to a lot more criticism than the men (the exception being James Jordan) which is quite unfair. I wonder if it's because the women, as a rule, are more prolific on social media and therefore expose (no pun intended) more of themselves. I was looking at Pasha and subsequently Rachel Riley's Twitter accounts a few days ago - they're a good example of a couple who met on Strictly who has stood the relative test of time. I like the fact that they keep their relationship relatively private and I suspect that is because they genuinely do love each other and for most people that's a fairly personal thing.

I found all the criticism of Joanne Clifton frustrating last series. I think she's fantastic, I realise not everyone warms to the same personalities but her qualifications, achievements, dancing and teaching speak for themselves. I hope she's back with a celebrity partner in the Autumn.

I've found in the past I need to watch a pro for more than one series to get to know them and really form an opinion. Each celebrity partnership shows them in a new light. I didn't like Aljaz at all in his first series with Abbey but loved him with Alison and Helen.

I would criticise a pro if I felt they weren't fully invested and giving their all in a particular year which Brendan has certainly been guilty of! Though he's always been one of my favourite male pros through the series.

Yes, I agree that the likeability can change depending on the partnership. My heart always sinks for whomever is partnered with Brendan although, like you, I do like him. I didn't particularly like Aliona in the first couple of series but she really grew on me. I'm afraid I do have a small part of my foot in the not being keen on Joanne Clifton camp but some of the criticism of her on here was ludicrous. I think she did calm it down a bit though in this series - I was so pleased when Scott Mills was eliminated!

Joanne is the one pro I want to get a ringer next series. How many of the other pros have ever been a world champion in anything?

With Brendan the year that particularly sticks in my mind was when he was partnered with Sunetra. He can be absolutely brilliant though and I would like to see him back, I can't imagine Strictly without him!

I've always been a fan of Aliona though like Brendan she can make it rather obvious if she's disappointed with her partner! I'd do away with the launch show and go back to the partnerships being announced before the first show.

Though not a fan of Scott I thought Joanne was brilliant with him. On her first series she was in the difficult position of having a celeb who couldn't dance a step but had a fanbase who kept voting him through. Yet she got on with it with enthusiasm and choreographed routines with proper basic content and humour such as their Addams family foxtrot. She gave him a performance he could be proud of on his last week which they then toured with and it's great they still seem to be friendly now. I would agree she came across better on the last series though, particularly on choreography corner.

I think all pros should be given someone with potential on their first series so they have a chance to really show what they can do.

Definitely. Hopefully a male celeb with a particular talent for ballroom! She was brilliant with Harry at Christmas, their American Smooth was gorgeous.

Yes, that would be fairer.

I used to really like Kristina - I thought she was exceptionally kind. I know she still has her fans but I think her drop in popularity is not down solely to her part in Ben Cohen's marriage. She has to be one of the worst (not the very worst) at handling her own social media, Twitter in her case. The rants and the liking of posts by the horrendous "Strictly Girls" has done her no favours whatsoever. I know she's only human and it can't be pleasant to have the trolls posting vileness about you but if you can't handle it, get someone else to look after your account for you. That would be my advice!

given new pros someone with potential doesn't help every pro. Kristina had John Sergeant hardly a contestant with potential but they made a memorable and endearing partnership Natalie had Ricky and got nothing but criticism on here that she was Tina Sparkles and too competitive, Jared got Tina who was a good dancer but showed his lack of skills and experience. Karen got Nicky yet again loads of potential but Karen didn't know what she was doing and to me she is now a better teacher and she is better with non contenders.

Sometimes it is better to be disliked on this site as at least it means that the pro is memorable instead of forgettable. Aliona was not popular in her first series she is now but she still split opinions so what she still won twice not to mention 3 tours and numerous specials.

Why didn't people like Aliona? I didn't post then. I wish I had been here when Pixie left - that sounded particularly spat-tastic.

They didn't like her choreography, she did a lift/ "assisted jump" in her first dance with Rav who should have done better than first out. I wasn't always a big fan of her choreography but when she gets it right its superb and I always liked her dancing especially with Matt C

Burn the witch

compared to some of what the pros do now it was very tame.

I loved her hip hop samba with Matthew and have watched it many times

as for the pros who got the most criticism, I think that would be James but I always liked him as a dancer and choreographer

I still like Kristina though I wasn't keen on her decision to go in to CBB. She's an excellent teacher and gave her all to every celeb partnership. So kind with both John and Daniel, taught them some basics and matched the choreography and her own level of dancing well, showcasing them. And was prepared to be dragged across the floor like a sack of spuds in the name of entertainment In some ways those partnerships showed Kristina in her best light.

However messy her personal life has been she's always been professional on the show. Unlike Giovanni! I was predisposed to like him with him being a long time friend and now professional partner of Joanne but it will take a lot to convince me next series he's professional enough for such a big TV show. He also needs to be careful personal social media activity doesn't overshadow his professional engagements.

A number of the pros are now minor celebs in their own right. However I loved what Tristan said when he and Jamelia left at Blackpool, that they (the pros)were there to teach and if he'd passed something on then he was happy.

Agree with you about Kristina and Big Brother and announcing her pregnancy on that show was tacky.
Confused what you mean about Giovanni and social media, he barely uses it and if he does its mainly for work purposes. Joanne uses it more and used it to introduce her new boyfriend. I always found him professional enough on the show so don't get that criticism.

I still chuckle remembering Matthew and Aliona dancing to Lily Allen's It's Not Fair, possibly during one of the finals, a song a premature ejaculation!

I went off Kristina when she did the going to Ascot in a dress made of betting slips thing. Much to everyone's surprise she wasn't allowed in the posh bit, cue Daily Fail etc article and much publicity ( and dosh I presume) for Kristina and whatever bookies it was. A step too far in my opinion. Think Ola did it the next year.

I think Ola went too far with her soft porny calendar. I mean, come on, posing with milk pouring down your thrupenny bits! Subtle.

I have always really liked Ola and am sad she's left the show. The calendars are seriously tacky though and made even worse by James pimping out his wife - yeuch!!

I know, stomach churning.

Anyway, in a bid to avoid doing anything productive, I've been having a think about criticism for the pro's. I don't think that anyone's completely avoided it, Aljaz, maybe?

Anton - Old, poor Latin skills, not taking the show seriously.

Brendan - Uninterested in contestants, repeated over use of 'this girl'.

Giovanni - Tacky Italian Stallion intro vid, but can't think of much since.

Gleb - Unique, Gleb central choreography.

Kevin - Over dancing, manic dancing, being a Clifton.

Pasha - Not adapting routines for poorer dancers.

Aliona - Unique choreography initially, not hiding her emotions at poorer contestants etc (not necessarily a negative in lots of people's books), not a team player.

Janette - All round lack of ballroom skills and limited as a teacher.

Jo - Squeaky voice, teaching and choreographing ability, presenting skills, being a Clifton.

Karen - Initially a poor teacher, lack of ballroom skills, ungainly, big feet, being a Clifton.

Kristina - Love life, publicity seeking.

Natalie - Competitive during first series, not seen much since.

Ola - Overuse of pivots, knee slide, starfish etc. Selling stories, being married to James, cynical use of catsuits, signing up for the Jump.

I can't remember much, if anything for Oti but then again she wasn't around for long.

None of the above are my opinion, just a recap of what I've seen, the vast majority being on this forum. I've probably forgotten loads but I genuinely can't think of any criticism of Aljaz, but then, it would be like kicking (a very handsome) puppy.
Last edited by Patchbuncle : 05-03-2016 at 10:24

Great post! I really like Janette and was surprised that she got so much stick on here for her choreography. Plus she is engaged to the amazing Alijaz so to criticise her would be like criticising him in a way. I liked Pasha a lot more this year with Carol because in the last series I thought he was verging into grumpy old sod territory - I was never totally convinced he liked Caroline much. I don't know what is is about Karen but there's something about her legs which I find very ungainly.