Originally Posted by fridgesoup:
“I thought he was clear. Too much interference. Having to stand up and be judged for things that were foisted on him.”
That's exactly what I understood him to be saying. He also mentioned that he had prepared a Paso that he particularly wanted to do with Jamelia but the producers said no. (That's in one of the interviews on the MacManiacs site.)
This has happened to him before, as well - especially in America. He even said once that a song/routine that he had prepared and asked them to let him and his partner do was given to another couple in the same series.
He also said that both he and Rachel Stevens hated the Viennese Waltz they were forced to do on the Christmas special and wanted to do something else. (I think that's in one of those interviews, as well.)
And you know he wouldn't have chosen Jive to start with lanky 50+ Jenny Gibney with no dance experience as their first dance. Especially when she took the first week of rehearsal off, to take a holiday in Florida, without him going along

He also hated their Abba song and concept and wanted to do "Jump in the Line"... oh well, they probably all have to "toe the line" but I think he was just sick of it.
From a recent interview:
"I think for me the biggest challenge each season and every episode is fitting into what the producers want to happen and trying to compromise your ideas and work. I understand it has to happen but it's hard when that becomes the priority. Sometimes you have to play 'the role' you don't want and it can be frustrating when everyone isn't privy to it. That's the nature of the show though and some work with it and some fight it, but I just think if you are going to be judged (more so by the audience) it should be your work and your work and ideas alone that are being judged."