It is cruel, any criticism of someone's personal appearance should be off limits.

Helen was so lovely on the show, hoping one of her CTM castmates might do Strictly in the next couple of series and we'll see her back in the audience. And the unseen jive or a ballroom dance for a Christmas special please

Jay seems to be doing well off the back of Strictly.

Got the part of Josh in Big, the Musical which will be in Plymouth and Dublin near the end of the year and then hopefully the West End.

Him and Aliona are also starring in Robin Windsor's show, Keep Dancing in Milton Keynes, Wimbledon and Edinburgh.

Jay is a perfect fit for the Tom Hanks role in Big. I was really pleased to hear that announced, hope it's a success in the West End too.

Are Jay and Aliona performing some of their Strictly dances?

Yes I think he will be ideal as Josh.
Not sure what dances are being performed yet, will have to try and find out.

I really admire the guy, hoping to see him perform in West End.

Love him so would definitely go see him in the West End!!

I live in Glasgow but I am sure I could manage a wee trip to London

Sign of a true fan.

Jay is made for that role, well done him.

A couple more newspaper interviews with Helen from March I hadn't read before. They cover similar topics as the Mirror article posted a while back but there are some extra titbits of info

Express Helen on how she deals with criticism, CTM and the Strictly tour "The Strictly tour was amazing. It was pretty full on but really fun and a nice way to say goodbye to the series. There was no pressure, it was just a laugh."

She would like to do a musical and star in a Quentin Tarantino film, even as a barmaid

The Telegraph Helen talks about her top beauty products . . .she washes her face in raw honey every morning! Hadn't heard of that before. She does have beautiful skin.

What a great article Ochre

"“I don’t ever google myself or look myself up,” she says. “I don’t read things that people write on Twitter or in articles online. I shy away from that.

"I don’t need to hear it. I would rather be kinder to myself. It can be horrible and that can be hard sometimes.”

Helen, who has nearly 40,000 Twitter followers and 34,000 on Instagram, says she has often found herself the target of cruel internet trolls. She says while she can handle criticism from a director she finds it a lot harder to swallow when it comes from total strangers on social media.

“As an actress I’m used to criticism. Criticism in my industry is direction,” she explains. “So luckily I’ve developed a thick skin. You can’t take things too personally. "

I love Helen's honesty.

Morning Lou Yes her honesty in that article really struck me. She highlights the difference between professional criticism and learning to take that on board and very personal criticism of her looks and character online by strangers. Sometimes outright lies as in the media reports during Strictly. She doesn't pretend it doesn't hurt sometimes but has learnt to ignore it and doesn't post about it publically when her feelings are hurt which is what we both wish Caroline wouldn't do! Although that's easy to say, we all have moments where we let things get to us, I know I do anyway and it's magnified when you have thousands of followers including people working in the media.

I thought Helen summed it up well . . . "You have to carry on and not go out of your way to seek out negative comments online. I think it's integral to being able to keep working and having a career."

I can't see her doing another reality show though, however philosophical she is about accepting that not everyone is going to like you for who you are (even if that's someone as natural, lovely and funny as Helen). She obviously loved the Strictly experience, enjoyed the dancing and made firm friends with Aljaz, Anita and others but from her interviews it does sound like she's realised she doesn't want to have to deal with the personal criticism and interest in her private life that comes with reality shows. She'd rather focus on her (very successful) career as an actress and do publicity that involves talking about the parts she's playing and products she's promoting.

I love how down to earth she's remained despite the success she's experienced over the last few years and how self effacing she is at times . . . basically "if Quentin Tarantino will have me I'll play a barmaid, anything"

Helen, to me, comes over as someone who is happier in front of a crowd as someone else - which seems to be quite common amongst actors and performers (I listened to an interview with Michael Ball last week (on the Graham Norton radio show) and this is someone who has been performing since he was a young child, has worked with the likes of Gene Kelly, starred in huge shows, films and productions but yet still comes across as himself as rather shy and diffident) - and has an 'old school' approach where the lines between work and private are clearly marked. I wonder if being in such an experienced ensamble cast as the one for CTM has helped? The likes of Jenny Agutter (who I've loved since approximately 1970) have been there, done that and got a wardrobe full of t-shirts which must be a help for the more up and coming of the group?

I think you're spot on with everything there When you look back at Helen's performances on Strictly she seemed most comfortable when playing a part, Marilyn for the Foxtrot for example.

You've made a good point about how important being part of a close ensemble cast has potentially been for Helen. It must be fantastic to have that support and advice on how to deal with criticism, attention and personal intrusion and Helen always seems very comfortable when being interviewed with the other CTM actors too. I thought you could tell she was used to being part of an ensemble cast on Strictly. Mixed easily, made friendships but also perhaps like Kellie didn't lose sight of the fact it was a job and at the end of the experience was ready to say goodbye and go back to her day job. Some might see that as her being too reserved, I like it when the celebs maintain a little perspective, Anita much as I loved her did seem to lose a little perspective towards the end.

Different personalities will be comfortable with different levels of intrusion, for me though the balance is wrong when someone becomes more known for their personal life than their professional career.

Pixie's in Cannes

I like her lemon outfit

Certainly unusual

I don't mind the outfit, I could even live with the bag - but the shoes are horrid!
Sometimes, less is more, Pixie

Ha ha ok I'll give you the shoes

(Whether you want them or not)

Yes, I think the matchy matchy bag and shoes were a step too far. It's great that Pixie has her own style, but she does sometimes end up looking like she should come with her own Barbie dream house

So funny

I couldn't agree more. It's one of the reasons why I hope Strictly doesn't stray into the "reality" show area for celebrities. Mark Wright and Peter Andre were getting worryingly close.



Pixie has her own style doesn't she, not exactly high street!

No comments on whether Oliver's jacket could belong to Tropical Ken please . . .


Oh lord absolutely with you there Lou, steeling myself for another TOWIE 'star' in the lineup this series!


No, D&G apparently I do love that she has her own style and isn't afraid to try out more daring looks for red carpet events. And they get a little bit of stick but I think her and Oliver make a lovely couple, they seem very settled and happy together

Hardly 'worryingly close' you can't get more Reality TV than Mark Wright - he is Mr TOWIE and Andre is certainly more famous for his "reality" endeavours than his singing these days !
Strictly can't stray much further into "reality" unless they sign up one of those girls from Geordie Shore or Joey Essex !

Pixie certainly isn't High Street - you don't find trousers, crop tops, shoes and awful little handbags printed with lemons in Top Shop, M & S or Miss Selfridge as yet, but who knows maybe they are on their way - another fashion victim who doesn't know how to accessorise and badly needs a stylist !
Dolce and Gabbana are as always difficult to wear but I guess that outfit on a sun tanned woman in the right place at the right time and minus the shoes and bag probably wouldn't be too bad.

You can't teach good taste - you either have it or not.
Is 'has her own style' a nice way of saying 'she looks awful' ?

They do and I'm glad Pixie doesn't sell their relationship. I really grew to like her on Strictly (once I'd got over the whole arm around Trent thing ... trivial details? Me?) She does have her own style and I like that. Good luck to her in BAT

Or, she wears what she feels comfortable in and likes - and isn't bothered if she ends up on the DM worst dressed list

Ha ha anytime I watch one of their interviews I think of that now

Pixie is beautiful and has the most gorgeous figure. She wears everything with a personal confidence so even if her outfit is something I'm not overly keen on I still think she carries it off.

I like her comments in the press this morning supportive of Sheridan Smith.