But they aren't being asked to accept the Oscar dressed up in a sombero and false moustache (might liven things up a tad - note to Oscar producers).

I heard an interview on the Graham Norton show with Michael Crawford and bearing in mind this is someone who has been in showbiz since he was a child and worked with the likes of Gene Kelly in his 'and now this is me'-mode he came across as shy and rather diffident. Wasn't it Laurence Olivier who said that he vomited into a bucket before every performance? Probably experience just means they can fake it better!

Rather like the time Len played merry hell with a big stick to Kelly Brook about slacking with training - on the week her father was very ill.

Forgot about that, disgusting.

I'd like to think Len (and this year, Craig) didn't know what was going on 😏, but you'd think someone in production would have the gumption and humanity to clue them in so they could choose their language more sensitively.

well if they don't know then what are they supposed to do? the judges cant have hated them that much because they were still saved in the DO that week

I see it as a plus Helen doesn't slip easily in to reality show fakery...the further down that route Strictly goes the less likely it is serious actors and actresses will take part in my view.

I have real respect for the contestants who keep their grief quiet and not cash in on it.
So many fake people cry, I am sick, I am sick just for a cold or who knows what,
just to get sympathy. I had forgotten about Kelly Brook. Kelly and Jay are real professional, who wanted to progress on Talent not on sympathy. then they are others, less said the better.

Who did they save that week

Series 8 had no dance-off and the final was Kara, Matt and Pamela
Series 9 had no dance-off and the final was Chelsee, Harry and Jason

Not many people would argue that the best dancers didn't reach the final. There have been just as many, if not more, shock exits with the DO as without it. As Aggs says, people just vote more to keep their favourite out of the bottom 2, putting people higher up the board in more danger.

The appalling VTs, the bitching and name calling on the forums when someone's favourite doesn't do well or isn't generally liked, the appalling VTs, the lack of additional dance related content which used to take place (Len showing some steps etc or a visit to a dance studio for the particular type of dance it was), the appalling VTs (sense a most hated here ), the poor camera angles which mean we hardly get to see their feet.

Agree with the bitching, the worst part of it is some people not been able to take any constructive criticism of a their chosen celeb. Or if they perceive somebody as a threat to their chosen celeb the running down of that celebs dances, It happens every year

That is quite absurd - any trained actor is equipped to take part in a short VT however silly it might be - the fact it seems uncomfortable says more about the personality and lack of charisma of the actor concerned.

The BBC will have no difficulty enrolling very good actors from soaps and popular BBC TV series such as Casualty, Holby City, Silent Witness, Midwives etc - we are not talking actors who normally perform with the RSC here !

For actors appearing in Strictly is a way of raising their profile.

Is Helen's success really that irritating

An enthusiasm to film naff VTs as a measure of acting ability is a new one on me.

I disagree, I think they will have trouble recruiting the best from those shows if they're going to be joining a lineup of reality stars and other celebs desperate to be reality stars.

I simply disagree with you - but we need only wait until the new celeb line up is announced to see who is right !
I suspect you will find an actor from East Enders or one of the the BBC TV dramas will be included - or perhaps two like last year.

What success has Helen had that is supposed to be irritating me ?
I have no problem at all with Helen just the statements you make on her behalf - I didn't take to her over much in Strictly and I have never watched the Series she is in so I cannot comment on her acting ability.
I am quite sure she would be embarrassed by some of your over enthusiasm and would hardly endorse your insistence that she was better than her company (To quote Jane Austen) as she appears to have got on well with all of them.

But don't you show over enthusiasm for your 'couple'.. Actually don't we all show over enthusiasm for our favourites?

I agree. It's hardly a measure of 'personality and charisma' - nobody has ever come out of those VTs well, they are all toe-curling, wooden and awkward. That is because they are infantile and badly written, not because the actor is good or bad. I'm sure there will be plenty of ex-eastenders or Hollyoaks actors willing to sign up, but I think there will equally be quite a few actors who may have considered it in the earlier series who wouldn't now. The potential embarrassment used to just come from dancing badly, but when you add in the awful VTs, stupid costumes and props, terrible or job-related music choices etc. You could just as easily do I'm a Celeb and earn a lot more money for a fraction of the work.

Yes but not usually on the main Forum

Sorry don't agree. The reason why they get the better calibre of celebs is because they don't humiliate them. I couldn't see Helen in the Jungle or Celeb Big Brother nor Katie Derham or Jeremy Vine. Its also a career step up, Georgia and Jay probably would not have these stage parts without Strictly helping to raise their profile.

It's got nothing to do with personal friendships and everything to do with career direction and professional reputation.

Helen might be friendly with Peter Andre. She's not going to agree to appear on one of his reality shows.

I suppose it depends what you find humiliating. I think there are probably some more 'serious' celebs who would watch and think 'if I'm a bad dancer they're going to make me dress up as a giant crab or wear a shower cap standing in a fake bath' and just not bother. I'm not arguing about it being a career step up, but when there are other options I don't think it's quite as attractive as it used to be.

I don't think you need to be Mystic Meg to know that the next series will have a number of BBC contracted staff as some of the number - an Eastender in a big storyline, a daytime presenter, a cast member of a long running series - it's cross pollenation of viewers (and probably now in the small print of contracts ) - but I could see that the last year could have made more random potential signings think twice and weigh up whether it's worth it and I don't think it would have to do too much for the answer to be a no.

But what is a more serious celeb? I will use the example of Jeremy Vine again who said he turned 50 and wanted to do something fun. He is a journalist, a good and serious one and he threw himself into Strictly with 100% commitment. I never ever want to see a celeb walk out of the show again like John Sergeant.

I think you underestimate both the popularity of the show and how it raises a profile for those who take part.

No, I really don't
But there were rumours last year that it was proving difficult to coerce/press gang celebs into service and overly personal judging and rather mean stories planted in the press by old friend 'a source' aren't going to help persuade people.

I agree with you Christopher, plus the bigger names can turn out to be disappointing contestants, Martina Hingis and Joe Calzaghe spring to mind.