So it`s SCD time and time to return to DS and reading through and commenting occasionally on threads.
One that took my notice was about Anton being paired with Leslie Joseph, and in the words of James Jordan that it is a predictable and boring pairing, but has anyone thought that maybe, just maybe she may have had a hand in her pairing? She is a 70 year old woman and as a fan of the show she will have seen how ranuchy some of the dances can be i.e Rhumba and maybe, just maybe she didn`t feel comfortable doing sexy moves with a partner who lets face it could be her grandson ! Looking at the ages of the pros she is old enough to be not just their mother but grandmother and it come across a little cougarish maybe.

I checked out the pros

Aj is 21
Aliaz is 26
Brendan is 40
Giovanni is 25
Gorka is 26
Kevin is 33
Neil Jones (age unknown but he is not near 70!lol)
Pasha is 36
and finally Anton is 50

Out of all the celebs to make a woman of an age who may (as I said its just a thought) feel comfortable the only 2 male pros in my opinion are Brendan or Anton, and out of them Anton. I mean could you imagine the forums and daily Fail commenting on Lesley with say, AJ? a guy 49 years her junior, and no doubt at some point if she had had a younger partner one of the pieces of music to dance to would have been Mrs Robinson ! & even all you Clifton needs a duffer peeps , he is 37 years her junior and would look mum with son dancing !

Just a thought

A very good thought. I remember when Paul Daniels danced the rhumba with Ola. He found it very uncomfortable.

When Anton partnered Esther Rantzen in series 2, back in 2004, the judges criticised her for not being sexy enough in their Rumba, she said she couldn't be sexy with a young man (it was 12 years ago, remember!) who was the same age as her daughter who was sitting in the audience watching. So, yes, it is possible Lesley may feel that way. Although, unlike Esther, Lesley is an actress and can probably put herself into character more easily than Esther could, regardless of the age of her partner. I just hope we don't see her doing a Rumba as Dorien from Birds of a Feather, but have a horrible feeling that's exactly what'll happen.

What a cheeringly well thought out post.

You raise some very good points here - I can recall Paul Daniels doing the Rumba with Ola a few years back and on their ITT interview Ola said that Paul had felt uncomfortable with it, so you could be spot on.

And it's not just the Rumba - there are other dances which could make her equally uncomfortable as well.

I admit I was very disappointed with the pairing due to its predictableness, but I agree with you that I think Lesley has most likely had a say in it.

I do think the age factor (whether rightly or wrongly) with have come into things and although Brendan was a slightly young option, the producers probably went down the tried and tested Anton route. It's easy and most likely Lesley will find it the most enjoyable option of all.

I don't fault the logic really but I just wanted the producers to think a little out the box for Anton after last year's success with Katie.

Even as someone who shared James opinion on this point, you make a valid observation.

This could even go further to explain:

1) Why Anton is kept on year after year

2) Why he more often than not gets the older, less able celebs. I know Ann Widdecombe made getting Anton a condition of her taking part and maybe many of them including Lesley (who the producers have apparently wanted for years) have made similar requests. Anton, as the oldest male pro, probably knows the score and takes it in good stead.

So its a win/win.

I too hope Anton can come up with some quality choreography that compliments her as Lesley Joseph and not Dorien. crosses fingers.

I aslo think that she may surprise the public.

I think that's the key thing isn't it? It doesn't cause a fuss, everyone knows what's expected and it works from there.

It's this that has probably meant Anton has remained fairly popular with viewers (but not on here generally speaking it has to be said) as we get used to his style as fits like a glove.

As I've said, I just wanted a bit of change again. Last year was so nice, going back to where it was feels odd again, to me anyway!

I remember when Dom Littlewood danced 'any' dance with Ola....and she found it very uncomfortable....



Why would you want that?........We all know and love her as Dorien I cant really think of anything else she has done, So that would suit me fine....

I didn't mean it would be Lesley's choice to do any of the dances as Dorien. If it happens, and I have a horrible suspicion it might, it'll be the producers' and/or Anton's decision. I'd very much like to see her being Lesley and not being Dorien.


Lesley mostly does stage work, I think. I'd even rather see her dancing as Miss Hannigan from Annie, than as Dorien!

Dom danced with Lilia, not with Ola.

Ann Widdicombe's rumba with Anton was harldly sexy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7M1NBlZjeE

or was it sexy& I'm missing something which lets say with 8 years of dance experience in ballroom and Latin I would know something if it was sexy?

....... Ooh did he?...... my mistake! but whoever he danced with I remember there was a lot of talk about him being too 'Handy Andy' lol....... and the dancer wasn't very keen... I don't think he lasted too long though anyway did he?......

No he didn't - and I for one wasn't sorry to see him go. I'd always been take it or leave it with him, but it definitely put me off him.

But Anton is very much the safe option for the older lady celebs - and much as it was nice to see him being pushed with Katie last year, it's like putting on your comfy slippers knowing he will be steering an older but slight duffer round the floor for a few weeks.

I think your first post is definitely nearer the mark....

Dom Littlewood danced with Lilia

EDIT - sorry, already pointed out - my mistake

Probably couldn't see where he was going.....

I think this may be the year when the oldies don't go out first - I think Lesley and Anton could well be stayers, and even make the final if their partnership catches the imagination of the viewers. She'll certainly be able to sell a dance!

To be honest, I think Anton has a dark horse this year (maybe not finalist but a stayer), Lesley played miss hannigan in the stage musical of Annie, and there is dancing in her role so she can put one foot in front of the other, and also she did Lets dance for Comic Relief (as did Temeka) ! ok may not be excellent dance viewing but shows she can learn a routine .

BIB as did Ore - he's quite the mover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyx3w4_Opns

He certainly has great rhythm - but like so many male celebs, is a bit stiff in the waist area, if he can loosen that up sufficiently he could be one to watch.

Clearly Anton is there to dance with older ladies, but for her everybody is younger and I can't see why it would not work with somebody else. After all I don't see there a female pro dancer that is 50 years old.

I see where you are coming from and think your response brings up maybe some outdated society views and questions.

Question 1) Why hasn`t / Why don`t the beeb employed a 50 year old female pro? there has to be a few out there, why do they only employ young attractive female pros?

Question 2) Yes she is older than everyone else and why not, but in todays society a 70 year old man is accepted with someone 50 years his junior the opposite way round this acceptance still isn`t there I`m afraid and no it`s not right and to be honest it`s a sad state of affairs . And as my post states maybe she had a hand in her dance partner

Thinking about it, when asked during her One Show 'reveal', who would she like as a partner, she hesitated before saying "Kevin"...so perhaps she didn't have a hand in choosing her partner....

Maybe not, like I said it was just a thought, Will Young apparently said he wanted to be paired with a man.