http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/strictl...d-i-old-women/

I couldn't see if this had been posted anywhere, but Brendan is doing a column on Strictly. Some interesting comments and it sounds like he and Anastacia are getting on much better than maybe came across on the show.

Oh dear!

Thanks for putting up the link Ellie - lovely to read behind the scenes info .

Thanks. Brendan sounds quite happy doesn't he? Glad he is going to do some glamorous ballroom. He has in the past choreographed lovely routines for his partners in ballroom.

Nice that he says Ed Balls danced really well in rehearsals. Generous to point that out.

Agree with him that overall marking was too high.

I'm surprised Brendan is doing a column during the show.

If he's going to critique the other couples and the judges, he would have to be very fair - and even then people might take exception to his opinions.

eg. he doesn't have a problem with Anastacia getting an 8 for her performance, but thinks it's a bit early for Daisy to be getting a 9 for her performance.

I think he may find its not without consequences.

I think he just meant the marks were too high overall although It is possible to infer he thought Daisy in particular was marked too high.

Well it did make me watch Jo and Ore again and they were a lot better than I gave them credit for. I think I was just annoyed by the beginning, Ore himself and the styling. The hold was actually very good and the tango very well executed.

Cheers for the link.

All he had to say was that the scores were too high, but the order was about right.

The point I was making is that to write a column while the show is happening and while you are one of the contestants, is like trying to walk a tightrope on a windy day, blindfolded.

I tend to agree with you. There's always going to be someone who will read something into a comment that isn't meant to be there - especially when it is Brendan, who seemingly can do no right in some people's eyes.

I agree. To me it was totally clear that he was saying the bench mark for judges marks was on the high side. He followed it up by pointing out that we can expect to see them dip somewhat in week 2 or 3.

I suspect this isn't entirely chance though. My hunch is that high marks in week one are inflated as part of building interest int he new series.

Sees that he has written 'quite unique' and then 'very unique'
Retreats to corner, sobbing

Yes that had the finger nails on a blackboard effect on me too. I thought about mentioning it but then thought why should I draw attention and spread my pain to others. So I just bit down hard on my fist.

Brenda looks increasingly underwhelmed by Strictly as the years wear on. Perhaps keeping his profile up by scribbling will be helpful in the years to come

To be fair, other pros have had columns during the run of Strictly in the past, and they managed to be fair, so I'll give him a chance and see if he manages to get the balance right.

He was at pains to say he didn't feel Daisy's 9 was unjustified, rather he felt there's nowhere to go after that. Mind you, as you say, fatskia, an 8 doesn't leave much range in an upwards direction either.

Early day's but I am already liking Brendan a lot more this year than the past few series, Anastacia seem's to have brought his Strictly mojo back or possibly the thought of being a judge, quite surprised Strictly bosses are allowing him to do this column while taking part.

There have been many ex-pros who have written columns during a Series, but I couldn't remember any pro writing a column while actually competing?

I think Kristina has written a column for Best magazine during Strictly for the last few years, but I don't know what sort of stuff she puts in it. Probably more gossipy stuff than analysis of the scoring, but I think she comments on who she thinks will win etc.

Kristina's writing is delightful.

That's actually a very good point.

Come on, get some prospective, he gave it 110%.

Kristina did write for Best Magazine during Series she competed in, but I haven't been able to find some of what she wrote to see what the content was.

What made me was "Here's Anastacia and myself"

I read an old copy in the hairdresser's from what I remember it was very light mostly about dresses, make up the fun they have on ITT no real gossip.