Whilst we still know very little about the full potential of this year's class, I think we are all firmly agreed that it is a massive step up from last year.

This got me thinking about Jay running away with the Glitterball last year. Many of us (me certainly included) thought that he had an unfair advantage and, thereby, had the competition wrapped up in Week 3.

Now please don't make this another in a long list of "Did Jay deserve to win?" threads as its not designed to be one. What I want to ask here is, with the field so open this year, would you have preferred to see Jay have a little more competition by being included in this year's line-up instead?

Personally, I would have loved and preferred to have seen him included in the Class of 2016. Undoubtedly, he has a special talent for dance and it would have been great to see that challenged even more. Imagine what a competition we would have had on our hands with Daisy scoring a "9" in Week 1 along with Danny's stunning debut. Then Jay doing "that jive" in Week 3. we'd all literally be chomping at the bit waiting for Week 4 !!

And if he had come out on top of this group, I'm sure I would have respected and welcomed his win much more.

This year. If Jay wasn't in 2015 I think Anita may have won.

I love your thinking!

I loved Anita but what about his fellow semi-finalists Kellie & Georgia? Why would Jay not being in that line-up catapult Anita over those two?

For me, Georgia would have won in the absence of Jay.

I don't think it would make much difference. Jay had his fanbase made I would say from week 3 and was destined to win from then on in imo, regardless of how the future dances went. I felt that at the time. I would say its less to do with an unfair advantage or him needing more competition ( it wasn't like he was easily the best dancer every week) it was just the fact that people loved him as a person, loved his partnership with Aliona, loved watching him dance. Thats just the way it is. I didn't get it myself, but have to accept that so many did. I'm sure even if he had fallen or forgotten the routine he would still have won it, such was the support that he had.

So my guess would be that he would win it again if he was in this years SCD, purely because he was so popular with the public - so many just loved him. I don't think theres anyone in this years lot that will match that popularity nomatter how good or superior they may be at dancing. Then again, I suppose we don't know - maybe there'll be another runaway winner that the nation can't see past emerging in the next few weeks!.

I have to agree with that.

2015 - Would not have wanted to wait until this year to see him dance - if that makes any sense.

Might not have been any of these.

Who would have been there dancing in place of Jay for example? It could have been someone equally good/popular. Heck, dancing with a skilled teacher like Aliona may have even made Peter Andre a little bit better than he was!

And who would you leave out of this year's line up to make room for Jay?

I think Last year's line up suited Jay.

It's a "no" here, for the rather personal reason that last Autum/early Winter was a sad and difficult time for me and seeing Jay every week on Strictly and ITT made everything just that little bit easier ...

That's my point humpty. As opposed to last year, many here have said they don't know who to support as there are so many great names in this year's line-up. Therefore, I don't know if Jay would have stood out so much (at least, not so early) so he may not have had the fanatical fanbase (which I also didn't get, incidentally) that he did have last year.


Even at this early stage, there are many more who are well-loved by the public and several of the partnerships are proving popular, particularly Greg & Natalie, Claudia & AJ & Daisy & Aljaz. Again, would Jay and Aliona stood out as much?


Interesting...

I ticked the Yes box before thinking about it, but now I would say no. I would hate to have to decide between Jay and Danny every week.

I think this is probably true. Sometimes something just clicks and magic happens (of course not for everyone watching, but for a majority).

It was as you say the combination of all the factors listed above.

I don't think he was light years ahead of the other girls in terms of ability, so I also don't think he had an unfair advantage, but he was light years ahead of any other male dancer we've ever had, so maybe that was another reason people were wowed by him, coupled with Aliona's choreo taking advantage and highlighting what he did so well.

I would love to see him against the likes of Danny, Ore and Will in 2016, but something tells me, he'd still win because as you say, they just captured many people's hearts.

But then as someone wha was "captured" by them I'd quite happily have them compete every year and not get bored 😂

You're right - I just wonder why NicPlay's went for Anita, of all people - or was that a little 'wishful thinking'?


I don't think that being has been'invented' yet. It was like a cult following!


What about dancing with a skilled teacher like Natalie?


Nobody - I would have had 16 couples this year as they did for Series 6, thereby giving Chloe a partner too!!


How so?

Just curious...

Agree!

The fact that his inclusion and his dancing touched you in that way is really lovely to hear...


Precisely my point - I don't think Jay would have been such a standout in several ways this year...

Of course Natalie is skilled, but I said Aliona because without Jay there she would have a different partner (plus Natalie is tall and Peter......isn't).

It was a bit of wishful thinking, but it also seemed like she was second most popular behind Jay, and the fact she made it through Week 11 without being in the D/O too.

Jay took part last year and won last year he is part of the 2015 series.

Thankfully the producers have delivered a more balanced cast list this year and have included more male contenders.

Last years series was my favourite probably since 2010 but that because I thought nearly everyone in the cast was likeable (even Peter Andre). Hopefully we won't have a good idea about who wins for a long time.

For a start, nothing would have made Peter popular. Half of this forum didn't want "The Devil Incarnate" himself anywhere 'Planet Strictly' regardless of who he was paired with!

Secondly, the point I was making is that emphasising the "skilled teacher" bit could sound disrespectful to other female pros who are as equally "skilled" as Aliona. It would suffice just to say "Aliona" which would mean as a teacher and person.


Good points all.

Is this the Jay only won because it was a weak field thread?
Nice try.

Nah some good girls last year one who became a better dancer then him IMO of course

It was a nice try - by you.

I'm sure Kellie, Georgia, Anita and Katie would be made up to know that you considred them "a weak field"

I have said a billion times and even in my OP that Jay, IMO, won because he had had more relevant pre-training than everybody else in the field...therefore, the answer to your question is a firm "No"

This is a bit unfair on Janette, tbh. After the whole brouhaha of his jive, everybody went for Janette's blood, but later we found out Peter only had trained four hours in total during that week due to his many commitments (whatever they were). So, while I agree that Janette is not most skilled in terms of basic ballroom and choreography, it's a bit unfair to blame that one solely on her. Aliona wouldn't have fared much better with someone who didn't commit like him.

ETA: When I say Aliona, I mean no other pro really. The celeb must commit to train as much as they can, if they go up and down the country promoting their tour and flogging frozen food and leave no time for training, disaster will strike.

Its funny how we "box" people isn't it:

Anton's useless at Latin and doesn't take anything serious, Aliona is "God" and can do no wrong, Janette is a useless teacher, Natalie is amazing & wonderful, Brendan is moody and not bothered, Kevin is frenetic etc...