I'm surprised, given that we're now on Series 14, that you haven't noticed that it's never been that.

I don't think the audience mind a "bit" of a dance past but when the contestants have considerable training it's always been a hot topic and very contentious.

It fascinates me how differently we all see this show and its contestants.

I love to watch Danny dance - I stood up and applauded at home after his wildly exciting samba this week. Having watched him on ITT over the weeks I think he comes over as a warm and genuine guy who is having the time of his life and giving his all. Previous dance experience? Don't care. All the actors and most of the singers have it to a greater or lesser extent.

The best dancer rarely wins Strictly. I hope Danny proves the exception.

Having said which, I wouldn't weep if any of the others won.

IMO, all that matters is that none of the celebrities haven't had previous Ballroom and Latin dance training and that they don't hide that they have had dance training. If the producers start saying that trained dancers can't take part in the show, it might be a poorer show and it will limit who does the show. Also it's not like the prize is for someone to join a dance production.

Well said! I agree entirely, Danny & Oti have made the show for me this year, particularly the last few weeks. I do like Ore & Jo as well though

I have to admit I get really annoyed at those who say it's unfair that he's there, or that he hasn't had a journey.

First, it's not unfair, he's perfectly entitled to be there within the rules of the show, so it's the rules you have a problem with, not Danny. Strictly has never been a show about complete dance novices, it's simply a show about people who've never danced ballroom and Latin before learning to do so (or mostly, in a few instances like Kara and Harry they had actually done a bit of ballroom or Latin before... Danny isn't one of those though).

Second, of course he has had a journey - just because the improvement isn't the "great whacking in your face couldn't dance a step week 1 and is now brilliant" type of improvement doesn't mean it's not there. Danny week 1 and Danny now are two different dancers, Oti has done an amazing job with him. And Danny isn't much different from a lot of the other winners, who also started off good and got better (Kara, Alesha, Caroline etc.). He hasn't had it all easy either - remember the Foxtrot?

It's odd what people think is considerable? No one can pinpoint exactly what that means, except it seems to depend entirely on personal opinion and how much threat someone might be to an individuals favourite. Even sometimes as silly as someone being the wrong sex.

I don't know that Danny will win but I believe he should and in my mind he has been the winner since day 1. To those who shout ringer just to save there favourite I wouldn't care even if he was as to me he is and always has been the best dancer with the best partner.......long may Danny and Oti's winning dance partnership last.

Yes I think that was the one where he was attached to his partner by some kind leash arrangement? I am not entirely surprised he struggled with that, and I reckon without it he would have sailed through that too.
The point is the judges, by Strictly standard perfection, could have feasibly been handing out tens to Danny since week one. To me that isn't what Strictly should be about-although I accept its a matter of opinion.

Yep unless someone finds secret Ballroom and Latin training there is no reason why he shouldn't be in it this year. However I doubt any novice dancer like Greg could get to his level.

When I watch him I think "oh this is excellent" then I remember why.

Putting in the training hours seems a very unfair reason to dismiss someones efforts.

I thought Greg was really good & Natalie did a brilliant job with him. Voted for him every week until he left. I know Greg worked blummin hard to achieve what he did.

Still does not explain why someone who is clearly loving dancing should be written off, simply because they have had 21 months non Ballroom & Latin training and weeks doing exactly the same stage routine over and over again.

Never said I would write him off, he's obviously working hard. Just give more credit to the novices. As I said Strictly always has people like him in it and he probably will win. I probably would give Ore more credit though as he has got to quite a high level with no prior training.

I personally think Greg had more natural dance talent than Ore, who I had high hopes for at the start, but feel he has not genuinely progressed as much as Greg managed by Blackpool.

The experience that I can find for Louise is being part of the Italia Conti Academy and dancing as part of her singing career. AFAIK, she hasn't actually WORKED as a dancer. Danny has worked as a dancer, having been part of the ensemble in Wicked for four years. It might not have been a main part, but you'd surely need to be a good dancer in order to have the job, and to keep the job for four years. That's what makes it an unfair advantage.

Apparently it wasn't as long as four years. However, he did appear in the show and understudied the role of Boq.

Who cares? I don't, I love watching him dance with Oti. I noticed on ITT on Friday Oti pointed out that he had never danced a Charleston before!

Well, I have been proven wrong. Out of everyone this year, my favourites were Greg and Natalie. I knew that they weren't going to win from fairly early on, but they came across so well. Greg seems like a really likeable person.

Out of the three finalists, I didn't really mind who out of Ore and Louise won, so I'm happy.

isn't strictly all about non dancers being taught to dance to such a std that they outdance their peers and win the final?

if not then pick gene Kelly and keith flint to compete

every year ringers get thrown in
some such as peter Andre danny and jay - head and shoulders above early doors get shown up latter stages

public vote at the end turns it into purely a popularity vote
#
not a lot to do with the perfprmance on the night

I saw for myself who had gelled the most and who were still uneasy with each other