Have posted this on other boards I am a member of but wanted to know you guys opinion on it.

Is it just me or is anyone else finding it harder to warm to couples this series than it has been in any other series????

Which got me thinking, the only real training clips on ITT we get to see these days are those little snippets at the end, which really don;t tell you anything about the people or their relationships or ones showing their dancing progress! Where as in the past series we saw loads of it - Anton and lesley larking around, Natasha and Brendan flirting their t*ts off! Aled and Lillia messing around and having a laugh and Denise and Ian being fantastic!!

Do you think that possibly they want peoples voting to be more based on the dances rather than the personalities, which is why they have somewhat masked people's personalities this series!???? If that is the case? Is this really the show that we all fell in love with in the first place, as the judges are supposed to be the ones to vote on technique, where as the public vote on their faves (dancing or otherwise!) Just seems like we are being subconsciously forced to vote for the best technical dancer, but for me the show is lacking without the personalities!!!

I want to see *more* training clips on ITT!!!! At the minute it is all about each couple and what they did the previous saturday - ALL WEEK LONG! Roll with the punches ITT bring us the gossip from the training room, other than when someone has injured themselves!!!

Take Will - saw Will on ITT the other night and I actually liked him!! He seemed like a really funny guy!!!!

Now if ITT had not stopped showing training clips then I may have voted differently!!!!! Will going out is a clear sign that people don't vote for the dancing on SCD- Will went out because he was the least famous person left on it - had ITT showed training clips and we had got to know him, we would have given him more of a chance and appreciated what dance talent he had - (which he clearly did). For me if I don't warm to the couple (through getting to know them) I won't vote for them no matter how fab they are at dancing, and I think that is the same for a lot of people.

Sorry for the essay, but just wondered if anyone else felt the same way.

Nat
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I hate to disagree...but I am actually warming more to them this year. Maybe it is due to the fact they are better imo, than other years...but this is a series I am really enjoying, having watched them all.

No personalities?

Anton has more personality than the rest of them put together.
and they have a lot.

And he's on tomorrow! Squee!

I've warmed to all the couples left this series. I dont want anyone else to go.

Well.. i do miss the training footage because i love getting all the gossip and how they are really.. if you no what i mean. I have warmed to James and Camilla but by showing extra footage i think the bbc would get more viewers and also we would get inside info!

James and Camilla to win!
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Oh of course I don't include Anton in that - but thats how I am voting now for Anton and for Bill cos I know they r great personalities. But the likes of Zoe and Colin - I feel nothing towards them, no matter how great their dances are, which is a shame as I really want Erin and Ian to go far!

Nat
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I think the problem is we could all watch at least an hour a night.
I would love more training footage to see how they get on as a couple but I also love all the other stuff, like tonights tango couple who were fab and the routine they did was bril.
I think the biggest problem is the more you get in to it the more you want to see, I watch every ITT and still come away bitterly disappointed that it has finished, I could certainly watch more. Maybe a 'big brother' style show of the days training with at least ten mins per couple could be followed by ITT, with all the best bits and the other stuff they do as well.
Am I just being greedy!!

Hell no!!! How about a 24hr SCD channel!!! Yeah!!!!!

Nat
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Ah.
Zoe and Colin, I agree totally.
They just seem a bit... flat...

Woman after my own heart!!

That way you would really get to see just what they get up to in training, although maybe that might curb some of the antics that are portrayed by the media

I am not sure James would want to be filmed 24/7 with Camilla!!

We could always start a petition, as with the idea of releasing the DVD boxset. You could count me in of that for one (of several)

Glen

I do really miss the training coverage. I loved looking out for little hints about what was really going on with the couples, and seeing them improve as the week goes on. This series feels so much more manipulative than other series, I feel like we're being told what to think rather than being allowed to get to know the couples and make our own minds up. I never respond well to that, which is why I think I like the least popular couples most and dislike the ones that are most popular.

Perhaps the manipulation was just more subtle in the past, but in the days of JLC I know I never felt this way.

Xadie, xadie, xadie!!! U have hit the nail on the head! The BBC have messed with the formula, and twisted it so they can control the outcomes - touting Jill as the fave and then winning, same with Zoe, having strange voting going on by the judges! - and as u say even the way the celebs and pros are presented this year is geared to make us think a particular way! Maybe they think we are not smart enough to realise this!!

We have them sussed!! Sort it out BBC!

Nat
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I just wish it was all based on the dance but quite clearly it isnt - you only have to read here its all about antons chest and such and such wiggles and its a great shame.

The beeb is quite blatantly manipulating the show and I do hope they are reading this thread is it a coincidence that Jill halfpenny and Zoe come from bbc contracts already?

Let's for once see this show won on talent which shows like the X factor will not it seems but I would hate to see someone in the SCD final based on the pro dancer with the cutest whatever

Bendymixer, I think the fun threads where we objectify the men (yes I know we're female chauvinists) don't influence my voting at all. I never voted for Brendan, I just enjoyed the extra eye candy factor while he was there. I'm able to enjoy the more frivolous parts of the programme whilst also being objective enough to vote for improvement, effort, entertaining routines, and apparent (to my untrained eye) skill.

I can only speak for myself in this, but do think that many of the other people here are the same. In every day life, I can admire the lovely form of something, but then put that aside to make choices considering the substance of people and things.

And back on-topic... I do miss the training footage a lot. It was an excellent way to learn the couples dynamics. I do think that we have a good look at the personalities though I do like the new things we have on ITT now and it is still must-watch tv

I agree happy. We have fun on here and clown about...but at the end of the day...if Anton's shirt was, all I am voting on...I will not be happy with myself. I have been in 'lust' with him for the whole three series, but this is the only one I have voted for him in as I did not like Esthers dancing, and preferred Natasha to Lesley.

It kind of does us an injustice if you read our more serious posts, to suggest alot of us do only vote on a chest or a wiggle. Those posts are all for fun.

It is all about dance to all of us I suspect, or why watch? But can't we have fun too...?

I think.....not so sure at this precise moment.

I think the Beeb definitely missed the boat by not doing an extra programme on BBC3 or 4 after the main ones on Saturday in the same way that ITV have the Xtra Factor. And the 30 minutes allowed for ITT is just not long enough.

Agree with bendymixer re the dancing, although I do think Jill won on talent last year, and indeed on her overall dance performance with Darren B, they had a connection on the dance floor, which did not come across with Ian and Denise, at least to me! I also think celebrities personalities will influence people, as it is not a professional dance competition and some celebrities will be more attractive than others, but I wish it was based on ability/improvement/ enthusiasm rather than physical attributes. I really do hope that happyfeet is right, and people are not voting on the size on Anton's butt, or the hairiness of Ian's chest etc. That would make the whole programme ridiculous. I think most of these threads are for fun, and when it comes to voting people are able to be a bit more objective - at least let's hope so! I believe that Zoe has ability, although she is rather overmarked, and mistakes are overlooked, but I suppose that is not her fault. Colin is supple and can move well . And for the suprise factor, i.e. I would never have believed he could dance at all, and for the improvement he has made, as well as enthusiasm, I would like to see these three in the final - all for different reasons, but after Saturday that might change - it really is quite open this year. As a teacher you always hope to get someone who has ability, suppleness and commitment and enthusiasm. I expect bendymixer would agree probably.

I do agree with bendymixer that the BBC seems to be manipulating things somewhat - you only have to look at the coverage of the different couples on ITT. Bill on again this evening for about 10 minutes, Colin finally has a 3 minute spot to name just two, but there are others. More even coverage would be good, and keep all the supporters happy - it must be irritating if you are supporting someone who is rarely seen live!

Boho I agree and sympathise with you entirely. Just because we have a bit of a girlie giggle over the pertness of certain dancers it doesn't make us a bunch of hormonal teenagers who are unable to be objective.

My voting is based upon a mixture of who I think dances well and whose performances I find enjoyable. I voted for Anton in the first series because I thought him and Lesley made a great partnership and were good dancers. In the second I voted for Aled and Lilia for the same reason. This series I didn't vote until show 3 when I saw P+A's tango which hooked me completely.

As much as Anton entertains me I couldn't vote for him and Esther in series 2. She was a poor dancer and didn't entertain at all.

I'm sure some people do vote for who they think is 'hottest' and that is bound to happen in all these type things, but to imply we all do it and disparage us for doing so is rather unfair.

sorry guys I really didnt mean you lot personally you forget I come across in our school alone alot of people and you should hear some of them and they do vote for just who they like and they are dancers!!!

Bendy, I think most people realise you weren't having a go at them. Lots of the people I teach as well fantasize about various parts of the dancers anatomies, but that doesn't mean they will necessarily vote for them. Most people here obviously love the dancing and in the end, I think that is what will come through, even though it didn't in Series One!

Ahh Bendy, I didnae take any personal offence. Just adding in my two penn'orth as is my wont. I can see why you'be worried if you know dancers voting on the 'hottie' factor alone - it might challenge your belief in the voting public - but hey, what can you do? Just stay true to yourself and hope others do likewise .

More coverage would be great - and if we have to go digital then ITT on BBC3 or 4 would be more than enough incentive for me to go and buy a digibox!

There does seem to be less training footage this year on ITT and I also miss the phone-ins ....*wave* to get Claudia's attention

Not so sure I should admit to this but I finished my 9 - 10 yr olds Ballroom class this week with:-
Me:- "What beat do we emphasise in the Rumba"
The Children Yell:- "4-1 not 3-4 like Craig"
Me:- "And who do we vote for on SCD?"
The Children Yell:- "Bill & Karen"
Me:- "Well done! Fabulous class!"

Wouldn't it be nice to have the phone ins some eves, and more training footage, instead of what can only be described as fillers, like singers etc. pushing their new albums, who have at best a very tenuous link with the programme! I personally also hope we will not have a regular Fiona spot, although I do enjoy listening to len!