Yep. That speaks for itself doesn't it? I had ballet and tap and HATED it! In the end my mum gave in and let me concentrate on sport! But Zoe stated that she'd never had a lesson in her life. Which is why I queried it in the first place. I purposely didn't mention the press story of a westend choreographer giving her lessons before she even had her first one with Ian, because you know what Fleet Street's like!

I think Zoe may just be naturally talented. If she says she's not had dance lessons before, I don't see any reason to doubt her. After all, nowadays you can find out anything. It'd only take a little digging in her background and what would be the real benefit of lying? It seems unlikely she'd bother risking it.

I don't know where that story in the newspaper came from recently, but since both Zoe and Ian have denied it, I think I put more trust in what they say.

I think its really difficult for Zoe and Ian, a lot of the dislike that is coming through is more due to the actions of the judges rather than Zoe herself. Zoe and Ian do make obvious mistakes the same as others do but the judges appear to ignore this which is causing a bit of backlash.

Personally they are not my favourites and I don't really know why, sometimes Zoe does appear to be a bit too clingy and at times Ian seems to back away from this ie on ITT she went to grab his face to kiss him and he grabbed her hands and moved them away - but I think sometimes as viewers we look too closely at things too.

Sorry for the ramble hope this makes sense

Oh, I thought she was moving her hands to cover his ears, as she had just said that her money was on Darren to win and she said that Ian wouldn't like to hear that.

But perhaps we are talking about different ITT shows and I realise I am sadly over-analysing!

You are probably right, I just remember him grabbing her hands and moving them away - talking about overanalysing!!

Not sure if this is the right place, however isn't Ian going out with Denise and so might want to put some distance between himself and Zoe at times? Can anyone confirm if I am right and they are still together.

My theory on why Jill got votes is that she seemed a down to earth geordie lass whilst Zoe has the styling of a girl brought up with a pony in the field, so it is easier to warm to a geordie tones, I should know i married one!!

Are you serious??? Denise is happily married I think, and isn't Ian gay?

She's the David Dickinson of Dance. She is very, very, media savvy (note her old days as a Radio One ladette, when she was always - ALWAYS - 'caught' by photographers walking out the door with the Jack Daniels bottle label facing the camera), and she knows exactly what works on tv (and, since she worked with pretty much the same team on Dance Fever) she knows what works best on a show such as this. So, yes, that's one of the reasons I really find it hard to enjoy her performances rather than just respect them. But she's one of the two best celebs, that's undeniable.

I feel the same as you. For some reason when the judges are all agreed that one person is the best and they get 10s it puts me off, which is silly. Zoe and Ian dance well together but their performances have left me cold most weeks, although I enjoyed the tango. Obviously I'm not an expert and the dances I like best some weeks are the ones that get the most flak from the judges.

Didn't a similar thing happen with Denise last year - the judges kept giving her high marks but the public wasn't as keen.

I totally agree. At the moment it seems that there's nothing that she can do that's right for some people.



I don't think she's desperate in the sense that I think you mean. She may want to win but as I've said elsewhere I get the feeling that what drives her is the fear of failing. You say she appears desperate and Darren easy going. Do you not think that there might be a bit of BBC editing involved here too?

Perhaps not, but I get the feeling that you really don't like her. I don't understand that.



Yes but Jill wasn't fighting off hunky men. She was fighting off Denise and Julian (pretty but not hunky). The year before, Natasha Kaplinsky only just fought off Christopher Parker who was one of the worst dancers in the competition but kept getting voted through because of a teenybopper fan base. People keep saying that the celebrity women in the competition have an easier time because they're "led" by their professional partners. But I think that they're at a disadvantage from the public vote which I think is a very largely female vote. Because this largely female audience votes mostly for the very hunky men in the series, I think that Zoe's continued presence in the competition is from now on - unfairly - in jepardy.



Quite. We've seen it before. Leslie Garrett and Anton were very touchy-feely,as were Natasha and Brendon of course. For goodness sake what's wrong with it? What's wrong with a bit of comfort and affection in times of stress. It's not as if there's any risk of it becoming anything other than a working relationship is there!

I used to really like Zoe Ball, thought she was a good presenter on TV and Radio, fairly relaxed down to earth sort of gal. But since she's been on SCD I starting to really dislike her, she is sooooo competitive and I don't know if the rumours are true about her taking extra lessons with another teacher, but if it is true - I think that stinks and is unfair on the other celebs who have truely entered into the spirit of the show.

I also think the judges favour her and Ian unfairly, but that's a different story.

I just dont understand all the backlash that Zoe is getting. The fact is that she is better than the other dancers we have in the competition. If she is not in the final it will be a complete in justice, she probably wont win as she will more than likely be up against two men that are okay, bordering on good dancers. It is sad to say but people are voting for the wrong reasons (not everyone before you all shout at me) but the majority of voters are women voting not for who has been the best dancer, but for who they have a freakish compulsive fatal attraction to.

The judges have been marking high, but really it has only been in the case where she has got a 10 when it should have been a 9. The judges remember are experts in dance and are not just making up the scores based on personal opinions, but on how they feel the celebrity has performed the dance.

And as for so called proffessional dancers and other celebritys criticising her and Ian, well if they were recieving a 10 they would not be moaning would they?

Phew had to get that off my chest!

Why is there an issue about Zoe having extra lessons? To me that shows commitment - anyone else would be free to do that, too. I like the fact that she has amazed herself throughout this series. Ok, sometimes her exuberance can be a bit OTT, but does it really matter?

I thought Zoe and Ian did an absolutely stunning tango. It was technically difficult and artistically brilliant. Great dancing, great performance. And Ian, me darlin, you just sizzled!

Zoe and Ian's Tango was their first dance that made me tingle. After previously putting in technically good performances but leaving me a bit... can't think of the word ( ) but I wasn't overly excited by them, she suddenly wowed me, and I think that's what the show is about.

I think she is getting a hard time and truly think there are others appearing MUCH more desperate than she does

She's talented and graceful and I, for one, have started to really enjoy her performances

An excellent post and I say Ditto to every word of it.
Thanks!

I am, as anyone who's ever seen my posts will know, a total Zoe supporter .. which is surprising to me since I wasn't fussed one way or the other before I saw her on SCD and found myself delighted with her and Ian.
I also love Colin and Erin and Darren and Lilia .. all of whom are supremely attractive human beings .. but .. most importantly for me .. they're beautiful dancers too and they make my heart sing when I watch them.
Having said that, Zoe and Ian thrilled me to my bone marrow last Saturday night .. I don't care if she prepared for something which was important to her by having extra training ... wouldn't we all?
I suppose I'm just being naive in wanting the show to be about the dancing, even so I'll continue to vote for the dancers who , in my untutored eyes, give the most exciting performances ... so there you go, Zo (and Col and Darren) ... you can depend on me!

I find Zoe quite irritating on the whole, but why shouldn't she go out and get herself some extra tuition if she wants to? If she has the time to do so, and the inclination then good for her.

I don't think any of her dances have deserved 10s, for me there's just that 'something' missing from them. I think her best was the jive. The last two have had HUGE gaps between her and Ian - how can you score 10 for that?

She's not my favourite for basically the reason that she started off so good. It makes the competition less exciting for me.

But I think getting extra lessons is nothing to be ashamed about. It shows initiative. Any of the other dancers could go and do it if they wanted. If they have other jobs then at least they have a career, Zoe's trying to re-build hers. Winning obviously means a huge amount to her.

How can being a perfectionist or even trying to make it right be criticised as trying too hard????

Of course she's TRYING VERY HARD to get things right & that's the attitude to have if you're in a competition anyway!

Jeez give her a break.

i think the idea of trying too hard is just silly!
surely u should out in as much effort as you possibly can so why should she be criticised for that?!
i think she is doing very well
and i like the fact that she just isnt top every single week - thats wht i like about this series - its anyones game (almost!!!)

amyleah x

I don't think you can try too hard really. Having said that though maybe the reason people think that she might be "trying too hard" is because she is determined to win and often a determination like that seems to be rather looked down upon in women. I know that's seems like a gross generalisation but i think it is true. Ok I phrased all that really badly but I hope you get the gist.

I think many of us are being irritated by the judges more than we are by Zoe and Ian. The judges are giving the impression they've already decided which pair will win, and that, by association, is riling some who can see that Zoe and Ian are not - yet - quite as wonderful as the judges declare. Personally, I think Jill Halfpenny was a better and much more interesting dancer than Zoe, but the judges seem fixated on the height and look of the pair, while nitpicking at every other pair in the series. It's the contrast that irks. But there's nothing wrong at all with Zoe gettiing every advice she can, and she is dancing well, so there's hardly a scandal. I just wish those around her would tone it down a bit until the final.

I agree with you up to a point Hann4h that that attitude is more criticised in women. However this series Colin has come in for quite a lot of criticism for a very similar thing, i.e looking like he wants to win, score well etc. I think it is wrong to criticise either of them - what is wrong with setting yourself goals and trying to achieve them, is it better to be full of false modesty?

I get you, and I more or less agree. It seems that overt determination is frowned upon by the public as big-headedness and looking down on others. It's viewed as tantamount to saying "All the other competitors are rubbish and we can beat them easily in terms of dancing." The public don't like that, and it can lose you a lot of votes- look how often Denise Lewis ended up in the bottom two because a lot of people viewed her as over-competitive...