Digital Spy are running a story today (I won't insult you by putting the link) that James & Camilla have ended their relationship because he's lost interest and she's gone back to Brendan.

Who Cares? has it anything to do with dancing?

Also Who cares if Patsy & Anton do or don't get on?

LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE I say.

If anyone reading this is obsessed by 'celebrities' private lives can they please tell me why? I'd really love to know. I'm not interested in my butchers private life, why should it be different with someone on the TV?

It's part and parcel of 'reality shows', the more press coverage (positive or negative) the better for ratings.

The 'celebs' are at least more savvy and know it goes with the territory than the BB contestants.

Yes, but my point is; that if people didn't read this stuff and weren't interested, there would be no need to print it would there?
Any magazine or newspaper with a story about Diana Princess of Wales sees their circulation double and I'm interested to know why?
Press intensity will continue because there's a market for it. Why are people so interested? I don't believe the theory that it's because they lead shallow boring lives, so why do they?
I'm a writer and because of that a 'people watcher' I can't get under the skin of celebrity obsessed people.

I'm not interested in the gossip either - the James & Camilla saga has had no effect on me at all (although I do think Camilla is wonderful).

Very true CaptainSensible. The only effect it might have is if it affects their dancing partnership, beyond the dancing it's not really anyone's business what goes on in their life.

(Ps, sorry if I have got my effects and affects wrong)

If the celebrity backround has nothing to do with it then why not use people that arent (or dont pretend to be) famous?
If its all about the dancing then use only professionals?

I agree with you, I cannot answer your question, other than to say the media have pushed the boundaries so much that they have created the market for kiss and tells etc.

I think maybe there is something lacking in people's lives that they feel the need to read/buy the articles.
I'm of the opinion that anything you read in the papers should be taken with a large pinch of salt, there are others that believe every word. Maybe they are the types that believe soap opera characters are real people.

Who knows?

As well as being totally at odds with the spirit of the show it is also utterly unfair. These stories may effect average joe public's vote in either a positive or negative manner.

I think the fact that the celebs are TV-savvy and familiar with performing etc. (and are [usually!] interesting in themselves rather than being interesting for dating so & so) is the reason why a SCD show with members of the public/amateur dancers etc. just wouldn't work.

But you can't govern what people find interesting. I'm like you, don't find the private lives of celebrities interesting and really dislike the intrusive nature of gossip columns and the magazines that are now published solely for snooping stories. However, I work with people who love this sort of thing, believe that a celebrity's life is open for scrutiny simply because they are well known.

Ugh, how true. These days I guess it's all to do with her untimely death. Think of other stars who died early, for instance Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley - there seems to be the same obsession about their lives. There seems no end to people's curiosity.

I think there is something in that theory but more than that I think it's pure nosiness. The people I work with who are most interested in celebrity lives are also the office gossips who unwelcomely poke their noses into the lives of fellow workers. They're the ones who you find whispering in corners or turn green the instant anyone else gets the slightest recognition or has something good happen to them. In my experience, they're generally quite mean spirited and enjoy the suffering of others.

It isn't wholly unknown for stories to be generated by the celebs themselves to create a bit of extra interest (and votes, in this scenario). I think whatever is/has been going on between C&J, they have been quite sanguine about taking advantage of it in terms of the competition.

They are media-savvy people taking part in SCD, and James and Camilla have had plenty of time to work out their "publicity" campaign. If they're happy with it - well, all's fair in love and war, I mean dancing competitions.

exactly lonepiner alot of celebs use the press etc to increase their profile and do you really think the celebs would take part in this show if they were not going to get publicity - I bet the whole james / camilla thing was for publicity and the story circulating they have split is just a way of getting out of it as their days on the show become numbered.