In view of the fact that there seems to be a concensus of opinion that the blessed Bill and Karen (and Claudia/ Claudia's researchers) might be reading this forum, I just wanted to create a 'sanctuary' thread in the hope that I might attract the support of some kindred spirits who also wish to distance themselves from the outpourings of sentimentality over the (long overdue) departure of Hop-a-long Turnbull and the Kornball Kid.

Before you all go off like rockets, please bear in mind that this is my personal opinion and that this place is supposed to be a 'forum' .. and thus, by definition, is:-
a) a public meeting place for open discussion
b) an event, broadcast or medium where views may be aired and debated.
(Oxford English Dictionary, 2003, Ed. Robert Allen, Penguin)

For those who hoped I'd never post again, I'm afraid I just had to do this to rid myself of the sensation of being fed forcibly with treacle - and I'm not totally heartless .. I , too, cried on Saturday night .. at one point my husband feared that I'd never be able to stop laughing.

You do have some support, believe me. I think the sentimentality has gone way over the top now, but I just don't read those threads anymore. Bill was very courageous and Karen was great with him, but on ability he deserved to go, in fact he really should have gone the previous week to be honest. He did well, but had got as far and beyond where he should.

I think some of the threads have been OTT.

I cannot even find them funny but rather tragic, yes you can be sad, but they're still alive and have jobs they will not suddenly disappear off the face of the earth.

"untrammeled" - new word to add to my vocaubulary!

(Sorry, I have no sentiment either way about the Bill and Karen outpouring so not much to say on that.)

At last, some voices of sanity!

Seriously, I love SCD & ITT, but at the end of the day I understand that it is a reality TV gameshow ~ just with really rocking dancing as opposed to insect eating or whatever. I watch it for the dancing, nothing else.

All of the contestants are or have been succesful in their chosen field, whether its TV/sport, etc. They are therefore all grown-ups who are used to striving to get to the next level, and i assume they all understood when they signed their contracts that one of them would be voted out each week. Disappointing when your favourite goes, but thats the game & they agreed to play it, nobody forced them to enter.

And whilst its lovely that the BBC look at the forums, and marvellous that some people have been mentioned & got to take part in the alternative panel, the recent rash of "letter to ...." threads & "i hope claudia reads this..." comments reek of desperation to get an ITT mention and leave an unpleasant aftertaste.

I pray a sense of perspective will prevail, or christ help us when we get to the final!

Yay! Aida's back!

Nice to see you back around the forum. It's good to have differing points of view around the place - I know I tend to repress my negative opinions because it suits the overriding mood of the board to do so. I don't mind suppressing the negative, but there's no reason why everybody should feel that they ought to. I'm sorry if my love for Patsy (for example) ever made you feel that you couldn't express negative opinions about her.

I hope that we can all welcome healthy debate in the future.

Laughing .. hear, hear to healthy debate, Xadie .. and thanks!
As others have said before me, I just love the dancing .. and although I freely admit I can't abide Patsy, even I had to concede that she did some very nice, tricksy little steps during the Argentine tango .. to be honest, I don't really mind who 'wins' .. some days I want it to be Zoe .. some days Colin .. other days Darren and Lil .. but the show isn't my raison d'etre .. I totally adore it, but the absurdity of the whole concept often tickles me!

I agree with absolutely everything you've said there Xadie. I don't love and support everybody but I try not to be too negative about those I dislike because I don't want to offend people nor start an argument. I don't really hate anyone left in the competition either - there's just some I prefer over others. I feel a bit like Len actually - I prefer to give criticism with reasons and a smile than just saying I can't stand someone.

Aida, you slay me. Wicked, wicked, wicked. I love it. And its not because I agree with everything you say (I think Karen and Bill are sweeties and were great human and entertainment value) but I just love that you have the guts and the salsa to say what you really think. And laugh! I thought I'd drop the baby.

Great to have some hot sauce and garam marsala along with the marshmallows and the treacle.

Great and articulate post - Aida! Love it!! Don't agree but will fight for the right for you to air your views, sword & shield at the ready, white charger noshing on straw!!



The Lady Boz
The chuckle muscles are wobbling the chins.

Lady Boz, you are not only a true and upstanding member of the Always a Lady Club but you are also one darn fine cookie. What a diplomat! You manage to move with ease and grace and humour between all the various threads and views and find a way to connect with all of them without ever appearing sanctimonious. You are a sparkly girl who can wave fairy dust with the best of them and you can also chortle at the edgy and the outrageous. Sugar and vinegar. What a trooper.

Aida, I so agree with you that Bill and Karen should have left some time ago - it was wrong that Will had to leave as I thought he was a much better dancer than Bill. Who do you think will win - my money is on either Zoe or Colin - but I don't really mind - I just love the show.

All the celebs have done really well, as a former ballroom and latin dancer I am amazed at how quickly they have learnt their routines. The professionals are very able teachers, that's clear to see.

Thanks, fellow members, for understanding what passes for my sense of humour .. and thanks to you too, miladi, I'm sooo looking forward to seeing you on ITT tonight .. just one thing - re: the white charger .. I fully appreciate that as a great and titled lady with a large estate to oversee your time for such trivialities is limited, but do have your butler take a message to your stable-manager and make sure that said horse is snacking on barley-straw -- we don't want your steed going down with colic!
As for who I want to win, Evegrahame .. well .. its the actual dancing I love, so while I'm longing to see all of them do their dances this week as well as the American Smooth, I'm not that 'bovvered' who goes next ... as long as it's not Zoe, Colin or Darren!

I love the forum and love the dancing but all the fawning about the different celebs is very overpowering imo and most of it done to get a mention from the beloved Claudia - its sick inducing imo. Yes we all have our favourites, but the fanatic childlike behaviour is ridiculious imho. In the X-Factor forum you are allowed to have an opinion without peeps jumping on you, or getting smacked wrists.

Fair point by the OP, but one of the joys of forums was the fact everyone can jump up and down and scream in anonymous glee or distress, being (mostly) hidden behind our computers we can vent out deepest fears and frustrations without fear of ridicule.

Let those who go OTT, and in many ways I include myself have our grief, cos sure as eggs is eggs in three weeks time we will all have something else to screech about.

BTW Seymour I can sympathise with your statements, BUT I generally prefer to think most FMs do not express their more effusive views just to try to get anyone in particular to mention them or gain kudos with others. I thought DS was above that.

Cracking post

Of course I completely disagree with your views on Bill and Karen but I love the way you expressed them

*Estilolibre does his Bruno impression*

While I am an admirer of Bill and Karen, your contrary perspective is appreciated, Aida. Your remarks are delightfully acerbic, with a subtle seasoning of blackly comic overtones.

Eight! (Followed by trademark pout)

Thanks so much, Spotster - big ups to you for acknowledging (and having a laugh) at my views which were diametrically opposed to your own!

And to Estilolibre .. molto, molto grazie, Signore .. I read your post about .. er ... the departure .. and while you know I wasn't fond of them per se, no-one could have failed to be impressed by such a beautifully-crafted and sensitively written paeon of praise to your faves!

Cool, that's my word for the day sorted!

!untrammeled!

Hmmmm why do I keep reading the title of this thread as 'My life will go on in untrampled peas' ?????

Haha .. I dunno, treasure .. but your version does have a certain ring to it!