The Ian/Zoe partnership seems to be falling apart at the seams, if tonights ITT show is anything to go by.

Ian seems really upset with Zoe's attitude to everything.

His determination to win seems to be adversely affecting his demeanour now that what had seemed certain victory looks as if it could be snatched away at the last hurdle. (pardon the pun)

My prediction for the last two are Colin/Erin and Darren/Lilia now.

James/Camilla seemed far more comfortable with each other.

Any footage of Lilia seems to show her as a genuinely delightful person.

Darren Bennett is one hell of a lucky guy !!!!

Lilia is one hell of a lucky lady too !

I think it's possibly the strain, that they've all spoken of, of what they seem to be the decisive moment of the series.

If they get through to the final, then they get to really strut their stuff, as it were, being able to choose which dance they perform again, do a free dance & not worry that they are going to have to perform a new dance that they might struggle with.

I always think Ian is far too competitive. He, like a few other of the professionals tend to think more about winning than about the fact that they are supposed to be teaching an amateur to improve their performance.

I think Zoe is quite determined but I think being in the bottom two has made her think. She is putting on a 'brave face' and coming across as though she is not taking it seriously incase she is voted out on saturday. When really she would be devasted if she gets kicked off.

Ian is just showing his professionalism and taking it very seriously. I think within the dancing profession its quite a big thing to win this. Not because of their dancing ability, there is no question about that. Its about taking someone who is not trained as a dancer and bringing out the best in them through choreography and performance.

I am finished ranting now!

Also beause let's face it, Dance-Sport is not really given any credit in this country amongst the mass media, other than as a bit of froth, and Modern Dance/Ballet is the Cinderella of the Arts. It's a big thing to have Dance and Dancers to the fore in the media full stop, so yes, that's nervewracking for them, but they also want it, and DESERVE the recognition - ALL of them.

I thought Ian looked irrittated tonight on ITT, but I assumed that was because Zoe didn't let him get a word in edgeways, she interrupted him, finished his sentences etc etc....

Which means, really, they're becoming just like a married couple

Well just think how much Patsy interrupted Anton. She never let him get a word in hardly, but he took it well really. Ian had a really irritated expression most of the time in the interview tonight.

...which is why I really want Darren & Lilia to win this. Firstly because of Darren's amazing progress and his wonderfully happy and relaxed attitude to the whole competition and secondly, how amazing this would be for Lilia??? Her hubby, Darren, won it last year so it would be amazing for their careers to be winners of Series 2 & 3!!!

I didn't see any evidence of their relationship falling apart. They were probably tired after their training. If their training vids are anything to go by, it's pretty intense.

Also, Zoe does talk a lot, there's a mass of nervous energy pouring out - and Ian is a man of his own mind and would likely want to get his point across.

Don't forget the important compliment he paid her; she learned the Viennese waltz in ten minutes!

To my mind they came across as an exhausted couple, both physically and emotionally, with the only edge being that he couldn't say what he wanted to say. I don't think there's a conspiracy theory in any of that.

Very well put, Gazbo

Zoe and Ian's relationship is in trouble, that was obvious on tonight's ITT if it wasn't before. Ian could barley control his contempt and when she cut him off from speaking for the third time he just rolled his eyes.

If there's one thing you cannot fake on SCD it's a genuine friendship. It's obvious and is so much mroe than just what they say or how they try and present themselves. The auidence pick up on it instinctively and I think, contribute that in their voting.

I'm sure it's just nerves, but Zoe totally takes over, wont' let Ian speak (and when he does, she cuts him off or just talks over him), she doesn't take the compeition seriously enough for him, is a bit of a loose canon in terms of what she'll say or do and I think most importantly, keeps undermining their place in the competition. The minute Zoe said about voting for James last week I could see Ian struggling to hold it together live on TV. They just do not share any common ground, and I think it's beginning to affect their dancing.

If you notice, she is always initiating physical contact or hugging, kissing, stroking and he will give a prefunctory response but he never initiates it himself. He really doesn't look comfortable with it. How many times have we seen Ian tell Zoe to take it seriously/give 100%/seem annoyed or irritated by her ? then name me one time we saw that with Jill and Darren or with Lilia and Darren G. ?

Nope, all is not well in Camp Zoe 'n' Ian.

I agree Swonky,
Very telling appearence tonight on ITT; trouble in paradise it seems .
However you forgot to mention James & Camilla in the list of pairs with genuine chemistry and non-irritation/motivation levels/issues .
James is no different to Darren there. Besides he does a mean ballroom routine.
I've got a strong (happy) feeling James & Camilla will make the FINAL, alongside Darren & Lillia.

Have to wait and see

It was very telling indeed. Patsy talked over Anton certainly, but it was all good natured and Anton teased her about it but tonight particularly, I felt like Ian was only *just* maintaining his composure. Was a very very strained appearance.

Personally I don't feel the chemistry betwen James and Camilla, there's an edge of something going on there, something we're not being told. It's what the press keep picking up on. I sincerely hope James doesn't make the final as in my opinion, it's a dancing competition and he shouldn't be there.

It just remains to be seen whether Zoe and Ian's strained relationship will turn voters away despite their dancing. I really hope it doesn't.

she never stopped talking all night, it was quite irritating to watch, poor Ian looked frustrated as he just didn't get the chance to say what he wanted

Is that genuine nervous energy or just her style of TV presenting? That is basically her *act* - talking 10 to the dozen very quickly on TV or radio - she's been doing it for the past decade or so. You either enjoy watching her, or find her irritating, which I suspect Ian may've done tonight on ITT. I personally don't find her constant talking endearing, because it comes across as a *performance* to me, as there's absolutely no reason for a seasoned, professional TV presenter to be in the least bit nervous appearing on the sofa on ITT. I would've liked to hear from the professional dancer, ie Ian tonight, as it's not all about the celebrity in my eyes. I think Zoe is used to having the microphone and being the centre of attention when broadcasting, so she just takes over when on ITT or when talking to Tess after the peformance, often standing, with hands on hips directly in front of Ian, giving forth her views.

I do think he was understandably fed-up with her laughing at the Paso music in the training VT. I'm relieved they will be dancing to genuine Paso music on Saturday, as last year's Paso by Ian & Denise was one of my fave dances, so I'm sure this will be great too - if Zoe decides to take it seriously, which I'm sure by Saturday, she will.

Re Ian's Viennese comment quoted above, he also interestingly said that "I told Zoe to just follow me in the direction of the turns", proving once and for all that if the Male Pro leads in the Ballroom, it IS easier for the female celebs. Argument over.

Very interesting thoughts on here, but am I missing something, I saw the programme too, and while I was annoyed that Zoe talked too much and over Ian, I thought they looked fine together, and he was very sweet and very funny. He is perfectly capable of talking when he needs or wants to, and at this stage of the game its understandable they'd be under strain, this competition is very important to all of them, and he lost out in the final last year so obviously wants another chance this one.

I suspect being shown Colin touting for votes didnt help but he was very sporting about it. It sounded to me like they are working hard to do well this week and having fun doing it.

Please give them a break, they are great together and I dont think things are falling apart for them anyone would be tense this far into the competition. Perhaps we need to campaign to ITT to get Ian on on his own for a change.

Great post, I totally agree.

Why is Zoe nervous ? she's presented live TV for well over a decade ! She did Live 'n' Kicking live every Saturday for about 4 years which is the most terrifying live TV you can do. She just thinks it's all about her, all of the time. Yap, yap, yap. I'm a fan of the professional dancers just as much if not more than the celebrities and I want to hear IAN speak for once. I don't think he's been able to finish one sentence in this whole series.

You bring up an excellent point that had never occured to be before about Zoe's body language during Tess's interview. I'd always assumed she did the hand on hips thing because she was out of breath and it's a godo way of getting oxygen to the lungs quickly, but no on else does it and it's a very intresting 'tell' (psychology term for an unconcious action) about who she thinks is in charge of the interview. She blocks Ian out asserting her dominance totally.

Ian's one of the top in the World and it must be frustrating to see his fellow contempories like Darren and Brendan have partners who are totally comitted and respectful (Natasha and Jill) and go on to win. Zoe has frankly done nothing but moan each week about a new 'issue', laugh at Ian's choice of music etc. I'm not surprised he's irritated.

I think what started off as an ideal partnership - Ian with a tall, elegant woman who could clearly dance from the outset has turned very sour for him.

That said, when they get on the dance floor it can be magic. Their tango utterly blew me away. If they can just hold it together for two more weeks and we can have no moaning and asking the audience to vote for other contestants they might win out in the end.

i agree startwirler. I saw it too and don't see quite what all the fuss is about. yes she could talk the hind leg off a donkey and did go over him a fair amount but stress/nerves to funny things to people and everyone can have bad days. i thought ian handled it all quite well really. lovely man that he is.

Pukka idea!

Ian clearly has alot of fans and admirers of his dancing, and it's always interesting to hear the Pros talking about their work and themselves. More please! ITT.

I'm a big Zoe fan, and I would love for her to win, but tonight on ITT she looked and acted like she was on something (something generally imported from Columbia). The babbling, constant repitition and just all round strange behaviour was bizarre, to say the least. I think her and Ian do have chemistry (of the friendship variety)...but tonight he seemed very on edge...as if he was worried about what she would do/say next...

kitty

Really ? becuase tonight he said twice when trying to get a word in edgeways:

"If I can just say..."

"If I can speak..."

before finally rolling his eyes.

When he does get to speak, she talks over him. In fact I can't remember the last time he actually finished a sentence.


But again, really ? Even Claudia said "Blimey, that's your tango face !". If you look in his eyes, he wasn't best pleased by seeing Denise voting for Colin, and Claudia picked up on that too. Can understand that of course, you want to feel like your ex-partner is on your side.



The thing is though, nearly every week in training we are shown a tense atmosphere. Last week Ian even said he had to apologise live on ITT becuase "zoe was ill after all". We've had scenes of her going out to talk on her mobile and cuts to Ian looking v. pissed off. We haven't had that with any other couple other than Brendan and Fiona at the beginning. There has not been one ounce of tension or even a frown in Darren and Lilia's training for example.

I don't think anyone is denying they're great on the dance floor, but I dom't think it's realistic to claim things are great behind the scenes. It's all there on video if nothing else.

What IS it with Zoe and her facial and mouth contortions and twiddling her earrings and twisting her body about and sticking her tongue out to almost touch her chin when she licks her lips and turning her head suddenly to look up at Ian and not letting him get a word in edgeways and then grabbing his knee and then suddenly looking down in a "humble" fashion to make us feel sorry for her???? She REALLY annoys the hell out of me!! She seems desperate for people to like her and can't seem to relax.

i never really thought about that before though i have noticed it. i have to say though that it really might be just zoe catching her breath because i do exactly the same thing as that. or i could go all cynical and say that it's a dominance thing. politicians do it all the time if you look.