This has quotes from the woman in question whereas the James story was basically the infamous 'insider' ( ) giving out details.

It's easier and less risky to make things up when it's supposedly from an anon insider than when there's things directly from the horse's mouth in there. Quotes can be of course taken out of context and mountains made out of molehills but these stories do have some grain of truth to them.

We'll see how she is on ITT tonight. If she goes for the 'woe is me' act then it'll be headesk time for me.

Tears in training? Oh come one, us dancers have all been there haven't we?!

She's on record as saying she suffers with stage fright. This together with all the stuff she will have read in the papers about her being the bookies favourite and that so many people are touting her to win this year, will not have helped.

How would you feel if you knew that lots of people were actually betting on you? Being the one who's performance could either make someone a lot of money or take it away from them, is a responsibility. Would that not make you re-evaluate your ability if you were in her shoes?

But someone above made a good point about sob stories and saying things in order that the public will feel sorry for you. That's why I had enormous respect for bill Turnbull last time out, when he had all those problems with his ankle. He refused to discuss it at interviews after the initial news had broken, referring it to be about his ability, not his injury. Although come on Karen ... was making him leap over two step boxes really a good idea?!!!

I've lost people alot of money before OK it wasn't my performance that lost them the money but my advice did Who in their right mind listens to me ...

And I don't feel a damn thing shouldn't bet if you don't wanna loose it...

Honestly? Wouldn't care one bit! It's their money and their decision to gamble it.


That was one of the best things about Bill - he didn't fuss and try to get people on his side that way, he just got on with it. He wanted to stay in because people liked his dancing, not because they felt sorry for him. Good attitude.

Yes, but Bill only did that after the first week where they made such a huge fuss over his ankle. They even made a whole great big deal on the Saturday show about making it seem as if they may not dance, right up until the moment they went onto the dance floor. I remember they didn't stand in the usual place, but backstage, and after they'd shown the clips of bill and his ankle and the training etc, Tess turned to them and said "Will you be dancing tonight?" and they said yes, and walked out at that point, rahter than being announced by the faceless man.

Then, the judges said they shouldn't play the sympathy card and the next week Bill completely stopped talking about it.

Anyway, I have nothing against Bill and it didn't bother me when he talked about his ankle because it is something signifcant that affected his dancing, but I'm just trying to make the point that Bill isn't an angel compared to Emma.
Last edited by Shappy : 12-10-2006 at 19:05

I quite agree with this - be interesting to see how things work out

*Sigh*. Just like last year. These people may be performers and this may be a charity thing and they weren't 'forced' into it, but - what, they're supposed to be automatons?

Everyone gets upset at some stage - for god's sake, we are all only human (although, again, like last year with Zoe, maybe Emma isn't!). So she got a bit weepy - they have shown a couple of the other girls getting equally teary, but none of them are being almost villified like Emma is on here.

When she was a Spice Girl she was one of 5 (then 4). There was comfort in being in a group of people. This time she's out there on her own (apart from Darren of course), and being the 'favourite' is a pressure of its own (something she never had to face when being in the Spice Girls).

So we have the fact that she's doing something she's never done before (she never trained as a ballroom dancer and the training will leave non-dancers extremely tired as it's a lot more physical than being a Spice Girl - and none of you have ever got upset over the least little thing when you're exhausted, I suppose?). We have the fact that she's the 'favourite' - which places extra pressure on her, added to which she won't want to let her partner down so she'll be putting extra pressure on herself ...

Besides, there's only the *one* report about this (albeit from a totally unreliable rag and if people assume that these things are not wildly exaggerated for effect by the newspaper concerned then you're labouring under a delusion). What - she's not allowed to have one moment of emotion? Like other women go through? Because, admit it or not, we women can get teary sometimes (especially at certain times of the month!) for absolutely no reason.

And to accuse her of placing the story in the press for the sympathy vote - well, again, I state that newspapers (especially of this sort) are not exactly ethical; who knows if Darren and Emma were the only two in the room? (there could have been cameramen there to film it or PA's or anyone from the BBC). Someone could have been overheard mentioning it - SCD is fodder for the media and I'm pretty sure that they'll devour any tidbit that comes their way and then blow it up out of all proportion.

And didn't SCD ITT show that Jan had a moment of tears - for no apparent reason? Are we all going to crucify her now as well and if not, why not?

I find this kind of cynicism very sad. It happened last year and I was hoping not to see it again this year. I enjoy these forums but they were ruined during the last series by the inexplicable and totally undeserved vitriol for Zoe. I really hope that this doesn't set the same thing in motion again.
Last edited by Cally's mum : 13-10-2006 at 08:17

I think Emma came across really well on last night's ITT. All the ladies did. And I think we saw all of them cry (?), including probably James (bet it hurt when he kicked the chair!!)

So this is just the usual hype surrounding a non-event news story. Why does Endemoniada keep starting these thread?

I can't believe that people still react to a daft story from a rag, and take it to be true.

They will no doubt all cry at some stage. So? The only reason they will have written this is that she's probably more newsworthy at this stage as she's the favourite and the arguably best known of all the competitors.

The tabloids will, as ever, make a meal of it with some and not with others and will no doubt make up stories about all the competitors throughout the series.

I wouldn't pay any attention to it, amd would certainly not read into it that Emma is herself trying to get any message across or provoke any sort of reaction, sympathy or otherwise.

I really liked Emma after watching it last night... she seems lovely! If her mind goes blank on Saturday her quickstep could be a mess - it's soooo qucik! Fingers crossed it all goes well for her as hopefully she's got a lovely personality when she performs so should make a good couple to watch!

Quite agree, Peach! She seems really nice (and I loved Jan and Anton! What a laugh!). I do hope she doesn't forget - although I wanted to yell to her - 'think positive!' I hope she doesn't let her fears get the better of her. She's one of the girls I am really rooting for this year (I like Jan as well, and Carole of course).

Of course everyone has a moment or two. But Jan had a very healthy attitude to it - she mentioned how much fun it is and how much she's loving it but in the end it's only a charity dance show. She has good perspective on matters. My main concern about Emma is that all she seems to say at the moment is how difficult it is and basically whinge about how much pressure she's under and how hard it is for her. IF she carries on that way then it is going to become rather tiresome.

Fiona was the worst at constantly bringing out the sob story last year and I couldn't stand the woman by the end.

I hate the sob story angle that the press latch on to because it's so manipulative (although at least it's not as bad here as it is on X-Factor). I mean, look at the 'latest news' section at the top of this forum - "Emma Bunton in tears over 'Dancing'".

My favourite couple ever was Aled and Lilia - yes he found it hard but they were a joy to watch and had the time of their lives doing it. I warmed to them because of it and I don't warm to the ones who constantly go on about the difficulties because that's just not an appealing quality in a person. It's early days but I hope Emma doesn't go that way too...

Big difference is Bill, is a 'mature' journalist, his entire working life is not about HIM, it is up to him to tell the world about other, more important/interesting people/places/stories etc..

Emma Bunton is a performer, she has to wring everything out of nothing, be it miming some pop song or trying to gain publicity for HER latest project. It may sound selfish, when actually it isn't but her 'job' has always been about Emma Bunton, I bet since she was at dance school she has been told/taught/ordered to exaggerate anything and everything.

If anything Emma Bunton and Bill Turnbull are the two ends of the SCD spectrum, publicity wise anyway, Emma thrives on it and it is instinct to 'use' it, whereas Bill shuns it and was probably stunned, if not appalled at the attention.

I think that there is a lot of pressure on Emma But we have not seen her do a proper rouite yet so all we have seen is training footage so we dont really now how good she really is yet so we cant really say if she will win this series

Good points one and all and yes, maybe one shouldn't be bothered if people lose money on bets.

But some are more sensitive than others!

Anyway, every dancer has had a fit of tears at some point, wheter it be exhaustion, frustration, anger, pain, or time of the month. Hell, I bet even the male dancers have wiped away a fair few tears as well!

Yeah after LI I wonder if Brendan actually cried half the time he was dancing with Fiona but they refused to show his soft side...