Emma & Darren. I'm sure they're marvellous technically, but I don't find them the least bit inspiring, and her moaning is getting on my nerves a little. I'd much rather watch a couple, like Brendan & Claire for example, who are not technically great, but have energy and fun in their routines.

Perhaps that's not the point of the show, but to me 'best dancer' means a lot lot more than just 'can exercute the steps the best'.

I normally Like Darren and who he dances with but finding myself with the same views Cat, then again no one is setting me on fire this year

It's not just you, I just can't summon up any interest in them whatsoever, I've got no memory of their routine from Saturday, apart from being vaguely aware Emma was wearing blue. I usually love Darren, and Emma seems like a nice enough person, just find the two of them together a wee bit bland and insipid.

Yeah... I can't warm to her... I have tried like I tried with Louisa... I just have had enough of hearing about her nerves all the time... We get it you have bad nerves so does everyone else...

I will keep trying though... Never say never... And I like Darren so I am trying...

I also like to see energy sometimes the best couples technically also have the energy though... Just the way people see it I guess...

totally agree ever since i heard she was doin i took a sort no feelin to them personality wise they aren't my kinda people i like ones who ruffle a few feathers or who aren't the obviously great ones
i don't think emma has a lot of true passion for dance i think she just wants to be on tv and win something

I know what you mean there is a certain something lacking, she is obviously a good dancer and a judges favourite so you know they are going to get good marks bet she does make you want her to do well.

Whilst I wouldn't and didn't vote for Georgina there is something about her that me want her to do well to prove everyone wrong!

The humble / sickening nerves she is getting is starting to grate Emma has performed in front of thousands live and ought to be used to it by now a lot of the other celebrities have now had this experience

I feel that way about Mark and Karen. I have met Karen and think she is fab, in terms of her personality and dancing, but I find Mark's personality terribly dull and I'm tired of hearing about how many women fancy him (it grates at me every time it's mentioned on ITT or SCD). I think it's outrageous that Arlene is so obviously drooling over him every Saturday, and by her own admission, loses all perspective when judging him.

So anyway, my point is, the OP may not think Emma and Darren's danicng has fun and energy, but I think it does. So it's a matter of opinion really.
Last edited by Shappy : 24-10-2006 at 13:42

I was half expecting to be blown away like I was with Jill but so far, well she is not bad just not that great. I guess it's the chemistry between the couple. Like last year, I really enjoyed watching Darren G and Lilia - he just adored her and she was so sweet! And I have seen something similar to that in Louisa and Vincent only this year...

Mind you it's only week 4 so it's too early to be so certain about any of them yet!

"ought to be"? Many very famous performers - in all walks of performing life - get nerves their entire lives even within their chosen field - let alone outside their comfort zone. Witness Tarby commenting that he was nervous on SCD, surely someone who's been doing comedy in front of so many for so long therefore "ought" to know how to manage nerves, and he says he doesn't. There's no "ought to", nerves and how they affect people are a very personal thing, and performing in front of thousands doesn't mean you suddenly become immune. Some do, some don't, there's no "ought to" about it.

I think Emma is lovely. I've warmed to all the couples actually. I'm lving both Louisa and Mark in equal measure at the moment.

I so like Darren and hope he gets to the final this year, I couldn't support him last year as he was doomed from the start with Gloria. So come on Darren and Emma show them how it's done.

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I haven't warmed to any of the perceived top 3 (Emma, Louisa or Mark) which bloody annoying really. Life would be so much easier if I actually supported the favourites for once!

Yeah, I love Louisa and Mark too. I think they're 2 of the best celebs on the show, but they're still not my favourites. And I freely admit that picking my favourites probably doesn't have as much to do with dancing skill as it should!

I guess that's part of the problem. I still keep seeing Darren and Jill! Jill was just awesome, and they looked so cute together. So far Emma haven't impressed me that much (yet!)

Yes of course thousands of people suffer from nerves and it would be horrid.

however that is I have ever heard every week it's the same "I was so nervous" and it's making it appear an over-rehearsed line!

Zoe suffered terribly from nerves but it wasn't what defined her and wasn't mentioned in every interview she did!

it seems strange that Emma is so nervous considering her past career I mean, am not saying its totally impossible for her to be nervous but surely some of the others should find it harder to perform in front of large audiences.

Anyway I agree with Cat, I don't think there is a spark between them and I am not keen on them as a couple. There is something lacking personality wise. I prefered Darren with Jill.

But every couple has some "angle" that's shoved down our throats. With James and Camilla last year it was the romance thing, with Darren Gough it was the constant " I ain't no dancer, never had no dance training", with Brendan and Claire it's the bad boy and girl.

I'd say most of the celebs complain about nerves but that's the story the BBC editors have chosen for Emma so those are the clips they always show of her. Maybe Claire complains about nerves as well but they'd rather show the bad girl/bad boy thing.
Last edited by Shappy : 24-10-2006 at 13:58

I remember reading somewhere that (I think) Laurence Oliver always suffered terrible stage fright and used to vomit neatly in a bucket before going on stage. Lots of performers/sportspeople actually encourage the nerves because it ups the adrenlaine and helps them give a better performance.

Sports people are performers too - and just as much at the mercy of nerves. It takes a lot of bottle to do what Mark does in his 'day job' - I couldn't face a cricket ball at 100mph bowled with fire in the half light!

Another thing that has confused me since last year, is when the panel appear amazed at people like Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakash having balance and being light on their feet - don't t they know what they do for their living? The whole bowling action requires lightness of foot, fluidity and balance - and with Mark - haven't they any understanding of the quick footwork and co-ordination needed to be a top order batsman? I know it's a totally different discipline but a lot of the attributes can cross over.

That's very true, they do like to pick a story and go down that route, I don't think it's going to help Emma in the long run if 'nerves' is the story they run with.

Yup, it's easy to forget that what we see is a tiny proportion of the footage available, and it's not the celeb who has the say in what is seen.

Talking of Zoe - no she wasn't defined by nerves but I well remember her "flu" last year which was harped on about for ages - I'm sorry, but if she was out of bed, it wasn't flu for pete's sake!

Just goes to show, different things annoy different people: and certainly the Beeb has a lot of control over how certain people are perceived by what they do and don't show from training VTs etc.

And once again, no it AIN'T strange that Emma could suffer from nerves: career has nothing to do with it. It's not something that every performer automatically gets "used to". A friend of mine happens to know an internationally acclaimed classical soloist, considered one of the very best in his field, who has been performing since he was a child, and he still gets nervous enough to bite his fingernails till he causes himself pain. If her saying she's nervous annoys you, then hey ho, that's a shame for her. But please, don't let's have this "she ought to be able to cope, she should not get nervous, it must be easy for her" - it's total rubbish.

I'm not really taken with any of the pairings yet and for some reason, the only time I took to Ola was when she got the giggles in the middle of the tango- other than that she came across a bit pitbull like.

Completely agree, particularly in the jive last week. It just left me completely cold. I was out Saturday night so ended up watching it Sunday morning and after I just turned to my mum (another huge Strictly fan) and said "so what". She completely agreed. It may have been technically good, bu there was no fizz, no sparkle, I was just bored by it.

For the record I never bought into the romance between James and Camilla either!

At the risk of going on about Emma's nerves my main argument is that she brings them up herself in the live interviews despite Endemol being masters with the edit machine they can't edit that!

I guess the panel are ignorant of cricket as I guess most criketers are ignorant of ballroom? I agree, it's silly being so surprised, after all, these guys are skilled athletes!