Very good.

I think there's abit of jealousy about though unfortunately. As some couples who were previously hot favourites to win find themselves threatened by Mark and Karen. Hence some of the comments.

Or maybe some people just don't enjoy watching Mark and Karen as much as some of the other couples? What puts me off more than anything is this compulsion to like Mark and Karen or be branded jealous. I don't find their dances that interesting, although technically I do think Mark is good. But he's not my favourite as dance is about more than just being technically good. Fair play to those that can see the chemistry etc., but in my opinion, they have something lacking.

Its not just about not liking them for whatever reason, its sometimes all and all slagging which can be annoying. Fair enough not everyone can like a particular couple; there are some that I don't like but I don't slag them off all the time.

So Mark singing to the music...feeling the rhythm...loving the dance.....performing like a pro..... total connection with Karen... and still it isn't enough.

If they have no chemistry, then can't imagine what the standard the other couples could be placed at.

Mark and Karen - seriously annoying, and I liked Karen last year.

Anyone from Casualty - and I like the programme...

Any of the older, less mobile celebs, such as Glora, Esther, David Dickinson, Jimmy T

Anton (who I love as a personality) with anyone other than Lesley Garrett

Denise and Ian (and Ian's one of my fave pros)

Zoe and Ian

Colin and Erin - false, fixed smiles

Have been disappointed with Darren and Emma, but they're growing on me, as is Matt.

I ddin't say they had no chemistry whatsoever - I just said some people might prefer the other couples, and that doesn't make them jealous, it just makes them have a different opinion! To someone Mark appears smug, to someone else he doesn't. It cannot be proven or disproven unequivocally.

Jill had all those things you mention in Mark in Series 2, and I loved her dancing, but it didn't confuse me at all when other people said she wasn't their favourite. Because dance is a performance, there is a level of subjectivity that means one person can love one couple, and another will find them boring.
Last edited by Shappy : 17-11-2006 at 16:01

I do hope I haven't caused offence with my first post. I do have an affinity for posting with tongue-firmly-in-cheek.

I've no problem with anyone expressing there views, be they flattering, indifferent or possibly derogatory, about Mark and Karen.

I, for one, find the allure of Emma and Darren puzzling. They, appear to me to be as palatable as a bowl of tree bark garnished with rabbit poo. And as for Vincent, he seems to have his head rammed so far up his backside, you'd need a tractor to extract it.

I said you might find it difficult to keep the standard of posts up.

I take it back.

I just love your turn of phrase "Crapdancer". You had me in hysterics. I agree with you totally.

At least Brendan and Clare are not boring to watch.The uexpected has far more appeal than silly pasted grins.

Sorry my typing is rubbish. Last post should have said unexpected

You and me both.

I'm gone for the rest of the day.

Great name too, Crapdancer!

Thanks snooty! I just wondered why I never bore of watching Claire and Brendan , and why I find the continuous goofy grins so irritating. I havn't really got a favourite couple so I don't think I am jealous. I like Darren/Emma, Matthew/Carol and Brendan/Claire.

Loving your work, crapdancer!

Have to keep bumping this til I leave.....

For me it was Darren G and Lilia. I think it wasn't so much that they were all that lacking as a partnership it's just that after her great double act with Aled, her and Darren paled in comparison.

Oh, I agree with you claire2281 - I'd forgotten about them! I thought Aled was marvellous, he really came on as a dancer, and I enjoyed his performances much more than Darren G's. Mind you, I didn't really like Darren G's personality - towards the end he became a bit smug and King of Danceish for my taste. Still, I was pleased for Lilia, who in my opinion could make just about any old block of wood look like a good dancer.

And for me this year it's Matt and Lilia! Loved Aled/Lilia, adored Darren/Lilia - but Matt/Lilia leaves me colder than the north pole.

I didn't like Darren Gough and Lilia at all, I just didn't get it.

Same goes for Mark and Karen - perhaps 'boring' isn't the right word, but they just irritate the hell out of me. All hype and no trousers.

I agree with some of the above posts - definitely Darren and Emma. I think Darren's a wee bit wet and needs a warm, watchable woman (like Jill the Brill) by his side - Emma's a bit too "nativity play angel" cutesy. You can practically visualise her wearing a floaty white sheet and a tinsel halo.
But (deep breath) - and I think this is going to be controversial - one couple who lack chemistry and who should have it in spades is Carol and Matthew.
Don't get me wrong - away from the dancefloor I think Carol's attitude to the whole thing is spot on and I'd love to see her back doing more prime time presenting (pretty please d'you think she could oust Maternity Dress Tess?)
But on the dancefloor, for me, C+M don't gel. When he was caressing her "rear of the year" bumcheeks in the week 3 jive, he did so with the dispassionate disinterest of someone judging a pair of cantaloupes in a Women's Institute veg show for weight, texture and firmness.
Lest someone points it out, I know she's a married mum and, from what I understand, his interests lie away from girls but I don't think that has anything to do with it. In fact, I think they'd be great dancing with other people. I'd love to have seen Carol with Anton, for example.
But every week, they promise us sexy, steamy dancing and, sure, Carol kicks her (very fine) legs about a bit but there's no flashing eye contact, no playfulness, no intimacy - not that I can see, anyway.
I can really see what Arlene meant when she described them as antiseptic - on the floor they've got the chemistry and charisma of a Wet Wipe.
Speaking of which - if you could redistribute celebrities and their dancing partners (in this series and in previous ones) who would you put with who and why? (Please, someone, choose some decent partners for Anton)

What a hilarious thread and a well deserved bump and love the similies, crapdancer (brilliant name too)

Boring is definitely the right word. I just find them really dull.

I know Darren G was popular, but to be honest, the whole
'I'm a bloke', I've never danced in my life til 10 weeks ago,
"not bad for a fat lad from Barnsley' routine really got
on my wick. I know he had chemistry with Lilia, but he
was the one celeb I found to hve disappeared up his
own a**se.
I like the partnership with Matt because he doesn't have
any annoying little sayings like 'I can't do it' etc.etc......
he just tries his best and doesn't blame anything else

I agree with bigtoe! As much as I love Lilia (she's easily my favourite professional!) I was never taken by Darren Gough! I've started warming to Matt now tho! And I LOVED Aled!

Aled was lovely, so much charisma! I had hoped he might
come on ITT, but alas no sign of him!!