To be honest - will casual viewers even care that much? And why would they necessarily know to get rid of Hayley and not Kristina, even if they didn't like the change? It just seems that by voting off Hayley as soon as possible, all you'd be doing is punishing her for something that's not her fault in the slightest...

Honestly - probably not. I can still hope for it though.

My understanding is that the BBC took on Kristina much earlier this year at the same time that they decided not to offer a job to Nicole. Therefore if anyone is taking Nicole's place, it's Kristina. Hayley was offered a job much later on and there is no guarantee that she's going to be dancing with Matthew in the pro dances anyway. She could quite easily be dancing with Brendan and Karen could be dancing with Matthew as she has been doing on Diet on the DanceFloor. The BBC also took on Brian Fortuna to make up the numbers and presumably he will be dancing with Kristina as they are both associated with DWTS - either the TV show or the tour, but it is very unfair to blame Hayley for something that is nothing to do with her. I would rather reserve judgement until I see how well all the new pros do.

It remains to be seen whether the 12 million viewers will notice the absence of Nicole or how they will take it.

If anyone refrains from voting for Hayley or Christina I believe it will not be out of animosity for the two women trying to make a living. It will more likely be understood as sending a signal to the can't-care-less BBC decision-makers.

From reading this thread i would have guessed that Hayley was the celebrity doing SCD, not Mark.

So what people are saying on here is that if Mark leaves early it is because the millions who vote are really voting against Hayley?

On that basis I can only assume then that footballing legend John Barnes was in the bottom 2 4 times (or was it 5?) as a vote against Nicole - he was not always bottom or near the bottom even with the judges

Looking on the voting for favourite pro on here, Nicole is 2nd bottom and i know that doesn't mean people don't like her, but she isn't a favourite. Whilst i agree she has been unfairly treated, i find it more unfair and unreasonable that people are blaming Hayley before they have danced a step.

Hardly anyone is going to withhold their vote just because of Nicole. It won't make a blind bit of difference.

DS doesn't especially reflect the voting habits of your average Strictly viewer.

Edit: I would add though, that favourite pro poll is a load of nonsense. All it proves is that winners are popular. From first to sixth place we have
Matt- series five winner
Flavia- series five runner up
Karen- series four winner
Lilia- series three winner/series four runner up
Brendan- series one winner
Darren- series two winner.

Come back in a year, it will look completely different.

thank you to everyone who has backed me up in saying that Hayley shouldn't be blamed for Nicoles unfortunate departure.

winnie

It may well be full of winners and runners up but that could go someway to explain the uproar over Nicole even more - would the outcry have been as big if it was Ola who was axed and not the partner of the most recent winner?

That wouldn't happen because James wouldn't do it if Ola wasn't asked, but I take your point.

The thing is, of all the couples I think there's always been a huge amount of respect for the Cutlers even before Matt won series five. And with the greatest respect to Ola, she's not quite of the same calibre as Nicole.

My point with the favourites poll is that if we have it at the end of series six, the winner will be whoever wins series six. All the ones who are trailing at the moment are the ones who hadn't had a lot of exposure on the show recently. And that includes Nicole. If she had ever been given a decent partner, she would have been higher up in the poll.

No, not going to vote against Hayley.

Please, where can we vote against the BBC?

I would desperately like to vote off the roller-skating cameraman!

Oh of course - perhaps many people will care, but I think that had I not known otherwise, I'd assume Nicole had decided not to compete herself, rather than the other way around.

I do know what you're saying about it not being out of animosity, but still, a side-effect of people not voting for Hayley (or Kristina) because of the Nicole débacle would be that they're not getting votes that they potentially could have, on merit, should the situation not have arisen - and that strikes me as a little mean as neither of the new girls forced Nicole out.

Obviously, if it happens, it happens, but I do feel a bit sorry for them if it does, that's all (much as I do for Nicole, clearly).

If one girl is thrown out and another put in her place, it is inevitable that the customers will compare new with old.

Hayley will win over the audience if she puts up meritorious performances. But some are wondering if the BBC have consciously replaced merit with young legs and cleavage.

I don't think that is fair - a taller pro was needed to partner Mark - and why the assumption that Hayley replaced Nicole; Kristina is also a newcomer.

I think from the point of professionalism that Nicole is way qualified, if they have brought in pros who are not as experienced, not good for the show.

I think the BBC treated her badly, but I think it was to send out a message to the others when they all said they wanted a higher salary.

Its left a nasty taste in my mouth, Matthew and Karen dont gel together as pro dancers. There is certainly a shadow on this series.

I dont blame Hayley for Nicole not being brought back, at the end of the day Hayley was offered a job and took it - who wouldnt? A massive show and a way to improve herself.

I liked Hayley in the pro tango dance, thought she was excellent, however, in the 3 pro dance with Brian and Kristina she was shadowed greatly by Kristina who i thought was excellent.

I dont like Mark, think he comes across as arrogant, yes his body is good, but his dancing is wooden. I thought their 1st dance a waltz was awful and didnt like Hayleys choice of music or her choreography, but that was her 1st dance on a new show not knowing what to expect from an english audience.

Personally i cant take to Hayley think she comes across as laid back and not overly enthusiastic, but im reserving judgement. I just hope that Marks dancing has improved then we get a proper view of what she can do.

Much as I would have wanted Nicole back - i think its wrong to split her and Matt up - they are a team and an extremely good one at that, its not in anyway Hayleys fault. Personally i would have prefered for Karen to go but that wasnt to be.

I have no beef with Hayley over the whole Nicole thing. Yes, I think the Beeb handled Nicole's departure badly but it has never crossed my mind to blame the incoming dancer for that! How can it be her fault in any way? (If, as some have said, it was even Hayley who was the direct replacement.)

Having now seen on Hayley on the show, though, I'm finding her a bit charmless and dull. I haven't really warmed to her at all and there seems to be something a bit lacklustre about her whole attitude. Mark's got about as much rhythm as a plank of wood but I really don't think her choreography or choice of music did anything to help in their first dance. I want to like her, and I'm hoping it's all just down to nerves and it being her first dance on the show, and that things will improve as they go on in the competition. However if things stay as they are then I'd have to say she's not been a great addition to the show.

i could not agree more hating Hayley because she took Nicole's place is just a bit silly and selfish to Hayley it's hardly her fault Nicole was cut.

I don't blame Hayley for taking Nicoles place in the show, if in fact she did, but I don't like the idea of bringing in dancers from other countries when there are so many talented dancers here and many many of a far higher calibre than Hayley. I think after two shows it is obvious that dance wise she is not in the same league

But it has worked in the cases of Brian and Kristina who are hugely popular and real assets to the show.

It's a shame for Hayley, but IMO she's failing to make any real impact on the show, for a ballroom specialist her waltz was very lackluster. I get that Mark isn't the most natural dancer in the world, but Kristina managed to do a wonderful routine with John, who isn't exactly the most natural dancer build in the world either.

Unfortunately Hayley's limitations were really shown up in the threesome with Brian and Kristina (and I'm talking about the dance you filthy minded creatures )

I haven't seen enough of her to decide whether or not she's good for the show, but I find it interesting that Hayley was never meant to be on the show. She approached the BBC herself to arrange an audition, but was not thought to be what the show needed and an Australian DWTS dancer called Natalie Lowe was signed up, along with Brian and Kristina. Natalie Lowe pulled out a couple of months later (to continue with Oz DWTS after they made her an offer she couldn't refuse) and the BBC then drafted Hayley in.

Kristina was told she and Brian had been added to the show to take the number of couples up to 16, which I think was separate from the search for a female dancer to replace Nicole.


But only 7 of last year's 14 pros were born/raised in the UK

Edit: I absolutely agree with The Swampster's post below. I think the show should rest at least 2 pros and bring in 2 new ones every year. This way no-one would be axed, but we'll have 2 new faces every year and a break from some of the old guard, who can then return renewed and refreshed the following year. I don't think anyone can claim Brian and Kristina haven't been inspired additions to the show.

I must be in a minority, then. I haven't read the tabloid stuff and think Hayley comes over quite well: positive but not domineering or arrogant. I don't think Mark has proved to be that great a dancer so far, but it's only the first dance and I thought Gethin was pretty weak until about halfway through last year's series. I don't blame Hayley for Mark's shortcomings any more than I blamed Nicole for the failings of her partners.
As an earlier poster said, I suspect if the average viewer notices Nicole is missing, they'll assume she chose to leave, and I imagine she'd prefer they thought that. Fabulous as the professional dancers are, they're not the show for me: it's about the celebs learning to dance and the progress they make. The teachers are an important part of this, but it should not be about how popular (or unpopular) they are, but about the progress of the celeb - otherwise the playing field is not level. I'm coming round to thinking it would be better to have a much larger pool of professional dancers to choose from and not keep any of them for more than two consecutive series: then maybe bring them back after a break. It would help to keep things fresh. It's a bit daft that some of the teachers are bigger celebs than the "celebs".

I disagree with you on the question of bringing in dancers from other countries. The new dancers have added something to the show and put a little pressure on our dancers. I though Brian and Kristina stood out in the pro group tango last week. Please don't let us be Little Englanders. I reserve judgement on Hayley as Kristina is especially eye catching as well as good. After Brian and Kristina, I thought that she and Brendan were looking good. The show has to find something other than contrived situations with Brendan cast as the bad boy, if it is to continue to be as popular as it has become. To add a sparkle to the dancing is definitely a better option.

Incidently, there are people in America posting on the BBC message boards whilst we sleep. That's no bad thing.

Whilst I agree with your post swampster the fact the BBC have kept the same professionals for so long they have now become part of the show itself and I don't particularly think that is a good thing as it should really always be about the celebrity partner learning to dance.

The impact Kristina and Brian have had on the show does prove that changing the professionals does spice up the format though I still hold out they should use UK dancers and that is nothing against the new people in any way.

To be honest I am really baffled as to why the BBC decided to bring in dancers from outside the UK - would really like to know why.

I hadn't heard any of that before, and it's very interesting.

I certainly don't blame Hayley for Nicole's departure, but I've found her pretty underwhelming so far, both in terms of dancing and her lack of any identifiable personality.

We were all stunned chez Muggsy when she said that the waltz was her specialty as we could only agree with Craig after her and Mark's first dance. OTOH we've all become champions of Kristina and Brian.