Matt Dawson wasn't the most outgoing either but look how well he did.

Mark seems to be a lovely guy and I'm sure we'll get to see his personality shine through. The first week is over, may be some of the nerves will disappear. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Lol Lol. So funny.

Most of the sportsmen start poorly because they're crap.

He wasn’t great on Saturday, but let’s give him a chance, I don’t know what it is but there something enduring and lovely about him unlike that Tom guy.

Let's hope we see more of that then.

His parents live in the next road to me (so I've heard), maybe I'll ask them

But then they come good; think Darren Gough and Matt Dawson.

They have the ability to take instruction, they're competitive and determined.

I'm hoping to see that in Mark Foster - but if it isn't Mark then Austen is a very good bet.

I had no idea he was 6'6", that is very tall and there is no female pro to match him for height, so the hunching is going to be a problem. I enjoyed his dance with Hayley to one of my favourite songs Tennessee Waltz beautifully sung. Craig was too mean to the celebs especially as it was their first dance.

Can't agree with you there- they are nervous which is to be expected- if even the 'performers' are anxious then how would someone who has no experience in presenting themselves feel.

He wasn't 'crap' he was average and gave a week 1 performance. I think he was better in the group dance on the Sunday show and looked more relaxed so lets hope he gets better. He certainly has more potential than Phil had I think.

Perhaps he is too tall for all the females, but at least if he was paried with Camilla, she is more used to dancing with a taller partner.

I thought in the first bit he did in the group number he was huncing over a lot more than in the waltz.

I hope it doesn't hinder him as i would like him to do well. And no, i don't think he is hopeless.

No he is not hopeless. But he is too tall for his partner. And that may be tricky to fix.

Pretty much.

Not hopeless but handicapped by his height in this context.

And no more disappointing than Phil. Surely an actor should be able to assume a facial expression suitable to the role even if the rest of him isn't a natural dancer!

It was pretty obvious that Tom fixed that Latin grin on his face and went for it. He did damned well too! You have to pretend to a certain extent. That's showmanship. The actors should understand that and Phil was very poor.

Why expect wonders of Mark?

I would go further and say in previous years most of the men have been poor in round one. Women generally have more interest in dancing and are used to being ogled. Matt Dawson in round one wearing a pink shirt in his cha cha was terrified yet he progressed by leaps and bounds. Gethin could not let himself go, and in the rumba Camilla danced rings round him, yet Gethiin after one session with his acting coach blossomed as if a blockage had been removed. He came out, thrilled the audience and left Craig in shock. The following week he kept up the same standard to prove it was no fluke, and for a day or two dethroninged the outstanding Alesha as favourite to win.

Remember the first two rounds last year? The men were dismissed as nohopers while Kelly and Alesha scored 33 and 32 I think.

While Gary over-acted his cha cha to jive rhythm, Mark underplayed his waltz. I would not underestimate the learning capacity of an Olympic gold medalist and world record breaker.

I thought he has potential./ What got me was the tess and the swit suit if they reach the final "You know what to do ladies". Yep vote Mark out so you don't get what you want Tess!

Week one people!! give him a break...

it's probably going to be harder for him to cordinate himself because he's so tall - and just because he's a swimmer doesnt mean he should automatically be a graceful dancer - if anything he's probably more clumsy on land.

If BBC producers are thinking logically, then I suspect in week 3 when the men go head-to-head again, those doing ballroom in week one will be doing a latin dance in week 3 and vice versa.

I believe the men are doing either jive or tango in week 3.

If so,I dread to think how a 6+ft man is going to PERFORM (since his week 1 'performance' of the waltz is still rather stilted) the jive???

I do wonder about that - why great though Austin and Erin seem to be why Erin has a guy she's roughly the same height as whilst Ola and Hayley are partnered with men who tower over them. I would have thought Mark and Andrew would have been put with Cam and Erin (as the tallest women) and Austin given to someone smaller. I think if Mark is a quiet bloke he'd have more chance with a more outgoing celeb who could bring him out of his shell - like happened with his namesake and Karen.

Funny!

Did you not know Matt prior to SCD ? He was (and is) very gobby . But he was subdued on SCD at first - he was out of his comfort zone, but he was still outgoing and very confident (although not initially in his dancing abilities).

Whenever I've seen Mark prior to SCD, he has been a lot less mouthy & outgoing than Matt ever was, but as you say, let's hope for an improvement next week.

I don't yet believe him to be hopeless ( I don't think you can say that until you've seen both Latin & ballroom), but I was disappointed in his performance

Why were people dissapointed in Marks performance, what did you expect.
He is after all a swimmer ( not an actor or performer) yes he has a good body, and is physically fit, he has the ablity just needs to come out his shell more.

The judges except for grumpy Craig placed Mark only one mark below Tom, being fourth on the leader board dosen't suggest hopeless to me.

winnie

I can't seem to find the "Is Mark Foster Sexy?" thread. Is there one? As it is the fact that the majority of people on here seem to think that he is sex on legs and I'm just not seeing it.

Takes all kinds.

Each to their own, I find Mark sexy, and it is not just the looks and the body, it is Mark the whole person, where as I don't find Tom sexy at all

but it wouldn't do for us all to like the same thing

i think he could be a dark horse. the fact that the judges (well mostly Craig) arent rating him at the moment means if he does do a good dance one week he'll be the "journey" man.

I don't see it either. I don't find any of this lot attractive.