I'm just very cynical about it. How much of the VTs do we actually see? A few buzz words, and that's just about it. How much of it is edited, how much of it is scripted - I jut thing any producer'll do anything for a story. As I say, I'm glad they've cut it, and maybe the edit is actually fair, but I'll always be sceptical, and aren't going to judge him on that. As I say, I'm glad they've cut that out now.

As for the wedding - again, I think it's him being asked about it ahead of him continually mention it. Hopefully that'll be dropped now his wedding week is out of the way.

I hope so too! And if you are right about the editing then he's a bit of an idiot for still giving them so much material!

But like you said lets hope he just gets on with the dancing and the producers and presenters forget about all the other stuff!

Also I think the producers are desperate for Camilla to win, the last 4 seasons she has been given an excellent dancer ( Ray deffo went too early). Can't think of another pro who gets so lucky with their partners. I think the wedding being thrust at us is in an attempt to curry favour for Tom and Camilla!

Claire must be a very tolerant girl to allow/agree for Tom to do SCD in their wedding year. Surely Tom could wait till next or any year to participate in SCD.

True, he has given them a lot. But then, Austin could've given them the same type of material and it just hasn't been used. I'm not saying for a moment he has, but that's how cynical I am about edits.

As for the final paragraph - I think they're trying to affect Tom rather than help him and Camilla. I admit the wedding overload and the 'rivalry' constantly being bought up is ridiculous and annoying. I think a lot of people agree (well, this thread proves that ), and that actually turns them off Tom. I wonder whether that's the idea, though, as they're trying to make sure Tom doesn't run away with it. At the start of the competition he was arguably the most accomplished dancer, and even with less training he did a good job with the Vienesse Waltz tonight. Maybe by turning some against him, they're evening up the field, and making sure there isn't a clear winner?

After all last series was great, but most people knew Alesha was the winner from around the half way point onwards.

I really am cynical aren't I?

I like Tom. *sighs* if only I were 30 years younger.

And I think his and Clair's story is romantic and I love it!

I'm not tired of him 'banging on about Claire' as you put it. I think he's lovely.

Tom's wedding is the equivalent of Aleshas nans/james martins dog/ the kenny logan twins/Matts bruvvers etc etc from past series

I don't blame him for the fact SCD keep banging on about it - but it is clearly getting up people's noses a bit now and I think the producers should do him a favour and stop going about it.

Anyway I'm sure that soon various people's relatives/finace(e)s/dogs/cats/bunny rabits/school teachers/children will be wheeled out soon enough

I love all the talk of Tom's wedding, he looks so besotted with his wife.

Mind you I also think he's a great dancer and will be in the final.

If Tom was really competitive wouldn't he have passed on Strictly to do it next year so he could concentrate on it?

I'm not a fan of Tom and do find talk of his wedding a bit boring - however I try not to let it bother me.

I mean, who did not spend the weeks before and after their wedding talking of nothing else. I know I did, and most of my friends did as well - and even if I found them going on too much, I let them as I know how I felt in the run up to mine.

A friend of mine talked about nothing but her wedding from about 18 months before and 6 months after.

I like the fact that he obviously excited & nervous about it - and also looking forward to it

I did wonder why he had to go on SCD this year when he was getting married and not next

then it was made clear

he aint got a job, he left his soap so needs publicity

Sadly for him a lot of us don't watch such trash and have no idea who he is, and don't care/arent swayed by his on screen 'I am a doctor women fall at my feet' BS

He is a smarmy git imo, and actually repulses me

Least Austin is a real man


Tom seems to be this years Matt ( I think it's matt, the short ugly creepy eastenders fella who Robbed Gethin of his final spot)

Quite! It's not Tom going on about it so much as the Beeb making a thing about it as publicity for the show and an obvious hook for Tom's bit's on ITT etc. It's a wee while now since my own wedding (25+years) but I do remember it as one of the major events of my life and it loomed larger then than anything else. I'll forgive him for being obsessed by it. I agree that his wife must be a saint to put up with this in the middle of the wedding, but she must also have thought it'd be a good idea before she consented to it.

Poor boy, why does everyone call him smug? I think Austin's far more smug than Tom.

Aw give the poor guy a break they're newlywed! And to give up your honeymoon for a tv programme takes some guts so Clair is a real treasure.

Don't be old and cynical (I'm divorced but can still feel happy for other people just starting out).

Tom was so besotted he wasn't as good last night but that was understandable.

Oh dear, oh dear. Aren't people allowed to be both romantic and practical? It's sweet he's married his longterm girlfriend; it was a great dramatic story about the plane accident etc; I love that the vicar who conducted the service turned up at a show and knows the couple well (it bugs me when people get married in church just cos that's what you do and not because they attend regularly); and as acting is a precarious profession I don't blame Tom and Claire for making the most of the Strictly publicity now he's leaving Holby to set them up for the future, especially as they are probably planning a family.

I don't think Tom mentioned her a lot and if he did is that surprising.

The guy got married last week and was on his honeymoon while being taking part in strictly.

I think it’s very sweet to see two people so in love and honestly with a woman as understating as his wife he would be a fool not to appreciate her. Good for them.

I think Tom thinks he is better than what he is, there is something thats annoying me about him. If he or the beeb think he's gonna run away with it they are wrong.
Austin was far better than Tom tonight, Tom's mistakes were very clear to see and yet he gets 2 9's, Arlene open your eyes. I thought len was spot on. Tom is an actor, Austin is a rugby player, of course Tom is gonna act the part better. Overmarked and overhyped IMO

The wedding, well everyone likes a good wedding but think we can move on now.

I don't think the coverage of the wedding is over the top. I think his wife must be very supportive to put up with him training so much already. It's a nice romantic story and I would expect him to say things about how happy he is. What I don't like is that this seems to have turned into an Austin very Tom thread (by the way I'm an Austin supporter). IMO they both have their strengths and weaknesses.

I think it is all rather sweet and his new wife seems just as lovely as he is.

Of course he's on SCD to further his career - most of the contestants are, even the sports people can use it to boost their careers - i.e. they may be asked to be sports presenters on TV afterwards or be able to write a book (like Darren Gough did).

As to why he did it this year, it's because he needs the publicity to get another job. If I was unemployed and had a job possibility going on and it was my wedding, I wouldn't just think, sod it, I'll go for it next year - I mean, how would I pay my bills in the meantime? Romantic as it may seem to be able to give up careers etc for love, it's not that practical, and as long as the partner agrees (which Claire has clearly done), work plans can be accomodated with wedding plans.



That's harsh.


Really? So what makes Austin a real man and Tom an unreal one?

BRAVO ........agree,agree agree

He's also allowed wedding pics to be published in a glossy magazine so he's smiling smugly at us from every supermarket shelf in the UK .......

Well said, Shappy. Missed this thread completely until today.

I am sure it's for practical reasons (money for the wedding, having to cope with financial side of family life) that made him take part in SCD. It's for the exposure (seeing he's out of work now Holby City has ended for him), and what's wrong with that?

Alright, people may not like his expression - some branding it as smug, but he's clearly talented as a dancer.

Also, much as I like Austin, I don't understand this thing about Tom being less of a man? If 'muscles' is the criteria of a REAL man, then the gay Mark Foster has muscles too (fish net, anyone ).

This "I want to beat Austin" thingie is more a compliment (to Austin) than any thing else from my point of view. Sure they all want to win (the top five - Austin, Cherie, Tom, Lisa and Rachel). But it's clear to me that as far as male celebs go, Austin is definitely the man to beat. Why hold it against Tom? Would you rather hear him say "Oh, winning is not an issue for me. I am dedicating my next dance routine to my future son/daughter, my mum, my dad, my dog..."? If he says that, I am sure the naysayers would be up in arms and cry "Hypocrite!".

You can't win, can you?

But it's Forsyth ( & his sidekick Daly) who keeps banging on about this in every chance he gets ...just to get some unwanted laughs as usual!

At first I was a bit like yeah he should stop but he just got married to the woman he loves. Why the hell should he stop banging on about her?

I'm just wondering if mr kittles banged on about me the same amount

seriously he's probably no more boring about it than any other newlywed. Difference is IRL we'd probably just hide if the wedding photos came out for the 56th time.

Wait till they show photos and home videos (!) of their first child! Oh, the torture!

as long as we don't have to see the conception I don't mind