I thought Brian was off with Heather for some reason tonight. He refused to look at her or reassure her as they were about to go on.

He again didn't look at her when she'd finished dancing and as they were waiting for the judges' comments, he was totally unengaged.

The only time he said anything to her was when he was in the Tesspit and knew the cameras were on them.

But his smile just seemed rigidly fixed to his face tonight!

I wouldn't blame him if he was. She lets him down every week. She's just not good enough. I would rather have seen Brian paired with Rachel. He might have got a bit further with her.

I noticed that too, and did wonder. Not like him at all.

I thought they looked strained.

Brian's been ill these past couple of days. Maybe that's the reason why?

Brian did not seem his usual self, I think he finds it difficult to understand Healther's lack of confidence and low self esteem.

Before the dance I thought he was getting in to character early, but when it continued after the dance I noticed it too. Don't know why...

As ravensborough said, Brian has been under the weather this week.

I thought he was his usual supporting self when he told Heather that she danced marvellously. But maybe it's just me.

Heather is irritating

Ellie

Heather's lack of confidence and low self esteem is due to the fact she has been in a dance off 3 times. It must be so hard for someone who has been largely successful in their chosen career to try something new and not do well, not excel. It must be indredibly hard to come back each week with high confidence. I know I couldn't do it.
I didn't sense anything untoward from Brian, if anything I think he looks as if he is irritated with the judges as they do seem to say anything good about anything. They don't compliment his choreography or Heather's (which I admit is quite wooden). I imagine it must be hard for him too and he can see how tough a competition this is.

I was just thinking that exact same thing, for me they seem a better fit.

To be honest, I think there has to come a point where it does get annoying when your partner doesn't reproduce the training room on the live show, especially when you see the likes of Jodie and Lisa getting passed the nerves and producing good performances.

Can you explain how?

Nope. Didn't see it at all. It was a serious dance - I think he was just getting into the mood of the dance.

Brian looked unwell/exhausted after the dance (I heard reports he had been unwell) and he looky more 'peaky' rather than being annoyed at Heather.

Hes probably generally disheartened with lack of public support and being in so many dance-offs. If he had a problem, he might have had to force smiles...there was no need for him to interject and say how proud he was of Heather - and when he said it, it looked like he meant it. If he was annoyed, he wouldn't have had the motivation to interupt Tess to say that.

I did notice, but thought maybe he wants to remain in serious mode for his tango character.
It must be draining also on a lot of the pros to have to keep constantly trying to boost the confidence of the celebs.

Brian seemed ok to me they were about to dance a tango which is not a smiley dance at all I think they were just getting into character

I think her problems stem from her suffering of stage fright, much more than her position in the contest. As a 40-something, I am sure that Heather, like the rest of us, has worked out and accepted that you cannot be good at everything.

Her problem is that she cannot bring what she does in the practice room to the performance. If she is not doing that by now, she really never will.

True. You're right, she always seems better in training but once she steps out on the dance floor, she usually falls to pieces. We're 8 weeks (??) in now and like you say if she can't get over the stage fright by now she never will.

Maybe he was getting into the Tango mood...

Maybe you Brian and Heather supporters are right, you certainly know more about the partnership than me. I just thought it was weird, Heather was looking and looking and looking for reassurance from Brian as they were about to call their names, but he wouldn't look at her.

If he was trying to get into the tango mood, I would have thought he would have had a serious face, but he had this rigid grin almost bolted to his face.

But it could well have been him poorly because he did look very flushed too. I hope he feels better soon!

I really felt for Brain tonight

It wouldn't be surprising if Brian were a little irritated. Heather seems very much a glass half full person. I am sick to death of hearing about upset she is by being in the dance off.

The UK judges asked for and got a dance off, so that - in their words - they could save the better dancer when the GBP vote incorrectly. This has been shown to be a massive miscalculation with the public voting in EVEN GREATER numbers for personalities who amuse them in the early stages.

However Heather has decided to concentrate on the public vote rather than the fact that the judges voted to save her and give relatively specific advice about what she could improve.

Brian is extremely professional, used to coping in the tough world of ballroom dancing. However much he liked and supported Heather, it must have been difficult coping with her negative approach.

I agree, he's a typical yank. And as usual turns up 3 years too late, and then want to take all the credit


NO YANKS IN SCD 8!!!!!

doesn't that make her a 'glass half empty' i.e pessimistic person then ?

I don't feel as though she took the competition seriously enough,but expected the votes simply by being Heather Mills the artist... who I love BTW,consequently I found her disappointing.Initially I thought she would be a real contender when I heard she was in this series.
These are purely perceptions but they are the only things any of us have when discussing the show.

Ellie