There seem to be a few things which keep appearing on threads even though they're factually wrong and even though posters keep pointing them out. Most of them have come from newspaper headlines, which don't always reflect the truth! So I thought we could have a thread to collect them!

1. The profits from this year's phone votes aren't going to Children in Need or any other charity.

2. Cherie didn't actually say John was turning Strictly into a soap opera. She said it felt like there were two Strictlys, one where John was a dancer and competitor and another which was a big soap opera. Depending on your view she either meant John was causing this soap opera or she meant that the circus of media attention surrounding Strictly meant it felt like a soap opera. But she didn't say "john is turning strictly into a soap opera", so we don't know that's what she meant.

3. Nobody has ever been "voted out unfairly" because it's impossible to be voted out. Both viewers and judges vote for the couple they want to remain, if not enough viewers / judges vote for one couple they will go home.

4. Arlene didn't dub John the "dancing pig", that was done by a DM journo who knows him well and meant it affectionately.

Any others?

How about John being scheduled to do a speaking tour on a cruise ship leaving in two weeks - obviously he didn't think he'd make it this far in Strictly and has had to pull out for financial reasons (ie, he'd make more money talking than dancing!)

To be honest DD, that sounds a little bit like rumour and this is supposed to be a facts thread. But I'll take it!

The world is not about to end and nobody died.

Now that is definitely a fact!

Fair points, very well made ~ which means that unfortunately the bleating hysterics out there will choose to ignore each and every one as they don't serve their mud-slinging purpose

Quizmike started a thread about it and apparently it is direct commentary from a Five Live journalist...

draw your own conclusion

It's a quote from Colin Petterson on the Simon Mayo shpw on Five Live. Will post the link when it comes up on iplayer.

ETA - just confirmed again by Patterson although Sergeant states that this is not his reason for leaving the competition.

Make of that what you will

John quits the week he has to do two dances.

Draw your own conclusions

Ahh, sorry didn't see the thread. In that case, definitely a fact and fair comment.

Craig is a human being.

I might be mistaken (please correct me if I am) but I thought that it was Arlene that said that (on BBC Breakfast, Monday)?

I do agree with your points though.

Christine is Lovely.

Jodie is Delightful.

Irrelevant if he thought he'd get sympathy votes, as he suggests

And nor was it on Sunday and Monday when John was voted in

Yes!

Premium phone numbers do generate income for the company that rents them, so I do wish people would stop saying BBC do not make money from their 0901 numbers.

Wasn't that on Saturday? It's still true though even if your timing's a bit wonky.

It was BBC breakfast but definitely Cherie, I'll see if I can find a link.

Ummm... also... this thread wasn't supposed to be pro or anti John, and factual rather than conclusion based. Sorry!

Oooh, I didn't know that, thanks Smokey!

Relevant if he physically can't do two dances

1. SCD is a programme about celebrities learning to dance.

2. The judges know more about dancing than the public at large.

OK, no problem. I stand (well, sit actually) corrected.

It does state on the BBC news home page in one of the stories about John that the money goes to Children in Need,surely a mistake as it isn't mentioned elsewhere.

YW. I edited my post, it is supposed to read BBC not BT (who they rent their numbers from).

The BBC do not make any money from this particular number, I have been involved in a number of discussions on the Broadcasting forum with others on this, believe me. There was a link somewhere that stated the same. I'll dig it out if I can.

Last year, the call would have cost 25p, with 12p going to CiN, this year the cost is 15p, with nothing to CiN. So add in infaltionary increases from BT (which are bound to have happened ) and there is nothing left over.