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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think Dani Harmer's attitude stinks?

64 replies

hanahsaunt · 17/12/2012 17:56

She has been touted for months and months as the lead in Cinderella in our local panto. I have 3 huge DH fans and their grandma bought 7 tickets for the Saturday before Christmas as an extra special treat/Christmas present. Now she's otherwise engaged ... dancing in Strictly. I totally understand that understudies may perform because the star is sick or injured ... but had a better job offer, I mean really??? She's doing all the other shows so that's ok apparently ... really??? Our ticket prices were the same; there was no indication on the booking site that she had other plans for that night. I am so angry Xmas Angry!!!

And breathe ...

OP posts:
BridgetBidet · 17/12/2012 18:51

I don't think Harmer's attitude 'stinks'. She will have made this clear to the theatre when she signed up and she will be doing this as per her contracts for both shows, her management will have negotiated this for her. She will be fulfilling her legal obligation to both the theatre and Strictly.

If you want to blame anybody blame the theatre who must have agreed to this up front.

ClownBikeInAVelodrome · 17/12/2012 18:55

She would have been signed up to be a draw because she's known to kids. Lots of children's TV presenters do panto because the parents get pestered to take them to see their favourite presenter etc.

I think that on the basis that ALL the celebs doing Strictly will be there at the final show, they always are, theatregoers should have been made aware of that when buying tickets.

ilovesooty · 17/12/2012 19:11

Now she's otherwise engaged ... dancing in Strictly

She would have been otherwise engaged for several months.

I don't see how she's done anything wrong.

MulledPinot · 17/12/2012 19:15

YABU, sorry. But I do understand the disappointment.

You wouldn't seriously expect her to drop out of the final of the main BBC entertainment show, just to do another Panto performance, would you?

I think in hindsight, you shouldn't have booked tickets that had any chance of being affected by her SCD commitments. i.e. anything after this weekend would have been OK.

So I'm afraid it's a cock-up but it could have been prevented.

Sorry.

corblimeymadam · 17/12/2012 19:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VivaLeBeaver · 17/12/2012 19:21

Another one who thought it was also going to be about her saying that she's a size 6 and doesn't have an ounce of fat on her anywhere apart from her boobs and bum.

EnjoyResponsibly · 17/12/2012 19:21

She couldn't have known for sure she'd reach the final though until Saturday night. Anything could have happened. It's not like you didn't know she was in SCD so there might have been some risk she'd be dancing this Saturday.

You don't know how she feels about it though. She might be really regretful. To say her attitude stinks is rather unfair.

VivaLeBeaver · 17/12/2012 19:22

there's no fat on me at all

Viviennemary · 17/12/2012 19:24

It's a con. And it's letting the public down. It should have been clearly stated this person is taking part in whatever, and may not be available for the show after all. And then everybody would know. And then sell tickets on that basis.

flowerytaleofNewYork · 17/12/2012 19:24

Her attitude doesn't stink. Unless you seriously think she ought to turn down the SCD final for you?

Your argument is with the theatre and whether they should have ensured you were aware she was in strictly. Were you really not?

MsElleTow · 17/12/2012 19:26

To be fair Viva that top picture was right at the start of SCD, she is much smaller now!

VivaLeBeaver · 17/12/2012 19:27

Is she even in the shows on other days of the week?

Just wondering how she's rehearsing 6 days a week for Strictly as well as doing panto rehearsals.

VivaLeBeaver · 17/12/2012 19:28

Se does look slimmer in the photos further down, but still not a size 6. Size 12, possibly a 10.

Toughasoldboots · 17/12/2012 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VivaLeBeaver · 17/12/2012 19:33

I'm bigger than she is as well. I wouldn't have mentioned it if she hadn't said it herself.

Walnutcakelover · 17/12/2012 19:39

I would say she looks like a size 8-10, definately not a 6. My friend is 5ft and she is very petite as in very skinny, she looks way slimmer than Dani, and she is a size 8, so I don't think dani is a size 6.

Original poster
hanahsaunt · 17/12/2012 19:42

I didn't book to see her, I booked for my children who are big DH fans (or rather my mother booked).

I still think booking 2 jobs at once is rotten just to see which one comes out better. Press for her being in the panto started on 2 March 2012 so not sure which came first.

And we don't particularly watch Strictly. 2 of my boys do if we are in and not eating; they have been following her but it didn't cross my mind that there would be a clash - I only checked yesterday when it transpired that the flipping Strictly final wasn't on Saturday past - I really didn't think she would have 2 jobs on the go at once and that really sucks.

I know there is no guarantee - they may get sick, they may break a leg - but it's 9 shows so there's no excuse for needing a holiday or having a better offer. Still Xmas Angry.

OP posts:
MulledPinot · 17/12/2012 19:47

So, you've listened to us all explaining YABU and...ignored it Xmas Grin

JingleBellaTheGymnast · 17/12/2012 19:49

Are there only 9 performances of the panto? I imagine it isn't in her Strictly contract that she has to appear in the final unless she's a finalist, so maybe she/her agent and the theatre thought it was worth the gamble. Bet the box office are going to get a lot of annoyed calls.

podgymumma · 17/12/2012 19:50

According to the Daily Mirror she's only missing 3 shows.

www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/strictly-come-dancing-dani-harmer-1434725

HollyBerryBush · 17/12/2012 19:51

How sisterly of you all to bitch about her weight/size, she is tiny, petite, a size 6 because she is so short. She's had months of twitter trolls calling her fat.

Of course, the inhabitants of MN are indeed 6'2" size zero godesses. >sarcasm

Original poster
hanahsaunt · 17/12/2012 19:53

Yes. I have ignored it. I have written a very stroppy letter to the theatre for their complete disingenuity. I should not have to consult the Radio Times before booking theatre tickets.

Yes. There are only 9 shows from this Friday to 30 Dec. So she's hoping ot do 7/9. If she doesn't fall on her bum.

No. Other dates were not an option since that is when my mother is here.

OP posts:
MissKeithLemon · 17/12/2012 19:58

Meh, it happens all the time in theatreland. The theatres know very well what other commitments their star performers have on. It is always in the small print that the theatre company will switch performers with no notice if they so choose.
Imagine what its like to be be part of a hardworking cast/crew knowing that half the audience are disappointed before you start that the star is not taking part that day.

Original poster
hanahsaunt · 17/12/2012 19:58

York Press seem to think she's just missing 2 shows rather than 4; 4 from 9 is nearly half! Panto tickets went on sale on 2 March, long before SCD. Rubbish.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 17/12/2012 20:01

Just because the tickets went on sale in March doesn't mean the cast was confirmed then, we booked panto tickets ages before the cast was confirmed.