SCD '23 #19: In which we're crowning our Strictly champion!

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Previous thread here.

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Why?

Even Erin was called Miss Whiplash.
Oti was meant to be a hard taskmaster.
Karen also a slavedriver and Ola had complaints from Steve Backshall (they did have a chaperone eventually).
Even Aljaz mentioned above wanted the repeats - and Helen had dance experience.
But yes, James and Brenda would be totally fucked.

James Brendan Aliona were all allegedly abrasive/had clashes with previous partners and there were allegations of fat-shaming/personal comments made.
I'd have to go back and look them up but they were reported on at the time.
Not sure Aliona had that rep - not sure how fiery she was - there was just the story doing the rounds that she is quite litigious herself and wanted to sue Johnny Ball when he inferred she overexaggerated her ankle injury rather than have to dance with him.
All three allegedly had limited patience with duffers but then, I think of how lovely Brendan was with Jo Wood, so you have to take it with a pinch of salt.

Why?

They were known as hard taskmasters. Brendan was criticised for making Sarah Manners cry and James used to throw chairs when he was pissed off. He also body shamed one of his early partners Georgina Bousova and told her to stop eating chocolate.

The professionals grow up in an extremely competitive world , but if the celebs can’t take it they should quit instead of ruining people’s careers.
The professionals promise to make the celebs look good but they have to put in the effort to do that, I really like Graziano the shine has gone off strictly for me , especially if the production company are now trawling rehearsal videos looking for perceived slights and sacking people.
As you say Brendan who was fiery and Aliona who always had a face like fizz if she didn’t like her partner wouldn’t last 2 seconds.

Yikes 😳

Can u let us know your source that this is why he was sacked for gross misconduct?
Can u let us know why you think people "can't take it"?

You do know that Zara didn't complain herself?

My thoughts are that it is Saturday night entertainment. I have no wish for celebs to end up in counselling or hurt.

Maybe they should have a time limit on rehearsals? 9-5 for four days. No more. We are not looking for celebs to reach incredible standards. We are looking to be entertained on a Saturday night, that’s all.

The first dance is already good, and that’s with unfit people who have no idea what they’re doing. And it’s still good.

Celebs will refuse to appear if they think it’s going to have them end up on their knees and being bullied. No one would tolerate that from an office job. Why should we?

Bloody hell, Strictly male pros are collapsing like a house of cards.

Bring Pasha back!

Yes - I took equal joy from early series including series one - the standard expected each year has increased from 20 years ago as have production values, props, stories, special effects etc when many of us have said for years to go back to basics. A nice waltz with Aljaz and sleeve hankies.
(Tis me sequins I just haven't changed name back yet but will do for the new series. I shut my account to try and spend less time on here procrastinating rather than cleaning my house but I caved).

Yes! Props, stories, special effects, get rid of them!

And honestly, I’d get rid of all the weird Halloween etc etc stuff too.

Have one special, like the armed forces things they do, or something topical. But if you have eg Halloween every year you run out of songs and outfits and you end up scraping the barrel I think.

Oh Hi Sequins ! Noticed you missing! Polka is straggling as well. If she doesn't show, I will start the next thread.

I'm shocked because he actually did seem like a nice guy. The others we're talking about here - James, Brendan, Giovanni - I don't think anyone was under the impression they were teddy bears. Im not naive enough to think nothing goes on behind the scenes but still, Graz is a bit different.

I've got a bit of experience of the dance world and imagine there's an issue with teaching behaviour that is accepted and unchallenged in that world (and that is completely normalised to the pros) being experienced as bullying to those who have come from outside it, even by those in other parts of the entertainment industry. This is probably compounded when the pro is from overseas and not working in their native language. Im sure there'll be conduct training for the pros this year.

I had the impression that he was too nice, to the point that he didn't manage to teach his partners anything really.

I expect lots of sugary sanitised choreo this year with celebs being held at arms-length.

It's odd because in the days of Len and Brucie it was like the affairs were positively encouraged in a nudge nudge wink wink way. Matt and Flavia for example. The wind of change came with Seannn and Katya and I was never saw why they were held to a different standard then say, Brendan and Natasha or any of the others were cheating was involved.

Hi reise Thank you lovely.
I was a bit surprised by Graz, aye, only because he seemed to have exorcised Chizzy's first boot hurt in the Xmas special, Judi said she loved him, so did Anne-Marie when they won their Xmas special, he seemed relaxed about being benched previously, not as competitive as the others. Zara always spoke about him in glowing terms (but if in the cult, Stockholm syndrome could have kicked in! )
Maybe he felt more pressure as he'd got Kym to the quarter-finals.
The only tension was with Vick Hope, who went out earlier than anticipated and I'd thought that was a language issue at the time.

Nobody has said anything, the silence is deafening. His initial statement was regretful and confirming he'd screwed up. I'm quite surprised there hasn't been further leaking from insiders.

Matt and Flavia were single. Katya was not.

I think Neil may finally get off the bench.

God help us. I can't watch Dianne saccharine anodyne twee mimsy routines x12.

Flavia was still with Vincent.
Same as Brendan was with Camilla.
Vincent and Camilla had to watch it play out on screen/in real life.

But Flavia and Vincent weren't married, and neither were Brendan and Camilla.
Not that I want to diss Katya. I love her and think she has suffered enough!

Strictly Come Dancing '24 Thread 1 : Who will be our celebs and Pros? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/5118987-strictly-come-dancing-24-thread-1-who-will-be-our-celebs-and-pros?msgid=-5118987#-5118987

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