RANDOM JOTTINGS


A blog about music, sports, theatre and rants





A rather unedifying week all round which I think impacted on the show and robbed it of its enjoyment. I found that I felt most apprehensive watching on Saturday night and know that others felt the same. Of course the elephant in the room was the uproar over Katya and Sean caught in a passionate embrace down a dark alley.

A lot of comments on the Guardian live blog which, again, has been spoiled by new visitors joining in and a lot of Gosh you are a bunch of hyporcrites, it is only a kiss, give over type of comments. I have had to respond to some of them regarding my attitude. What they get up to is up to them and if it wasn't for a sneaky Sun journalist (though I am sorry to offend other journalists by grouping you all together) we would have known nothing about it.

Unfortunately, we DO know about it and it has overshadowed the show and made their behaviour the Main Story. I am not being judgemental, I worked in the City for over 20 years and am a veteran of too many drunken office parties to take the moral high ground, but I feel they should have left Strictly straight away.

Strictly always attracks the tabloids and gossip and in these days of Twitter all those taking part need to be careful. Difficult to realise that when Strictly first started there was very little internet and no social media and so contestants and the professionals were not exposed to so much publicity. However, it has always been there. I remember watching the first series and Lesley Garrett the so called Diva from Doncaster and Anton du Becke were accused of having an affair. Yes, hard to believe I know. I would have thought that her perennial over excitement and screeching would be enough to put anybody off, but that is purely my opinion.

The point I am trying to make, in a round about way as per, is that they should have been More Careful.  Their behaviour was not only hurful and sleazy but plain stupid. As I mentioned above I have attended many office parties in my working life and there have been occasions when I have woken up the next morning and thought Oh My God and dived back under the duvet. So we have all been there.

I feel those accusing people of being narrow minded should remember that there are many reading and watching this unfold who may have strong feelings about your husband/partner snogging somebody else. Those feelings should be respected and not dismissed by the Twitterati.

Their Charleston was poor and did not deserve an 8 from Shirley. I can only think she was overcompensating or, what is more likely, a score to keep them out of the bottom two and the dance off so the judges could avoid making a judgement for which they would receive flack whichever way it went.  And their dance WAS poor and should be judged accordingly which it was not. So unfair on the other contestants and I expect whoever ends up in the dance off will feeling disgruntled and rightly so.

One of the comments on the live blog was spot on and I am copying it in here:

I couldn't give two hoots about their private lives…but their actions have definitely spoiled the atmosphere on the show. I go to Strictly for a bit of light-hearted fun. I do NOT want to see half the cast shuffling awkwardly, staring at their shoes and forcing smiles. And I certainly don't want to see that thing Zoe did with the two of them ever again.Call me selfish, but I want them to take their personal dramas somewhere else and let me get back to worrying about whether Tess's dress is flattering or not and stoutly defending Dave Arch against accusations of crimes against pop music.

The show was mixed this week and because of all the above I felt it was below par.  Kate Silverton did a really poor Katesambe and looked so uncomfortable. She got through because she is a Good Egg and is partnered with Alijaz who is not a Good Egg but simply Divine.

Giovanni and Fay did not have a particularly spectacular eveninge either. The judges were much less generous in their marking this week, even Bruno reined back a bit and, for the reaons given above, were obviously aiming at a certain result. We are told it all depends on the public vote. Rubbish.

I gather from the papers that Sean was shaking like a leaf and was petrified before he went on to do his routine. Well, Sean perhaps you should think about katie Piper. A woman who had her life shattered by an acid attack from an ex-lover and who has fought back with a bravery that leaves me speechless, has had to have extra security on the set and at home because the culprit has just been let out of prison.

She has reason to be afraid Sean, not you…

 

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15 responses to “Strictly Come Dancing – a sticky week”

  1. Elaine Avatar

    According to the tabloids, so take with a pinch of salt, Sean has already been heard to say that all this will make good stuff for his next stand up show. If this is true then he is even more of a slimeball than I thought. But, we shall see.
    It has just ruined the show and I am not alone in feeling this way, Last week they appeared on an evening related show and apologised. Katya was made up to look pale and interesting, no red lipstick or provocative clothes which she usually wears. Previous week she was wearing a leather skirt that left little to the imagination. It has got the BBC PR stamp all over it.

  2. Erika W. Avatar
    Erika W.

    My British sister filled me in here, as you have done, and I understand these comments now–more to it than I realized.

  3. Elaine Avatar

    well yes Erika I agree. As I said above I am a veteran of office parties that have got out of hand and we all do stupid things, but this has really overshadowed the whole show and made it very uncormfortable viewing. I really think it would have made life easier for all concerned if they had left the show. The female professional dancer ha a husband who is a dancer in the show and he really looked tense and upset the entire evening. Not nice having your private life in the papers.

  4. Erika W. Avatar
    Erika W.

    I shouldn’t comment because I don’t watch the ushow (Except for when the male politician danced–he was pure delight). But this sounds like such a storm in a teacup. It was natural behavior however uncalled for. Don’t try to punish them like naughty school children is my reaction to reading about it.

  5. Elaine Avatar

    And on second thoughts, the BBC might very well play that card. They are arrogant enough and ignore whatbtheir viewers complain baout most of the time

  6. Elaine Avatar

    I phrased that badly I was thinking of the Twitterati who would wade in if such a clause was introduced.

  7. Lizzy Siddal Avatar

    Human rights, really? There are many professions where this is included in the contract and dancing on Strictly, once the glitter and sequins have been put to one side, is just another job after all.

  8. Elaine Avatar

    All the BBC are interested in are ratings ad I have never understood why. It is not as if they have any advertisers to satisfy. I am just sick of it all now.

  9. Elaine Avatar

    I have commented above on the awful screeching from katya and the jumping up and down. Oti is also awful for this, it makes my ears bleed. A fraternisation clause would soon have the Human Rites people on the BBC back and yes, let’s face it, the BBC love the fact it boosts the ratings.
    I would love Neil be given a partner I really would

  10. Elaine Avatar

    I agree I thought Stacey and Kevin were great. I have really warmed to her since the show started. I have never heard of her before but find her totally endearing and just perfect for the show. I have a feeling she could end up in the final.
    I think Katya and Sean (I refuse to give him the extra N) are a pair of totally stupid self obsessed idiots and I have no time for them at all. I wish they were gone and then we can all breathe a sigh of relief

  11. Elaine Avatar

    Of course if you say they should be chucked out you get an onslaught of outraged tweets accusing you of narrow mindedness etc. All very irritating. I shall just be glad to see the back of them. Katya has always annoyed me with her incredible shrieking and have felt fairly indifferent to Sean since the start. My first reaction was well who is he?

  12. Margaret Powling Avatar

    Very well said, Elaine. I just think the couple should’ve gone quietly themselves or been shown the door by the BBC. It’s as if they are condoning bad behaviour simply to boost ratings.
    Margaret P

  13. Lizzy Siddal Avatar

    Isn’t is about time the BEEB put a no fraternisation clause in the contracts? With that in place, they could have been fired. Without it, they can do as they please ….. and many have over the years, without the current hoo-ha. You have to wonder why the clause isn’t there? (Answer in one word: ratings.)
    I’d like some poetic justice next year. Neil to be given a partner, and Katya consigned to the background (just to give my ears a rest from all that screeching.)

  14. Annabel Gaskell Avatar

    The show after the movie week is always a come down, thank gawd for Stacey and Kevin who were excellent!
    I couldn’t care less about Katya and Seann having a snog, but it’s a shame it overshadowed things, I don’t see why they should be chucked out though – no-one else has for indiscretions – or have they?
    However in the first series, we had the affair rumour mill going full steam ahead with Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan – first of many rumours in many series…
    You’re right that Katie is an inspirational woman though.

  15. Sue Cuthbert Avatar
    Sue Cuthbert

    IT certainly overshadowed the whole show and I agree with you that they should have left/been chucked out.
    Hopefully next week will be better and the introduction of a new dance style should be interesting

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