Strictly Starts Tonight

I think the result was fair and just. Amazed that Kim was in there.

Sometimes it is the humble contestants who are the most genuine, whereas others are full of their own importance. The way in which Matt thanked everyone was heartfelt and it appeared everyone had taken him to their hearts. Even on GN!
The result was fair.
I was wondering if something Kym said on the video made voters pass her by. It was along the lines of her being too busy filming Waterloo Road to give much time to dance practising. Almost as though she were only half bothered?

Knowing that makes Jayde seem even more self indulgent.

Jayde used to dance with her sister, who died young of brain cancer. Leave her alone.

volver

^Knowing that makes Jayde seem even more self indulgent.^

Jayde used to dance with her sister, who died young of brain cancer. Leave her alone.

Matt’s sister was killed by a drunk driver when she was 18

Helen Skeltons husband has left her for her friend and they are now expecting a baby

I could go on, they all have back (sob) stories, it’s how they are handling them on the show that differs.

But do we really need to know?
All of these things are tragic, but they are not relevant to the competition.

Some want us to know more than others. Basically some don't want to be left alone and they use it as a way to get more attention for themselves, (or like Rose did effectively for the wider deaf cause).

I don't think dancing is just about getting your feet and arms in the right place to execute the perfect foxtrot.

It's about expressing yourself. If knowing someone's background helps understand how they dance, I'm all for it.

Or, we could just have a go at shaming the fat girl. (Cue indignation.)

Sara1954

But do we really need to know?
All of these things are tragic, but they are not relevant to the competition.

No, we don’t ‘need to know’, but it seems the done thing now in all these type of shows, BGT and The X Factor for example, to parade your problems, issues, challenges, whatever you want to call them, and show how you have emerged stronger, more confident, great self belief….

So no, we don’t ‘need to know’. Doesn’t make your dancing any better, or your singing voice more tuneful….

Fleur was on X factor and I don't remember any back stories then. It was all to do with her voice and performance. Similarly on Strictly I don't think she now dwells on any aspects of her personal life. Maybe everyone is made differently, but less is more in terms of knowing stuff for me.

PS I've just read that Fleur came 2nd in X Factor, talented lady!
And she comes from my hometown so I must feel an affinity.
Go Fleur!

As you were .......

Doesn’t make your dancing any better

Does though. As I said, it doesn't help you get your feet in the right place, but it does add something emotional to the way you dance.

volver

I don't think dancing is just about getting your feet and arms in the right place to execute the perfect foxtrot.

It's about expressing yourself. If knowing someone's background helps understand how they dance, I'm all for it.

Or, we could just have a go at shaming the fat girl. (Cue indignation.)

No indignation here but I don’t see the link between not wishing to hear a back (sob) story and fat shaming. ?

volver

^Doesn’t make your dancing any better^

Does though. As I said, it doesn't help you get your feet in the right place, but it does add something emotional to the way you dance.

volver the judges on Strictly and professional ballroom/Latin competitions do judge on footwork, body posture and arm position.

They do not ask about their personal life in professional competitions and in my opinion I do not think that they should focus on their personal lives on strictly.

Disabilities are a different matter, visible or invisible.

Well Matt is a good chap because he didn't talk about his sister. Although we all seem to know about it.

Everyone except me seems to know about Helen's husband. (Helen's zapadeado was woeful by the way)

But because Jayde tells us about her sister, we have a complain. I didn't say fat shaming. I said shaming the fat girl.

Subtle difference.

They do not ask about their personal life in professional competitions and in my opinion I do not think that they should focus on their personal lives on strictly.

This is not a professional competition though, is it? Its Saturday Night Entertainment with a bit of dancing thrown in.

Sarah1954 Do we really need to know?
How about mentioned once? Why not publish it along with the list of contestants (if they want it published) and only mention anything else if it suddenly arises.
But every week?
IMO No.
It’s as if having a tragic back story is more important than the improvement in their performance.
Last week they all improved hugely so didn’t really need a back story.

Coming soon . . . Strictly Therapy.
I wonder if the BBC only want to tell us how, with effort we can all do better in surviving our problems and our personal sadness.

Well, Matt is a good chap because he didn’t talk about his sister. Although we all seem to know about it

Probably since it was mentioned, some of us have ‘looked it up’. I haven’t, but confess I had no idea about her before last night.

But he hasn’t brought up the subject of his sister every single week, unless I have missed that.

It's entertainment and a competition and I'm sure BBC get revenue from the phone ins therefore it's in their financial interest to have back stories for the competitors which encourage voting. If it's not something sad, it will be rosy cheeked children or loving grans. I can't take to Kym at all. I thought the right decision was made.

Some people like to "let it all hang out" in front of millions of viewers and over-share, and don't mind crying in front of said millions. Do we really want/need to know during a light-hearted dance show? As Shirley said to Jayde "That's for those of us who have lost somebody."

Well, that's pretty much everyone.

Others who have equal sorrows and sadnesses in their lives, prefer to keep it all private.

volver Its Saturday Night Entertainment with a bit of dancing thrown in.

No. It's a dancing competition which is the whole point.

I have been enjoying watching Jayde dance, but I’ve got a bit fed up with all the emotions, nothing to do with her size. Good on her for having a go.
I wasn’t keen on Matt, but warmed to him last night, because he seemed to be genuinely upset and humble.
I love Strictly, but may have to start recording it so I can zoom through the tearful bits.

Flipping heck - bring back Susanna Reid and her mum.

I think Jayde talks too much. Other quieter contestants don’t get a look in. Does Ellie Simmonds go on and on about her difficulties? No she doesn’t. Instead she does her utmost to overcome them without ramming it down our throats every week. As others have said, everyone has got issues - Kym lost a baby, Helen’s ex husband is a creep, Matt has lost a sister. Do they drone on and one every week to get the sympathy vote? No they don’t. I wish Jayde would shut up for one week and then we’d see if her dancing gets her through or not.

Having had a dear friend actually win strictly, they did not wash their dirty linen on the show back then, this seems to be a new phenomenon, growing over the last few years.

Well, I for one don’t vote for anyone who comes out with a sob story, no matter how well they dance.

Greg Wise was another bringing up the subject of his sister before his Couples Choice.

No problem not choosing him however, as his dancing was no good.