To think Deborah Meaden on Strictly is an insult to women in business

Of all the people that appear in these programmes I think her participation in this has surprised me the most. I don't watch Dragons Den other than catching the odd repeat but wouldn't have been surprised at the lady with the long dark hair being on Strictly [which I also don't watch but will have to watch it now].

I think the ratings will go through the roof if Liz Jones goes on Strictly and Brucie is replaced by Claire Balding.

Not sure about all this stereotyping and compartmentalising - why shouldn't DM do strictly? Did I miss the rule that business people (presumably it would apply to men as well) are not to dance or wear sequins? Does this mean that a dancer should not branch out and start their own business?

Would love to see Liz Jones do it Perhaps someone will tell her that Murder on the Dance Floor was not Sophie Ellis Bexter's only hit record. I can't remember the title but she did keep Victoria Beckham of the number one spot one summer.

I can't bear to watch Strictly until the contestants dancing proper gets underway. The first few shows are trashy.

Isn't SCD in aid of Children in Need still? In which case DM is doing some good, having fun and looking human. Didn't think she was very good though

And, as for Brucie

merlot - good idea. Taste of her own poison, perhaps?

And here's someone I'd love to see on Strictly

It's more popular than ever, Gally. It's good Family viewing for Saturday night and I doubt it will be axed while the ratings are so high.

Agree about Brucie though

I watched the first SCD and haven't seen it until last night when I watched for 20 minutes before turning over to the Last Night of the Proms. Heavens, it's changed over the years - and not for the better. Time to call a halt I think. Why do programmers persist in continuing something that was reasonably good until it turns into boring, luvvy duvvy, past it rubbish; and as for that Bruce Forsyth - what can I say? Time for him to go into early-bed, slippers and cocoa-land I think . Never watched Dragons Den so haven't a clue who Deborah Meaden is.

No, Jess, I don't think it's specially weird. She is a very successful woman who nowadays seems to have plenty of leisure - presumably managing some of her businesses at arms length. She is used to setting herself challenges and meeting them. No doubt this is another challenge and she will do her utmost to meet it.

Perhaps after years of building up her business empire she just felt like a change and a bit of fun? Possibly she is now able to employ good people to manage some of her work.
I love ballroom dancing - when I was a teenager most of us had lessons every Saturday morning above Burtons. I quite enjoy disco dancing but there is something really special about dancing with a really proficient partner.

I watch SCD and DD occasionally. I am quite bemused that DM taking part is even worth a thread that runs to 2 pages. It's not weird at all, she can do whatever she wants, actually, and she wants to do Strictly. Good for her.

I guess they must have show-bizzy traits to their personalities to want to go on television at all. I suppose they are just the kind of people to jump at the chance of doing Strictly.

No problem with anyone having fun or learning to dance. Respect greatnan for building up a successful business.
Does nobody else think this is a weird thing for DM to choose to do with her time?

P.S. am learning Ballroom and Latin, have been doing so for last 11 months. I'm 58 with dodgy legs and a few problems 'down below' but its a fantastic feeling when, after weeks of trying to get a sequence in the Quick step Waltz or Rumba right, I eventually get it and we manage to do the whole thing smoothly and in time. Its hard work, bits hurt and my brain is not as good as it used be but its hard to beat as a way of challenging oneself and having fun.
At the moment we are wrestling with the Fox Trot which, although it looks simple is one of the most difficult to get right......I get quite nervy before our sessions but afterword....wow its a great feeling.

Didn't Alan Sugar once send a winning team on The Apprentice for ballroom dancing lessons?

#heknowsathingortwo

Did n' t those ride-on kids' wheelie-luggage carriers that you see at airports start out by being turned down by Dragons' Den? Don't always get it right do they?

I think Jess's kind of path to being a successful business person could well be paved with nervous breakdowns!

I am full of admiration for the older women who appear on Strictly and put their hearts and souls into it. They have reached the age when some body parts start to hurt like hell and yet they achieve amazing progress with fixed grins smiles on their faces. Remember Felicity Kendall's splits?

Alex Jones said that sometimes the only thing you can hear is your thumping heart and she's a spritely young gel!

Go for it, Deborah.

Bags, the huge majority of the contestants on Dragon's Den have already done a great deal of research and got their businesses off the ground. They just need capital and expertise to expand. How on earth could they learn how to run a business just from watching the programme?

I built up a very successful conveyancing business without help from anyone - in fact, I had to fight the entire legal profession in my area. I did a lot of research, but I could certainly have used the business expertise of somebody like Deborah Meaden. I had to sell the business to a licensed conveyancer when the law was changed.
During the three years of my business, I was having a very active social life, going into central London several nights a week for Single's Dinners. I didn't find any conflict between being a very dedicated business woman and a lively divorcee!
I am astounded by the progress made by most of the competitors on Strictly - there are one or two (Widdecombe, Sargent) who are obviously never going to be more than the light relief. I find the programme hugely entertaining. Nobody has to watch it, but I don't see the point of somebody who never watches TV commenting on a programme they have never seen!
Let's not be po-faced about a programme enjoyed by millions!

So you can't be a successful business woman and have fun.

Errrrr.......am really scratching my head here as to why anyone should find Miss Meadon's adventure on Strictly as being a problem. Why on earth should a business women not also be up for a bit of fun and adventure AND be given the chance to learn to dance by one of the best teachers around? What is so special about being a successful person who runs her own business?
Running one's own successful business does not make you any less likely to want to have fun.
My impression of Deborah Meadon is that she is both a decent human being who has many interests and who just happens to be successful in the businesses she chooses to run. Surely pigeon holing women into simplistic clearly defined roles does more damage to women's rights? Is it not more about having choices. Thus if one wants to be a professional woman with a rich social life then one can. If we still had to choose between one or the other surely that is putting women's rights back several decades.
P.S. sorry if this sounds a bit ranting but I've had my sunday glass of wine and am now just a tad cross by this!

If I wanted to start a business, I'd read stuff first, not watch a TV programme.

jess, in answer to your last question, I'm not stereotyping anyone. As I've said, I know nothing about the programme and nothing about the people on it. How could I stereotype from that? I don't have to want to watch TV, do I?

I honestly don't give a damn about whoever it is people are talking about, or their careers on and off TV.

So I'll say it again: I don't thinking I'm missing out.

Jeez! Anyone'd think my life was boring and needed filling up they way some people go on!