[Livia]

Originally Posted by Barry.

I really hope she doesn’t get the sympathy vote if she’s not good. If she’s good then that’s a different story

With no disrespect to the girl, she's not good. She's box tick. I have nothing against her, I wish her continued success and a happy life... But there is only one reason the BBC selected her.

[Nicky91]

not all people disabilities ended up winning though, only Rose and Chris were exceptions


i think this Ellie will have same fate as her paralympic swimmer namesake: Ellie Simmonds, could also see a Susan Calman 2.0 in her honestly, maybe if she has the entertainment factor



she'll be lucky to last to a 8th or 9th place somewhere like that, when the real competition begins, when most deadwood are gone

[Strictly Jake]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Launch night tonight....although I never watch the launch as I find it a bit cringe. Id rather they just crack on and start the competition.

Same! I still haven't seen last night's. Im never gonna be able to watch it on a Saturday now cos of work. But will catch up shortly. But yeah it seems a pointless show. Especially when partnerships are leaked anyway before hand. Surely they can just show the celebrity being introduced to their partner in the pre vts before they do their first dance.

[Nicky91]

launch show isn't entirely pointless, we get to see who immediately gets on well with each other in terms of the pairings, and the group dance of course


and i'm saying it, i don't see Ross as a ''first out'' and i think his cha cha next saturday to california gurls will be good fun

[Strictly Jake]

Watched this tonight. Actually the cast aren't quite as bad as I thought they were on paper. Vicky is my current favourite.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Livia

Well, I guess she's spent tho most on her face.

Tbf she was naturally pretty before the Botox imo, if anything it makes it a lot closer between Vicky and Dani due to her having the Plastic Surgery in my view.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Barry.

I really hope she doesn’t get the sympathy vote if she’s not good. If she’s good then that’s a different story

Tbh, it didn't stop any of the other disabled contestants from other years doing well off of a sympathy vote.

I mean hasn't the worst performing disabled contestant on Strictly been 10th place? Which still means that they were at the very least more popular than five other people.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

Tbh, it didn't stop any of the other disabled contestants from other years doing well off of a sympathy vote.

I mean hasn't the worst performing disabled contestant on Strictly been 10th place? Which still means that they were at the very least more popular than five other people.

Both Rose Ayling Ellis and Chris McCauseland were really good dancers and deserved to win. Other disabled contestants, Johnnie Peacock, Jody Cundy etc. Did well but just weren't good enough to win. Ellie Goldstein has no coordination or control, that was clear from the few minutes of dancing I saw on Saturday night. She's there to make others feel better. She can barely control herself in interviews and I can hardly understand her. God love her, she's going to try, but I just can't watch it. It's like when organisations like Chicken Shed turn up on Britain's Got Talent and we have to watch kids with Downs Syndrome leap about and then get a standing ovation. Just...no. If she improves week on week I will willingly apologise for what I said. But I don't think I'll have to.

[Vanessa]

I'm sure they will all improve. Really excited for Saturday

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

I'm sure they will all improve. Really excited for Saturday

…I’m sure they will improve week on week and I always understood that to be something that the judges scored on as well as other aspects…

….Ellie is my sweepstake so I’m rooting for her, obviously…but also that she’s given an equal opportunity to take part and perform, even though her Down Syndrome might mean that learning the dance routines and performing them may have an added difficulty level for her…for all of the celebrities, it’s about their own self improvement within their abilities as well, I would think…

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

I'm sure they will all improve. Really excited for Saturday

Yeah, me too. I'm always a bit frustrated by the launch show, it's really long and drawn out too. Just start the dancing, already!

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Livia

Both Rose Ayling Ellis and Chris McCauseland were really good dancers and deserved to win. Other disabled contestants, Johnnie Peacock, Jody Cundy etc. Did well but just weren't good enough to win. Ellie Goldstein has no coordination or control, that was clear from the few minutes of dancing I saw on Saturday night. She's there to make others feel better. She can barely control herself in interviews and I can hardly understand her. God love her, she's going to try, but I just can't watch it. It's like when organisations like Chicken Shed turn up on Britain's Got Talent and we have to watch kids with Downs Syndrome leap about and then get a standing ovation. Just...no. If she improves week on week I will willingly apologise for what I said. But I don't think I'll have to.

I strongly disagree with Chris, I feel like there were a fair few that were better than him last year. And Rose just did the same dance every week (which tbf to Chris, he was far less guilty of doing that) I would personally argue that John, AJ, and arguably Rhys were a lot better than Rose was in her year.

And tbf to Ellie, whilst I do agree with what you're saying about her, I honestly feel that performance wise she'll probably be as bad as most of the disabled contestants end up being on Strictly imo. Exception being Tasha last year, and even she tended to be overscored sometimes.

I said it last year, the disabled contestants should be given a spin-off version, it would be much fairer to both the disabled and the non-disabled. The non-disabled contestants would benefit because they're not potentially losing out on votes because they're not disabled, and the disabled contestants would all be on an equal footing with each other.

And from a fan perspective we get a new badass Strictly Show, instead of the judges treating Ellie with kiddy gloves, because I agree with you that I think she'll make the judges and public feel better if they 'cheer her on' regardless of anything else going on in the Show.

Apologies for the tangent.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Livia

Yeah, me too. I'm always a bit frustrated by the launch show, it's really long and drawn out too. Just start the dancing, already!

This.

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

I strongly disagree with Chris, I feel like there were a fair few that were better than him last year. And Rose just did the same dance every week (which tbf to Chris, he was far less guilty of doing that) I would personally argue that John, AJ, and arguably Rhys were a lot better than Rose was in her year.

And tbf to Ellie, whilst I do agree with what you're saying about her, I honestly feel that performance wise she'll probably be as bad as most of the disabled contestants end up being on Strictly imo. Exception being Tasha last year, and even she tended to be overscored sometimes.

I said it last year, the disabled contestants should be given a spin-off version, it would be much fairer to both the disabled and the non-disabled. The non-disabled contestants would benefit because they're not potentially losing out on votes because they're not disabled, and the disabled contestants would all be on an equal footing with each other.

And from a fan perspective we get a new badass Strictly Show, instead of the judges treating Ellie with kiddy gloves, because I agree with you that I think she'll make the judges and public feel better if they 'cheer her on' regardless of anything else going on in the Show.

Apologies for the tangent.

i mean Ellie Simmonds was also treated like that by the judges, but did she win, NOPE, not even close to the final, or the semi finals for that matter


and Susan Calman also got treated like that by producers, i mean her ''wonder woman'' cha cha



i love Ellie Goldstein's enthusiasm, and even if she is just doing something on the dancefloor, she still is doing more than the Widdebeast whom got to the semi's by just sitting down and getting dragged around week by week



and in terms of Thomas, he should take inspiration from the likes of John Sergeant, Ed Balls both of whom were good triers, despite limited technical abilities, even a Nick Knowles last year gave it a good go, despite hampered with an injury and one who also didn't quit




and in terms of La Voix, well i don't like every single drag queen out there, but La Voix kinda has that same-ish oldschool vibe like Dame Edna had (rest her soul)

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

I strongly disagree with Chris, I feel like there were a fair few that were better than him last year. And Rose just did the same dance every week (which tbf to Chris, he was far less guilty of doing that) I would personally argue that John, AJ, and arguably Rhys were a lot better than Rose was in her year.

And tbf to Ellie, whilst I do agree with what you're saying about her, I honestly feel that performance wise she'll probably be as bad as most of the disabled contestants end up being on Strictly imo. Exception being Tasha last year, and even she tended to be overscored sometimes.

I said it last year, the disabled contestants should be given a spin-off version, it would be much fairer to both the disabled and the non-disabled. The non-disabled contestants would benefit because they're not potentially losing out on votes because they're not disabled, and the disabled contestants would all be on an equal footing with each other.

And from a fan perspective we get a new badass Strictly Show, instead of the judges treating Ellie with kiddy gloves, because I agree with you that I think she'll make the judges and public feel better if they 'cheer her on' regardless of anything else going on in the Show.

Apologies for the tangent.

…so disabilities are segregated and delegated to a separate show and what is essentially an entertainment show….?…and also on an entertainment show that some with disabilities have progressed well in, in the past…I don’t agree at all, I think there are lots of ‘tick boxes’ with chosen celebrities…maybe some are chosen and asked to take part with consideration to their diagnosis but that’s to show that Down Syndrome does not always mean ‘preventative’ and exclusion, surely…that would just be very defeatist and hopeless for someone to aspire to be part of such a show…I also read an article yesterday, which referred to what it felt was the person who showed the least dance skill in the small segment of opening show…/..I won’t say who it was and it was just a media article but who it wasn’t was Ellie…but maybe that person was ‘box ticked’ as well…there are many boxes ticked for many reasons of drawing attention and viewers to the show…to this show and all other reality shows…boxes are ticked every day and in every way, as they say…it’s unfair to single out a condition/disability in my opinion…but if Ellie’s dancing progression and ability has her going home, then that’s fair…that’s the voting choice…

[Ammi]

…when it’s said that someone is ‘box ticked’ it takes away their whole individuality and identity and ability and potential etc and just places a label on them…I can’t imagine any of us would want that for ourselves…

[Vanessa]

Dani has had to pull out. She broke her ankle

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

i mean Ellie Simmonds was also treated like that by the judges, but did she win, NOPE, not even close to the final, or the semi finals for that matter


and Susan Calman also got treated like that by producers, i mean her ''wonder woman'' cha cha



i love Ellie Goldstein's enthusiasm, and even if she is just doing something on the dancefloor, she still is doing more than the Widdebeast whom got to the semi's by just sitting down and getting dragged around week by week



and in terms of Thomas, he should take inspiration from the likes of John Sergeant, Ed Balls both of whom were good triers, despite limited technical abilities, even a Nick Knowles last year gave it a good go, despite hampered with an injury and one who also didn't quit




and in terms of La Voix, well i don't like every single drag queen out there, but La Voix kinda has that same-ish oldschool vibe like Dame Edna had (rest her soul)

She finished 10th, which still means that she beat five other people in the competition.

And with the way Strictly works, we will never know where she placed in the public vote on the night she left, due to the leaderboard.

Basically if that's the least popular disabled contestant that's ever been on Strictly, then it's much better than what other demographics have received on Strictly over the years.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…so disabilities are segregated and delegated to a separate show and what is essentially an entertainment show….?…and also on an entertainment show that some with disabilities have progressed well in, in the past…I don’t agree at all, I think there are lots of ‘tick boxes’ with chosen celebrities…maybe some are chosen and asked to take part with consideration to their diagnosis but that’s to show that Down Syndrome does not always mean ‘preventative’ and exclusion, surely…that would just be very defeatist and hopeless for someone to aspire to be part of such a show…I also read an article yesterday, which referred to what it felt was the person who showed the least dance skill in the small segment of opening show…/..I won’t say who it was and it was just a media article but who it wasn’t was Ellie…but maybe that person was ‘box ticked’ as well…there are many boxes ticked for many reasons of drawing attention and viewers to the show…to this show and all other reality shows…boxes are ticked every day and in every way, as they say…it’s unfair to single out a condition/disability in my opinion…but if Ellie’s dancing progression and ability has her going home, then that’s fair…that’s the voting choice…

In an ideal world I would agree with you.

But unfortunately the judges, production, and the public have shown a very clear bias towards the contestants with disabilities over recent years, which isn't fair to the other contestants imo.

And I understand your point that everyone on the Show is a box tick in one way or another, but I would also argue that those other demographics aren't given unofficial immunity until the top 10 (if we go by Ellie Simmunds a few years ago) which as someone that loves the competition aspect of the Show, it does ruin my enjoyment a little bit to see a contestant getting votes regardless of their performances or their personality.

[Mystic Mock]

But basically a disabled version of the Show I think would be fun to watch.

I would be up for watching it anyway.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

But basically a disabled version of the Show I think would be fun to watch.

I would be up for watching it anyway.

…we’ll agree to disagree or we’ll just disagree, Mock…but then my world and experiences are probably very different in knowing and having worked with some Down Syndrome children who have been part of mainstream schooling and not special schooling ….and knowing how much they can flourish in that environment …and this isn’t comparable to something like a competitive sport/competition…it is primarily an entertainment show and as I say, there have been ‘boxes ticked’ with everyone chosen, I would say…interestingly I saw one article, which I only read the first few sentences of …but it was analysing the small opening show/celebrity dancers and the one that it felt was the ‘least skilled dancer’ from that small section, wasn’t Ellie…the person it was definitely could be said to be a box ticker as well, just different categories of boxes ticked…

….anyway, as I say…Ellie is my sweepstake and I’ll champion her until she’s voted off ……

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…we’ll agree to disagree or we’ll just disagree, Mock…but then my world and experiences are probably very different in knowing and having worked with some Down Syndrome children who have been part of mainstream schooling and not special schooling ….and knowing how much they can flourish in that environment …and this isn’t comparable to something like a competitive sport/competition…it is primarily an entertainment show and as I say, there have been ‘boxes ticked’ with everyone chosen, I would say…interestingly I saw one article, which I only read the first few sentences of …but it was analysing the small opening show/celebrity dancers and the one that it felt was the ‘least skilled dancer’ from that small section, wasn’t Ellie…the person it was definitely could be said to be a box ticker as well, just different categories of boxes ticked…

….anyway, as I say…Ellie is my sweepstake and I’ll champion her until she’s voted off ……

That's completely fair Ammi.

And for all that I'm saying, I did personally dislike two people (at least) more than I did Ellie on Launch Night.

So whilst I am personally just very fatigued with the bias towards disabled contestants on Strictly, I am still trying to judge her as an individual.

I do feel though that she's going to struggle on the Show to follow the dances.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

That's completely fair Ammi.

And for all that I'm saying, I did personally dislike two people (at least) more than I did Ellie on Launch Night.

So whilst I am personally just very fatigued with the bias towards disabled contestants on Strictly, I am still trying to judge her as an individual.

I do feel though that she's going to struggle on the Show to follow the dances.

…I guess that I’m just very fatigued as well but with different aspects…/…we’re just two old fatigues … box ticking is such a label that takes away all identity and individuality from someone…and if it did/does apply…?…then I absolutely believe that it applies to every celebrity from every season, it’s just all different boxes that are ticked is all and all different levels of dance ability, also…and all to create a blended entertainment show…and as well as dance skills/progression…?…different aspects of each personality and celebrity will vary in their appeal to individual viewers/public members…that’s the way of the world ….

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…I guess that I’m just very fatigued as well but with different aspects…/…we’re just two old fatigues … box ticking is such a label that takes away all identity and individuality from someone…and if it did/does apply…?…then I absolutely believe that it applies to every celebrity from every season, it’s just all different boxes that are ticked is all and all different levels of dance ability, also…and all to create a blended entertainment show…and as well as dance skills/progression…?…different aspects of each personality and celebrity will vary in their appeal to individual viewers/public members…that’s the way of the world ….

I understand what you're saying, but I honestly do believe that the disabled contestants have been pushed by the production of Strictly more than any other demographic in recent times imo.

Regardless of what ends up happening with Ellie.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

I understand what you're saying, but I honestly do believe that the disabled contestants have been pushed by the production of Strictly more than any other demographic in recent times imo.

Regardless of what ends up happening with Ellie.

…I did follow a lot of the season that Rose Ayling-Ellis won…obviously in dance/music, she had a huge disability…she was though, the most skilled dancer imo…that’s all I know, really…I don’t feel that disabilities should be excluded from an entertainment show and can show great talent also, as much as anyone…