According to The Sun today, 'BBC chiefs' are planning to sex-up the next series of SCD in a bid to win younger viewers:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle2348466.ece

They say the programme will look more like Dancing With The Stars with raunchier routines and more sensual celebrities. But is sex really what Strictly needs?

Not so long ago 'BBC chiefs' were bragging about the show heralding the return of 'family entertainment'. I suggest they remember what happened when Tony Blair tried to sex-up the Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction dossier. It all backfired rather badly on him!

I say, Stick to what you know, Aunty!

What do you think?

No No No No!!!!........

No No No No No No No!

Its always going to be that little bit too camp to be really sexy anyway (though many contestants and pros are hot).

They can't make it sexy with Bruce presenting anyway lol.

They said that LAST year and it had a load of oldies in it!!

IF this is true (which it prob aint) then I reckon the BBC are barking up the wrong tree. Youngsters are invariably OUT on a Saturday night, so I cant see them being the predominant audience. I always thoughts Strictlys audience was predominantly older...

Perhaps the phrase 'sexed up' is inappropriate, but it's clear that something needs to be done, there was so much wrong with the last series.

I thought that the mix of celebrities was about right and, unlike many reality shows, they were all reasonably well-known. Yes, there was a wide variety of skills, but isn't that part of the appeal? I do think that the Beeb should clarify what it wants the show to be - primarily entertainment (the thoughts of its originator) or dancing - and choose the contestants accordingly.

I also think that the judges and Bruce need clear guidelines as to what is acceptable behaviour, both on the show and during other appearances. In my ideal world, Len, Arlene and Bruce wouldn't be invited back. I do wonder whether BF's recent comments about being happy to continue presenting the show were an attempt to 'talk himself up'? It was very clear last year that he was struggling, and frequently out of his depth. Perhaps he has realised that he is both too incompetent and too expensive to front a prime time show any more, but just doesn't want to accept the fact?

I'm not a huge fan of Tess, but feel that she deserves a chance to prove what she can do when she isn't having to look after a doddery old man, as well as manage her share of the presenting.

A major revamp would also give the chance to examine the voting structure - clearly necessary after last year. Likewise, the rates of pay could be re-examined. It is a travesty that the professionals, the ones who do most of the work, get so little whilst the presenter receives almost half a million pounds. A big change around could see a new presenter being paid much less, and the professionals receiving a lot more. I know that being on 'Strictly' raises their profile, but they still have to put in an awful lot of hours for their money.

I have little faith in stories in the 'Sun' but would love this one to be true, at least in parts. I might, then, return to watching the show. On the other hand, we are living proof that life does exist after 'Strictly'! When we stopped watching it, we discovered that there are other things to do on a Saturday night, so just got on with enjoying ourselves.

I hate to say this but I can see where the BBC are coming from with this. I certainly do not want to watch a sexed up version of my favourite show, but the BBC are only concerned with ratings. If a sexed up version brings higher ratings than the show at present, that's what we're going to get.

If you look at our current pro line-up, ruling out the ones who are either taken or gay (I'm assuming the BBC wouldn't necessarily be keen on a gay relationship to sex the show up), as far as I know that leaves Anton, Brian and Kristina. So chances of much chemistry going on are minimal. If they had a cast full of single pros, the chances are much higher, and as a result there is more potential for headlines and pulling in new viewers.

I'm not saying this to ruffle feathers, but if you look at the most popular couple on DS, undoubtedly Matt and Flavia... and then wonder why, after all this time, they still have threads full of conversations about them when they competed over a year ago... it's not hard to draw the conclusion that it's about their relationship, both during and after the series. I'd hazard a guess that it drew viewers in, both for SCD5 and the following year, it made people more interested in Flavia, it interested people when Matt DA was in the audience. So I wouldn't be surprised if the BBC were interested in recreating that kind of storyline. Which would probably require a new set of pros, since the current ones are mostly taken and, as far as I can see, less likely to stray.

If you then add in the people who would like a drastic change to the pro line-up anyway, which seems to include a fair proportion of the dancers who watch the show, I wonder how many people seriously care if the current pros are retained?

I think I hold a minority view when I say that the pros make the show for me. I watch my three favourites religiously, and probably wouldn't watch if they were dropped. And my favourite part of the show is the pro dances. So I sincerely hope the story isn't true, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is.


ETA Forgot to add another dimension to the appeal of relationships on the show, which is that a lot of people, me included, quite like the thought that some of the pros are married to each other. I know that after series two to four, when Darren and Lilia had featured very heavily in three consecutive series, there was an awful lot of interest in them as a unit (on forums I mean, not in the press). I wouldn't like to see them doing tabloid interviews or anything, but the fact that my two favourite pros are a couple sort of increases my affection for them! Which is what I was getting at with Matt and Flavia- they would have been popular anyway, but the fact that they fell in love increases their popularity beyond what I suspect it would have been if they had been two separate people who happened to dance well together. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts, as they say.

The programme could probably do with a bit of a re-vamp but to go along DWTS lines is wrong for UK viewers IMO it's all very well to add one or two pros from over there but to add more I don't think would work Get some UK blood in the show

About time they replace/revamp the cast of prfoessionals both men & women except Brian Fortuna, the only one that's breath of fresh air amongst those tired & older looking ones.

Glad Camilla has left .

So now the producers can start axing the others as well & instead have a fresh line-up of more youthful, creative, artistic , energetic men & women pros.

I don't know about sexing up per se but you certainly not gonna get any new targeted audience if for example Anton du Beke is still on it.

I agree- is it likely we could get some new UK pros?

I definitely wouldn't want to see the show go along DWTS lines... I think it's nice that there is a stronger emphasis on technicality here. And it makes it all the more special/annoying when someone does pull out a DWTS style routine like Austin's Paso!

I wonder which pros are at risk? Presumably Brian and Kristina are safe, and Vincent and Flavia have already said they're doing SCD7.
Camilla has left, and I wouldn't be surprised if Karen and Erin did too.
Given the BBC's love affair with Anton, I bet he stays on so that he'll be fresh in people's minds for when Bruce does retire . But IMO he should be first to leave, he's by far the oldest and obviously there's the latin thing.
Brendan has been in six series, and for me his choreography is so inconsistent (witness Lisa's showdance ) that he should be given the boot... the bad boy thing is wearing thin anyway.
Darren, Lilia and Ian have done five series now- personally would like all three to stay as they're great dancers and choreographers, but possible the BBC are seeing them as less exciting than some of the newer faces so maybe they are at risk. Although Ian did mention on his website that he was still going to do SCD7 even though Camilla has left, so I guess from that he is safe.
Matt is by far the most popular pro on the show, and has the best dance credentials, so that should keep him safe,
Hayley, James and Ola should be at risk as their choreography doesn't measure up to the others and they're not overly popular, but since they're the 'young sexy' pros the BBC want more of, I guess we'll see more of them

Hayley Holt should not return her dancing and choreography is so low grade it is really out of place on the show.

Agree I think Karen and Erin won't be back but by their decision and Anton is well past his sell by date and his latin if getting worse if anything.

I really like Ian and the Benetts I think they will be safe but dont think the Jordans are safe at all but if that Sun article is true - well frankly anyone could go.

Would like to think there is UK couples out there who would be prepared to have a go at the show or indeed be offered a part in it but have a feeling the BBC will look to USA or Europe - a great pity though there are some good UK pros working abroad married to partners from other countries. It is a shame we have no obvious young pros (like Mark Ballas and Julianne etc) who are not competing and willing to give the show a go.

I wonder why The Sun is rehashing this story which, as I recall, did the rounds not long after SCD6 ended ...?

The BBC, like many other broadcasters, is obsessed with demographics and appealing to a younger audience. They are concerned that if they don't engage with younger viewers, television will be less relevant to them and the industry will shrink.

The manifestation of this has been in several new shows aimed at a younger audience: Bonekickers, Spooks: Code 9 and the much rumoured BBC Three teen soap (that is still languishing in development hell).

Strictly, almost inevitably, will have a broader audience with more older viewers: it has broader appeal and doesn't involve almost exclusively young people competing with one another (a la X Factor).

The BBC meddling with the format is the equivalent of playing with fire: it has a format that works and tinkering with it may alienate viewers rather than attract them from The X Factor. Viewers are not stupid and broadcasters' narrow-mindedness about younger viewers will ultimately only alienate people who don't fall into the 'desired' demographic.

What needs to be done to Strictly isn't anything to do with the audience demographic: it's to do with the judges and their voting power. Get rid of Len, Arlene and Bruno, then let the public have the final say and you're onto a winner. That has nothing to do with 'sexing the show up'.

katie_p, consider my feathers ruffled! Sorry, but Matt and Flavia are not the most popular couple on SCD. As if! Their, um, non-dancing activities may have generated media coverage, but they weren't paired off by the BBC for that to happen. And encouraging couplings that might create real-life dramas is straying into pretty dodgy territory ...

I'm not wild about DWTS but the one thing I quite like about some of what I've seen is that they really throw themselves into the performances in a way less of our guys do. When Austin did his paso, the first reaction from everyone was shock - because it was unexpected - then they loved it. A bit more pizzazz and showbiz wouldn't be a bad idea ... and less focus on the heel turns! :yawn:

I think/hope there's a possibility that Hayley's contract won't be renewed, I don't think she was the BBC's first choice and she hardly took anyone by storm! But since they're aiming to bring in more overseas pros, perhaps they want to hang on to the ones they've already brought in.

I would be quite happy to see the Jordans leave, James is ok but Ola's choreography doesn't seem to do anything for her partners, and I don't think either of them is especially popular.

I didn't say the most popular couple on Strictly, I said the most popular couple on DS, which I think they are, or at least the most talked about!

I know they weren't paired up to create a romance, but I wouldn't be surprised if the BBC saw how that took off and wanted to play the odds in favour of creating more chemistry and couplings (I didn't mean splitting up existing couples though).

I too think that Karen and Erin will not be back by their own choice......Anton will I am sure still be there but possibly not as a dancer.....I too would get rid of Arlene and Len. The rest I dont think should be tinkered with except that new dance pro's always adds an extra element....I was NOT in favour of Kristina and Brian being brought in but had to eat my words.....I liked both of them....and Kristina despite her 'sex bomb' looks managed to put her own immense talent to one side in order to coreograph suitable routines for John without having to resort to the 'look at ME not at the numpty' tactics of Ola and her jumpsuit. I dont think Hayley will be back.

I think it would be a huge mistake to try and engineer 'showmance' as down that road disaster calls, and the certain end of SCD when no married celebs will touch it no matter how much they are offered, and it would be more likely to make me turn off than tune in.

I think Erin has already confirmed she'll be back on the Alan Titchmarsh show.

I agree with your second paragraph too.

I'm afraid that 'sexing up' Strictly would be just another name for dumbing down imo Admittedly, one of the reasons I started watching in the first place was that it was sexy, but sexy in a classy way If it turned into a show that was all bums, baps and gussets, and was filled with peurile speculation about who is shagging who :yawn: I'd just have to find something else to do on a saturday night

That's good news, mintchocchip


LOl, me too , Stu!!


.

Oh did she ?? hope thats true I like her........it was only a gut feeling anyway......based on her upcoming marriage and her being SO upset about Austin going out........I thought it was perhaps because she thought her chance to win had finally gone.

Hmm ... maybe I saw red too soon () – but I still don't think they're the most popular couple, even here!

The other thing the producers need to do is to stop trying to fabricate behind the scenes tension and rivalry. The Austin vs Tom thing the producers started was obviously such rubbish and both of them played along with it briefly before giving up all pretence (quite right too!).

I too am hugely relieved that Erin will stay. Quite right, too! All she needs now is a decent dance partner ... someone who can rival Kara Tointon!

Well, one of the most popular then
They're not my cup of tea but they certainly have a loyal following!

I like Erin but I'm surprised she'll be back if some of the pros are being replaced. The polls I've seen suggest she is not especially popular, and her latin isn't that much better than Anton's. By chance I caught a bit of Austin and Erin's Jive today, and I couldn't help thinking it was a shame he wasn't paired with a latin pro, who would have given him a better routine and danced it with a bit more sparkle.

Ultimately though Katie it was the American Smooth that let them down.......I thought it would be storming and it wasnt and they went out that week.

Yes that's true. I didn't mean to imply their latin routines were the reason they got knocked out, I just felt as though Austin didn't reach his full potential in latin because he was with Erin.

Possibly........wish he hadnt gone out when he did though.

I still think if Austin had be paired with a partner good at both latin and ballroom say Lilia for instance he may have won that or at least been in final three - Anton and Erins latin just doesnt cut it and before anyone pulls up Colin - Erin did seek help with his latin

Personally I think if it had been left up to the public and not the dance off he would have been in the final anyway with a good chance of winning.

I agree but then I'm a Eriaustin fan too. I'm hoping Austin'll do the tour next year although if he does he'll get another partner as Erin and Anton always do their own thing and we may well see the theory about Erin letting him down being tested. I think though a lot of what made Eriaustin watchable was that they got on very well together. It's often chemistry that makes a partnership on Strictly not necessarily erotic chemistry (in fact more often than not it isn't - even in a case like James Martin and Camelia were people thought it was). I think Austin was put with Erin because he had the rep of being gobby and she was reckoned to be one of the few lady pros who could handle that as it was they got really well. I don't think that the producers deliberately put together partnerships where people won't get on but it happens - I think that it happened with Karen and Gary Rhodes which is one of the reasons why I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't come back. I think Erin got a bit scared when Nicole wasn't asked back which is why she was gutted when her and Austin were knocked out, she was at pains to emphasize she wasn't the oldest lady pro there and she had the work done to her teeth - I think she's expecting to be dismissed as one of the older lady pros without the obvious glamour of someone like Camelia or larger than life personality of someone like Karen. I like Erin a good deal and hope she will be back next year - if Anton quits then she may well be paired with Ian whom I think the show will be keen to retain as a partner for the tall which is something that will help Erin too - with Camelia gone then Erin is the only tall lady left apart from the uncharismatic Hayley who hasn't exactly been a big hit.

I have to say about Mavia although I am a supporter of theirs that what that illustrated is that chemistry is unpredictable (no one really foresaw what was going to happen between them - for all the idea that the producers want single people to encourage showmances Flavia was in a relationship at the start of the show) and if the producers are going out of their way to encourage it then they'll be disappointed. The papers seemed to be on the look out for something happening between Kelly and Brendan that year which didn't. I hope they don't go down that route I like seeing relationships develop between the partnerships but not like that.