Hello monkseal, not sure if we've met but your blog's brilliant.

I've always bought into the 'Len/technical, Craig/performance stuff because over time it seems to pan out that way. They're human, they have favourites and sometimes it affected their marking (it didn't bother me if their favourite was my favourite; it annoyed the hell out of me if my favourite wasn't the chosen one) but they each seemed to mark from a set viewpoint and Arlene was always trying to get to the essence of the dance, even if the footwork wasn't perfect.

The 'qualifications' I'd like to see from any judge would either be actual qualifications (I'm assuming you can 'qualify' to be a dance judge or teacher) or sufficient experience to be deemed knowledgable and competent and for your views to be respected within the field.

As much as I like Alesha, she just doesn't have the background to justify a place on the panel.

I just think that Alesha judging professional ballroom dancers would be akin to Cheryl Cole judging somebody like Kelly Clarkson. In other words, a totally ridiculous scenario.

To be fair Len also said in the same article

"But who knows, maybe Alesha will be fantastic and bring a different dynamic to the judging panel.”

I do think Len is the 'technical' lead on the judging panel.

Craig and Arlene would occasionally comment on technical aspects too, but Bruno was just a 'performance' judge (I use the word judge loosely when it comes to Bruno) who might use the word 'posture' now and then.

PS I am an older woman.

'ullo JohnFromWales. Praise from someone who can write is always worth twice as much.

I agree that the judges all mark from their own viewpoint (Bruno's usually being staring at the desk from underneath wondering where he is and how that pink giraffe got down here) but I don't think they're different say, in an ice skating sense where you get a score for technicality, and a score for interpretation.

Of all the judges where I can get a handle on their thought processes (ie all of them apart from Bruno) they seem to be marking on both a performance and technical level. Craig goes on about being excited by a performance but drones about about gapping and heel leads (and always gets the latter wrong). Arlene talks about sex and passion but has an arm fixation. Len will mark you high for your fleckerls but his score for Austin's paso last year showed that he thinks performance and style are important.

Bruno just scores whatever makes his heart race - I think you could actually probably replace Bruno with Alesha and it wouldn't make a HUGE difference, outside their personal prejudices - Alesha could just copy Len and occasionally knock the odd mark off a female as opposed to Bruno who does the same with the different gender

But Arlene? No way. And to be honest I find crazy old Bruno hilarious (and the only one who escaped from the aftermath of the Sergeant That Ate The Show and made it boring with any dignity) so I wouldn't even be happy about that.

You're right but, let's be honest, you could probably replace Bruno with an 8 on a stick, change it to a 10 for the last four weeks, and donate his wages to Brucie's retirement plan.

Of course, no-one's mentioned the biggest loss of all yet - where will I get my alliteration injections now?

Does anybody out there know where I could find out just exactly what celebrities and pro dancers are in the 2009 strictly lineup?

Come back in late August/early September

The BBC will announce it in a press conference nearer the time. Most of the names are usually leaked in the tabloids in the weeks leading up to the press conference.

As far as we know the pro dancers this year will be the same as last year except for Camilla and Hayley, who will be replaced with two foreign pros.

Is Hayley definitley not returning?

As far as I am aware she is not

But Is It Looking Likely That Brian Fortuna Will Be Returning - Does Anybody Know That?

On the 'dance grapevine' it is said that both Brian and Kristina have been signed up for this year.

(Cracking comment about Bruno BTW )

Why has Camilla left

If they were going to replace Arlene, they should not have chosen someone whose knowledge of dancing was acquired on the show. Alesha has been chosen on popularity and will not add anything other than an annoying laugh.

She just felt it was the right time to go (she announced it live in an interview on TV the day after the final).

Given the lack of positive response on this towards Alesha becoming the new judge- do you think there is any possibility that she will reconsider and stand aside for another more experienced figure

Does she really need this bad publicity

Not a chance. She will take her money and won't give a toss. If she had any sense of what's right she wouldn't have accepted the job in the first place.

I was going to boycott the show, but I will just FF her as I do with Karen Hardy.

What on earth the Beeb is playing at, I don't know. Surely there are some younger, interesting PROS who could have done the job. What on earth does Alesha know about it FFS?

She annoyed me as a competitor, and I wish she would just disappear to be honest.

Alesha is being used as a marketing tool by Jay Hunt- you know- the you would be wonderful dahrling bit....

To market what exactly?

I'll PM you

Who is Jay Hunt?

The "controller" of BBC 1- well alleged controller anyway

The bright spark who came up with this asinine idea of replacing Arlene with Alesha

Thanks

The imbecile who has ruined Strictly- is Jay Hunt