I doubt very much if it was Jay Hunt's idea. She might have made the announcement, but I can't see her getting involved at the level of deciding who is on each show on the BBC. I could be wrong though.

I also doubt if the GBP gave the decision more than a passing thought after the announcement - they don't live and breathe SCD live us on here!

Could anyone imagine Simon Cowell replacing Danni Minogue with Leona Lewis on the XFactor?

I wonder how many 8s or 7s Alesha will give the contestants including those who come up as short as John Seargant did at picking up the routines.

What's with the "guest judge" idea? So Darcy Bussell will be able to score contestants as a fifth judge when it gets to the last 4 or 5 contestants? Is this the BBC's way of preventing a repeat of the scoring problems that occurred in last year's semi-final?

I doubt whether Alesha for all her smiling and likeable personality is going to bring the same level of critical expertise that Arlene which actually did add a different flavour to SCD and contrasted well with the other 3 judges.

The decision smacks of populist correctness at the BBC in the face of the stick that John Seargant got last year for being so hopelessly out of his depth. I wouldn't be surprised to see SCD's viewing figures dip considerably in 2010 and 2011 and that in 2012 Brucie will retire and the show will be axed.

I think you're underestimating the 'water cooler effect' that popular culture has with the GBP. For the last few weeks, all I heard on the way to work, in work, in the coffee queue etc. was Michael Jackson's death and all I've heard shopping and doing shores today was Strictly and I've yet to hear a positive statement about it.

That is of course my experience of the news, but ya know, I'll bet that's mirrored around the country today. This is pretty big news out there, especially online with lots of celebs saying how wrong it is on twitter to pieces in the national newspapers (ie. see Fiona Phillips' column today). It's true us fans have more invested in it, but as announcements go, this has gone down like a lead balloon everywhere.

Oh I agree with you because let's face it despite the rumours it is a huge shock - but by the time September rolls around millions will tune in and watch as normal. The big switch off won't happen, at least not for the next series. On Monday everyone talking about Alesha now will be talking about the Katie Price interview with Piers Morgan on ITV tonight (at 9.00pm, not the usual 10.00pm btw). That will be the headlines in the red tops tomorrow, The ageism thing will probably roll on a until after the weekend.

Just my opinion of course.