But you are not famous, nor are you the most popular SCD contestant ever - so sorry you don't qualify for the job!



If Camilla or Karen or any existing pro were to be appointed as a judge there would still be uproar on here with people shouting about bias, and 'I can't stand them' remarks, etc.

The only thing that would have made people happy is if a new ballroom/Latin judge had been appointed along side the existing four judges - and even then plenty of people would moan on here!

Personally I think Alesha has been a smart cookie taking on the role, as she will be able to pursue her successful music career and keep in the public eye - maybe even building up a new fan base by appearing on SCD.

Remember we live in a goldfish bowl on here - the vast majority of the SCD audience will probably just tune in as normal and enjoy the show!

But performance is only part of it and Darcy Bussell would have been better as the regular judge. Things are not looking good for Strictly 2009.

Good for Alesha but bad for SCD.

I think it may be the last year for everyone!

I think she's been smart too, I'm not sure it will help her credibility in the long term though. However, I'm sure the position pays well!


She may be better but she's still not a ballroom dancer. I really don't see what is so difficult about getting another ballroom/latin judge

Btw, IF this is detrimental to the show (and it may not be) I will blame Alesha, as well as the producers for not thinking it all through properly. We shall see.

Poor Len! With Bruno leaping about on one side of him, and Alesha cackling on the other, I think GRUMPY is going to be an understatement!

Camilla just isn't high profile enough for the beeb to even consider her.

In fairness to Alesha, she's at least as competent to judge dancing as Cheryl Cole is to judge singing. And from the point of view of the ITV producers, that was very successful indeed.

And as for those who think she should have turned it down, welcome to the real world. Celebs aren't usually in the business of turning down lucrative, time prime exposure slots on national TV. The singing career won't last for ever and she knows that.

I would have preferred them to have found a brand new judge with a professional background, but the idea that Alesha will harm the show is a bit dramatic, I think.

Sorry Laurie but judging singing is largely about personal taste. If someone can't sing or sing very well anyone can spot it. Dancing and dance technique is an entirely different kettle of fish

Sorry stu but that doesn't make any sense. Singing is as technical a discipline as dancing. There are issues like tuning, breathing, phrasing, projection, diction, control of tone, control moving between registers to consider for those who know what they're talking about.

In both disciplines, someone who knows nothing can decide in a general sense whether they like what they see or not. For both disciplines, experts can determine those who are technically really good and those who aren't.

You do know that there are singing teachers out there? What do you think they spend their time doing?

I thought the same when Dancing on Ice made it 2 "performance" judges and 3 skating instead of 4-1. I still miss the old balance.

I agree. Alesha is a grown adult and resposnible for her own actions... to say she was somehow convinced or coerced into it denigrades her intelligence...

I LIKE Alesha but I wonder why shes going back into the SCD fold when her career outside has been quite healthy (Im forever hearing her music on the radio!!) She may become inextricably linked to SCD now... rather than using it as a conveneint stepping stone to re-launch her career...Im concerned shes now forever gonna be "Strictly's Alesha" and that her career outside of SCD will be overshadowed...

I'm not convinced of that yet.



Re the balance between Alesha's singing career and being on SCD - maybe she's happy with where she's got to with her singing career? Who knows why she accepted the job? Maybe she just really liked the idea? I doubt if Alesha turning down the job would have meant that Arlene stayed.

Alesha always seems very level headed in interviews and I doubt if she's in all this just for the money or fame. I suspect she's looking long term.

So should we just stick with the same judges for the sixth series in a row? They have done that on Dancing with the Stars in the US and it seems to have worked. I would be happy with Arlene or Alesha, although worried about an amateur winning a reality show can be a credible judge. It might work on X Factor. Not sure about Strictly. Won't Alesha be a bit out of her depth?

Comparing judging on SCD with DWTS doesn't really work for me because on DWTS the judges are far far less critical than on SCD and they don't publicly discuss the contestants to the same degree as the SCD judges either. Just my opinion of course.

I think you're right - they did introduce a new judge on American Idol this year but will probably not follow the same line with the next season of DWTS. I guess Strictly may be a little bit worried about maintaining the status quo this year in what is a very competitive Sat nite slot - will they have their results show on Sun again though? I have heard that X Factor will do this in the next series?

Although singing can be a technical discipline, I don't think that technique is a very important factor for judging most of the singing on the X factor which is middle of the road pop music. I think people rarely listen to pop music and think "Wow that singer is technically really good". The title of the 'X factor' is really the give away. It's about finding that pretty much indefinable "wow factor".

For ballroom/latin and ice skating things are very different. Technique is very important (it is precisely because of that, that on both shows the judges give marks, as they would in a real competition, unlike on the X factor). Of course performance is a factor as well, and I would expect the judges to comment on it, but I think the general public are well placed to make their own assessment of performance, whereas most rely on the judges' expertise for technique. I'd want a more technically competent panel of judges, not a less competent one.

I thought Kara was a good addition to AI - better than Paula (still can't believe Adam Lambert didn't win)!

I'm sure you are right about competing with X Factor. I haven't heard anything about changes to the results show, si who knows?

I do remember Michael Flatley standing in for Len on DWTS was a disaster - he was a complete waste of time.

Yes, they really should replace Paula - but I guess this discussion belongs in another thread. So, do you think Alesha will work as a judge?

I'm balancing on the fence. Personally I would have chosen another ballroom/Latin expert, but I do like her a lot so I'm willing to give her a chance.

Me too.

Right up until she starts warbling "surprise, suuuuuuuuuuuprise" in her ongoing attempt to be the new Cilla Black...

That's when I'm reaching for the remote!

I can cope with just about anything else!

Given the bad and negative feedback about this do you think Alesha would reconsider and stand down

I don't think that Alesha will reconsider this, she has made her decision. Presumably the tick boxing, forum group loving execs with the numbers of demographic pollsters on their speedial, who so badly wanted her to take the job will be giving her all the reassuring soundbites she needs "we'll be behind you, don't worry its just all those nasty white middle englanders who are upset, there there there..." Even if she were to withdraw I suspect the next choice will be an equally bad, or maybe worse choice, from the same populist shortlist, Mylene Klass, or we may even get to Lilly Allen, or Peaches Geldof.

No way. She makes a living by keeping in the public eye. This is a huge gig for her. Why on earth would she turn it down?

The public might moan a little now, but the vast majority of casual fans will come round by the time the show starts and come September everyone will be singing her praises and wondering how we ever coped with the horrible old witch Arlene.

Dear God no

No I don't tbh - maybe if the series was a bad experience she'd step down, but not before giving it a go.



This is the point I have been trying to make.

The GBP will still watch in their millions and if someone who is not technically qualified is joining the judging panel then for me at least I'm glad they chose someone like Alesha who I like a lot - plenty other names would have horrified me.