I was wondering what the pros must be thinking about Alesha's appointment.

I wonder how, for example, Karen Hardy feels about it.

I'm not a big fan of Karen (can't stand her fake grin, etc, etc), but I think she'd have made a far more credible judge than Alesha. Karen has had some experience, judging, and even being on the panel of a TV dance competition. So has Brendan, quite a lot.

I wonder how Karen would have reacted if she'd been offered the job. I reckon she'd have jumped at it. So what must she (and the other pros) be thinking about Alesha now.

One season they were competing with Alesha, and the next season, she's judging, and scoring, them.

I'm just waiting to see Brendan get a low score from Alesha.

The judges need to command respect from the pros.... not sure that I can see that happening. But it might make for some very "entertaining" telly.

I would be fuming. Although Alesha won't be judging the pros as such, she is judging what they have choreographed and taught their celebs. And she will be doing that without any idea of what she's talking about.

I've had the impression periodically that backstage the pros don't always think a lot of what the judges say about their work. And now they've got someone judging them who barely knows anything about ballroom and latin. I wouldn't be impressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Z_qLHrLI4

anton on the wright stuff. this is from when it was first rumoured.

I imagine Camilla would be gutted. She made no secret of her desperation to be a judge.

Desperation? she said she'd love to do it but I haven't seen her wailing or complaining about it since She was on telly last night and looked pretty happy with life to me, she's just passed her exams for NLP, is starting the Skate Nation show next weekend and is marrying the guy she loves next July I doubt that gutted comes into it tbh

...and given the nature of some of the flak flying around at the moment she may well be thinking that she's better off where she is It's the pro's opinions who are still competing on the show that matters, and if Anton's view is anything to go by they're probably not that enthusiastic.

I'd be insulted and I actually am feeling insulted for them! I think its bad enough that a show based around ballroom dancing only has one judge with ballroom knowledge!

I doubt Camilla would be gutted, as she has other plans for her future career that do not involve dancing.



As for the other pros, I don't think they are likely to be impressed, and Len has made it pretty clear he certainly isn't, and even feels it could lose the show a lot of viewers.

What are these exams Camilla's taking?

I'm sure they are annoyed, yes. However Camilla, though I like her, just doesn't have a big enough personality to judge. She doesn't have anything like a big enough name for the beeb to consider.

There's a better argument to be made for Karen as I think she's more recognisable to viewer who only dips in now and again, but she does divide opinion a bit. And no doubt the beeb want someone younger.

I don't think it was ever going to happen for them. Alesha or no Alesha.

I bet they did a few facepalms, wtf, and lol'ing.

Haha

What on Earth do you mean by saying Camilla 'doesn't have a big enough personality to judge'? She has eyes and she has years of experience...What else do you need? Amateur dramatics? That's what's worrying me we might be in for this year tbh and the last thing I want to see

Karen would suit me fine as a judge too, btw...but as you say, she's a bit of a marmite choice

Oh, and why should having a 'big name' matter? I'd never heard of Len, Bruno or Craig before Strictly I'd heard of Arlene though
Last edited by SideshowStu : 11-07-2009 at 11:54

Camilla is in the Daily Express mag today and it says something about the rumours of Alesha being a judge and replacing Arlene etc , and Camilla says she doesn't/cannot comment but she fully respects Arlene, and that Alesha is lovely and a great dancer.

If I were a pro, I would NOT be happy to be judged by an amateur. It just undermines all those years of training they've gone through to get where they are today.

I am glad Karen/Camilla did not get offered the judge choice, although they'd be great, those 2 do not need anymore reason for people to dislike them. Karen however would be my choice to judge seeing as she's judged near enough all of the SCD lot in her judging career, and obviously had to remain professional when judging people she knew.

Friend also said Matt was in one magazine being asked about this situation and that he didn't know anything of Alesha being asked to judge, and I think something about he didn't think she'd be a very good choice. (Don't quote me on it though..I've not actually read the magazine)

I feel that Camilla just doesn't have enough 'presence' to judge on a show like this. There are plenty of people out there (like yourself) who would appreciate her view on the technical aspects of the performance.

But there are also plenty who aren't particularly interested in the technicalities of dance and if I were a producer, I'd fear that for them (and they're the majority) Camilla might come across as boring. She's a sweet person, but when she speaks, she never makes me sit up and listen. From the producers point of view, the fear is that people use Camilla's judging spot as an opportunity to go and make a cup of tea. That's not what they want.

On the issue of 'big names', I'm with you. I'd far prefer it if they went out and found another Bruno. However, I think the beeb see it differently now than they did five years ago or whatever. It's very high profile show now, they want to create hype about the new series

Hmmm..that's fair enough Laurie But one mans meat is another man's poison and I personally pay more attention to someone who says their piece quietly without the theatricals than to someone like Bruno who feels the need to bounce around like a muppet on acid or someone like Len who is either grouchy or wildly over-generous

If that is a definition of 'presence' then I'd rather go without

There were two different quote's in Woman and Woman's Own this week........MC said in one "It would be good to have Alesha back but they shouldn't chuck Arlene" and in the other (can't remember word for word)he said he didn't think Alesha would be back as a judge because she dosen't have the dancing knowledge.......

As for this topic.......

No matter what the pro's say you're never going to know what they really think about all this unless any of them are Secret Millionaires and can afford to be out of SCD next year.

They will have to be positive and tow the party line to keep the job.

Of the all the people who watch strictly, I think there are a fair number like you who really care about the dancing and want educated opinions on it and can leave the theatricalities behind. However, I suspect the majority watch it purely for entertainment value and I'm not sure Camilla would provide enough of that for these people. I imagine she'd be a very competent and fair judge though.

So if the pros are unhappy about being judged by an "amateur" they don't have to sign their contracts, do they!!

I doubt if ANY of them gave the matter any thought whatever.

JJ

Absolutely!!

Do we think that if Alesha isnt an enormous sucess that she might only do one series of SCD??

I also question how this might afect her career...? Shes gonna be "Strictly's Alesha" now, it will forever overshadow her career as a singer.... her pop career hasnt been doing too badly so I wonder why shes taken a retrospective move...??

The contracts are supposed to come out June/July so they may have signed without knowing. If it was me I would reconsider if I had the option.

But she'll be judging Matthew, won't she? I iknow I'd find it hard to give him a low mark if I were Alesha.

Yeah, I'm sorry, I think desperation was the wrong word. She did seem really enthusiastic about wanting to be a judge but that was a while ago. I know she's been busy with other things. I'm sure she'd still accept a judging role if offered though.

Imagine the outrage if (for example) all other judges give Matthew and his partner a 6 and Alesha gives a 7.

It's one of the reasons I took to her in the first place Laurie

Do you think there is any chance Alesha would stand down given the reaction from people about this

Conn Iggulden made the comment that men like looking at beautiful women - has it not occurred to anyone that perhaps women like looking at beautiful men!

Why dispense with Arlene's services and retain those of Len and Bruno.