http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...n-Goodman.html

Has the BBC consulted anyone over this move? I have watched SCD from the very first episode and loved it so much. This is the only year when I just can't see it working at all.

Not only will it distance viewers, but I can see a number of the pros leaving as the show clearly takes a new direction.

Annoyed as they might be, I can't see any pros leaving. Where would they go? There's a recession on and I'm sure their dance studios and the rest aren't exacted packed these days.

Strictly is steady money and incomparable exposure.

Excellent post.

Probably their contracts etc were sent out before this all come to light, so it might have been too late to back down or what have you.

moved

All I would say is, apart from the fact that if we had to get rid of one of the judges, I would have prefered it to have been Bruno.... is that Arlene can't be that pissed of by it or she wouldn't have taken the "One Show" gig....I can't imagine that any of the judges are exactly "on their uppers" despite the recession, and if I was really pissed of, I wouldn't take the "consolation" job at any price...

*applause*

There is currently a dancing craze amoungst the public... who knows how long that will last??

Much better to have the regular wage and tremendous exposure of SCD - esp given the boost it gives to peoples careers outside of SCD?? Most pro's have only left SCD when ASKED to by producers- few leave of their own volition (Camilla being one noticeable exception!)

I'd happily be a pro dancer for 30k for 5 months work.

None of the pro dancers will walk away from strictly, how else do they earn anything like the money they do on the show plus the live tour, having the tag of being a pro on SCD will also help boost their earning capacity for their outside peroformance

Well, 30k for 5 months work looks great, but if that pay is for a 7 day week it doesn't look quite so grand if you tot up the hours involved The exposure is 99% of the reason the pro's are there, I suspect...

I agree with you on both points.

My dance teacher is currently very very busy, working all hours. However I doubt if the returns are as great as appearing on SCD would be, especially when you consider the additonal payments the dancers get for appearances outside of the show. Also much of the business for dance studios nowadays is from wedding couples which may get a bit tedious after a while since I would imagine the bulk of them don't carry on dancing afterwards.

Edit: Going back to the original topic, I thought Len's comments were a bit low key. He's probably worried he'll lose his job if he speaks out too much or possibly he's not too concerned about the change. At least he's said something, unlike the other two.

Yes Craig and Bruno's reactions- or lack of reaction speak volumes

As I said on another thread quoting Len, he also said -

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

I doubt if Alesha saying 'no' to being a judge would have saved Arlene. My guess is Arlene was chosen to go a good while ago judging by everything they have lined up for her on the One Show. I'm sure she ruffled the wrong feathers last year.

It is a shame she is the only one to be replaced and that a ballroom/Latin judge isn't taking her place. If Bruno had also been replaced there would not be the same uproar about ageism going on. But I for one am glad the person who is replacing Arlene is at least someone I like.

Oh to be a fly on the wall when these decisions are made!

All these comments about ageism kill me, Arlene still has a spot on BBC TV, she has not been sacked or demoted because of her age, she will still be appearing weekly on BBC 1, if the intentions to remove her were because of her age then why did they give her another slot on BBC. If it was ageism then she would be off air completely. It's a shake up of the programme, it happens in all walks of life, why should a tv show be any different ?

Um, that makes no sense at all.

Arlene has definitely been demoted. Strictly is BBC's flagship saturday night programme. It's the pimp slot. They've replaced the older woman with a younger, more attractive model. They've given her a much lower profile position as an alternative. If that isn't demotion, I don't know what is.

Exactly my point. If the One Show was a better gig that SCD then there would have been no need for Christine Bleakley to compete in SCD last year. SCD is prime time flagship entertainment, the One Show is a magazine programme with a much lower profile. The final litmus test for ageism/sexism", would they have replaced Len with Darren Gough?, absolutely not. Would they have replaced Arlene with say Cherie Lunghi, a former contestant who is in her 50s?, absolutely not.

Yes totally agree with this. The One Show has a way lower profile than Strictly. IMO this is most definitely sexism and ageism and we've seen it time and time again on TV eg Moira Stewart, yet there are plently of old men still on our screens (I don't need to mention any names and I don't mind how old someone is as long as they do a good job!). The BBC can dress it up as a revamp and make all sorts of excuses, but funny how it is the older woman with experience who is axed.

I'd still do it! Mind you, my dancing is not quite up to scratch.

I still agree with myself....

Picking up on your post I think you are right too (apart from the Bruno bit as he was my 2nd choice for replacement ).

I'm sure she was completely shocked and very disappointed, but Arlene is no fool and would have to throw a real hissy fit to turn down the One Show role. Plus I've no doubt she'll still be on ITT where now she can say what she wants without fear of any comeback.

If Alesha had been invited to join the X-Factor panel, I might actually be persuaded to watch the show! She'd be perfect for it - great voice, relevant experience in the field, plenty of warmth and enthusiasm and far easier to relate to than Cheryl Cole.

But her comments and scores will have no credibility whatsoever on Strictly. And I can't see the pros taking too kindly to being criticised by an amateur.

This is a very poor move indeed.

The show was ticking along quite nicely. Why fix something that isn't broken?

Sid sweetie <smooch> - how can you say that after the calamitous madness of the last series???

(Sorry to cut down your post in its prime, but I only wanted to comment on this bit!)

Yep. SCD 6 was the highest rated of any series by a sizeable majority.

Its evidently the fact TXF was ahead that pissed her off and now are changing their tactics to engage with the younger audience.

Oh you know I'll let you get away with murder Buddy <smooch!>

You're right, the last series did provoke some controversy. And I didn't agree with all that was said and done.

I fail to see how Arlene's removal and Alesha's presence would fix that though?

This decision is only adding to the deterioration of Strictly.

They can do that through the celebrities they invite to take part on the show though surely?

I doubt Alesha is going to attract many more younger viewers.