No she wont.

And with this decision they're inadvertently alienating their established and most loyal viewers which will in turn bring down overall viewership.

I know - I'm so pushy!

I agree Alesha taking over from Arlene is a real shocker, but I'll sit on the fence about the whether it stops the rot as Bruno is still there and the series hasn't started yet!

I must admit I'm hoping for some more changes - nothing specific, but a bit more than has been announced. I am very interested in what they have done to the scoring system having employed a firm of consultants to look at it!

Should you get uncomfy on the fence, my lap is always available instead

And I wasn't aware they were modifying the scoring system I really do need to get up to speed!

If Len is concerned about Alesha's appointment he should be equally concerned at the manner of Arlene's being dropped from the show, if todays Mirror article has it right...

Nobody told her anything, they didn't answer her calls and they didn't give cogent reasons for their decision either. Pretty much the same happened to Nicole as I recall it. The only difference is that Nicole was side-lined altogether but Arlene has been given a dead slot on a dead show, which means she is still on the beeb payroll and still subject to the unofficial code of omerta.


I'm going right off the beeb altogether

Having read so much on so many threads and in the press about ageism with the Arlene/Alesha saga, I'd really be interested to know whether those with a strong opinion on the ageism issue would have the same opinion if Arlene had been replaced with Camilla or Karen or another pro? They are all in a similar sort of age bracket to Alesha, and a lot younger than Arlene, but have the technical experience - is it the actual age or the lack of experience driving the ageism views?

For me personally, the age doesn't seem that big an issue, otherwise I think BBC wouldn't have offered The One Show to Arlene, which whilst not the flagship show, does still command a good audience in its timeslot?

I'm in the wait and see camp for Alesha as judge, as I don't see how changing a judge but making no other changes shakes up the format - the Beeb know they aren't replacing like for like, so I am hoping they will use Alesha in a different way somehow - esp as there will be changes with Darcey coming on board at the end. Can't imagine Alesha would think she has the experience to "judge" the pros. Something still isn't quite adding up for me, but I could be in for a nasty shock!

I would have been happy for Arlene to be replaced by Camilla and Karen (although I would have still asked: why not Bruno?) since they are specialists in their field. Karen, in particular, has extensive experience of adjudication and was a judge at Blackpool this year.

As an analogy, if I was replaced by a younger but more skilled person in a role at work, I couldn't really complain. But if I was replaced by a younger, but less skilled person I would probably regard it as discrimination.

In all honesty SG, I don't think there'd have been as much noise coming from the press if either Camilla or Karen took the job as they're recognised professionals and it wouldn't invite cheap cracks about trying to outdo the X Factor. The ageism accusation is only given fuel because of the fact that a pro IS being replaced by an amateur - which does invite speculation as to what the beebs motivation is

As for the forums, I think anyone and everyone gets torn to shreds here for the most casual of reasons, and Camilla or Karen wouldn't fare much better here than Alesha has. Similar vitriol just coming from a different angle really

Speaking for myself, I'm damned glad it's not Camilla that's embroiled in this, and I woudn't be surprised if she felt the same

Alesha is as qualified to judge Ballroom Dancing as Craig and Bruno are (and Arlene for that matter!)

They are all show dancers and choreographers with little or no ballroom dance training, and are definitely NOT qualified to judge any real ballroom dancing contests.

Len is the ONLY member of the panel who has relevant experience as a competitor in the field and is the only qualified judge on the programme (apart from Karen who chooses to dance rather than judge). Craig can talk the talk as he has at least taken Ballroom lessons (or so he states in his autobiography), but he doesn't say whether he actually did any exams.... I'd hazard a guess that he hasn't even got a Bronze Medal to his name.

Alesha will be a breath of fresh air on the panel - and will at least be able to judge teh competitors objectively as she knows exactly what they have to go through when prepapring their wekkly dances. I can't see her being nasty (like Craig) or making stupid comments about raw sex etc etc, or drooling over the fit male contestants.

We should all give the girl a chance before condemning her.

I'll bear in mind () your offer and it isn't like you to be so far behind?

I think there would still have been uproar in the media at Arlene only being replaced by Karen or Camilla because of the age thing, but obviously people couldn't moan about the lack of the right kind of experience.

But on here I honestly believe there would have been just as much uproar at the appointment of an ex-pro (Karen as someone said before is like Marmite in popularity), even though lots of us would have welcomed it happening - particularly if it was as a fifth judge.
Last edited by BuddyBontheNet : 12-07-2009 at 15:57

Presumably this is to avoid a repeat of last year's fiasco when, statistically, Tom and Camilla couldn't go through, whatever the public vote.

Seems to me they're creating one cockup after another.

It would be laughable if it didn't affect a programme we've all enjoyed so much in the past.

Absolutely. Alesha is much more suited to the X Factor anyway IMO, with her being a singer and that being a singing show! She's also got a better voice than Cheryl Cole - but that's not exactly difficult is it


Excellent post

Disgusting way to treat someone who has been on a show for 6 series I hope the other judges are watching closely - it may be them next!

She should have told the BBC where to stick the One Show, it's a demotion pure and simple for no good cause whatsoever. But like you've cleverly pointed out - she'll have to keep her mouth shut to keep that gig won't she?

In her business any exposure is better than none - that's the only reason I can think of that Arlene would put up with being treated so shoddily. OR, even sadder IMO, maybe she just loves Strictly and wants to be involved on ANY level as she's finding it hard to let go, which makes her sacking even worse

I'm just wondering what the next revelation will be

I'd be less angry if Arlene was replaced by another professional. But I'd still be slightly miffed that she was deemed too old for prime time TV, especially when the male presenter is no spring chicken himself.

P.S. I love you Buddy but you would have to vacate my lap if Ignazio expressed the slightest hint of desire to take your place

I suspect it will end up being the tiniest of tweaks.


Hummph! So you'll sit on the lap of the ones who agree with you - you fickle man! You play safe if you like then!

You'd think the BBC would have learned its lesson about communication after the treatment of Nicole last year. Not to be more upfront with Arlene is just deplorable and for Len as the head judge to only find out when R5 rang him to interview him on the subject is beyond belief.

*mwaah, mwaah* Sid - but somehow methinks I might be too much of a handful for you, or perhaps you might prove too much of a handful for me.

From CaroUK as always a courageous post.

After all the things they said about celebs Len, Arlene, Bruno and Craig would not dare expose themselves performing a dance on Strictly. Alesha has done just that, earning the highest ever marks average on Strictly.

However that was done under the wings of the superb Matthew. Alesha has proved herself an outstanding pupil, but can she choreograph a dance and lead a celeb through it, and spot the reason when he falls short? Can Alesha perform a new choreography with Gethin or Tom the way she did with Matthew? When she offers a judge's opinion would she be mentally saying, "Is that right, Matthew?".

Whether Alesha should be given a tryout is the crux of the proposition. Whether any failure would be costfree to Alesha's career and to Strictly. As a Strictly dancer she was in a silent film role. As a judge she will have the star speaking part with 10 million pairs of ears attuned to her.

All we know about Alesha speaking and laughing, is what we heard on ITT. The form is there.

Er no it won't.

It will still get the same ratings it always gets.

It lies solely on the celebs they pick to take part and they are bringing in the big guns this year.

You know nothing about ratings.

There's no need to be personal.

Quite a number of people have said that this is the final straw and between this decision and last year's awful series, they won't be watching again. It could very easily affect the ratings, however, we won't know for sure if it's been a successful or disastrous decision until the series actually starts.

I've always suspected he carried a torch for you since that party on here last year!

The age of the judges is immaterial as long as they actually know something about dance. The eye candy presumably comes from some of the contestants.

Those of us who've watched SCD since the original 'Come Dancing and care for the shows central theme of Ballroom dancing have been alienated by this decision and the changes promised arent stacked in our favour either, we may not be the overwhelming majority but we do make up a sizeable proportion of SCD's core and most established audience.

Theres no need to be so hostile either, we usually dont get the dregs from the soaps forum until about October time.

And look what happened to the old come dancing....... it died a death as it was so firmly stuck in a time warp and did not appeal to anyone outside of the ballroom world. This is 2009 things have moved on, if the format remains the same then the same thing will happen to SCD, it's progress, you should embrace it

There is no point in attracting a new audience if you lose your current audience, and in trying to attract a younger audience they have p*ssed off the loyal audience they had.

Progress would be bringing in a younger, more professional presenting team. Bringing trendier dance acts to the results show, or trendier guest stars. That way you keep your current audience but attract new viewers.

I agree, but you don't know for sure that has happened in this case as the series hasn't even started yet.

Well Brucie and Tess are back (unfortunately), and most of the complaints surrounding Arlene are from older woman- Strictly's core audience.

I'm still not sure whether I'll watch, on the one hand the only way to make the BBC see they're wrong is to reduce viewing figures, on the other why should their f*ck ups stop me watching my favourite show