Snap.

Had Arlene been replace by Karen Hardy or someone with similar experience I'm sure some people would have complained about Arlene being replaced by a younger woman. But there would be a perfectly good explanation - Karen is more qualified.

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if Arlene replaces Len on DWTS.


I don't believe for one minute age was the only reason Arlene was replaced, but I do think it would have been the same story no matter who the woman was, if at the same time none of the male judges were replaced. Even if it was Karen Hardy the ageism claims would been there, plus the fact Karen has a Marmite personality ( I don't like Marmite but I do like Karen!).

Even if at least one of the male judges was replaced at the same time as Arlene, the subject of her age would have reared its head.

With hindsight in this day and age, the fact that Arlene as a woman over 60 was ever appointed as a judge in the first place.

How many women over 40 do you see on American prometime shows? (Apart from Mrs O)

I think Alesha may use this gig to open doors to the holy grail -AMERICA.

I know what you mean about the American market, but Arlene could offer that British (or English as the Americans would think!) quirkiness that they love over there and she could be portrayed as ideal being another judge from the original Strictly show - Alesha is a non-starter for DWTS even as a joke! Arlene is known in the USA and she's exactly not bad looking - she could be the matriarchal character!

Mind you Shirley Ballas with her ballroom background might be a better option if Mark Ballas and the Houghs aren't dancing in the next series of DWTS.

God forbid!

Did you see Baby Ballroom - just one show was enough for me. Pushy mums and precocious kids - not for me!

btw to the person who suggested the furure over Alesha's appointment might be down to skin colour - utter nonsense; you're forgetting that the public made her a champion in the first place.

Ridiculous thread. Why isn't anyone asking why there are 3 men on the panel rather than a 50-50 split?

People have been talking about her not been qualified to do the job on other forums. Remember her vote could decide whether someone goes or stays, when it comes to the dance off. What is she going to base her marks on?
She should have had the decency to say to Jay Hunt, thank you for the offer but I really am not qualified to judge the competance of the dancers. You should give this position to someone with years of dance experience. Remember I only spent a few months trying to learn.

The whole point of the judges is to decide who goes and who stays, so are you saying that if Alesha decided to keep someone one that YOU thought should stay she would be making the right decision, but if she decided to send someone home that you liked then she would be making the wrong decision. The judges are there to give their opinions, and they are not always going to be the same opinions as the viewers.
maybe she did say to Jay Hunt that she did not have enough dance experience and spent a few months learning, and maybe Jay Hunt told her that was exactly what they were looking for, someone who could empathise with the celebs and someone who understands, like no one else on this forum, what it takes to get up on stage live every sat night and try and master a dance with only a few days practice.
Nobody else on the panel has that kind of experience .

Surely you mean in your opinion that's what Alesha should have done?

I know Alesha took a long time to decide whether or not to accept the role and also sought advice from many people, so clearly it was not a decision taken lightly. Alesha is a smart cookie, so she must think she has something to offer based on what she has been told her role will be i.e. she will use her dance and performance experience and her experience of the whole SCD process.

Having watched all 6 series I am well aware of how the judging works and that other forums and plenty of other people are talking about it, but any 'furore' is much more about Arlene's age and the fact that none of the male judges were replaced. In those circumstances given that she is 66, no matter who had replaced Arlene that would have happened!

I have always agree the position should have gone to someone with years of dance experience (preferably ballroom/Latin). But that's not what has happened and in my opinion based on what the BBC has said, Arlene was never going to be replaced by that sort of person.

So as to exactly what Alesha will base her marks on I will wait and see on the first show and I hope the change works out, as I thought the last series of SCD was completely spoiled by the antics of the judges and a few of the celebs. For me the only redeeming feature of the last series was T&C's brilliant show dance and as I want much more from the new series I'm quite happy to see how the changes work out.

Everyone is overlooking the fact a 5th and female judge is being added! Darcy Bussel.

But only for the last 3 out of the 14 week series.

I know you weren't responding to my post with this statement, but I'm getting really fed up with everyone posting this unnecessary question after someone offers an opinion that differs from their own. The very fact that we are posting on this board means we are offering our opinions. It's self explanatory. So please can we stop with the pedantics.

I don't know who made you the boss of the boards, but I don't think I'm being pedantic.

There are far too many people on here at the moment who post as if they are right about everything and don't seem to understand they are just expressing an opinion. There is a distinction and one is much more aggressive and off putting than the other. We are supposed to respect each other on here, not tell people they are wrong to hold a different opinion and that's why I occasionally post the kind of comment you are fed up of.

Politeness costs nothing.

I think you're missing the point. As I said, if you post you ARE expressing an opinion, therefore you don't need to be asked if you are.

I think you are missing the point. As I said there are ways of posting your opinion that are more aggressive than others. I just happen to prefer the politer ways. The acronyms imo (in my opinion) and imho (in my humble opinion) have their origins on message boards and forums. Some people should try using them.

Both.

There's 'expressing' an opinion and there's making a statement that comes across as if you're stating a FACT. Quite a difference. I'm with Buddy on this.

Much more succinct than me - thank you!

This thread has become circular!!! Everyone has made their positions plain - nothing is going to change, and there is no meaningful discussion - only a monotonous restating of opinions which never change!!!

JJ

The space time continuum is weakening as we speak.

Has anyone got anything new to say, or can we just copy and paste previous posts from now on?

And yes, before you all jump on me, we are all entitled to voice our opinions. Just as I am entitled to sing "I Predict a Riot" at karaoke. But I bet you'd get bored if I sang it 63 times in a row

Who cares about Arlene or Alesha when Aidan Turner is strutting his stuff in Desperate Romantics - that will keep me happy until SCD starts!

Haven't you heard Einstein say space-time is curved? If you travel far enough and fast enough in a straight line forward you will eventually arrive at the same spot, eventually looking at the back of your head.

It's just that the geodesic in the forum space-time is shorter.

Is that the same as doughnut shaped? Or is that Homer's theory?

Doh!

I did hear it was muffin-shaped!!


JJ

I thought the brains behind bending space time was Samantha Carter from Stargate SG1!