Okay, this is easy for me to say as I'm not an avid viewer but I will not watch the next series of strictly.

I honestly don't know how, in this day and age, the BBC can get away with such blatant sex/ageism. I was no fan of Arlene but I can see that she was great at her job and good for the show.

I actually do like Alisha Dixon, I think most of us had a soft spot for her after the whole Harvey affair and although she turned out to be a great contestant, she is not even in the same league as Arlene. She is being hired soley for her aesthetics and that just isn't right.

In a time when Colin Hendry just lost his wife over her feeling that she had to have surgery to look such a way it is unbelieveable that this can happen.

When will people wake up?

I hope Arlene takes this to court.

You are sending out some mixed signals there Presto but the main thing is that Arlene wasn't sacked. She is not a BBC employee and had an annual contract which was not renewed. Therefore there's nothing there to take to court.

Please by all means boycott Strictly if you so wish though. Your free will is your to do with what you please and I hope you enjoy the X Factor.

The BBC are absolutely free to engage who they want as judge, host and participant on SCD and nothing you, I, or anyone else on BS is going to change that.

I think we need to see how Alesha does; equally I am sure she is not going to try and lay down the law or be specific on technical items.

Its worth remembering that the ds threadsters represent less than 1% of the viewership of SCD, so we are hardly representative.

JJ

I thought for one ghasly moment Geoff Boycott was signing up for Strictly!

Hmmm...I think it's also worth noting that the lively reaction isn't just confined to DS, and though we are indeed a tiny portion of Strictly viewers similar concerns are being expressed elsewhere - Most notably the beebs own POV board...

Tbh JJ, Alesha will be in no position to lay down the law or be specific on technical terms...Just what that leaves for her to say other than generalised observations I'm not at all sure

It would take a lot more than this for me to boycott Strictly.

Whilst I agree that Alesha is not qualified to judge a dance competition, and I liked Arlene in the role and had a lot of respect for her opinions, the show is more than that.

It's easy for me anyway. I blindly vote for my favourite professional come what may. When he's out, I vote for whichever couple I enjoyed most on the night, The judges opinions had no impact on that for me, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

Time may prove me wrong, but I'm looking forward to the Strictly season, warts and all, as much as ever.

Alesha is not replacing Arlene directly. Alesha is there as someone who has done it (and won it) and therefore qualified to comment in that context. Arlene judged as a choreographer and on performance. Bruno and Craig are equally qualified to do that. Len is there to judge as the technician. I think the new panel is better balanced than the old one. All that said, I wish Arlene well.

Noooooooooo could you imagine it

I won't boycott it if you don't mind.

Will count down the days until the start instead.

Whilst I won't be boycotting it completely I will be recording it to watch rather than watching it live this time - purely so I can FF through the judges comments and especially Ms Dixon's!

*runs off to get the smelling salts and a nice strong cup of tea for Jude!*

I think that a boycott is a really good idea and just what the BBC deserves. However, realistically, most people won't be prepared to miss a program they have previously loved. Others will want to see how well Alesha performs, or how anodyne her comments will be.

Another solution would be to watch the program but refuse to vote as a protest against a judge with practically no knowledge of dance. I wasn't pleased when the BBC removed the element of money for 'Children in Need' from our votes without informing us of the change. Now it all goes to the BBC. So why not boycott the program by refusing to vote and so deprive the BBC of the money they don't deserve?

sits it out with spider9

*pulls up a chair too...*

BRING IT ON!!!

When they stopped giving money from the phone voting to Children in Need, the cost of the calls went down. Apparently the costs now only cover the operating charges and nothing goes to the BBC, although I could be wrong on that.

*puts kettle on*

Me too. *sits on the naughty step*

Spider9, it would appear you've not met Jude before.

Pear cider is the order of the day, rather than a cuppa.

Crack the top off one for me too, if you don't mind.

Hi Fliss. <mwah>

Bunch up on the step as I can't wait for the new series to start - let's get that party started now!

I've brought the cheddars, who's holding on to the pear cider???

There is a reason why I only offer tea

Tell all!

double post

ask her if she likes margaritas.

So if she likes cocktails she'll drink anything - hide the pear cider!

I'm off to see Ice Age at the cinema, so catch you all later for more drinks, nibbles and friendly insults!

I shan't be watching it live anymore, but I will be recording it and will skip through the bits that have started to get on my wick

Thinking about it, that only leaves the actual dances themselves. Still, it's better for my blood pressure and after last year it's probably all I can take..