True, but then that sort of underlines the situation, why bother handing them the golden opportunities?

I do understand what you mean, but let's face it Louis is never going to say anything positive about SCD.

But apart from the Arlene/Alesha issue (which is a biggie for sure), any other news has just been speculation for the media and that's par for the course every year before the start of the new series.

I'm waiting for all hell to break loose when the celebs are announced and people start tearing them apart over how suitable (or more likely not suitable) their backgrounds are!

Louis Walsh is a chameleon and turncoat of the worst order. Lets not forget that prior to his resurrection on XF he was putting about rumours that he would be on that years strictly.
Once reinstated he was back on the offensive with "Dancing for Grannies" talk.
Wait til XF has had it with him and lets see him join the queue to be a contestant. And then see me head for the door marked exit!

I suppose that you are right, but the incompetence of the show's producers, led I guess by Jay Hunt, seems to know no bounds.


Or how much dance training they had when they were at school, or how they have an advantage being a sportsman/woman .... I will be donning a couple of tin hats, three flak jackets, and digging a tunnel to avoid the fall-out!

No, even better, let him join the queue, then watch as the producers slam the door in his expectant face.

I couldn't agree more that the show's producers seem to be on a different celestial plane to the rest of us!


You know exactly what I mean then!

I will be watching and will no doubt chip in now and again!

Oh you are awful....

Jay hunt like most controllers looking after aproduct not of their making has shown nothing but ill regard for the show, while at the same time making ready the slot for a vehicle of her own stewardship like Totally Saturday...God help us!

I forgot to add that this particular section would need filming of course, for inclusion in the first SCD programme, and later ITT programmes, the website, YouTube ......

For the money of course!!! The celebs get paid the agreed amount whether they go out the first week, or get through to the final, so financially they have nothing to lose.

I'm not sure £50.000 either way would make much difference to him. I think the major reason is publicity, pure and simple ,and a desire to be associated with success which Strictly definitely is.

I wish these channel controllers would stop interfering in TV shows that work perfectly fine. This Jay Hunt woman is probably only thinking about her own ego when enforcing changes to Strictly.

Anyways, in October we'll all probably be wondering what all the fuss was about. Hpoefully, the changes will work and bring fresh air to the show, but it looks like it could all fall flat.

Anywhere that I can download it would suit me just fine!



In Richard's case if I'm honest I think it would be for the experience, which if he knows how bad he'd be is pretty arrogant imho (I'm not sure 'arrogant it the right word, but basically typical Richard Madeley - poor Judy!).

Poor Jay Hunt. All she did was read out a press statement and suddenly everyone assumes everything to do with the show comes from her dread hand.

Lucky tabloids though. They get to complain about sexism AND call someone a bitch. It's a bit like how they tut tut about the ageism towards Arlene but then half a sentence later, in a sudden blaze of "I've just been PC so I can say what I like" immunity, launch a vicious attack on Bruce "in Arlene's honour".

I think arrogance is the right word actually, as Madeley would no doubt expect to be kept in week by week by the viewers to broaden his "experience". As has been proved by their dire Watch show figures , there isnt the public support for R&J these days and Richard would probably flunk out in an early round.
Talking of which...is it not time now for the girls to go first and let the boys have a week extra in the training rooms. Does seem a bit unfair somehow.

Jay Hunt has proven in the last 12months or more that when it comes to BBC1 she is a dead hand...some of her scheduling and programme decisions have been shockingly badly judged.

No Arlene, no Sharon, no Richard, no worries.

Why is BuddyB getting the blame for post 53 - not Buddy's post

Jumping in I know and BuddyB has sorted it - but come on!

To summarise - in case the point has been missed - yay to Bruce, Nay to Tess

And so say all of us...

I totally agree, and after all, she is the Controller, so bears ultimate responsibility (or at least, she should do), just as any responsible executive manager should.

Jay Hunt's adeptness in formulating Saturday night entertainment can be summed up in two words(which I hope will follow her throughout her career) Totally Saturday.
Why should a channel controller who green lit that pile of poo be trusted to oversee a more talented controllers legacy in the shape of Strictly. If it aint broke etc... Strictly is ideal entertainment for a BBCaudience , even if the age range is older than the more popular yoof demographic favoured by tv types.
In no way should Strictly aim to capture any young viewers of the XF type. Both shows exist side by side very well and mean the BBC can rightly claim to compliment rather than copy the commercial sector.
I worry over my favourite shows when time servers of the Hunt variety can holds sway over decisions that can affect their longevity...particularly when you see their own brand of Saturday night tv inthe shape of the aforementioned TS.

I've never heard of the woman, was she in life on Mars?

Regardless of Totally Saturday (which is a crap Saturday show in a long, LONG history of crappy Saturday night shows on every channel green-lit by MANY directors) and Jay Hunt's history as BBC1 Controller (in which she's also made very good decisions), the fact remains that this is all being placed at her door when it's almost certainly nothing to do with her.

She also gave a press release regarding the appointment of Matt Smith as the new Doctor Who. Doesn't mean she chose him personally.

And Strictly is the BBC's most succesful current entertainment property bar none. One would think the public would be supportive of high-up "suits" like Jay Hunt keeping their noses out and allowing the producers to do what they want? And allow them to take responsibility for their own darned decisions.

No she wasn't and I take your point. She was however the channel controller reponsible for the totally lunatic scheduling of Dr Who in its last season (scheduling criticised by its production team) and also for this years Robin Hood scheduling.
So. as I say controllers can play fast and loose with programmes not of their creation and in doing so perhaps damage them (eg Robin Hood is axed while Dr Who survived its buffeting around early evening Saturday by sheer quality) while concentrating their efforts on their own ideas, however bad in the hope that they come up with a winner.
It'll be interesting to see how Strictly is scheduled this season ie how early it is placed on Saturday evening and which piece of poop it has to support by being its lead in.