Only up to a point. A celebrity with two left feet can't win (apologies Mark Foster), but the competition has always been about teamwork, and being able to create choreography that shows the celeb's ability to best advantage. Even if Alesha is just trying to judge the celebs in isolation, she is by default also judging the pros as teachers. Some of them (cough, Brendan, cough) find this rather hard to take. Being told what's wrong with their routine by someone who was a learner herself two years ago is not likely to make it any easier and is unlikely to be very edifying for the viewer, which is why Karen would have been a far better judge. I think Alesha will be forced to be too "nice" to everyone as she simply doesn't have the knowledge or authority. It's not her fault, but it's not what you need in a judge.

I think sometimes it is easy to forget it is the celeb who is competing, sure they are competing as part of a team with their pro, but ultimately it is about the performance of the celebs. It is easy to forget that when your eyes tend to be drawn to the pro. For example when i watch Flavia dancing with any partner i tend to become captivated by her, and forget to pay any attention to her partners moves, i think that probably was the reason Matt D stayed in as long as he did, not because he was good, but because Flavia is fantastic.

I don't feel the same Yesel.

If I am distracted by the performance of the pro, then it usually means they are trying to cover up for the lack of skill in their celeb and the judges almost always comment on this when it happens.

I do think Flavia is great, but Matt Di was a very strong celeb partner and he deserved to be in the last two or three couples - she was lucky to get him imho (I was voting for Alesha btw).

The pros are there to showcase the celebs, not themselves and that takes skills as a choreographer.

In fact on DWTS during the series before last one of the pros (Lacey Swimmer) was seriously criticised by the judges for showcasing herself more than her celeb partner.

I've voted for Karen to be a judge in Frankie and Clover's online poll. I think she would ideal, with experience as a top level dancer, teacher and contest judge.

I agree that it is the job of the pro to showcase the celeb. This isn't usually a problem in the ballroom but there have been quite a few instances of the celeb standing still in the latin whilst the pro dances round them (hold your hands up Ola! ) and I would expect the judges to remark on that. To be fair, I don't think it would be unreasonable for Alesha to make a comment on the choreography in those circumstances.

I think the advantage Karen has is that she is used to teaching dance and knows what the difficulties the pros face and what they do to compensate for the deficiencies in their dance partners (it can be quite subtle, I guess - just a slight repositioning which viewers like us wouldn't notice).

I'm coming round to the idea of Alesha on the panel but I think that the biggest problem Alesha will have is assessing the male celebs' dancing. Some are obviously mirror steps of the lady, but often they're completely different. I've only a limited knowledge of what steps my dance teacher does. He just magically appears in the right places when I'm executing my steps (very magically in some cases ).

That's a really good point about the male celebs - I hadn't thought about that at all.

I still can't believe they didn't snap Karen up as a judge if she wasn't going to be dancing.

In a show like scd it is the pros job to make their celeb partner look as good as possible. If you are only drawn to watching the pro, then it means one of 3 things:

(a) You love the pro so much you wouldn't take your eyes off him/her whoever they were dancing with [IT HAPPENS!!!]

(b) The celeb is so bad the pro dancer is trying to cover up for him/her.

(c) The pro is not good at his/her job and tends to showcase him/herself instead of the celeb.

I hadn't thought of that at all. That's an excellent point.
Thanks to all people who have voted! Would be good to get it up to 100 votes...got 88 at mo!

Personally I feel that Arlene was a bit redundant last series so her leaving isn't the problem...the problem is Alesha's appointment. And yes, can't believe they didn't snap Karen up either (well, I can believe it...but still think it's stupid!)

C

Worried about Alesha as a judge too she imo just isnt experienced enough. Personally I would have hated Karen on the board as a judge though particularly after her performance in Diet on the dancefloor - I wish they had picked an experienced judge from the ballroom and latin world

Karen is an experienced judge from the ballroom and latin world. Maybe they will get her in as a judge next year (if Strictly is still going) and are breaking her in gradually on ITT and Breakfast (or whatever they have planned for her). After all, whoever took over from Arlene was going to be criticised, however experienced they might be.

Wow yes Karen was dreadful on Diet on the Dancefloor. If anyone was showcasing themselves it was karen on that programme. she managed to eclipse anything Arlene had ever done as a judge.

I would have liked to see Camilla on the judging panel and I still think there should have been 5 judges with at least two of them being female. If there has to be just 4 then it should be 2/2 to keep a balance. Bruno could be replaced easily as he contributes nothing.

I though that maybe a year out of the centre spotlight might be a stepping stone for Karen to become a judge would suit me.

TBH I don't think her performance on Diet on the Dance Floor is relevant as she had a role to play there and the I though the whole show was simply dire and stopped watching in the end.

Agreed - and also it was edited so much we only saw a few of the comments Karen and Matthew made so we didn't really get an idea of what they were like as judges. It was a dreadful programme although it could have been good. I hope they don't bring it back.

I had high hopes for it - just shows how much a good idea can be ruined.

Thanks. Tbh, It only occurred to me a couple of days ago when I was thinking about how Alesha could best provide useful comments.



I didn't see Diet on the Dancefloor. (I seem to miss all these programmes, only finding out about them after the event). Since the judges only have a limited time to make their comments on each dance on SCD (Bruce does tend to move things on), maybe she would be different if she were a judge, since it would all be more tightly controlled?

VL you didnt miss anything really. It was horrendous. Matthew looked as if he would have rather not been there judging it. Karen and the diet doctor person were both doing the wicked witch role. Eminently forgettable.

Died on the Dancefloor was so appalling I gave up after two episodes...and I can normally bear anything with even the most tenuous of Strictly connections...

Not sure if a year out of the spotlight is good for anyone's career - people tend to...disappear. Especially 'minor celebs' like the Strictly pros.

I agree that there could be some issues with her judging professionals she's worked alongside for years. I would still argue that she's a far more appropriate choice than Alesha though - the more I think about that, the more annoyed I become!

C

I think she'd be the perfect judge on SCD - the ultimate professional.


Ditto


Not out of the spotlight exactly as she'd still be seen as a vital part of the show in what ever role she has this year to 'break the links' with the existing pros and then step up to the judges' table next series. Eternal optimist me!