Is she really?

You mean you haven't read the many and not-so-varied comments in other threads?

Me thinks this thread could RE-open many a can of worms!

How??

All I'll say is, if you're a Tess fan, enjoy her while she lasts.

She's 38. Uh-oh.
She's nearing the time when the BBC Female Age Control Team (aka Hunt & Thompson) will swap her for someone half her age
- as is now the tradition on this show !!

Maybe Jenni Falconer?

Imo...

I wonder whether Tess has really been given a chance? She isn't my favourite presenter, I don't like the clothes she wears, and I HATE what she does to the English language, but we often see her 'nannying' Bruce, and that can't be easy.

We know that he chooses not to wear an earpiece, so she has to listen for both of them, guide him around, shut him up when necessary, and carry on presenting.

I absolutely cringe at some of her remarks, and think the producers should certainly give her some 'advice' on what is and isn't appropriate to say, but I also think she should be allowed to present, which is what she's paid to do, rather than have to babysit Bruce.

She's too old.

I agree with this. Anyone who works in live TV says that it's really hard to simultaneously talk to participants, handle vote information, and cope with a gallery full of producers and directors screaming in your ear. (I think I remember an interiew with Kate Thornton who said the same thing about X Factor, which had the added pressure becaue she also had to send the show into the adverts at the right time which, especially if the judges took longer than alotted, contributed to the 'bossy' image). Given that Bruce won't wear an earpiece, Tess is getting instructions for him too. Although I cringe at some of her interviews, I think she does a pretty good job of keeping things on track.

To do the show you need soeone who can cope with Live TV without stopping what they're doing to listen to the earpiece. I think Tess is more than adequate. i also understand why her interviews aren't necessarily dance-orientated because we already have had a training montage, a dance, and judges comments so this gives us a mment to get to know how the contestants feel, and she probably is guided to say what the audience are 'probably' thinking. However, if I hear one more 'guns' comment this year, I might shoot my TV

Wasn't overly keen on her in the beginning until Natasha Kaplinsky stood in for her and realised Tess was doing a good job. I like the pairing of her and Bruce. If she ever gets replaced it would be better to have a virtual unknown.

Still not sure if I like the idea of Anton presenting, assuming that's where he is headed eventually.

I don't mind Tess, I think she does a good job at the presenting side. She doesn't come across as hugely sincere when interviewing the contestants though and sometimes she's so tactless though I want to throw something at her and go off her till next week though. But I do think she works well with Bruce.

I think this sums Tess up very well.

Why thank you Buddy

You're bang on there!

But if I think about it, what female presenter on the BBC would actually please everyone to compare Strictly? Names have been thrown around on this forum all of which quickly get shouted down.

I do find Tess a bit cringe generally, a bit laddish and fake. When I've been lucky enough to watch the show in the studio I've found the second she's off camera she drops the "showbiz grin" very quickly. If I had her job the grin wouldn't need to be fixed there! On the positive side I think she's a good looking woman and wears the dresses well, and knowing what we know about the BBC, such materialistic things seems to matter a lot to them.

x x x x x

It's a pity she always seems to leave her personality at home.

maybe if she was presenting with vernon??

I think that's selfish of him not to wear an earpiece. No disrespect intended but can he not concentrate on too many things at once because of his age? At times he even seems to have trouble with the autocue! Considering Tess has to 'babysit' the old man too I think she's doing a cracking job

But I hate with an absolute vengeance some of her dresses Many of them are too 'mumsy' or too old for her IMO.



I just can't imagine Vernon hosting Strictly I would love to see a pilot of him and Tess presenting it - I may be pleasantly surprised as I usually do like him


Incidentally - if Bruce took ill who would replace him hosting Strictly? They must have someone in place - but who

I've had no time for Tess as a host since her repeated comments about the 'chemistry' between Matt and Flavia, and asking if they were going to keep seeing each other when the show finished - they looked like they wanted to open up and swallow them.

I don't like the way she letches over the likes of Ramps and Austin either.

Perfect replacement - Kate Thornton. Good presenter and has some dance knowledge too.

For a second I though you wrote

"presenting with venom"


An interesting proposition!! (lol)

JJ

hahah hehe

Kate was very good handling things solo on the live tour.

He hasn't just suddenly decided he didn't want to, he's never worn an earpiece. He's managed for many, many years without one and I imagine he doesn't see any reason why he should start to wear one now.

I'll say I would much prefer Kate. She has a bit more class and sincerity to her, I'll never understand why she got the kibosh from the X Factor

For me it would depend very much on who would replace Tess. I'd rather have Tess than someone who can't do the job at all. For example, at lot of people - myself included - have suggested that they would have preferred Alesha to replace Tess than Arlene. However, taking all of this into account, I'm now not sure Alesha has the experience to do it and Tess is probably better as the host than Alesha would be, so if it was a choice between Tess or Alesha, I guess I'd have to say keep Tess. On the other hand, if Tess were to be replaced by Kate Thornton or Claudia Winkleman, I wouldn't object to that at all. Zoe Ball could also be a good replacement for Tess: after all, she has the presenting experience that someone like Alesha would need to gain before she could successfully host a prime-time top-rating show.