I do have a lot of time for him but I do have a question for the producers.
How much longer?

Yep - it's time for the BF to go.

Oh for goodness sake! I really cannot understand after the farce that is Alesha why people are now going for Bruce (again). Love him or hate him he's an integral part of SCD and will be bl**dy hard to replace.

If he's integral they could let him sit in the front row each week, in a comfy armchair with a warm blanket on his knee, and a nurse to unwrap his Werthers Originals for him. Let him make one old and unoriginal joke at the beginning where everyone can still pretend to laugh........and then once that charade is completed the show could start.

I think he would be VERY EASY to replace actually plus they would save about half an hour of the programme with the stuttering and stumbling. He is not only past his sell by date but his eat by date

Seriously though I do wonder why some FMs even bother watching. If it's not Brucie, it's Tess, if it's not Tess then it's the judges, if it's not the judges then it's favouring some pros over another and if it's not that then it's the singers.

The show is great and Brucie helped to get it where it is. Ok, if people think he's past it but, my goodness he will be missed if they don't find the right sort of replacement. Going on what we've seen so far they've not done a very good job on replacing Arlene so do people really trust them to find a suitable replacement for Bruce. Oh and please don't tell me it should be Anton! He might be popular on the forums but, most people I know don't think he would be right for the job!

Good reply. I share your thoughts about Anton, but sadly I fear that the BBC see him as the heir to the throne.

I'm not sure. I was fortunate enough to see him and Erin dance in Bristol earlier this year and he seems to think no! He said that the Beeb didn't think him "worthy" of the spot. It could have been a smokescreen but, he seemed pretty convincing at the time.

Yup it looks like they've given him the 'Hole in the Wall' gig as a means to hone his presenting skills.

I don't think most people do criticise everything on the show but from about the second series it was obvious that Brucie wasn't up to it. The show moves too quickly for him and being oldschool he doesn't do the technology and never seems to be on his cue and you can see Tess yanking him about and trying to stop him rambling because they have to hit the timing and he won't wear an earpiece. It was particularly irritating tonight that he seemed to repeat the first sentence that everyone said during the judging.

I can think of several people who could do the job better and I do happen to thing Anton could do the job because he is just a younger Brucie (I can remember him when he was younger and much more on the ball and quicker witted). Most people I know, asked for one single thing they dont' like about the show say Brucie.

I think the Alesha thing is a totally different subject and unproven after two nights, I don't think it is working at the moment but she is still 'bedding in'. Shame the Beeb couldn't just add one onto the panel instead of replacing.

He's embarrassing to watch, his banter is as old as the hills and he's always interrupting Tess. If it was time for Arlene to go because of age, then surely his time was up ages ago.

Until he dies.

I have stood up for Bruce every single year, year in and year out. But I have to say, he is starting to grate. Why do we need all the gags? I just tune in for the dancing!

He also seems to spend a lot of time reassuring himself - eg 'I'm glad I left that joke in', 'You (ie the studio audience) liked that gag', 'Am I not doddery?' etc etc.

Maybe this will be his last series then, I cannot abide Tess Daly and I skip through her appearances, she is an ex model not a trained tv presenter. For his age bruce is still doing a reasonable job.

It may happen on-air if he continues.

As long as he isn't replaced by Alesha!

I would be happy to see Bruce replaced. The lines they give him are awful and he's much better when he ad-libs. I use the mute button a lot.

It never has been a show that had nothing but dance on it, it has always had guest singers , jokes and chat to fill in around the dance,

For pure dance one needed to watch Come Dancing, which was axed after 46 years in 1995 as the viewing figures fell very very low.

The gags wouldn't be so bad if his timing wasn't off.

He can't tell em like he used to.

There's definitely a point at which you're too old, and at 81, he's had it.

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on the amount people who seem to come on just to criticise the show and it's format. I am not Brucie's biggest fan but, I really think he is a big part of the show. You say that Alesha is a totally different subject but, I'm afraid that it isn't. We viewers take for granted a lot of what makes SCD work and Arlene was one of the many parts that made a winning formula. Therefore I think to lose Bruce would change the show dramatically and I'm not as confident as most that it would be for the better.

I also believe that they're more likely to bring in Tess's other half as a replacement than Anton! Remember they both co-hosted Just the Two of Us for the Beeb. I for one don't really rate Anton or Veron over Brucie and his awful jokes.

He's a national institution but any more jokes like those he (badly) delivered tonight and perhaps he should be consigned to one.

He is perfect for Strictly. He is good fun and light hearted. Perfect for a light entertainment show. He had me in stitches tonight.

Anton has been ushered in as the new host to 'Hole In The Wall', so maybe the BBC are testing Anton out. I like Anton, but Brucie is best.

Have to say I'm not a fan of Bruce (or Tess), but I'm kind of with Laura in that I don't think I want to see what they'd replace him with. I think it might be a case of better the devil you know - yes, he might make me want to go on a murderous rampage with his "jokes" and inane wittering, but whoever replaces him might ruin the show.