It's not just you, OP. I felt it too tonight.

The atmosphere all over the shop felt really awkward. Bruce's embarrasing comment and outburst were uncomfortable (It's bad enough when the judges start on one another, without Bruce joining in too). Regardless of whether he agreed or not, I thought Bruce should have just moved on to the next judge and left it alone.

It all felt really tense, yet flat at the same time, if that makes sense?

Having to wait the extra time at the beginning probably didn't help them either, especially since they were probably - literally - lined up by the stage waiting to be introduced.......

I think there may have been more tension due to the dances. None of the jives were good, which I'm sure the couples themselves knew beforehand. The VW is unexciting and those doing that found the spinning difficult. So my guess is that few, if any, of them were comfortable with their dances.

Bruce keeps putting his foot in it one way or another and Brendan's 'protest' created an 'atmosphere' by itself.

It certainly was a disappointing show. Although I loved Vincent and Flavia's dance.

I was in the audience tonight and would just like to say that there was no animosity between the judges at any point, even after the kangeroo moment! All 4 judges are happy and smiling when the camera isn't on them. Same with Bruce. So it seems a lot of it may be for show. . .

Frankly it looks contrived....which makes it worse and even more unnecessary.

Thanks chiefette.That does indeed make it worse.

I love hearing from people who have been in the audience.

How was the atmosphere in the studio in general? Which dancers were popular with the audience?

Hi,lucky you going to the show

........just want to ask if Craig said anything to Bruno after he very obviously cut in during some of Craigs comments....

The judges only ever smiled and laughed with each other, no cross words were exchanged at all.

Ricky W was popular with the audience, or a large section of young girls anyway!

Ricky G was also popular.

It didn't help that we had to wait an extra 15 mins, I suppose it would have definitely added to the tension. Bruce was filling the time and sang a song with the band, which was pretty good actually!

Interesting fact- Flavia and Vincent's dance was actually filmed about half an hour before the show went live and slotted in at the right time

Oh, and Spandau Ballet didn't perform that tonight, it was recorded last week because of SB's schedule

I think the choice of some of the music had a negative impact.

Karen?

And though I am not a huge fan , Camilla?

And there are far too many couples; 10 was plenty .

Thanks for that Chiefette. Nice to hear from people who were actually in the audience.

I wasn't a Camilla fan either, but I was watching her and Gethin's jive on youtube earlier, and I'd dearly love to have her back to dance with Ricky G. With his open mouth and her facial expressions when she dances, it'd be TV gold!

chiefette........did they record the pro samba before the show or was it done as live ??

The pro samba was live

Gosh, the pro dancers did a quick change.

Was there a break after Spandau Ballet before 12 couples magically stood under 12 spotlights in perfect position?

i agree
i said its over after this year

craig was treated appalingly and i want to complain
sick of him being silenced..
and bruce was way out of line
and brendon was sooo rude

was Annie Lennox in the crowd behind Bruno

Brendan was right IMO, theres no need to keep slating Jo Wood all the time that aside there was already an atmosphere coming across before that, and i thought James was going to chuck a benny when he found out he was in the bottom two with zoe. Anton looked like he'd had a ruck with someone cos his face was like a slapped arse during that jive which wasnt particularly very good,But lets face it alot of the talent sucks this year, theres 3 or 4 half decent ones the rest are just being dragged about the floor.

Spandau Ballet was filmed last week I believe due to them being on tour.

It was awful.
I had to watch later on iPlayer (not so exciting as watching live) and I kept thinking: Isn't it finished yet? And that was with lots of FFing and just watching the routines!

Brendan. Pathetic. The standard of dancing. Not great. But mostly too many couples. And too much Bruce and too much judging. Why not cut it to 3? Or let only 2 speak?

Spandau Ballet weren't live so they all lined up while you watched the recorded performance.

I thought there was a slight atmosphere at a couple of points. The mood definitely changed for me after the controversial 'skippy' comment and Bruce got really stroppy with Craig and Brendan dragged Jo from their spot in front of the judges. The other point I thought it turned was when it was the results and the last couple to be saved was Laila and Anton. What screamed to me at that point was that the announcement 'Laila and Anton' seemed more like a question then they'd definitively been saved which clearly they had. Then with all that came the realisation that Zoe and James were in the bottom 2. James' face said most of it, he would barely move and that's when I think Bruce got angry again because not forgetting they were 15 mins behind in the schedule and were trying to pull about 5 or 10 back - notice Bruce didn't even ask head judge Len for his normal 'advice to both couples' bit. Apart from that I thought it was fine, well maybe apart from Alesha giving out that 10. I thought all the celebrities behind them didn't quite agree with her but thought it inevitable anyway that Ricky was going to get the first 10 of the series - but that's a different issue.

I agree that this series has not yet been particularly good so far. The celebrities are not an exciting bunch. Too many TV actors and I think the standard of dancing - or is it the coaching? - is disappointing. The panel has become stale this year. The introduction of Alesha to brighten things up has been a spectacular mistake as, not her fault, she has cheapened the whole show. Bruce must go although I know it will be difficult to find someone good enough to do the job. It should not be Anton.