Quite a turn around for the woman who was arrested for an alleged racially motivated attack (and convicted of ABH!)...

I also think Cheryl is less qualified to judge singing than Alesha is to judge dancing, based on this Sunday's "performance" - but I digress.

When do you propose they air the show then? Start it at 6pm when they will lose around 1-2million viewers immediately (Look at the lower ratings Doctor Who gets when it airs around the 6:15 time compared to 7)

Why should the BBC be changing their traditional slot just to suit ITV? Its bad enough that they have changed the format that had been working to prevent the performance and result shows clashing on both days.

As for the show being too long, it is a bit but I'm not sure the training segments are the part that needs reduced. I usually watch it on a 30 min delay and the part I skip through is Tess's inane interviews. These should be reduced imho unless they get someone a bit quirkier and interesting to do them (Promote Claudia perhaps)

I couldn't give a monkeys how many extra viewers X Factor gets nor should the BBC.
The quality of a programme is not measured by the numbers who watch.

I completely agree... but then again she is pretty...

Her "performance" hurt my ears and not even John and Edward's did. She supposedly mimed to a live pre recorded track so I don't know what her excuse was. And as for her "outfit"...

SCD used to be comfortably ahead when the two shows overlapped. Last year SCD was played earlier and ITV ensured X Factor had a clear run. SCD fans probably had a good look at XF for the first time and got hooked. The recession has probably meant more of the core younger XF audience has stayed at home to watch, and the immense influence of Britains Got Talent has spilled over into XF this year. At the same time SCD has been all negativity over the changes and choice of contestants.
All that said, the increase in viewers and hysteria over XF is almost freakish and I dont think SCD would ever have the scope to match that.

Oh dont worry myself and a few others on the Showbiz forum have not fotgotten about the ABH conviction, even if the fickle media have. Its also not five minutes ago that Princess Cheryl was a national laughing stock for her tacky wedding and desperation to be the new Posh Spice.

I find it awful that Cheryl is hailed as this national heroine, while poor Alesha is torn to shreds. I know who I prefer on a personal level and while Alesha may not be cut out to judge she is certainly the more genuine and likeable of the two.

I think the X Factor peaked in series three. The rot set in the following year when Leon beat the far more talented Rhydian and turned it into a laughing stock. Cheryl for me ruined the show. She's thick, false, patronising and hasnt a clue about the music industry. Anyone who see's her song choices for her contestants will know.

So im really not so sure why it does better than SCD in the ratings when to me personally its not as good as it used to be

I think both shows aren't what it used to be sadly.

I agree 100% with these posts.

Interesting that so many posts resort to trashing Cheryl, which they wouldn't have to if they had a good case that SCD was the better show.

I don't think Craig, Len and Bruno being subdued has anything to do with Arlene's exit. It is very clear to me that the judges are getting a lot of 'direction' about what line to take with the celebs: until this week we heard a lot of 'you came out here and you got through it'-type of comments. I think this is motivated by a desire not to alienate the audience as much as happened last year (take a bow, Arlene).

Last week saw something of a sea-change with Bruno getting more personal and even Alesha dredging up a few Arlene cliches (the 'rag doll' line, for one). Given the 'uproar' (please note the inverted commas) this has caused, I wonder if it will continue. Highly ironic, of course, given the tongue-lashings poor Mark Foster endured last year - way, way more personal than anything thrown at Jo Wood, but there you go ...

Not, of course, that the judges will ever admit to being micro-managed - it's more than their job is worth - but the signs are there if you look closely enough.

Tragically, however, the standard of management on BBC One's flagship entertainment show is so bad that the show is going to have to start playing a few blinders to get itself out of the cul-de-sac it's fallen into. A shame, as I actually think this year's celebs have the potential to be good - I don't think they're a lacklustre bunch at all - but when there doesn't appear to be anyone at the helm of the good ship Strictly, it's no wonder so much mayhem abounds ...

Actually I think X Factor, this year at least, is a whole load better than Strictly and I enjoy it a lot more.

I agree with some of the comments made here.

A couple of years ago SCD would better XF when they overlapped. Now it is the opposite.

I think the reason for the decline in SCD ratings is due to poor show format and the over exposure of x factor this year.

SCD needs to have a format that is contemporary and quicker paced then now. This year's contestants are uninspiring and are mediocre. I don't agree that SCD should be moved to a earlier timeslot as its ratings will plunge even further. They need to change the set and the band as they are both lacklustre. Many have been comparing SCD with the US version Dancing with the stars. I watch it this week and I did not know all of the contestants on the show, but they seemed a lot more interesting than the UK line up. Why did SCD not get Kelly osbourne the show? She is very popular on the US at the moment. The BBC selection method needs revising. Why did they think that having Richard Dunwoody would be a crowd pleaser?

SCD this year has lost its sparkle.

Me neither.

Show is too long. There is a phrase less is more which I think applies. In other words start with 12 couples instaed of 16.

Have a gap between the end of the dancing and the results show(Merlin or Casualty).

Bruce has overstayed his time.

Alesha hmm. When highlights have been shown how many of her comments have been aired compared with the other judges.

Like many I am watching this series more out of duty than anything else.

I totally agree.

Sadly, regardless of whether he jumped or was pushed the public perception of how he was treated still rankles many. I can remember watching ITT in tears because he was upset, and having to apologise for his popularity. When JS left the show many on this forum said it was the day SCD lost it's innocence and I echo those sentiments. JS epitomised what SCD was all about., Nah he couldn't dance for toffee but, every week he came out and gave it a go. He was charming, funny and witty and really didn't deserve the harsh treatment he was given by the judges, the pros and some of his fellow celebs. What none of them could seem to get into their heads was the worse they treated him the more angry the public got, I for one was tempted to vote for him on more than one occasion.

I have to admit I'm really enjoying this series but, like many others I feel it's a little too long. We viewers need a break and if they had the results show after Casualty it would probably feel a lot better.

As for the ratings war, who cares, I can't see how they can accurately measure what people are watching anyway? I watch the X-Factor when SCD has finished and catch what I've missed on the iplayer, and I'm sure there are people who watch X-Factor and catch SCD on the iplayer. So how are these viewers habits recorded and are they taken into account?

Me too! unlike the rest of the country I seriously cant see the Simon Cowell love at all! And as for fancing him.... *runs to sick bucket*

I find the XFactor and BGT excruciatingly tacky and embarrassing to watch. Mawkish, cloyingly sentimental, voyeristic and goulish at times,and the promotion of mostly mediocre acts....

Every year a bunch of total ****wits and a few half decent acts parade around on TV, using any trick in the books to get public sympathy, including exploiting life traumas etc for their 5 seconds of fame...

Most of the serious acts on these shows are REALLY mediocre singers/performers tbh. Most sink without a trace, deservedly so... and the ones that do succeed sing songs written by other people and present the most bland, soul-less personas and music choices to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. Theres nothing adventurous or passionate about these manufactured act- the purpose of their careers is to make money, (for the main man Simon) NOT to make music. In the meantime we the public lap this shit up year in year out whilst Simon pulls up his trousers and reflects how much money hes gonna make out of the public this year, with the latest flavour of the week...



.... and BREATHE!!

That day cant come soon enough IMO...

How important is the press in this?

They are relentlessly sticking the boot into the BBC at the mo, and as SCD is one of the highest profile shows the negativity is ENDLESS! I think there are elements at the Daily Mail etc who would seriously like to bring SCD down...

I am so bored of TXF. I haven't watched any of it this year. I have been gradually drifting away from it over the past three years. It is repetative and predictable. I am also sick of Simon Cowell hijacking the Christmas chart with some five minute wonder.

I do think, however, the Arlene episode has backfired on the program. They should have kept Arlene on, moved Craig off, brought Karen Hardy in and replaced Tess with Alesha. Sorted.

Oh and Brucie is fab. Love him. He is Mr Saturday night.

To me its so blindingly obvious that Alesha would make a perfect Tess replacement I find it hard to belive no one at the BBC considered it....
(Perhaps Tess has a binding contract??)

Now that Alesha has been a judge I reckon that moving to a presenter role would be seen as a demotion, so I think she will either return as a judge, or leave next year.

Kill the programme stone dead if you bring on ex dancers from the show to judge just wont work the programme needs NEW people as much as some have been good for the show in the past it needs a breath of fresh air so clear out some and forget about this stupid ratings battle and concentrate on the show

Reading an american online news site the other day DWTS is having a ratings plunge as well ABC are even considering doing skating with stars again

The Daily Mail will never destroy SCD. Love it, Strictly that is.

SCD fans,

To show how much I love the show, I have remixed the theme tune. I have added some extra drums and percussion. Download it, listen to and let me know what you think.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ucdmqniizz0

X-factor is mainly dross imo, but the last show had more COMEDY Gold than Spandau Ballet

I actually don't think TXF has got that much millage left in it, especially as it is the same as BGT now. My patience with both shows has run out. There are only so many sob stories and so many Leona's and Alex's that one can take.

There are also only so many celebs to go round, especially with Dancing On Ice (a complete rip off of Strictly) in production to.