My partner pointed out to me while watching the show, that Bruno was not happy about some of the scores he was giving. But why would Bruno not be happy, he picks his own score right?

I'm beginning to believe this may not be the case, I think the BBC producers figure out the scores based on watching dress rehersals, and practice sessions.

So the judges can pre plan their comments.

I'm not saying that its all a fix, what I'm saying is that Bruno seemed angry at having to give a 5 for a dance that he thought was rubbish.

Which may suggest that because of this commitments overseas on the other show, that someone else is sorting out his scripted responses, and possible scores?

Conspiracy theory eh?

/discuss

I dont think for a minute that the scores are fixed before hand. However I did think that Bruno was odd with his score paddle last night kept making faces and hand jestures that I didnt quite understand.......and one of the 5s he gave he said was 'generous' but I dont think the scores are pre-determined.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is some sort of "plan" going into the way some things are filmed and portrayed... for one thing I just can't believe that the judges are so stupid that they don't realise after six years that over-marking is equated to favouritism which leads to unpopularity. It's a basic principle of reality tv! Makes more sense to think they are deliberately creating upsets like Lisa and Emma to get us all involved in deciding who the "deserving" winner is... although last year the GBP seemed to miss the point and vote for Tom instead of Rachel (purely IMO of course).

Even if it is scripted to a degree, they can't fix the public vote, and sometimes the public just won't be persuaded.

He was angry at the other scores being given. i.e 2,3, 4 then 5.

There was a big discrepency between the judges a few times this week.

That would've been my guess too.

I think he was surprised by the range of scores being given and that they ran straight ie: 2,3,4,5, was given to Jo (not in that order) and 3,4,5,6, to Craig (again not in that order) I thought that was why he said 'bingo' at the end of one of his scores

I felt it looked odd but put it down to his rather flamboyant style.
To me, he was saying 'I don't want to give you marks that are too low so it is a grudged 5 - work on it'.

I saw Alesha turning his head to the front once or twice and wondered who was attracting his attention so much on his left?

I was left with the feeling that the judges scores did not seem completely spontaneous.

Craig was surprisingly generous, but he has been a bit that way at times this year.
Bruno was messing about with the audience and acting more strangely than usual when giving the scores. He also acted unhappy at the score he gave Phil.
Len gave Jade an 8 and Craig a 6. Well they were very close.

Unusual to see the judges all giving the same score so often.

All just circumstantial, but overall, something didn't seem quite right to me.

I have long suspected that they do have a general view on how they are going to score based on rehearsal. How on earth else can you explain the 8's and 9 for Zoe and James, who stumbled, totally lost connection with their music for the final third of their dance, and actually finished with a lift after the music had ended? The judges certainly weren't marking the dance they performed.

I would agree, but would also say that second time around in particular he was also reacting to the pantomime shocked reactions of the audience behind him to the previous three judges scores. I know the production team encourage that behaviour but I dislike it intensely and clearly on this occasion Bruno was really fed up with it too.

Something i saw on on ITT made me also think the judges pre-score on the Saturday in the dress-rehearsal before the show so wouldnt be surprised if this is the case

It was not fixed he was just disappointed at the dance.

I don't think it is fixed, but I do think that the judges decided in their own mind who they think are the contenders and mark accordingly, even if a couple they like do a bad dance they tend to get a reasonable score, and if an also ran does a great dance they will only get a reasonable score, how else do you explain Chri & Ola getting the same overall score as Laila and Anton on Saturday night. What they don't understand is this can put the public's back up, they see an entertaining well danced routine being marked quite low and think screw the judges I will vote how I feel.

Writing this has made me realise what is wrong with this series, it is far too serious, and I think I am guilty of taking it too seriously, aaargh help

It was just a temporary glitch in the matrix caused by emergency repairs to Bruno's biopod.

No. It was just one of those weird nights where the scores were all over the place - Bruno was reacting to this in his own distinctive style.

Possibly because he was annoyed/disappointed with the couples themselves, having expected them to do better.

Or even because he was annoyed with the other judge's scores - he does give his last after all.

Absolutely agree with you about this. I thought Zoe and James were ridiculously overmarked for a performance that clearly went wrong. The muted response from the studio audience told one story - the right one, imo - then the judges proceeded to give comments and marks that bore very little relation to what we'd just seen. I happen to like Zoe, but this week I thought her marks seemed pre-determined, perhaps in order to protect from falling into the dance-off again.

I'm pretty sure the judges already have an idea in their mind of what scores they are likely to give, based on rehearsals. If the dance on Saturday isn't a long way away from what they have already seen then it will be quite an easy and quick decision for them.

However I'd stop short at saying the scores are fixed or engineered in advance, I'd be surprised if the producers would take that risk.

No they're not pre-scored, Bruno was just probably annoyed with the other scores/the couples' lack of dance ability and that fact he had to give such score at week 6.

Agree with this. I'm sure Zoe & James's dance in rehearsals was beautiful but, during the live performance, the routine was lost in the second half, consequently Zoe and James looked incredibly sheepish as if fearing the worst. IIRC the judges alluded to a wardrobe malfunction which explained the timing being awry but then went on to score the couple highly.

Understandable though in that a lower score might have resulted in a good couple leaving but I still think the show's credibility and the public's confidence in the judges assessing what is seen on the night is more important than the departure of a talented couple over less talented contestants.


There again, if Ricky W. goes early - I'll hypocritically change my tune

I wouldn't be surprised if the producers met with the judges to give them the producers views on what would be best for the show with regard to the the judging, and if necessary scoring.

Last year, some of the scoring looked like it was done to try to ensure that it was difficult for the public to keep the worst dancers out of the bottom two, but the judging system has been changed, and it is now much more difficult for the judges to do that.

I don't think there's any need to fix it. BBC needs popularity and that's achieved by public voting which is quite different from what the judges think and quite subjective, too, eg, "I suck at dancing, but I want to go to Blackpool" They may use the dress rehearsal to see what to expect, but I think they are all capable to come up with scores and opinion during than minute and a half.

interesting comments, and yes I did say in the original post that its "not" fixed, because pre scoring is not fixing, but I know they pre judge based on what they see in the rehersals because Craig has said so on ITT, and they maybe do minor score adjustments on the night if need be. Maybe it was a case that the pre scores were a bit off this week based on too many fluff ups on the live performance. anyway its not that it matters, the scores always seem reasonable (ish), thought Zoe and James got off lightly.

Craig said that?

When? Does anyone have a clip?