I've been loving this series but is it just me?

Where was the entertainment factor on Saturday?

American Smooth - where was the 'WOW' factor???
The Samba???...let it rip!?!

You can choose fantastic music that you can dramatise, fantasise and really make it magic....where was it?

I didn't see great stories, drama...something memorable...it was 'dull...dull...dull..' as Craig would have said, and he would have been right.

Are they all so scared of being in the 'Dreaded Dance Off' that they're not prepared to take a risk and do something really daring, different and truly entertaining?

Please don't let 'Strictly Come Dancing' become 'Strictly Be Boring'...there are so many ideas and boundaries that they have yet to break and cover and it is not all down to making the costumes skimpier - though I know that has a grand following and good on them.

Let's go for more inventive, better musical choice and interpretation ,and definitely the 'WOW' factor in the dancing...not just the miniscule costumes....

We deserve better ...please bring it on

Do you think some of the music has been a bit - well erm - what's the word?? - rubbish?

I thought some of this week's music was less than inspiring

I don't know how much freedom of choice the professionals have when they have to choreograph a routine and of course, they have to consider how it will sound when it is done live by 'Dave Arch and His Wonderful Orchestra and Singers' .....BUT...

for me, the right musical choice to suit the celebrity and the more individual and 'quirky' the better for it to make some kind of memorable ipression - the better the choreography and routine will be...(I'm not talking out of the top of my hat here...I'm a retired dance teacher...I really feel that the right choice of music/interpretation/choreography...creates that extra special 'WOW' factor that makes the difference between a winner and a loser....and its not all down to the dancing skills

Oh, thanks for this one! I fell asleep midway through Saturday (was taping it fortunately), woke up and went up to sleep as soon as Anton and Laila finished and before the end. I have been a great fan since SCD1, but this year is really dull! No "Wow" factor, no real 'journey', etc. I know some are still loving it, but the overall format has gotten tired (like me ).

It's getting stale isn't it? Too many couples. The whole thing needs a shake up

I am continually disappointed by the music, the AS should have showy big band style music and that wasnt the case on Saturday i do think they are all playing it way too safe and it is shall we say a drag at times

I felt the same way. The Latins have been poor this year as were last years. No one has any umph. Its all neat and nice but no sexiness on display. Bring back Ramps and Matt Di Angelo to show them how its done. Sigh.

Some of the best choreographers have gone - Lilia, Matthew, Kristina and Karen wasnt there this year. Its just not exciting me anymore.

I think the music this year is a real let down, and when we do get a nice piece of music/song the singers kill it off with their catawaling. Most years there are at least two couples that I look forward to their dances every week, last year it was Austin and Tom, this year it's Jade and Zoe. SCD is still a nice way to spend a sat night.

The shine has certainly gone off it this year. Too many couples, not enough well know celebs, Dave Arch and his singing cats are appalling and the guest singers have been largely unispiring. Nearly all of them has beens, possibly because they are cheap, and no one else wants to bother when they can get on X Factor.
We have been promised the BeeGees, I thought they were retired or dead, so another performance that will be extremely underwhelming.

It definately need a shake up, perhaps if Jay Hunt was removed things might improve. Less is more really with regard to the number of couples. Just enough to fit into a one hour or one and and quarter hour show then the results a little later the same evening.

One of the many mistakes that the SCD team made was to get rid of Laurie Hollloway and the bigger orchestra they had originally. Laurie was a little less attuned to some of the more modern songs they try but, then again, most of those are inappropriate anyway. The Buzzcocks?! Great song but not right even for Matthew's fabulous jive. The predominant element of ballroom dancing is music and arrangements that can/should be danced to and that's sometimes missing now.

I am still loving the show, but the song choice had definitely spoiled a lot of routines for me this year by being totally the wrong for the particular dance - the AS is a spectacular example.

The test of a piece of music is more than whether or not it fits the rhythm of the dance - it has to match the style of the dance. Who on earth thought Motown and the AS go together needs shooting.

I cannot believe the pros have much say, if any these days about the choice of music and I'd love someone who happens to meet a pro to ask them about this. My guess is the days of each pro submitting a list of song choices has gone by the board and someone else is making the decision and they stink at it.

I'm a fervent supporter of the show, have loved it from the beginning, and have always defended it and its "cast" from some of the more childish and offensive attacks that get posted on here.

However I have to admit that the format is starting to look very tired this year. I think it's time for the whole thing to be re-invented. Much as I dislike the over the top Hollywood crassness that permeates Dancing With The Stars, I think the UK production team need to be looking at that, and having a serious think about what elements from there they can incorporate in the production here, obviously without turning the whole thing into a sickly LA love-fest.

It's been great until now, but for the sake of the show I think it's time for some serious changes. Not just a new judge here or there, but a complete new production - better sets, better music, new hosts, overhaul the judging panel, new dances and pros, and better chosen celebs. It's treading water at the moment, and I'd hate to see it sink.

I must admit I'm looking forward to them but up until now, the only one I've enjoyed has been Harry Connick jr.
Every week, Bruce introduces them exactly the same way and it always leaves me
Are the singers part of the orchestra or a separate group (which I initially was led to believe) and in fact is that Dave Arch with the headphones on - he never seems to acknowledge even with a nod of the head?
That chappie always looks to me like a rabbit caught in the headlights
Change that to series.
I still can't hear some of last year's choices without picturing the dance all over again from Cherie's Foxtrot to Tom's Quickstep or Foxtrot and Tom's/Austin's Jive but so far this year I couldn't tell you who danced to what.

Me too and although I enjoy watching Zoe, Jade, Natalie and Ricky G, I'm not on the edge of my seat waiting to see what they produce like I was last year with those 2.

I have wondered this too! I'd like to see the singers introduced. It's all one amorphous lump.