[quote=memmh;36563149]Karen's a professional judge who has judged some, if not all, of the pro dancers in competition, so I'm sure she knows how to put aside any impartiality she may have and to judge objectively.

She might very well be able to, but she could still be easily accused of being biased. There must be tons of people out there knowledgeable enough to be a good judge who wouldn't present that problem.

Nicole Cutler would be a good judge, is a world class dancer, one of the few on this show

Firstly, I'm not bothered by Alesha's Cockney accent - it's regional and I accept that - many of my antecedents also talked like that!! :sleep:

Secondly, I suppose the point is that they deliberately replaced Arlene with Alesha. Karen had also been "let go" as an older female dancer.

Camilla Dallerup allegedly left SCD of her own accord, yet she is said to be going on IACGMOFH!! Perhaps SHE also had a little nudge towards the OUT door?

So, although Karen would make a more logical replacement for Arlene - we come round in a circle - why get rid of Arlene in the first place!!

If the Beeb's reason was to attract more viewers - it hasn't worked. Having said that, Cowell's manipulations on SCD's rival show X Factor aren't doing the show any favours!!!!!

I think these Beeb execs with their huge salaries and expense accounts are far too arrogant and up themselves to actually back down and admit they were absolutely wrong to put Alesha in a judge's chair!!!

I thought Karen was lovely on ITT tonight. Of course she would be a much better judge than Alesha Dixon - she has the experience, the knowledge and the charm - all of which Ms Dixon lacks imho. Karen understands choreography and I think she would be superb in the job. I really, really respect her. She is too professional to throw a hissy fit, throw her toys out of the pram or humiliate a contestant if the voting didn't go her way.

Leave Alesha exactly where she is as long as SHE wants to be there.

I completely agree OP.....she would make a FANTASTIC Judge

Yes! I didn't want to see Arlene go but she signed her own death warrant with her press interview last year. Now Alesha is a judge and she is improving week by week. Her grammar is awful at times but she is not unintelligent by any means - and she is NOT a cockney!!! She hails from Welwyn Garden City. Len is a cockney, he originated in the East End of London.

I agree that Karen would make an excellent judge. I'm no student of dance by any stretch of the imagination, and generally have only ever watched for the entertainment value, yet this series on ITT I have always found Karens CCs absolutely fascinating and I get the feeling she would command respect from pros and celebrities alike. Her comments are always constructive and I was impressed last night when she was explaining precisely what constituted a lift just a few minutes after erin had said hers was not a lift. She wasnt afraid to make the point clearly and judge that it wasa lift, although Erin must have still been there.

Originating in the East End of London does not make a person a cockney. Being born within the sound of the bells of Bow Church in London does. Just originating in the East End of London just makes a person an east Londoner, not a cockney.

I can't be bothered to trawl through the whole thread tbh to see if anyone has already mentioned this but I don't for one minute expect Aleisha to be on the panel for long.
At the moment her star is rising & she is having hits written for her by "The Barlow" she's going to be in the same league as Ms Cole soon & I'm sure she will be moving on to bigger things ("I'm worth it" type ad's for one) if she is going to start touring & trying to break the US as many celeb' singers do she won't have the time.
I absolutely loved her when she was a contestant but as a judge I've gone so much off her that it's effected my enjoyment of her singing . I switch the radio off when she comes on & have deleted her first solo hit from my ipod it makes me cringe as much as Craigs dancing did!
Don't know why, can't explain my antipathy but there it is .