Forget Shirley Ballas, that voice makes chalk on a blackboard seem like music. Sounds like her nose is stopped up or something like a high pitched whine.

Let her stay in America coaching her son on DWTS. Strictly wasn't high profile enough for the Derik, Mark or Julianne

Your comment raises the question which usually crops up in connection with judges' v. public voting. Namely, is SCD a dance contest or not? Ditching two Latin dances for the replacements you mention would change the balance of the show. If you want other Latin dances, you might think of Mambo (Cuban not New York) , Merengue, Lambada ("merengue with spins"), or Bolero, which would be a replacement for the slower Rumba. I think these are all good pair dances, which is important.

There are others that are not well-known outside Latin America. All are of course outside the canon of five "international Latin" dances that SCD follows, but that may not be a bad thing. It might, for example, lead to Len Goodman resigning in protest.

A realistic wish list for next year would be:
- 12 dancers, using the money saved on fees to invest in better costumes and at least two shows from Blackpool including the final.
- ditching the expensive and intrusive Steadycam (the one on the dance floor) for better-trained cameramen and live editors to show more footwork
- I have nothing in principle against changing Bruce, but can you name a replacement host who would be so unconditionally supportive of the dancers as he is, and would never, ever, made a snide joke about the crap ones? This is absolutely vital to the show long-term. Dancers expect some judges to be harsh, but will not sign up to be hung out to dry without anyone to fight their corner.

Please stop saying "I'd have Karen Hardy as judge". Is she your puppet? Why isn't she a judge already? Don't you think she has already been offered it, but turned it down?

Stop messing about and spend some of our money on the show. Its not about replacing people with "better" or HEAT MAG fodder!
Its about better production values the show has not moved on since it began...Look at the Xfactor the "cast" is not as important as the high production quality of the show.
XFACTOR looks so good on TV.
If you played an old SCD from 4 years ago no one would notice for about 5mins until the "stars" were announced!
Nothing has changed...
Thats why figures are low this year we have seen it all before. The judges Bruce and Tess are an integral part of the show.You need to up the ante with better production!And move the format on.......
SPEND SOME MONEY YOU TIGHT WADS!

Are you referring to me continually saying I'd have Karen Hardy as judge or posters in general? And what's the 'Is she your puppet' remark mean/imply?

If it's directed at me I'll say what I like on this forum, when I like! I would have Karen as a judge in a heartbeat and I'm pretty sure that if she'd been offered the job we'd have heard about it somehow. Camilla also expressed an interest in becoming a judge when she quit last year, she also would have been a better replacement IMO, unfortunately she's off the eat grubs and testicles in the Outback A bit of comedown! I've got nothing against Alesha but it's like asking ME to be judge (OK not nearly as bad ), I'd be completely out of my depth and at times I think Alesha is too.


However your ideas on other Latin dances are interesting My particular bugbear is the Rumba, I hate it. The Merengue would be a good replacement though, or Lambada. But why does it always have to be Ballroom or Latin? Why can't we have have Charleston or Jitterbug? They're exciting dances which are entertaining both for the contestants and the viewers (the general type, maybe not serious dancers/followers of dance). I think that most of the audience just want to be entertained and aren't too bothered about the 'Strictly Ballroom' thing/attitude.

Pretty much exactly what I feel. As many do, we wach both SCD and XF, and the XF production quality far exceeds SCD. Shame about the inability to select proper talent, and the nasty judge with a conviction for ABH + Simon Cowell, but you can't have everything!

I'd like to see a permanent set at Elstree for the season, gap between main and results show, less celebs and shorter season. Don't have an issue with Bruce / Tess or the current judges, but would like to see a 5th judge to avoid Len having the casting vote. KH would be my choice.

Final from Blackpool please!

Well one thing you'd notice would be that Bruno was lower-octane and making mostly encouraging comments back then. I noticed that when checking YouTube videos of Anton rumba-ing.

The day SCD's production goes the way of the X Factor is the day I stop watching it.

Much bigger names as competitors - The show is on for a long time and the fee isn't that great so it attracts either people who need the publicity, ex soap stars, failing pop stars or current BBC staff who've had their arms twisted.
Take Katie Price as an example, she is reportedly getting £350K for 2 weeks work on I'm a Celebrity. Why would she accept £50k for potentially 3 months work in which she would have to train every day - not going to happen. (Not saying I'd want to see her on it btw, just as an example) In any case, it doesn't necessarily follow that the bigger the star the better the dancer. Alesha's star was definitely on the wane before her appearance on SCD.

More current artists - Most go on X Factor as it appeals to a younger market and they probably pay more.

Me too. I hate X Factor.

I watched the results show last week (only to see what all the hype surronding the twins was about) and couldn't believe how much over blown, faux dramatic padding was on there. They had a 2 minute intro VT for Leona Lewis - I don't watch the show and even I know she won the show 2 years ago.

I would like an new sparkly new stairs like they have on dwts and better singers,I would also perfer an seperate results show.

I can't say I noticed her voice being unpleasant?


I don't want Latin replaced by Latin. I specifically suggested the Charleston and the Jitterbug for that reason, as they would bring something new to the show as well as some fun. DWTS has experimented with a lot of new dances in the last few series and those two would be my choice for SCD. I definitely don't want to see the Lambada, Bolero or the Merengue, as they are just other Latin dances and that defeats the object for me.

As for Karen Hardy as a judge, plenty of people including me have said they'd like that and no, I don't think she has been offered the job - yet. The BBC would never get away with someone who was a pro dancer in the competition one year turning into a judge in the next. The outrage about favouritism/bias/grudges - real or perceived - would be endless. However, a series of doing Choreography Corner on ITT is an ideal stepping stone to the judges' table and that's what I hope will happen next series.

BTW it is a bit off telling someone not to do something on a public forum where everyone is entitled to express their opinion.

3. I don't think this makes a difference, the public are just as likely to make the "wrong" decision as Len is.

4. I agree with this point, but Katie Price? Sorry but I have had it with these no talent celebs which she is queen of.

5. If the show is for ages 7 to 70 why would the music choice need to be for the younger viewers? If your market is a wide ranging as this one you need to keep the music middle of the road unfortunately.