I think SCD is going to need a change of direction to avoid the rut some people think it's getting into.

So, my thought on this was; why not do exactly what is done now, but with non-celebrities taking part? (And no, all you smartasses, not the kind of 'non-celebs' we have now).

You could do exactly the same as X Factor and hold auditions for the first two/three weeks around the country, then a 'boot camp' and then select your final X number.

PROS OF NON-CELEBS:
1. No salaries to pay, so more money to spend
2. It would be directly comparable with X Factor, which is what the Beeb seem to want
3. You'd get way more 'journey' stories
4. No C-listers trying to get noticed. A total unknown is much more likely to get a sympathetic reaction than a vaguely recognisable club-haunting chav.

CONS OF NON-CELEBS:
1. Nobody would know what to make of people initially, so the betting industry might be affected.
2. Would people care less about non-celeb couplings?
3. The pros might not like it.

So, what do people reckon? Would it work? Would you watch? And would you audition?

It might , I hadntt heard of most of this lot before anyway so it wouldnt make much differnce .
The only ones I ever heard of were Martina Hingis and Tuffers ( from the jungle )

I might watch, but it depends on the sort of people who were chosen. If it was fame-hungry wannabes like Big Brother contestants, then that would hold very little appeal for me. Having said that, if you just chose 'normal' people then it would probably be pretty boring!

The problem with non-celebs is that, especially if there is no salary, what is their incentive?! The current c listers are I feel either there to raise their profile, or for the lump sum payment. X factor amateurs (who I think get a weekly payment for the time they are on the live show, and also for being on the tour) are aiming to get the recording contract. Unless Strictly could offer that kind of final prize, not many ordinary folk would be able to give up the day job, as the saying goes.

I agree - you are likely to get those who are media-whores, and those who want to get a break in showbiz. ordinary people they won't be.
I would suspect that few real, ordinary people would be able to run in their normal day job (and family) with SCD training (as well as having each Friday off to travel to London for rehearsals, as well as Saturday), few would be able to accommodate an open-ended commitment (Aug/Sept-Dec, but could be over almost immediately), and few of them would be personable enough and outgoing enough to want to appear on national TV. You only have to look at the social misfits of oddities that frequent Big Brother to see what happens.

Spot on.

I don't know if it would work, but I would 100% audition because I love the show and every week I find myself thinking that I want to be a part of it. I don't know if I would get very far because I'm not sure I can dance. I don't think a couple of weeks with the dancing society at university makes me an expert

it was called strictly dance fever and ran from Jan to April ish after series 3 and 4 of SCD.

Then there was Dance X.

And then joseph, maria etc etc

ANd then we have Arelene's thing in Jan...

They could drop the celebs and search for new pro's instead. Strictly Dancers
We could really do with some British pro females in the mix as we have none now.

I wouldn't be interested in watching the kind of people who apply for BB or even X Factor these days and that's probably what the producers would go for, rather than 'normal' people who would love the opportunity to dance.

In addition to the shows already mentioned, there was also the show combining slimming and dancing that Matt and Karen did that I thought would work really well. That was probably the closest that we've had to SCD and I gave up watching because it was so bad. The problem with 'normal' people is they have jobs to go to, families to bring up, bills to pay. How could they take part in a non-celeb version?

I loved Strictly Dance Fever when it was on, and I love all the Joseph and Maria shows, so the contestants not being celebs does work for me. The problem with SCD is that unless there is some prize at the end of it like with ALW's shows and the role in a West End musical, you're unlikely to get people applying who genuinely care about dance but haven't been trained, as opposed to fame hungry BB rejects who need another show to go on now that BB is being cancelled. I'd definitely apply for it though - I'd love the chance to learn how to dance and to wear those gorgeous outfits.

I wouldn't even read a thread about it.

I wouldn't watch it. I hate all those reality programmes like X-Factor which seem to involve the ritual humiliation of sad/desperate/deluded members of the public. One of the reasons I enjoy SCD so much is that it doesn't have this element. OK, I know the celebs on Strictly have their own agendas but they are not there because they have unrealistic dreams which are about to be cruelly shattered (with the possible exception of Craig Kelly ) - I just find that sort of thing too painful to watch!

I would certainly apply, but I don't think I'd watch.

Maybe if it was half-celeb/half-GBP that might have appeal, but I still don't see how it'd work.

I'm generally averse to shows that use the 'general public'.
Not many 'normal' people could give up their job for4 or 5 months to do a bit of dancing, so you'd just end up with the people who missed the Big Brother boat.

I think it would have at least two detrimental effects on the programme -

Firstly that we'd start from a position of knowing nothing about the contestants - and ok, I knew little about any of the current bunch, but it's interesting to know if they're actors, performers, sports people etc etc

Secondly, that if the contestants were 'nobocies' the judges (and public?) would treat them with even less respect than they do at present and it would become yet another vehicle for humiliating people who have little opportunity to fight back.

How spooky, I was just thinking about this the other day.

I'm not sure it'd be half as interesting. Lets be honest, one of the best parts about the build up to Strictly is hearing the line up. Once you have the line up, the time between that and the show starting is normally filled with anticipation and excitement at seeing a celeb you're familiar with, at the least.

Look at how on DS, once the line up is announced (a month or whatever before the show starts) people already have appreciation threads started. They already sit going "I can't wait to see such and such dance" and then it's a buzz of getting comfortable with fellow supporters for a usually already chosen one.

I somehow can't see a non-celeb strictly having as much excitement attached.

The thing about "talent" shows that showcase the public is that there should be a big prize on offer at the end. That's the draw with Xfactor; the winner (and usually some of the others) get a recording contract and they remain in the public eye for some time at least because the music industry is so high profile. It's not possible to offer this sort of thing with a dance show because the dance industry just doesn't have the same status in the public eye. They offered a decent contract/prize to the winners of Strictly Dance Fever but did we ever get a chance to see/hear from them again?

I don't much like the idea of using non-celebs for the reasons others have stated. They would quickly become celebrities anyway, with the Sun/Star exposing their past sins..and if they couldn't find any, they would make some up.
It might work using an entirely different format. A much smaller affair, studio based, without an audience. Perhaps using small groups in each show, and just having a couple of judges to pick the contestant with the most potential going through to the next round. There could be more emphasis on watching the various hopefuls actually learning the different dances, a more "behind the scenes" look at how the professionals go about teaching the routines. I think it could be interesting..but it would be far removed from SCD and I doubt it would have mass appeal.

I think the pros would like it! Ian has already said as much when I saw him before the start of this series!

I would definitely sign up for it!!!

And I don't see why it would fail as a programme just becuase the non pro dancers aren't celebs. People watch X Factor and Big Brother in their millions and no-one has ever heard of any of them prior to the shows starting!

I think you could have a couple.

You could semi-auction the places - anyone who makes a contribution over £10 has their name put in the hat. Two are drawn at random.

I'd like that.

I would watch a show featuring non-celebs but they need to be working towards a prize of some sort.

Maybe a place on the tour with the celebs?

Or a role in a dance show?

It has been done. It was called COME DANCING!!!! What Strictly was based on in the first place. If you remember the first time it was done was to raise money for children in need.

But the audience wasn't really involved in the outcome of that show - and we didn't get to know the couples.

Come Dancing used to have teams of BBC regions I think