Tonights show was a farce!

I know Brucie cant help being ill, but the BBC should really have been better prepared for tonight. WTF was Ronnie Corbett doing there?! What was the point of that? He didnt do anything and his jokes made Bruce's look good. Why dont the BBC just have a notice accross the bottom of the screen saying "Watch the X Factor instead. We've given up"

Why has Jade been given a free pass to next week but Laila, who was also in agony was not. How is that fair? They should have canceled tonights dance off and let them all go through.

What a joke

Jade's injury was much more serious. The doctors gave Laila the all clear to dance.

The all clear to dance on a sprained ankle?

It goes to show the show can live on without Bruce Forsyth.

Yes, it was said on the show. It was a sprain but Jade's knee cap popped out.

That was a terrific show tonight.

Maybe the X Factor is more suited to your tastes?

I suspect, however, that if Jade hadn't already been ruled out then the producers wouldn't have let her dance on an ankle sprain whether she 'wanted' to or not. Couldn't afford to be 2 couples down.

I must say, I think that demonstrated how much of a contribution, for all his obvious dodderiness, Bruce makes. His personality and even his very crap jokes are important for strictly, He is a big focal point that this lacked.

I do agree the Beeb should have a much better contingency plan in place, though. I mean, Bruce is old and they should be prepared for him to get ill. Just makes sense.

i didnt see the point of ronnie corbett but liked tess and claudia filling in

it was jinxed tonight im sure wo with laila and jade being injured im glad laila gets another chance though it could have gone against her

It was her choice, she could of pulled out which would of made a real mess of the show. The doctors said she could dance if she wanted, with Jade it was simply not possible for her to dance.

Where was Paul O'Grady or Graham Norton? They could have done a good job, they have big personalities it would work. Bruce is 82 and they really need to be thinking about either have a stand in on hand or getting rid of him and finding someone younger.

Jade's knee cap popped out of the socket, did you expecvt her do dance with such an injury?

The show was far from terrific.

Im really not suprised most people would rather watch John and Edward murder whatever they are singing.

I agree Ronnie Corbett was completely unneccessary, but I thought Tess and Claudia were fine together as presenters, I didn't miss Bruce at all.

Does anyone really read these forums and other replies. The point for Ronnie was to fill in the jokes which Bruce does. I think the BBC also wanted a well known friend and collegue of Bruce. Maybe Ronnie is due for something big also soon on TV?

I dont understand why the stand in host has to be a friend of Bruce's? Who will it be next week if he's still not right? Jimmy Tarbuck?

You mean like an ambulance or oxygen tent???

You are assuming that Strictly keep Paul O'Grady and Graham Norton in a big glass cage marked "Break in case of emergency".

How many presenters are there that can come in at 24 hours notice?

Those two are busy with Radio 2 duties. Also mentioned Ronnie was called up by Brucie to fill in, so I reckon that happened after he called the producers to confirm if it was ok. I suppose a little bit of cash in his pocket for this evening event.

No. Im suggesting that the BBC have something in place in case Bruce is unable to do it again. He's 82, people in their 80's get ill or sometimes they just dont feel like it.

Doesn't Paul O'Grady work for C4 anyway? Would he even be an option for a one-off for the BBC?

Besides, I maintain that Tess and Claudia were perfectly capable of carrying the show, and long term would be fine, as they could lose the corny joke section, so wouldn't need a 'comedy' person to do it.

Where I do feel sorry for both Laila and Jade being injured I never agree with anyone getting a free pass.They also said it was up to Laila if she danced or not so would she have been given a free pass if she decided not to dance?!?

They should have done what has been done in the past on DWTS when someone is injured and show the rehersal footage as it is fairer on all contestants if all competing couples are part of the vote.

As for Len vote - if shows why the vote should be thrown back to the public Tuffers should never have left tonight

If Jade is still injured she won't get another free pass she will be kicked out which means the dreaded 2 person final

Missed Brucie tonight though Tess and esp Claudia done a great job didn't get what Ronnie Corbett was there for

I agree. The public vote saved the BBC from enormous embarrassment. What would have happened if Laila had been in the bottom two ?..she could not have taken part in he dance-off and would have had to leave. I can just imagine this forum then, it would have gone into melt-down.
With only six complete dances, one contestant unable to take part, another unable to complete her routine..it would have been fairer to let them all go through.

Paul works for Radio 2 as well. I would expect if in an emergency the BBC would change the standin every week? Leaving claudia and tess as they are. Hopefully this will not come to it, but I guess people will be wondering how long a 80 plus year old can go on.

( This is all speculation )

I agree with this point. It was a difficult situation tonight.