Is the show better with him or without him ?

Without

I didn't miss him. Could have done without Ronnie.

Definitely better without him. He's the reason I record it, so that I can fast forward through his bits.

Definitely without, good to watch tonight without the usual "jokes" and his constant attempts to make it the "Bruce Forsythe" show.

Totally agree with Daisy M. Tess delivered many of Bruce's set lines, but from her they sounded genuine rather than autocued. Claudia had a absolute home game with the dancers, they clearly mostly adore her, and it's mutual.

Sorry to go against the grain but, I missed him. I felt the show was very dis-jointed and seemed to lack a certain amount of sparkle. It was a strange show tonight and I didn't really enjoy it. I can't put my finger on it so, I can only think it was because Bruce wasn't there steadying the helm.

To be honest, the way it's done now, it looks like Tess can do the front stage bit perfectly adequately.

I love Bruce - he's a dancer, and he's committed to dancing. But the way the format is done, he's not really allowed to do much beyond read an autocue at the moment.

There was some sort of Einsteinian gravitational effect on time. Minus the greater gravitational effect of Brucie's showman schtick, time seemed to run a lot faster to me. Not sure if that's the way round it's supposed to work, but it did.

It felt like throughout the whole episode they tried to stall to fill in for his jokes. I think I missed him, but that might just be my reaction to a terrible episode.

Only highlight for me was Laila being saved..

I would love for Claudia + Tess to takeover the show themselves. Tess did alot better when she didn't try to play the glamorous assistant. She is capable. Claudia got herself together and was able to refer to things she said on ITT which I thought was nice.

Without. Tess and Claudia did a great job - it's just a shame they desperately tried to shoehorn Ronnie Corbett (who I like) in.

I thought Tess was nice but bland and didn't seem as assured as Bruce at running a live show. She did an okay job but I think long term it would work better with someone who displays a little more personality in their style.

Without. both Tess and Claudia did a good job, and no cringe factor, except Ronnie.

I was relieved to hear we would be spared Brucie's hilarious jokes this week, only for them to roll out the only man in showbiz more doddery than Bruce himself to extend the run of completely unfunny quips to 6 years and counting.

I have a horrible feeling that when they finally put Bruce out to pasture they will get Graham Norton on in his place

without Bruce it seemed more slick tonight and less of a drag between dances and the judges didnt get shouted over whilst giving their opinions,
Tess was ok but i do wish she would stop the gurning and talking to the viewers as if were all children,
Claudia was great i thought someone who loves the dancers and what shes doing and it shows,
as much as i love Ronnie C i still dont see why he was there either have him presenting properly or not at all.

Without for me too (sorry Bruce)

I've never been a fan of Tess but i thought she was great tonight. Shes obviously much more comfortable and natural with the auto cued front of house job whereas Claudia was fantastic as the spontaneous back stage host who has got an obvious bond with the dancers.

Tess and Claudia permanently would be ideal

Without, didn't miss him and his cringeworthy jokes at all.

Have to say, without. And say again, without.

Tess did a very good job (I'd earlier doubted her capability) and I think that was down to her not just being Brucie's stooge. She had a chance (under unfortunate circumstances) to shine and prove herself. Her whole demeanour was different - she seemed comfortable and in control.

Claudia, it goes without saying, was an absolute diamond.

Ronnie - I love. But hey, what was all that about - not needed. The show was in good hands with Claudia and Tess. He brought nothing to it - best he was just in the audience as 'Brucies's Special Friend' to say a few nice lines and leave it at that.

Agree 100%

I love Brucie! Strictly won't be the same without him...

Without definitely.

I didn't have to fastforward once. I loved Claudia, she was great.

Bruce believes in all his own hype when really, his jokes are dated in the prehistoric era, he fluffs his lines, can't read the autocue, stumbles and mumbles from one gaff to the next.

Alas, poor Brucie! I knew him when he was vaguely amusing.

Without. And keep Claudia in the Tesspit too. She's much better!

For me, I love the Tess / Claudia combo. The dancers all make a point of it being a strictly "Family" and rather than replace Bruce with a step-dad I think we'd all be happier with just Mum and the mad, batty aunt. The BBC should think v-e-r-y carefully on who should replace Bruce, and what a mistake Ronnie was.

The one thing Bruce has that nobody can take away from him is his ability to control and work the audience. Tess doesn't have this (as yet) and that's the thing I missed him for. There were occasions where the audience wouldn't be quiet enough for us to allow Tess to be heard above them. Bruce would either use timing to wait until they had subsided, or use his audience working skills to shut them up one way or another. I don't know of many people that DO have that vital ability. Certainly not a lot of the comedians people are suggesting. But I think given chance, Tess would shine and obviously Claudia is such a hit they would be mad to not use her!

without definitely, Tess and Claudia did a great job, i think Tess could shine given a chance she did really well and you cannot help but love Claudia dont know why the levered Ronnie Corbett in there for