Having the token male there last night in Ronnie Corbett got my back up. Tess and Claudia are talented enough to run the show along without a male crutch. Infact Claudia is a damn sight funnier than any of these old geriatric comedians.

I think he was just there as a bonus, mainly to add some kind of continuity to the very start of the show with the two presenters.

I think if Tess continues, with the role being more tailored to her rather than just using a tweaked Brucie script as per last night, it would work very well. Claudia was truly divine in the TessPit and it'll be really sad not to have her back in there when Bruce is recovered.

No token male or comedian required. Last night the contest was the focus, not Bruce's ego.

I'm actually really sad that Claudia won't be on the main show again. I know we all thought It Takes Two suited her and was HERS by some divine right but last night she proved she can be brilliant at the main show too and her humour translates so well.

x x x x x

I thought the show was much more fun with Tess out front and Claudia backstage.
I looked forward to Claudia's segments.
And I didn't cringe at Tess's pieces to camera.

No idea why the BEEB paid Ronnie Corbett to appear, though.
What was the point of him?
The only time I even sniggered while he was on screen was during the bit where Lionel Blair [in the seat behind him] was desperately trying to get in shot.

Bruce, please retire.
BEEB please get Claudia on the main show.

I have to be honest, and I know many people disagree, but I do not think Strictly is quite the same without Bruce, so when he is better, I would like to see him back. HOWEVER... when he does decide to leave, and let's be honest, I doubt the BEEB will get rid of him, I think Tess and Claudia could do it very well between them, so there is really no point in them getting in a male presenter to do something which they did well between them!

I think Tess and Claudia make a good pair, i just think they should have been in the opposite roles.

I think people are so used to the comic being the main presenter (Brucie) to counter balance the judges, and the co-presenter being more straight laced (Tess in the Tess pit, being Brucies foil). Last night it was the opposite with the comic being in the secondary position, and I really think the judges need a presenter that will stand up to them sometimes and put them down a bit with jokes (like Brucie, and how Claudia would have been). So i think it would have worked better to have Claudia as the main presenter and Tess at what she usually does, but i do understand why they did t the way they did (except the awful Ronnie Corbet).

With Claudia already working monday to friday, I think she probably wants the Saturday off. Much as I want her to be part of the main show, it's a bit much to expect her to work 6 days a week when she's got young children. Give the woman a day off!

That had me in stitches as well....he nearly dislocated his neck trying to make sure his head was in shot, and what was with the hair, grey at the front and black at the back !!! Very Strange.

Plus doesn't she do stuff (presumably much higher paid) for ITV? She would be contractually required to give up working for the competition if she was fronting the main show, so I doubt it's high on her wish list.

Claudia should take over from Tess. With Brucie's corny jokes (I laugh) and Claudia's amazingly youthful, full of life, scatty wittiness, I'd be well happy.

I preferred Claudia in the Tess role - she's a lot freer there to be herself, whereas I quite enjoyed Tess in the main role. Having her do it 'straight' worked for me. I enjoyed her & Claudia a lot more than I have Tess & Bruce this or last season.

I like Bruce and think he does an OK job most of the time - but I hate the jokes and just because he is OK doesn't mean it can't be done a lot better by someone else - or even him if the jokes are dropped.

I agree. I'm not sure Claudia would want the job, but they would make a good combination.
The worst possible scenario ?..they bring in Vernon Kay to co-present with his missus..both attractive, but one big :yawn:

Claudia has her radio show on Radio 2 on Fridays as well.

Tess and Claudia made a really good job of it between them but with two women as a permanent fixture would jealousy rear its ugly head? Anyway, Tess has her sights on America according to some reports, so things may inevitably change.

For the main presenting gig, Tess did a better job than I maybe expected, but for me she's not going to be more than competent ever at the role. If the producers want someone out front to just do autocue and not be noticed much, transferring the whole emphasis of the show to just dancing, she could do the job well enough. I'd suspect they'll want someone who can do autocue and half-decent off the cuff stuff too, at the same time as being mainstream enough not to put off older viewers. A Paul O'Grady or Rob Brydon type are probably more in line for the job on the producers' long-term replacement list, I'd guess.

On Claudia, I think she's great - kooky, fun and at her best off-script. She could do the main presenting gig, but it's not her forte. Standing still and reading autocue, she's probably a little too hyper for some viewers. Backstage too, if she kept the role, I agree with what someone else said and think they'd be better to have the couples run back and flop down on a sofa next to Claudia for a 'quick chat' - almost as if she was watching it from home. She's tailor-made for that role and it could become a much more significant part of the show than the current going through the motions role it has. They could give her 30 seconds longer per couple and cut some of the filler guff out front and probably make a more enjoyable show for most watchers.

Unlucky for Brucie boy, but probably quite lucky for the producers, they got some ideas how to do a post-Forsyth revamp of the show for the better last night.

yes i was hoping to see Tess and Claudia come down the stiars, i am sure they could have done something with it than shove Ronnie Corbett in there

I thought it worked well last night. Tess was much better than I expected and Claudia was great backstage. Ronnie Corbet was a nice little bonus, but personally I'd be happy with just the two women running it and to let Brucie have a nice long (permanent) break.

Tess and Claudia did the business for me.
I don't want a "star" to present. I want a professional. And, surprisingly to me, Tess came up trumps.

Bye bye, Bruce.

I really enjoyed ALL 3 presenters last night

I do love Bruce ~ and hope he is well ~very soon

Yes, because, as we all know, women are incapable of behaving professionally and working well together, aren't they

This post is both sexist and ageist.
To explain , it is anti male and ant elderly people.
Shame, shame on you.

I enjoyed Claud last night but missed Brucie a lot. I think Claud should be installed instead of Tess. She is witty and good fun.

It's neither anti male nor "anti" old people. The implication that the beeb feel a man was needed there at all is sexist in itself, given the fact that two highly experienced, competent presenters were already on hand.

It's not "anti elderly people" to suggest that they are not required to present a Saturday night television show. I have nothing against the elderly but I don't think they should be fighting in Afghanistan or strutting their stuff on catwalks, for example. Certain jobs suit certain types of people and a show about dancing works better when it feels young and fresh, not old and stale.

Claudia was great. I hope she gets the job next year. But no Ronnie Corbett please.