The standard this year is poor. This is partly the reason Ricky and Ali stand out and get criticised. I just can't warm to any of the couples left at all (Chris and Ola I guess if I was forced at gunpoint to chose a favourite!)

I have watched every year and although series 1 was poor and series 6 had problems, this year is by far the worst EVER!

The board did NOT back Anton what people were saying is that he'd admitted he was in the wrong and Laila had said she'd forgiven him so there wasn't a lot of point of doing much else about it. It's not the same thing as saying it was ok - which not even he's saying. Like many of the male pros I can't make my mind if I like Anton or not - I do in some ways and not in others but I don't think he always engages his brain before opening his mouth - I used to be like that when I was younger. At the end of the day people aren't villians and heroes - they have good points and bad points - and deserve in most cases neither the lionisation or demonisation they get on here.

It's not been an awful series, but I've found it disappointing, because there was such potential for anarchy at the beginning, and it's devolved down into the usual "public pick a nice 30-something white male with some dance talent and an engaging personality, judges pick pretty young 30-something-women and/or pretty young 30-something ethnic minority man and they antagonise each other through the last few weeks of the competition".

And that's basically been the story of every series apart from series 1 with some minor adjustments. I'm used to it now, but it's pretty boring, because every permutation of the end game has been totally played out.

It is obvious that the two new dances have been thrown in as the current mob (other than RW and AB) are not up to the standard required for a truly amazing Argentine Tango.
They are dumbing it down for the worst dancers instead of weeding them out.

That's a bit presumptuous. The Argentine Tango isn't danced until the penultimate week and I think we'll still see it - whichever couples are still in.

Do think they should be dancing two dances this week though.

So saying that there should be no consequences for racist insults isn’t backing it? Coming out with a statement that they fully support the person that does that isn't backing it either then. I suppose you think that saying that there should be no consequences for rape isn’t backing the rapist? Pull the other one.

When a judge gives a non-custodial sentence for child abuse you have to wonder what that says about their own attitude to it and when someone doesn’t take racism seriously that tells you something about them too. The board and BBC backed Anton and even know there are threads going on about how inexplicable it is that they haven’t clicked and what this says about Laila's attitude. It is silly to try and pretend this board wasn't and isn't in favour of wiping the whole thing under the carpet.

In practical terms, it's probably not possible to alternate them but I don't think it helps having the same pros dancing each year.
The public will always think back to the previous year (or further!) and whether their fav pro did well or not, plus if they don't like a particular pro, their current celeb partner won't get a look in. (Not nasty just human nature really)

Costs may be prohibitive but how about a 'bank' of eg 12 professional couples, 6 participating each year with 12 celebs.
(I'd go further and say only 1 half of each pro couple participating.)
The other 12 pros could do the group dances, help with training and choreograph dances instead of some pros having to rush off and change costumes (sometimes twice in a show) for their pro dance.

Just a thought

Unlike yourself, dragging it up every chance you get?

I'm sure there are plenty of forums dedicated to perceived miscarriages of justice and the administering of punishment/sentences as well as changing the laws on all forms of 'ism'.

That particular Media perpetrated hooha is no longer an issue with anybody connected to SCD except yourself.

And that is my point. This board and the show condone racism. Perfectly articulated in your post agreeing that the general attitude is that it is unimportant and a hooha.

I don't think the low points of this series have yet challenged what we had to endure last year with Sergeant-gate then the judges' blatant bias.

Conversely, last year had also, by this time, produced some brilliant dancing - Austin and Erin's jive, Cherie and James' rumba. That, for me, highlights what has been the let-down this year. There have been routines with great promise - Jade and Ian's samba, Zoe and James' rumba - but they've ended up yielding nothing (for different reasons, obviously). Jade's exit has left me feeling rather deflated, not least because Team Cola have yet to raise their game to where it should be. We now have the prospect of the judges dictating who should be in a two-person final and, although I don't mind Ali and would prefer her to win, I don't care that much.

The biggest problem, IMHO, this year has been what has happened OFF the dancefloor: Alesha vs Arlene, the scheduling, Blackpool-gate (or maybe that should be 'delusion-gate'?) ... the BBC still doesn't know how to manage the individuals involved in the making of Strictly and instead seems obsessed in competing with The X Factor - a battle it can never win (as the ratings make perfectly clear). Give all this to a rabidly anti-BBC media who want the Corporation cut down to size in every respect, and you are left a hoard of vultures attacking a flailing beast.

We desperately need more drama ON the dancefloor now. The three couples lagging behind have got to start snapping at Ricky W's and Ali's heels. Otherwise we have the prospect of a flat and predictable final. And that is in nobody's interests ...

No - the point is there was no racism to condone or otherwise.
Mixing up my words does not alter the fact that the Media concocted a hyped up version of the situation.

'There was no case to answer, M'Lud.'

No not for me it will take a terrible year to beating last years horrid, vile, smugtastic programme.

Ah so it’s not an unimportant media hoo-ha. It never happened at all. And that proves that really proves there is no condoning of racism on this board!!

You've clearly decided we're all racist so there's nothing to be said is there? Tony was a berk - he admitted he was a berk but this doesn't matter his head needs to be dispensed with. I can see both sides of this - people made my life miserable at school with words so I know that words can hurt you but I've also said stupid things without thinking. It's not the same as a rape case in the work place if you say something offensive you apologise and you lose your job if you don't or you keep doing it on purpose. There's a different between a stupid remark and systematic bullying.

Who asked for his head? When have I said he systematically bullied her?

I said that occured was significant and shouldn't be brushed under the carpet. I also said that I find this attitude that pointing out that it was him - the professional - who put the skids on them achieving a good working partnership and may have dented her enthusiasm for the show and dancing is tantamount to "vendetta", "hounding him" or asking for a decapitation does point out the sympathies of those that use that make that kind of statement. And it does.

When you were made miserable at school would it have been OK for someone to blame you for being miserable? Or would it have been right to point out that it was those who were being unpleasant to you that made you not the life and soul of the place? Would you have said to do so was hounding them or asking for their decapitation?

No not everyone is racist but those who condone it, make excuses for it etc or prefer to ignore it because it is unpleasant are certainly setting up an environment where it can flourish just like those that prefer to ignore bullying are condoning bullying.

I'm afraid you're too blinkered to see any other way than your own mission - you read what you want in others' posts without taking it as a whole so I won't argue the point with you.

the problem is that this year only three couples have 'progressed' - all three are now out (phil, ricky and jade)

ricky w and ali were quite good at the start but haven't seen real improvement from either

chris was good in the first week and went downhill fast - is now back to the same standard

natalie hasn't improved at all

so there's no excitement, no anticipation of what's going to happen next week. I know ricky w will dance well but make a few mistakes, ali will do a beautiful but safe ballroom and a technically difficult but lacking in pizzazz latin. Chris's hands and face will continue to distract, natalie will look flat-footed and behind the beat, laila will whine about how hard it is and then produce a half-arsed attempt lacking in any emotion or sparkle

jade was the only one who I was looking forward to seeing each week as I felt she was getting better each time

ho hum

I agree that this the worst Strictly ever.

The contestants are less talented overall.

We have Alesha as a judge, which has ruined the experience of listening to the panel.

We have had some elderly singers who have completely lost the voice they once had.

Celebs aren't as good.
Rubbish choice of songs, especially for Latin dances.
Alesha a gobby princess, innit?
Crap pretend arguments between judges are embarrassing.
And pensioner guest star singers have had me blocking my ears.

Seeing Andy Williams in his trainers (which someone had clearly forgotten to remind him to change) while he was croaking his way through that song will live in my memory for many years.

The funniest thing I've seen on TV in ages!

Not to mention Rod Stewart's croaking (& not in his previous sexy way).
I was shocked Bruce at 80+ sounded better than both of them .

Hmm, don't know if the charleston and this rock'n'roll dance will be any easier for the celebs to learn, they're pretty full on dances!