Bosses' drastic plan to save Strictly

BEEB bosses have devised a three-step plan to put Strictly Come Dancing back on a footing with X Factor.

Strictly is in need of a makeover after flopping in the ratings against ITV's talent show this series.

So take your partners viewers and get ready for...

FORWARD, 2, 3: Big name celebs will be booked as dancers and performers instead of this year's no-marks.

BACK, 2, 3: The judging panel will return to the old all-pro format after Alesha Dixon failed to shine as Arlene Phillips's replacement.

TO THE SIDELINES, 2, 3: A replacement for host Bruce Forsyth will be agreed and waiting in the wings in case he quits.

The revamp was ordered after the 2009 X Factor regularly drew TWO MILLION more viewers.

A BBC source admitted: "This has been the most boring Strictly series ever.

"Last year people were concerned that the viewers wouldn't come back unless we radically revamped the show.

"That didn't happen and Strictly has lost millions of viewers. Next year it will get a radical makeover. They want it more like the U.S. version, Dancing With The Stars, which is still going strong even after eight series."

A crack BBC team of producers will sex up the show and they have been immediately outlining what they see as the three major failings in this current lacklustre series.

And one of those failings is new judge, and former Strictly champ, Alesha.

"Alesha was meant to be Strictly's Cheryl Cole," said the source. "But everyone quickly realised the job needs a dance expert. It was crazy watching her give advice to pro dancers." Ballerina Darcey Bussell, who is appearing as a guest judge on this series is tipped as a likely replacement.

Brucie, 81, will never be forced out, but bosses want a plan in place should he decide to go - with Graham Norton and Vernon Kay front- runners.

Our source said: "Brucie is getting older. If he did go we'd be looking at options. It could help revitalise the series."

The system of booking contestants is also under scrutiny.

The source said: "The dancers are now bigger names than the so-called celebs. Bosses want sexy stars, like in the days when Lisa Snowdon, Emma Bunton and Kelly Brook all strutted their stuff on the dancefloor.

"It's going to be a policy of A-list or no one."

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/show...-makeover.html

Which A-list celebs would agree to do it though? And are Lisa Snowdon and Kelly Brook (no offence as I don't mind either of them) just all that?!

I think they do really need to have a major rethink for next year. This years show has suffered badly, and another year like this one I think would mark the end of the show.

I actually would like them to think of having a break from the usual format for a year and having a kind of 'Strictly Extravaganza' where they bring back as many of the past big names as they can get and muster up a bit of interest int the show again.

I know it wouldn't be realistic probably to be able to get all the past finalists and runners up etc all at the same time, to put their careers on hold for a couple of months again...but even some of the bigger names who never made it as far as they should have would be a great addition to a show like this.

I wouldn't mind seeing Gethin in his see through shirt again

Yuck to Vernon Kaye being a possible replacement for Bruce- that would absolutely KILL the show. Aled would seriously be so perfect for the job.

Sexed up? Get better celebs and better guest stars, but leave the pro dancers as they are. With the exception of Brian, all the foreign pros they have brought in to "sex things up" have been disastrous.

Lisa Snowdon, Kelly Brook and Emma Bunton are A list?

Big names they might manage but A-list is like your huge film stars or stage actors. I dunno say Judi Dench for example. Never gonna happen, no matter how fab it would be. They all have better things to do and their work schedules would be a nightmare.

I don't mind if they are c-listers but no-one there just in case a famous boyfriend/husband/partner might turn up.

Also the BBC should realise that people who have "and" in their job description are z-listers....Dame Judi is actress. Katie Price Model AND Business woman....you see what I mean!

No BB people.

Dump Tess put Alesha in the tess-pit and then put Karen Hardy on the judging panel.

Takeaway Len's "head judge" status and go to a dead lock situation like the X-Factor.

STOP the dance offs before the quater finals.

If this is true, at least the BBC realise where they are going wrong. The personality and pedigree of the celebs makes or breaks the show and it's been severely lacking over the past couple of seasons. Alesha was a ridiculous decision for a judge. I don't blame her for taking it and she has given it a good go, but you can't escape the fact that she is not remotely qualified for the position.

Tess may annoy some people, but I think she showed on the week that Bruce had off that she is a very capable presenter and she does a good job. If Bruce goes then they have to think very carefully about his replacement. No Vernon!!!

I quite like the mix of pros we have at the moment. Everyone will have their favourites and some they don't like, but we've got a good selection of dancers in there who were world semi-final standard (or higher in the case of Matthew) and then the likes of Brian and Natalie who competed largely in their own countries and have shown they're great dancers, teachers and do a different style of choreography. Aliona had a bit of a nightmare with Rav, but hopefully she learnt her lesson and she's delivered great pro dances with Matthew and brought in a modern twist to a few of them, which has been interesting.

I'd keep the pro's on their toes and try to inspire them by sending them off to a few choreography workshops with experts in the field. Don't get me wrong they all do great jobs, but some pros have been there for ages and it wouldn't do any harm to give them a bit more inspiration. For goodness sake make them go to salsa lessons as well - samba and shimmying isn't salsa!!!!

16 couples is too many - less is more! Do a few intro shows if they really want to drag it out. I also think they could do a much better advertising campaign for the show.

Couldn't agree more, the highlight of the last few weeks have been the Aliona choreographed pro dances IMO.
Definitely need to spice the competition dancing with the modern twist to them.

I read somewhere recently that Tess & Vernon are considering doing a Cat Deeley and going over to LA to try their luck on TV there. How they'd do isn't really relevant here (no doubt FMs will have views!),but what is, is that neither Tess nor Vernon may be around next year to do SCD.

I wouldn't bother bringing Arlene back or even having a fourth judge now: they manage fine with three in DWTS.

Hasn't Tess been contracted for another series, though?

It needs it, it really does but at the same time....it scares me. The format works, and they've messed with it for no reason this year so I dread to think what else they could do!

First thing is, sack this new Exec Producer person. She's done more harm than good.

The main thing I think I'd want to see is putting Strictly on after January so it's on in the Spring and isn't in competition with X Factor. It just can't complete, and when I read my twitter feed which is full of people my age and famous faces, only 1 of those people watch Strictly and I'm tweeting on my own! It is literally me and Miranda Hart! If it didn't clash with the zeitgiesty X Factor it would do so much better!

Film in Blackpool, retire Brucie, get rid of Alesha and put Karen in her place, go to public vote in dance off, two shows, more glamour is also what I'd like to see.

Totally agree

And hire a decent house band

They should sack Jay Hunt first off. Then do something about Strictly.

Craig as head judge.
Karen replace Alesha.
Claudia backstage presenter.

Stop messing with the pro's they are not what needs shaking up to make the programme better.

What does need to be done (IMO obviously):

Change the judging panel (you can keep Craig but the others need to go) Either go with 3 or 5 judges we don't need someone like Len having so much power

Get a better mix of celebs without going for the reality show dregs (no Jordan, no Sharon Osborne etc)

Change the presenters- more specifically Bruce

Get better musical guests,not ones way past their prime

Revamp the band and singers

Have a results show.

More shows in Blackpool

Just my thoughts

my opinion:

1. if they are going to keep tess, don't let one unscripted word out of her mouth - YOU CANNOT AD LIB TESS - STICK TO THE SCRIPT and can someone give her a mirror before she comes out, cos I think she's the new Carrie Bradshaw (in that someone is seriously taking the mick out of her with the 'style' she has!)

2. bring back Arlene - she knew what she was talking about;

3. I don't mind Bruce so much, but I don't want Anton to be the new Bruce, I don't think I could watch the show anymore if Vernon or Graham N are doing it......Peter Kay would be bloody genius!

4. I hate the dance-off - find some other way of deciding it;

5. the band are bad - have them bring in guest singers - I'm specifically thinking of someone, can't remember whom, dancing to The Rose and Elaine Paige sitting in the bloody audience (or does my memory fail on this one!)

Arrrrgh! Can't stand Peter Kay.

As much as I think Bruce is pretty terrible, none of the suggestions I've seen so far anywhere would be preferable...

I would love SCD if it was like this...

Pension Bruce off. Replace him with Gethin. (300k savings there more than likely).
Sack Tess and get Claudia in to replace.

Sack Len, Bruno and Alesha.

Keep Craig.... get Karen, Camilla and Brendan in as judges.

Dancers...

Erin
Flavia
Kristina
Lilia
Katya

+ 3 new females to replace Ola, Natalie, Aliona.

Vincent
Darren
Ian
Anton
Matthew
Brian

+ 2 new males to replace James and Brendan.


16 couples competing over less weeks and with greater variation of dances. Live results show on a Sunday. If a couple pulls out then it makes no difference to a 3 couple final.

No bloody dance-off.

Have a double-elimination week at the half-way point and in the semi-final. This could be done by having a result at the start of the live results show. There could then be a group Viennese Waltz or group something else (which is scored) and then those votes and scores are added to the Saturday scores to have another elimination at the end of the show. The bottom 2 should not be revealed in the first part of the result so as not to influence the votes.

The points system should return to the old method so that couples at the bottom to do not benefit from ties occurring above them.

Judges should give harsher scores but be more constructive in their appraisal.

a VITAL change for next series - the choice of music/songs!!

last night the dances overall were very good and one of the reasons for that was they stuck to classic choices of music for the types of dances, obviously because they have never performed these dances on Strictly before.

can you imagine what some of the dances last night would have looked like it the music was "modern" and "cool" i.e. Anton's charleston to Lady Ga Gas "Poker Face" or something similar?

THE most horrible bad song choice that has stuck out this series was Chris & Ola's Passo (or was it their tango?) to The Darkness "Thing called love" that was horrendous and ruined their dance imo the band could simply not keep up with the style/pace of lyrics and high notes.

so, tip for the producers:

keep the songs/music true to the dance, but add a *little* modern twist.

I think Anton is the ideal person to replace Brucie.

1.) He's coming (or come already, in my opinion) to the end of his dancing life, especially when it comes to latin.

2.) He's very much a younger Brucie.

3.) He's got a big personality, lots of old school saturday night entertainment charm and personality and is a song and dance man.

4.) He knows and loves the show.

5.) He's done other presenting work now, so he knows the drill.

My only concern would be off-script/rambling Anton who made the show about himself, but I think with the right producer who kept him in check it could work really, really well.

I'd not want to see some random Presenter A to fill Slot B come in who knew nor cared nothing for the dancing. Graham Norton is good, and has been very good on the ALW shows and SDF but I'm not sure I'd find him believable on SCD. Anton is perfect in nearly every way.

See my thread on that

Oh I'd pay good money to see Anton dance to that! No sum would be too high!

There is a rather large hole in the NOTW story: BBC budgets are being cut massively, so there is no way Strictly will be able to afford major celeb names. And, in any case, can you imagine the furore if the BBC started paying over the odds for contestants (as ITV did with Katie Price in I'm A Celebrity ...)? The Daily Heil would spontaneously combust in outrage.

This series biggest flaw has come from the BBC executives who think Strictly needs to compete with The X Factor. It doesn't. And it can't. TXF has enjoyed a bounce this year because of Britain's Got Talent, and because it is managed much better than SCD. Cowell has Max Clifford as an ally, which means the tabloids are automatically on his side; Strictly, on the other hand, is a perfect target in the largely Tory press' campaign to destroy the BBC.

We don't need - and don't want - big name celebrities. Alesha Dixon and Mark Ramprakash weren't household names before they did the show, but entered the mainstream as a result of it. The show is about personalities blossoming on the dancefloor and the public engaging with them, and their dancing.

My nominations for change would be:
- Stop scheduling Strictly aggressively against TXF - it's totally counterproductive in every way.
- Stop pretending Strictly is aimed at the same audience as TXF - it's not.
- Let the public vote take precedence in the latter stages of the competition, so the judges cannot manipulate who gets to the final.
- DO NOT, under any circumstances, bring back Arlene, whose supporters are busy re-writing history and using her CV as a means of masking how unprofessional and egotistical she was last year. Do, however, shake up the judging panel by retaining Craig but getting rid of at least two of the others, with Karen Hardy as one of the replacements.
- Hire a new PR team who can make a better job of the idiots who botched both last year and this year.