Well in a "normal" series, the Dance Off would still be in operation, but with less scope in regards to the public vote - the public favourite would be safe and the judges favourite would probably be saved (even if it is via the Dance Off).

Now, the Dance Off is far reaching, and the public vote can be dismissed.

Actually 4 aren't proper experts IIRC.

Alesha won the show, Darcey dances balle - not ballroom and latin - and Craig and Bruno are choreographers/dancers (again, not ballroom/latin). Len is the only full expert there.

Compare this to Dancing On Ice where 3 of the panel were ice dancers (Jason's a choreographer, Ruthie took a wrong turning when looking for the Hammersmith Apollo).

In a "normal" series, the dance off would not be in operation with three couples left. Admittedly, it would be the final but it still wouldn't be there with only three couples remaining. There is no dance off in a three couple final.

Ohhh sorry, I thought you were referring to the semi final stage.

That's okay - it's an all too easy mistake to make (and thereby hangs my problem).

If a couple withdraws, bbc policy dictates that the "dance off up to and including the semi final" rule remains rather than the "dance off goes once the competition is down to three couples".

This gives the judges more control over the final two than they were originally meant to have had which I don't like.

I thought I read in the terms and conditions that the BBC could carry over the vote/call a couple back if someone withdrew from the competition. I do wonder why they didn't do it this year considering what a fiasco the last threeway semi final was, and how unpopular Series Five's was!

The words ar*e and elbow spring to mind.

Maybe they were worried ratings'd dip off if they axed a result for one week. Or feared controversy if they had bought the last eliminated celebrity, which was Phil.

So instead they do sweet f.a.

Very farsighted bbc.

Bet they'll be glad to get next week out of the way...ah well, it's their own fault.

I fully expect a surprise rollover - 'you are all through to the final'.

If there is anyone at the BBC with a brain they wil go for that. Ratings and voting income for an Ali vs Ricky final would be well down - they need Chris in the final to attract the viewers and more votes!

They don't make money off the phone votes so no interest in it for the BBC at all!

They'll have to announce it before the lines open. So stupid, because that'll hit the 'Results' show then. It'd have been easier if they had the rollover the moment Jade left the competition.

Do they? Wouldn't they rather risk that backlash than one where Chris went out and the papers announced the next day he had won the public vote by a landslide!

They may well have been hoping that Chris's support would dwindle as the weeks went on a la Christine Bleakley. Typical bbc. Shut your eyes and ears to the problem and hope it goes away. La la la, Chris is losing support and it's not going to matter if he goes out in the semi final, la la la.

They have to make it clear what the vote is for before they open the lines - if they make next week a rollover then it'll be a vote to win, not a vote to save. Possibly not much of a difference for many, but still needing to be clarified.

Of course, they didn't have the opportunity to clarify last year because they made such a botched job of it, the changing of the votes was a better option than eliminating Tom.

They might decide its a better option than seeing the public favourite going by a judges vote.

I agree - but if so, they'll declare it before opening the lines.

So how did they get away with it last year - with the tie fiasco?

I seem to remember there was an announcement along the lines of "We cocked up: sorry..."



Last edited by ilovesooty : 06-12-2009 at 02:44

Well may be next week someone will invent a phone line incident problem in Tunbridge Wells which prevented the Kent vote being properly registered.

This is how they grovelled on It Takes Two:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bInRzmDTl_U

There is no way there should be a dance off next week, the public have to have the final say as to who is in the final.

What's the chances of a repeat of 2008 where they announce all three couples will go thru' and the votes acrried forward ?