BBC bosses are turning to America to sign up a host of new professionals for this year's Strictly Come Dancing - leaving the current crop fearing for their future.

The move has worried current stars - who include Brendan Cole and Anton Du Beke - who have yet to sign new contracts

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...essionals.html

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Great.

I cant see this going down too well.

It is high time Brendan Cole moved on from SCD.
He clearly hates being on the show and the producers have had enough of his petulance.
The only attraction for him is that it was a regular gig every year.
Anton may have blotted his copy book with his 'P' word remarks and this is where they let him go as opposed to a messy sacking during the series.

Looks like that might be it for me with Strictly then. I don't think the BBC have any idea what makes the show special.

Even if my favourite pros are invited back, I suspect it will be to nurse the obligatory duffers through the first few weeks whilst the flashy new American pros get the talented celebs.

Why American stars? Are there really no new dancers to be found in Britain?

If Strictly got mauled in the ratings, it's at least partly due to- no exciting celebs to pull in new viewers as opposed to lovers of the show, no good/current music acts to pull people in to the results show, too many celebs.
Maybe the producers should be dealing with that rather than replacing all our pros.

As to creating a dance troop- they already have that. They have national and world class dancers performing group and solo numbers every week in the results show.

You've hit the nail on the head. They ruin every light entertainment show they get their hands on, yet none of the producers get fired?

I don't see why they have to get American pro dancers, I'm sure are there more than enough British pro dancers who would jump at the chance to be apart of strictly.

This is a terrible idea.... unless they mean to bring Derek Hough over. I love Derek (swoon)

I am getting bad thoughts about this new series, I can only speak for myself when I say I loathe Dancing with the Stars yet the BBC seem to hold up it as an example of what SCD should strive to be. The reason why DWTS is so popular this year is that they signed up some big, interesting names like Nicola, Pamela, Buzz and Kate. No other reason.

Vivadiva, you're not the only one. I wouldn't say I loathe DWTS exactly, but I've seen bits of it and truthfully just don't care about seeing any more even though normally I'd be off browsing the internet to find a way of watching it properly, considering it's a dance show. I just don't like the style of dances it uses.

Also, I don't see how this even makes sense. According to the report (and as we all already know): "Last year's show sparked an ageism row after judge Arlene Phillips was axed and replaced with singer Alesha Dixon.

It also received stick for going up against The X Factor time slot and episodes being too long."

So, apparently the problems were:
1) Questionable decisions over the choice of judges
2) Questionable decision over choice of timeslot
3) Questionable decision over length of programme

Apparently these problems will be solved by... bringing in an American dance troupe? Sorry, you've lost me. How does that solve any of the problems from last year?

So far as I can see, series 5 is the most popular series of Strictly, probably because by the time of the semi-final there were three strong dancers left in the show who had very different personalities on and off the dance floor, so the vast majority of people liked one of the three, even if their real favourite had been knocked out. If you include the last five, you also had a "doing well for the older woman" candidate and a "funny but useless" one. There was something for everyone right up to the quarter finals, that's why it was so successful. Most people will not either tune in or switch off solely because of the pro dancers, it's the celebs that need to be carefully chosen if the BBC want another successful series.

So, the BBC are planning to change one of the only aspects of the show that doesn't need to be majorly changed. If they cut the number of contestants then they'll have to cut the number of pros but they really shouldn't just get rid of the ones we're happy with and bring in loads of Americans.I would say our pros are better than the DWTS pros.
They should be looking to change the parts of the show that people aren't happy with.

I wonder if it's often down to the funding that other countries receive for their dancing meaning that couples get a lot more help in achieving success, when you think of how popular dancing is in other countries compared to here (although it's obviously growing) and how many of the rising couples come from those countries it's probably no surprise.

Or the fact they're more "showy" compared to ours..but I really don't like a lot of the American pros bar Karina Smirnoff, Maks and Derek and Mark are pretty good. Hm, I think the BBC are losing the plot and can't quite work out that all these changes may be benefitting them, but in another way if they're changing it too much, they're going to lose their loyal viewers they've had since the beginning.

That's just my take on it, but I don't think I'm an avid viewer of SCD anymore, I found last series incredibly hard to actually find motivation to watch, and this forthcoming series already sounds like it's going to be something completely different to what we're used to.

If Derek comes it wouldnt be as part of this plan because the advertisment for pros specifically says they must have no contract with DWTS.

I dont think for a minute that the BBC would replace all the pros straight off but I do believe that some will not be back and personally I think it might be a good thing in the long term.

Brendan and Anton have got to be on dodgy ground I would think personally, neither have ever done the Strictly tour and Anton definatly blotted his copy book last series.

Post to uncover hidden post.

Why oh why are they thinking of changing the pro dancers, probably the one thing they can more or less leave alone!

They brought in three new pro's last series and they didn't exactly set things on fire. If they want to replace them or Anton and Erin then i could live with that, but what with the story about having less couples and now this

The Sun have only mentioned Anton and Brendan, i wonder if that is cos they are the most well known or cos it means something??

Please please please let Vincent, Flavia, James and Ola be safe

I don't think that is necessarily true. At a show I went to last night, James Jordan said that Brendan enjoyed last series since he really got on well with Jo Wood last year and loved having her as a partner. This wasn't in response to a specific question about Brendan but was volunteered as additional info (when someone asked how partners were selected).

I'm not necessarily against a refresh of the pros and I think having dancers from different countries is ok (well the ones they have at present originate from various different ones). However, I think that having a dance troupe which is entirely US could alienate viewers. I'd have thought that a variation of nationalities is much more attractive.

The BBC are idiots! The Pro dancers are one of the only things that are right with Strictly. The things that need changing are the tired presenters, the time slot, a few of the judges and the amount of couples. If the show was moved to an earlier time, more A-list celebrities were too get involved and they didn't have an old man telling bad jokes at every oppurtunity then perhaps it would be a more respectable show which might get more viewers.

As far as I'm aware alot of the die hard Strictly fans are more interested in the Pros than the Celebs so replacing them is ridiculous.The three new pro dancers this year, which I remember them being hyped up in the papers, didn't make much of an impact on the majority of people. Also Brian and Kristina, who were on DWTS, although they were quite liked their first year, they aren't as popular as some of the others. If my favourites weren't to return then I honestly wouldn't watch because they are the only reasons I watch now.
I think this whole revamping to compete with the X-factor is rubbish!

If the BBC think axing some top, well liked Professionals and angering their viewers will make Strictly more popular then think again.

There was nothing wrong with last years SCD apart from 16 couples which was too much. Why are the BBC obsessed with ratings and not quality programming which is part of their remit.
Yes some of the Pros that have been there the longest should be replaced only to give other Pros the opportunity of showcasing their talent in front of a wider audience.

Surely there must be excellent Pros in the UK that would love this opportunity and there is no need to waste licence payers money travelling to USA to find replacements. Why have all the recent replacements been foreign dancers?

QUOTE from Cherry
Also Brian and Kristina, who were on DWTS, although they were quite liked their first year, they aren't as popular as some of the others.

I think you will find that Brian and Kristina are extremely popular. It's a pity you have allowed your personal prejudices to detract from an otherwise interesting and pertinent post

Exactly. Darren and Lilia are two of the best and more popular pros and they have really been made a joke of the last few series. I Know they have to share the more able celebs out but I think they've had their fair share of duffers. The series when strictly was at it's best i.e 3, 4, 5; either Darren or Lilia were at the top end of all of those.

If Darren and Lilia don't return then thats it for me.

I actually have nothing against Brian or Kristina, I actually quite like them, especially Kristina. I honestly don't think their as popular as the likes of Vincent, Flavia, Matthew, Ola e.t.c.
It's only because Brian and Kristina were on DWTS that I singled them out.

Brian and Kristina are extremely popular!!!!

Not that I think bringing in a whole load of new dancers is a good idea.

One reason why the show is so greatly loved is the fact there are many different pros., who we have come to know and love. (Some of them at least)

Fair enough them wanting to change one or two new dancers, to revamp the show a little, but more than that is just changing the show!

I know your a fan of them so you would defend them but compared to some of the others, I don't think their one of the most popular. Although I'm not disagreeing that Brian and Kristina are popular.

I am trying not to be biast here.

I see where you are coming from. They are not as popular as some of the dancers, but they are by no means the least popular out of the dancers.

They have a fanbase not as big as some, but many members are very dedicated.

I do acknowledge however that there are many who also have dedicated fanbases and are equally as loved by the british public, if not more.

I think you'll find that Brian and Kristina are extremely popular.

Some change to the dancers isn't bad but if numbers are to be reduced and new dancers shipped in, then I really do think the BBC will be changing the one thing about the programme that absolutely doesn't need to change. They would be better investing their time and money on other areas of the programme.

I definately don't think they are the least popular.


Dedicated is putting it lighly
I can't talk though I'm just as bad when it comes to Darren and Lilia

If we get 10 new and completely random pro dancers that will be it for me and Strictly. I'll have very fond memories but that will be it. I hope the rating suffer awfully if they choose to ruin the show in this way!