It's not just the BBC budget that's been trimmed. Following Jade's knee accident last year, and the sagas of Ali's foot and Ricky Whittle's hernia, and all the other contestant injuries over the years, the BBC health and safety bods have stepped in with a vengeance and announced changes in the rules for the next series.

All lifts will be out, even for show dances, period, also dangerous moves such as throwing partners onto the floor. Dives and pulling of partners through legs will also be out. The music will be slowed down so that older dancers will not be disadvantaged.
It seems that a cap will be put on the hours contestants will be allowed to practise during each week, and if these rules are flouted, the professional dancers will be required to fill in time sheets.

The professional dancers are fuming. All this just to get Bruce back on stage!

Where did you hear or see all this?

They are also going to rename the show

'Strictly Tea dance'

Rotflmao!!

Jj

What!!! No safety harness when they're walking down those tricky stairs?

Surely this must mean Brucie's out. The chance of psychological damage of being exposed to one of his jokes is far too big.

Bruno will have to be strapped to his seat to stop him jumping up and down and waving his arms about. He might damage the judge sitting next to him or fall over and damage himself.

If it wasn't the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, I'd ask you for a source But suffice to say it wouldn't be Strictly Come Dancing anymore if any of that happened!

Yawn fest! After watching Dancing with the stars the last few weeks and the quality of dance routines etc that already put us in the shade with all these rule changes dont think Il bother.

Worried about the Oldies keeping up, then dont get them. I want under 50s vibrant people with rhythm not 2 left feeters and oldies shuffling around the floor. lol

I have to conclude that, without any verifiable source, or any smilies to indicate a joke, you have simply made all of that up.

My thoughts as well - especially bearing in mind Jade wasn't doing anything dangerous when she hurt her knee - she just landed awkwardly.

Apparantly they will also be transmitting the show with a 10 second delay so they can quickly change any rude words that Bruno says to something more family friendly and correct Alesha's grammar.

LOL - but they'd need a lot more than 10 seconds to do that.

What a load of Bull****!

Mossy! I read it all up on the Internet; having put it up there myself! so I know it's true!

And Jade's dance move was not dangerous, the injury happened when Ian unexpectedly went to pick her up and they had never rehearsed that. It was just the world's most unfortunate bit of knight errantry. (Mind you, she's just won a UK championship in her day job.)

So, c'mon folks, get your imaginations pumping, or this board will sink itself in boredom and apathy while waiting for the announced line-up.

Dorabella, have you got a link to this internet site, so that I can check up on the details and make sure the facts that you invented are correct?

I'd heard they are also going to shorten the show by having a table system, whereby there will be two sides to the drawer and over the first four weeks, each of the sixteen couples will dance two latin and two ballroom dances each. Then after week four the bottom eight will be eliminated. The remaining eight will go into the normal Strictly competition, lasting another six weeks with a three person final. If someone drops out due to injury, the professional dancer who is left partnerless is allowed to enter a 'wildcard' contestant, such as a member of his/her family, a celebrity friend, or a member of the public e.g. winner of the ITT Friday competition.

There won't me much excitement in the dances I guess now.

I understand that in the event of someone getting injured and having to leave (despite the new safety measures) that they will introduce the Dance Machine from ITT to take the unfortunate celebs place.

The orchestra have been told to play very softly to avoid damage to the audience's ears, and the singers have been told to whisper (HOORAY) to avoid damage to their vocal cords. The dancers will have to count their way through the dances in case they can't hear the music (but don't some of them always do that, I hear you say?)

And no more of those dangerous high heels for the girls - steel-capped safety boots will be compulsory.

Or nip across to Japan where I'm sure they have invented a dance robot !

If they have to wear steel-capped safety boots, then they'll also have to wear safety helmets as well. And the audience too - have you ever seen the number of lights suspended from the ceiling? Not to mention the crane camera swooping all over the place.

And they might have to get rid of the swirly camera man altogether - he might get dizzy and fall over (please, please, please...)

I think we've got the outline for a new, improved (and obviously much safer) Strictly here. Well, the BBC did say they wanted to change it.........................

Well done Dorabella14 - top marks for thinking outside the box.

I heard that Health and Safety were going to ban the foxtrot because the celebs find it difficult to balance on their heels during the turns and that the tango wouldn't be allowed because all those sharp head moves could case whiplash injuries.

In fact I believe they will be introducing a new dance to replace all of the current ones. It is called the "wedding guest dance" where celebs have to bob around aimlessly, the rationale being that if you can do that without mishap, when you have had a bit to drink (bar a few unfortunate examples on "you've been framed"), then it must be safe to do.

Thank you (waving hand graciously), thank you ooohhh ow (falls off pedestal).

Pity , we are going to lost the Viennese waltz - makes dancers' heads spin, particularly the celeb men, who fall on the floor while training. This makes the contest too difficult.
The ladies grin and bear it - anything to be able to wear those divine frocks.

Next SCD story:

Health & Safety have decided that all the celebrities and professionals must dance while sitting down in comfortable chairs (so nobody damages their backs) because the couples aren't allowed to stand up in fear of them falling and injuring themselves.