The news that Brian Fortuna has quit over the new format is bad enough, but the BBC have also effectively demoted Matthew, Darren Lilia and Ian. I think they have lost the plot!

Matthew? Are they mad? He is so popular I think this will be a real blow to the show.

I'm not Matthew's biggest fan but he's probobaly the most popular pro so why axe him?

Gutted about Lilia, Darren and Ian. My 3 favourites.

The producer has lost the plot with this.

Says a lot that the producers had two world class latin pros, both of whom they have now ditched in favour of younger models. Let's hope these new male pros are better than Hayley... so laughable they replaced Nicole with her.

Good point Katie. With Matthew and Brian not competing they have lost two of their best Latin males (Vincent being the third IMO).

and they kept ANTON!!!!!!!!!!

Gobsmacked - is this the work of the idiotic Jaye Hunt again. Will someone pleased get rid of that woman, she is systematically destroying strictly bit by bit.

Gutted. Matthew you will be sorely missed, as will the others...

Boo HOO.....

CRH is saying On Mathew Wright - that is so they can concentrate on the Pro Dances and make them more exciting. Hmmm ?

Love to Brian and all that, but I was talking about Matt and Nicole. Both of them have been treated abominably by the BBC.

Exactly! I don't see what Anton brings to the show anymore. He seems to think very highly of himself, but I can't see why to be honest!

As much I can't blame Brian for quitting, I hope this isn't the start of the stampede out of Strictly. I would much rather see Matthew and co part of the show in some part and they do a great job with the pro dances. Usually the pro dance is the best part of the show for me!

Sad day for strictly fans

(They better have some good celebs to make up for it!)

Matthew was a great dancer and teacher- it baffles me why he's gone and the subpar Brendan and Anton remain? Alesha won't be happy.

We get stuck with the ghastly Anton - who can't hack Latin - and stupid, pimply Brenda?

Matthew Cutler has a huge following, as does Ian Waite - easily two of the best dancer/partners they have ever had.

I sort of knew they'd (the producers and cohorts) lost the plot last year, but I had no idea they could be this stupid.

I suppose the awful Brucie will be tottering about as 'host' again too. Yuck!

*shakes head in disbelief*

Perhaps Alesha will quit in protest?

Matthew is by far my favourite pro but maybe he`s not controversial enough ? It appears this is the way SCD is going.

I really don't get it.

It honestly shows that the people in charge of the show do not understand it at all.

Matt is one of the most popular dancers, and is a fantastic teacher.

It's just baffling that they would get rid of him and keep some of the others. And that's an objective viewpoint, I think, not just because they have targeted one of my favourites.

It actually makes me quite sad. I'm not holding out much hope for this series, as news of the changes begin to become known.

Oh I agree. They put Matthew in a dreadful situation when they ditched Nicole, something which she no way deserved. It seems they have learnt nothing from their disastrous decisions.

Matthew is a wold class champion, the best dancer qualify ballroomdancing on the show. This is just ridiculous.
Nicole was treat very badly by BBC and now this with Matthew.
I really gave up with SCD. I really don't want to watch the show even I know he will be doing that new pro dances thing.
He deserves more respect that that.

This decision is ridiculous! I hope Matthew and Ian take a leaf out of Brian's book and quit the show.

To replace them with three dancers who aren't even a quarter of the standard that they are is preposterous. I mean one of the three is known for dating Carrie Ann (DWTS judge) and the other for High School Musical and dating Ashley Tisdale.

Although Brendan is the dancer that Craig, Arlene and Len named as the one they most enjoy watching perform. And he has choreogrphed some lovely dances over the past few years.
It is sad that anyone has lost their place as it was a close-knit family, I am sure they are all very sad. However, the ones remaining cannot and should not be blamed

IMO since he won it with Alesha Dixon Matthew Cutler has looked incredibly bored with SCD, so perhaps someone at the beeb noticed this as well?
SCD isn't there solely to employ yours and everyone elses 'favourites'

But it's not about theatrics - the pros are at their best when they're doing dances like the jive - which is invariably fabulous choreography by Matt (and in earlier series Nicole) and doesn't involve any props, special effects, random moves - it's just quality dancing. Yes, they're good with theatrics too, they've proven that on the pro tour, but it doesn't need to be like that every week.

Agreed. I don't blame Matt if he did lose interest after series 5, and I hope that now he has a chance to make the producers realise just how terribly they behaved towards Nicole. Much as I'd love to see her back in the pro dances, I hope if the BBC ask her she tells them where to stuff it - they're both worth far more than the treatment they've received.

Has Matthew confirmed that its an 'axeing' so-to-speak? Maybe he just wants a year off from the training treadmill and enjoys/looking forward to the professional dance troupe thingy? Just a thought...

How very very dare they , Matt of all people , lovely gorgeous Matt .I had the priveledge of seeing him in May in Dublin in the Pro tour and what a stunning dancer he is .

I am putting this same post on about 3 threads as we are going round in circles

We have no idea yet how the pro group thing is going to pan out........Matthew went out week 1 last year and then did a lot of pro dances because he had the time so how is that different from what is suggested now. ???

Dont get me wrong I really like Matthew and think he is a fantastic dancer BUT he is very quiet and reserved naturally and I found his VT's with Christine positively dull so maybe thats some of the thinking....perhaps he will be happy not to have to deal with a celeb and just do what he is best at.......dancing.

I can't see that Matthew (or any of the others for that matter) asked for this. He went out week 1 last series so he pretty much had a year off from the celebrity training side anyway.

Mathew Cutler has one of the biggest followings on the show - and from what I have read and heard is probably the most popular pro.

Anton on the other hand WTF?

I think it is a serious mistake with regards to Mathew.

I think a lot of people were disappointed he went out week one - but the point is, he and the others are there to train the celebs and then compete in the competition.

Yes, Matt ended up doing a lot of pro dances last year, that is what happens when they are voted out - a totally different concept to being part of a dance troupe permanently and not being given the chance to compete with a celeb!