Has it actually been confirmed that the 4 judges (as per 2009) have actually been resigned and are coming back this year ?

There has been a lot of speculation in the press re Alesha, first she is doing it, then isn't, then is ?

Any ideas ?

Nothing seems to be certain yet as far as i can make out. Bruce still hasn't signed.

Tbh I'm struggling to care at the moment - but given what's happened so far, my expectation is that they'll all return and their behaviour will be even worse than last year.

Somebody please remind those guys they're adults and that not all of us are satisfied with a bread and circuses approach to a show that used to stand out above other reality shows because it had a touch of class...

*Rant over*

The BBC execs have a lot to do with it too. They seem to think controversy is good for the show and we the audience like it. Judging by the Pros they kept and those they let go I don't think I'm wrong.

I think its very sad to see the BBC so obsessed with ratings over quality.

I don't think you're wrong either...

In the daily mail today (WHICH DARREN AND LILIA WERE ON THE FRONT OF ) it said Alesha was definately returning.

It's also very stupid. Very stupid indeed.

There is a school of thought that the BBC shouldn't be competing with commercial broadcasters at all - that they should be downsized and their output restricted to pure 'public service' programming - i.e. arts, religious, childrens, high end documentaries ... in other words, the kind of programming commercial broadcasters don't and won't touch because it won't generate any income for them. The BBC would then give up the ground it holds in popular drama and entertainment and let commercial channels concentrate on those genres.

The people who back this idea - most notably Rupert and James Murdoch - are taken seriously by the Tories and their success in the last election (albeit as part of a coalition) will bolster their argument. Only the Olympics is likely to keep the DCMS' eyes away from the BBC - but that's not going to last forever ...

The BBC took a lot of flak last year for aggressively scheduling Strictly against TXF - and yet it would appear that senior management just won't learn from this and are now out to promote the show as much as possible by 'controversial' annoucements such as this one. Not only are they digging Strictly's grave - they're digging their own grave.

And yes, as I've said elsewhere also, the surviving pro's from last year have very obviously kept for comedy/drama purposes - far easier to fabricate 'story' out of than someone who's just 'nice'.

Even though the 'nice' pro's are arguably more popular. Go figure ...

I agree 100% Servalan. An example of how brilliant the BBC can be with quality broadcasting is BBC4, which has become my favourite channel with outstanding, quality programmes.

Then again you have Jay Hunt in charge of BBC1 who is supposed to be ratings obsessed, so she can only think in terms of dumbing down and ignore the large percentage who want quality.

The irony is that Strictly is a show that could straddle the 'popular' and 'quality' categories - it certainly used to - but BBC management (or mismanagement, as they should be called) have this bizarre death-wish for it to compete with TXF and have been driving further and further downmarket.

Stupid and short-sighted doesn't begin to cover it ...

Thought I read that Jay Hunt was no longer in charge of Strictly; it's now some other woman, who's name completely escapes me.

Hi there kaycee.

I think the new producer is Moira Ross. She also did SYTYCD, Last Choir Standing and Eurovision:Your Country Needs You.

Hi Wysiwyg - how you doin'?

I think you are right: the name M Ross definitely rings a bell or two ..... well, SYTYCD and Last Choir were both excellent (although Nigel Lythgoe wouldn't have let anyone mess with his beloved SYT.....). Didn't watch Eurovision so can't comment.

Trouble is, Strictly can't win whatever it does. Last year so many people were moaning : too many couples, went on too long, it was boring, etc. etc. etc. Most people seemed to agree changes were needed.

Thing is, whatever changes are made, some people will get upset, because those changes will never suit everyone. Personally, I think we should wait and see. We could be pleasantly surprised.

I don't think Jay Hunt has changes jobs. She's been Controller of BBC 1 since 2008 and she just got involved in SCD last year because she presented at the autumn schedule launch and because of all the fracas before and during the series. Moira Ross is the show's new executive producer. It used to be Sam Donnelly who left to join Ant & Dec's company Gallowgate.

Jay Hunt is the overall boss of BBC1 and would have the final say on any decisions taken by her producers if needed.
I'm sure Moira Ross would have consulted her about the big changes in SCD as it is such a headline programme.

I personally can't see Darcey being asked to come back, but i'm sure Craig, Len and Bruno will return. There's been alot of reports of Alesha returning/not returning and it was announced last year on 9th July that she and Darcey were joining the panel, so hopefully all will be revealed very soon. I did read an article saying they want Camilla as a judge so who knows what they will announce.

i know that alesha is comming back but as for anyone else i don't know.
Last edited by strictlydiva : 13-06-2010 at 19:11