Thats what it seems to me, They probably have given up trying to fight c**p factor. They want to replace Strictly with something but at the moment the ratings still warrented a new series. Watch the Viewing figures slip in this next series and then it will be quietly axed due to dropping viewing figures.

why not Just move it to BBC3 and have done with it Auntie.

You just don't like change do you? go on admit it.

And what's wrong with that? Little saying called 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' applies to the professional line-up. I'm not saying the show as a whole doesn't need a revamp, but yet again they've tampered with the wrong part of it!

I give it this year, possibly next, then it'll be over. And I actually hope the sidelined pros refuse to join the troupe, and maybe even the competing pros quit next year in response to their own reduced roles and lack of time actually getting to dance professionally, which was half their job on the show before. The pro tour shows just how popular they are for their own talent - a lot of people don't really care about the celebs (well, we do, but the celebs we care about are the professional dancers!)

its dead already for me, what a shame the bbc cant leave well enough alone they really have no idea

Things change, formats evolve, dancers get older/tired, new fresher faces & routines come in. That's a natural progression.

People have been moaning about one thing or another since SCD series 2. If it's not their favourite pros getting axed it's the judges or the presenters. If not they'd be moaning it's getting stale and a bit dated.
The British just like to whinge and moan, join the club.
The pro tours are just performing to the besotted and obsessive fan bases.

Well then the besotted and obsessive fanbase is a few hundred thousand people strong at least - they're on tour for 2 months playing to sellout crowds. If that doesn't say something about the way the pros are valued I don't know what does.

According to some people on this forum it is broken, then when the BBC try to fix it, you moan...... jeez no pleaseing some people, by your logic we could end up with dancers older than Brucie by the time Strictly finishes..... bringing in new blood is a good thing and i'd wait to see before condeming it

Read the rest of my post - I didn't say the whole show wasn't broken

And my logic says no such thing - it's one thing to change dancers who are clearly past their best, it's another thing entirely to change the pro line up every single year for no good reason! The best series of Strictly have arguably been 4 and 5 - and what was the constant there - the pro line up! Pros establish great partnerships, like Natalie and Ian have, and it's a shame that that will potentially end on the show after only a year.

They had a good show and had to tinker with it in this way.

Constantly chasing "yoof" viewers is nonsensical. The show is popular with the people who watch it whatever their age - they won't persuade younger viewers to switch from ITV "talent" shows to SCD.

We had all the fuss when Arlene was sacked and replaced with the useless Alisha Dixon.

They are having the same trouble with their mucking about with the One Show and their bad decision about Terry Wogan's replacement.

It seems this NZ woman Jan (I forget her surname) is the one making all these incompetent decisions. She is making cr* p decisions and compounding them with more cr*p decisions to try and repair the originals.

well it's got these threads buzzing with SCD chatter a good few months before the series starts, I doubt the beeb would particularly see that as a bad thing. Good or bad, its 'chatter' and 'interest' and column space in the papers.

The three new guys look gooooorgeous too so putting those pictures out won't do any harm among a good deal ofthe main fanbase of SCD. You have to keep reminding yourself (generally not personally) we on here, whilst fanatical, actually only account for a tiny proportion of viewers.

Having worked at the BBC several times, I can confirm that it exists within its own bubble, where it thinks everything it does is marvellous. Very seldom is that bubble burst and even major PR catastrophes (Sergeant-gate being one of them) are frequently glossed over in the most bizarre way (remember the intro to the show where he left, where we saw all the headlines attacking the show emblazoned across the screen).

So I'm sure BBC management (or BBC mismanagement, to be more accurate) probably thinks the headlines are terrific publicity.

Actually, they're not.

The right-wing press who backed the Tories have been savaging Strictly ever since the dis-arster that was Sergeant-gate. The Daily Heil is already trying to create an ageism argument out of yesterday's announcement. Pathologically stupid, I know - but that doesn't matter to the BBC's detractors: all they want to generate is enduring bad press that damages the Corporation's credibility.

Elsewhere in the news at the moment, the government is asking what public services ought to be cut, and which might be provided by the private sector. Conspicuously absent from the lists drawn up so far is the BBC: yet it fits into that survey perfectly.

So attracting negative press is particularly stupid move. Rather than coming up with crackpot schemes like this one, the BBC should be falling over itself to listen to what viewers and listeners have to say. But this case clearly shows it's not capable of doing that. 'Senior management think they know best.'

All the bad publicity the show got last year did nothing for the viewing figures. They went down. Sure, only a minority of fans post on forums like this. Yet they are the ones who are most passionate about the show ... so you would think their voices - our voices - would be worth listening to. Wouldn't you?

I'm not averse to change but this is change for ratings sake. I am fed up with the constant ratings war with X Factor.
There was nothing wrong with the original format but it has been changed over the years and in my opinion not for the better. I've read that there are 14 celebrities this year - why? Why have so many? It was better when there were fewer contestants.
I just fear that Strictly is dying a death. The last two series haven't been as good. A combination of little known celebs and contraversy (Sargeant gate/Anton gate). No doubt there will be some "contrived" scandal for this year too.

Very interesting post
The only thing I really need to know before I jump in to join in any shouting however () is that the decision has entirely been that of the producers... I can definitely see the possibility that some of the guys may actually be happy or even asked for this move away from the usual routine/regime of training a celeb for a year or two, and having the opportunity to perform professionally to a higher standard each week. Still haven't seen that anywhere yet, other than Brian who has his own project with Ali to work on, so other factors involved. If they have asked, offered, or been happy to look at a new opportunity in terms of the new 'troupe' we wouldnt blame them in the same way.

Amd what would the press say if Strictly announced that there were to be absolutely no changes to the show this year, everything exactly the same as last year ? They would still get slaughtered in the press. it's a no win no win situation for the BBC, not to mention the comments that would appear on here. Everything changes and change can sometimes be a good thing

I appreciate the question you are asking here - but I think you may overlooking one aspect of this: money.

The BBC is talking about having two tiers of dancers: those partnering the celebs and those who remain part of the SCD professional team.

I find it very hard to believe that both groups will be paid the same. The dancers partnered with celebs could convincingly argue that they have a tougher job to do.

So, yes, the new troupe will have easier lives - but I strongly suspect they'll be paid less for doing so.

This is the BBC we're talking about, after all ...

Oh, what a disaster. Thought last year was terrible, and it just seems that some of the worst problems are being compounded.

Over-reliance on 'sexy', which did for Ali last year, as shown by the fact that the adjective used for the three new dancers is 'hunky'.

More new genres of dance. As if rock and roll last year wasn't bad enough, there is the prospect of swing or *shudder* street?

Anton. Still, as long as he's a dancer, he's not presenting it.

But the worst is the fact that the best pros, with some of the best records both in and out of the show, who are some of the best teachers and best choreographers are being sidelined? At least they would still be used, but those are comfortably the pros I most enjoy watching (in pro routines as well as with their celebs).

All it will take now is the announcement that Bruce is not only staying but singing every week!

I totally agree that change can be a good thing. I'm not saying it can't be. And SCD certainly needed a kick up the arse after last year - I'd be the first to say that.

But why axe five popular dancers, retain two who are past their sell-by date and bring in three US newcomers?

It's not change per se that people are up in arms about - it's the bizarre decision and the rationale behind it.

Of course some newspapers are always going to run anti-BBC stories. But they also feed off what they are given. And what they've been given here - by the BBC itself - is another opportunity to trash Strictly.

Check your facts....that 'bad decision' that replaced Terry Wogan has added a million more listeners to the Radio 2 breakfast show (including me) in the time he has been doing it and achieved the highest audience ever for a radio show....when Terry Wogans figures were believed by the industry to be unbeatable.....

The BBC are making so many stupid decisions lately. They had a good, popular show, so they started messing around with it and ended up ruining it by reducing the roles of some of the best pro dancers. Maybe they were worried the viewers were voting more for their favourite pro than the best celeb?

Whatever the reason, it was a pathetic way to go. It'll serve them right if it goes completely down the dumper now.

I've only just logged on and am speechless by the changes. The suits at the BBC haven't a clue about Strictly and I bet never watch the show. Getting rid of the most popular dancers like Ian, Matthew, Darren yet keeping Anton and Brendan.

Then again executive suits think bringing controversy to the show will attract more viewers rather then keeping the most popular dancers.
SCD needed changes but these are completely the wrong sort.

I totally agree with this - change can definitely be a great thing and Strictly needs changes made to it.

I have nothing against Erin or Anton, but neither are any good at Latin and that is a real weakness. Neither are they that stunning with their choreography.

Getting rid of Matt, Lilia & Darren seems a madness to me - all former winners of the show, have done amazing routines, some of which are now considered classic Strictly. Who thinks of Jive and doesn't think Darren & Jill! Paso, Lilia & Darren, Cha Cha, Matt & Alesha!!??

If the Beeb want a change of pros, then fine, but I do not understand the reasoning behind those they have kept. Brian has become very popular and I know Ian is widely liked. His choreography is great also.

I honestly don't see this as change for the better - a pro dance troupe!? Bizarre.

I don't agree with all the people they've kept and got rid of but I agree that the show desperately needed a change. It felt so incredibly stale last year - just the same old, same old. (and no that isn't an ageism thing!)

So whilst I'm sorry to lose Ian and Matthew particularly, I am pleased that they are bringing in some fresh dancers to get to know. After all many of the new faces of the show have fitted in well - Brian and Kristina were newbies not long ago. So were Darren and Lilia at one point. I'm not bothered at all by new dances as long as we don't lose any of the old (although they can chuck the rumba if they like).

This isn't the BBC trying to kill the show but trying to save it. If they hadn't changed anything after last year it would have gone further down hill. It may not work, but at least they tried. And the shake up certainly adds interest, something last year was seriously missing at points!

Yes a shake up was needed - getting new pros is not a bad thing, it's just the choice I think.

I'm waiting and seeing. Let's give the BBC some credit for recognising that last series was dire and at least trying to change some things. Who knows if they'll be proved right but maybe the programme it just rather stale now anyway.