Lots to get off my chest...

Firstly, no matter what the thread there's still always a mention of Darren/Matt/Lilia/Brian/Ian etc. They are no longer pro's, no amount of bleating will change this - can we change the record already?!

I believe it's a very positive thing they're gone. In fact I feel Brendan and Anton should have joined them in all honesty. After 7 series, there is no mystery left in these professionals. Erin is the ONLY original pro left that still interests me as between series 5 and 6 she morphed into a new person. New hair, new teeth, new "chest" and all of a sudden flashing a bit of flesh - a stark difference to the raven-haired bore of the ballroom in the first 5 series. And I know you'll disagree but she's also proved she's "capable" in Latin a lot more since Austin etc.

For me, Lilia, Matt and Darren especially became boring by last series.

I maintain they were still some of the most talented dancers on the show, by the likes of Kristina and Aliona are also RIGHT up there in terms of ability and I'm delighted to see Aliona partnered with a bookies' face this year purely to see her full range of talents, providing she doesn't go wrong with the choreography again.

This is not an opportunity to say nasty things about the ones who have left, but purely saying give the new boys and to a lesser extent "newer" girls a chance. I'm excited to see something different every year.

I am surprised Natalie was asked back however. For me personally, she had the likability of Hayley "Who?" Holt from series 6.

Now can we get over it and look forward to the new series?

Reading this thread, I can't help thinking how much this series will suffer from the lack of Lilia. Most of the remaining pros would struggle to match her choreography and teaching skills. I know if I can just mention it enough, the producers will have a change of heart.
Oh, sorry.

Not everybody misses her... Although I do now worry about Marian Keyes' annual stint on ITT.

I am going to miss the dancers who have been dumped by the BBC. However I am willing to see how the new professionals do and whether their choreography can match up to the standard I've been used to seeing from the likes of Matthew, Ian and Lilia. I will judge them on that, not on how sexy they are or whether they are showing their muscles or not.

Unfortunately the Launch Show did not impress me, as it was all over-hyped and sexed up, and quite frankly a lot of the choreography was poor. Added to that terribly distracting lighting, and Tess Daley scrapping the barrel yet again with her pathetic droning on about sex all the time. Also the dance troupe looked rather unrehearsed and an afterthought, probably a deliberate ploy by the Beeb to stop them looking better than the new pro's.

I have an awful feeling that we are heading down the DWTS route, especially as the new producer worked on that show.
Still we'll all find out in a couple of weeks. At least they have better celebs this year.

God I really hope so! DWTS is so, so much better, more professional, entertaining and fun than this end of pier, forgettable, naff soapstar studded stumbling disaster. No wonder half the good pros fled. Hardly surprising Anton and Erin are still left. Lovely girl, but her Latin? And his? Beyond dire

I now watch the dancing but mute everything else, apart from Craig. I wish I wasn't a dance fanatic because I simply wouldn't watch any more. Give me DWTS any time. At least the classy and properly dressed presenters can speak in complete sentences and the host is alive, charming, articulate and funny.

Oh, and the band can play and sing in tune.

Tom Bergeron is by far one of the best things about DWTS. A master at live TV.

Funny how we all see things differently isn't it? To me DWTS is an absolute crock and I'd rather watch pirahna fish eating my feet than sit through ten mins of dances I can barely recognize and Bruno and Len being even more ridiculous than they are on Strictly...

I really miss Mathew .

He is, isn't he? Very quick witted and capable of laughing at himself too. Wonderful to watch.

I really miss Ian

Have to agree with you on that one. I suspect though that both of them are regarded as 'entertaining nutters' in the US of A. They do play up Len's grumpiness and old fashioned ideas and take the p** out of him. Which I find hilarious.

I'd like Bruno to just go away and never be seen again. He's a joke and a bit sad to be honest.

I've kidnapped him

Give me back now

I'm taking him over to the DOTS for cocktails. Mims is doing the mixing and DJ is demo-ing his tango. I may bring my own sofa.

*adjusts feather boa and cat*

Let me know when they start throwing things at him and I promise I'll tune in...

And I miss Lilia as well . Wish they were all back , Nicole and Camilla too .

Of course not everybody misses her, but those of us who do are allowed to! Nothing compels you to read threads where people say they miss the demoted pros.

And I happen to disagree entirely with your opinion of Erin, but you don't see me telling you to change the record and stop being happy about her still being on the show.

It's called difference of opinion, it's allowed and it's what this forum is here for. The only place where you have to be positive is in the Appreciation threads. Otherwise it's a free country, if people miss demoted pros, let them say so!

This thread seems to be counterproductive anyway. If anyone want to discourage people from posting on the pros that have now left (or come to that any other subject that annoys them) then generally speaking it is probably best not to start a thread about it.

But since we do have another thread, then I will say that I do miss Matthew.

Hear hear , and well said , Just what I wanted to say but you said it better.

Once I am told not to say something I will tend to come on this thread and repeat myself and say
I miss Mathew again and I miss Lilia again .

I'm not saying don't moan about, just try and contain it to the mourning threads already on here - not every one of them. Hate Erin if you wish I'm merely trying to point out a different point of view. The only memorable moment of Lilia's since series 5 and Dom-gate has been her Tango with Don. Darren, nothing sticks in my mind since Letitia. Matthew, Well Christine yes, but a lot of his choreography with her was quite poor. Brian and Ian are regrettable losses yes, but do other not agree the others have been very forgettable in recent years and
honestly - new blood is more welcome in my opinion.

Erin has proved her worth in the last two series. Austin only came fourth and yet they hold two of the top Latin scores for the series. She's not the strongest, but she's capable is all I'm saying.

That is such total nonsense... the pros you mention as being boring were shafted by getting dull celebs. Anyone would have been boring steering Richard, Dom, Lynda, Martina et al round the ballroom.

Conversely anyone would be 'capable' with a celeb like Austin- as shown when Lilia partnered him on tour. In fact a lot of people said they thought the partnership was stronger with Lilia than it was with Erin.

Edit: I don't mean 'shafted' in the sense that it wasn't fair for them to get duds. Everyone has to take their turn. But if the BBC made their case for getting rid based on the lack of impact those pros had when partnering boring duds, then in that sense they were shafted.

Then have your opinion and voice it , but please dont arrive here and tell us when and where to voice ours.And have you made a decision as to which threads we may or may not post our opinion on ?

You started a thread to complain about the 'moaning' (I'd call it an expression of opinion actually, just as yours is) and you really are trying to tell people where to post? As my last post said, it's a free country, we're here to express opinions and debate, and no-one can tell anyone else where not to post unless someone is being negative in the app threads.

I never said I hated Erin. so don't reword my posts please.

Every single thing you have said about Lilia, Matt and Darren is entirely subjective, so why on earth should someone not disagree with you? If you don't want to hear the other side of the argument, the only way to avoid that is not to discuss the topic.

I agree - I just think they got rid of the wrong old blood in the process.

For me the perfect 14 pros would be:

Artem and Katya
Brendan and Kristina
Darren and Lilia
Ian and Natalie
James and Ola
Matthew and Nicole
Vincent and Flavia

I'd like to see Jared and Aliona as part of the Dance Troupe so they can gain some experience of the show before taking on celebrities. I'm not a great fan of Robin TBH, I'm not sure what he brings which is different. Anton is not good enough IMO and I don't think Erin would take part without him - but I wouldn't mind seeing both of them on the judging panel.