"This year, the standard is higher than ever"...

It think its possible but unlikely...he can't help it, and Strictly wouldn't be Strictly without it.

Despite the pensioner contingent (bless them), this little gem seems to pop out every year and I am fairly confident that at some point Len, hands aloft, flushed cheeks, and overearly 10 paddle at the ready, will declare, "this year, the standard is higher than EVERRRRR" ...

The only uncertainty will be who and when...

My prediction - Kara Tointon, week 4 - Ballroom

Well, Len's already said "best line up EVER" so he may feel obliged to........................

Len: 'You could be the best dancer we've ever had.'

Alesha: 'You is wearing pink.' You is a ledge.'

Craig: 'Fab-u-lous.' 'Dis-ars-ter.'

Bruno: 'Mamma mia?!!!'

The judges seem ever fearful that unless they announce that the standard is higher than ever and the current series will produce the best celebrity dancer yet, we are all going to turn off in our droves.

We won't. We just want a realistic verdict.

If anything, Len's exaggerations have a negative effect. Last year, for example, he boldly told Ali she was going be the best dancer on Strictly ever in like week one! This built up our expectations which were never met and put enormous pressure on Ali that contributed to her ever present nerves.

It's counteractive.

He said something like that in the launch show, before he'd seen anyone dance, so how he could come to that conclusion i don't know, after all as he always says, this is a dance show

Indeed, I'm fully expecting to hear it before the closing credits of the first show.

I know why he does it as he couldn't really say 'Well they're alright but we all know series x was the best' but it is really annoying when a lot of the audience clearly know this isn't the case.

I can't remember what he was like at the start of the run, but Len spent most of last series talking about how low the overall standard was. There are definitely a few quotes in the news archive here if I could be bothered to look up a record of any of the crap Len says.

Yes Sid. That's the Len quote I was I alluding to. I agree with what you said about standards. We don't have to have a better standard year on year. This ain't GCSE/A Levels!!!

It's called hyperbole. 'Twas invented by Greeks, boasting about all the boys in yoghurt they had, the other day...

Yeah, it was definately rhetorical. Len is a well-experienced judge and expects us all to take his word for it if he says this will be the best year ever, then it will be.

Len: 'this will be the best year ever......' as he looks into the camera and swings his pocket watch from side to side........

Them Greeks have nothing on Craig and Bruno. I hear the Muller tanker delivers a full load to the BBC every week during SCD!!!

BH that sounds rude!!

oh Len must say 'The standard is the highest we have, little pause for dramatic effect, ever had Bruce'.

I love it as much as when he says 'I don't like all that faffing about ' my favorite Len phrase

Someone on the judging panel also has to say someone is 'potentally the best dancer they have ever had and 'best male dancer they have ever had' in week 2.

'This is a dancing competition' when the comedic turn and bad dancers are still in and the joke has warn thin, week 4 at least.

and 'tall girls can't jive'.

Sadly there isn't many tall girls and Ian isn't competiting this year so I fear we might not get the tall girl line this year sadly.

Really? I clearly just replace all proper memories of the show with stereotype assumptions of what must have happened. Next you'll be telling me there were no journeys and that Bruce was actually hilarious.

Here we are.

Although it did take until November for him to crack.

I'd completely forgotten about her. She could have been Sarah Palin's running mate until you reminded me.
Grumpy Len is probably getting senile. They probably have to tell him "remember pindown" to stop him goose-stepping around and saluting auntie Beeb while the show is on air.

Love it!!!

I am sure Len will also say at some point 'you're getting on my wick'!

And one of the pros will be a doughnut for putting in a lift or some other inappropriate move.

I actually like those 'Lenisms'!

He makes his point without being nasty.

I'm expecting some impressive dancing.

We haven't seen Kara training yet, but I expect her to start in front.
Jimi looks very impressive.
Patsy and Pamela will be good.
Matt, Michelle, Scott, Tina, Goldie and Felicity might all be in contention.

And I think they matched up most of the couples well.

That's potentially 10 out of 14, which would be a good year - celebrity wise.