Another Strictly fan here. Have been atching TXF also, but every single week I have wanted to punch the TV at some stage. Simon Cowell is an extremely hateful man, sitting on his throne like God and toying with people's emotions.

Strictly is in an entirely different league. It's a mature show (note, this doesn't mean I think it's for old people, I mean it doesn't resort to childishness at any time), what you see is what you get, and the judges (for the most part) know what they're talking about.

Unlike Cowell (in it for the cha-ching only), Cole (a nasty untalented product of a show just like TXF), Walsh (cha-ching), and, well I won't say anything bad about Danni because she's by far the most genuine of the panel.

Strictly is pure entertainment and TXF is car crash TV. Plus, I'm delighted that Strictly got Gary & Robbie before TXF did! In yo' face Cowell!

Completely agree.

I think Strictly will be around a lot longer than XF, it seems more grounded whereas XF just looks like a bubble ready to burst.

I have the same problem with some southern accents - though it doesn't lead to disliking the person just the intonation and enunciation of speech.

Here, here...to you

To be fair, how someone speaks is a big part of who they are.

Strictly is what Saturday night TV should be.
The X Factor is the Jeremy Kyle show with added singing.

i love both of the shows, it used to be strictly all the way but im enjoying x factor the same this year

Yes I agree wholeheartedly. Strictly is in a different school to all those other shows such as Idol and X-Factor because it is warmer and less malignant. People are criticised but Strictly doesn't destroy dreams and it doesn't set out to humiliate and degrade people, as some of those other shows sometimes do. It is a morally superior show.

It's not Northern, she comes from Derbyshire, but I agree I think she is exagerating it deliberately, and it gets on my nerves and I live in Derbyshire. I think she is trying to be a professional midlander in the same way that Cilla is a professional Scouser.

I love the new format; it's smoother, and it's good to see the band and singers getting more prominence.

Quibbles:
The audience will soon be giving competitors a standing ovation for simply turning up.

Some of the routines are over elaborate.

I wonder if they're in danger of alienating the older viewers by using pop music which has little to do with the dance being performed.

On a personal note - I miss Ian!

I don't agree miles - it can denote geographical and social background but gives no indication of values or character etc. Many with a cut glass accent have fought tooth and nail for the underprivileged and many are the biggest rogues alive.

Similarly not all with working class accents are villains and many have dedicated their lives to improving the lot of their peers.

I could never take a dislike to anyone based solely on accent; but I guess this isn't really a topic for SCD so perhaps we should agree to disagree.

I would much prefer Strictly to be on about 8 o'clock on a Saturday evening. Imho that's a good time for a family show and would sit very nicely in the slot just before the 9.00 pm watershed. I hated it being on a 6.00 pm because that makes it seem more like a tea time show and less like a prime time show.

I don't care about Strictly clashing with the X Factor - we've been recording shows that clash for years now.

Exactly. X Factor is the modern day equivalent of the victorian freak show in terms of the early auditions. People, who are quite often young or vulnerable or quite disturbed are put on screen for no other reason than for the viewing audience to mock them. They are made a laughing stock in the gutter press for the sake of cheap publicity for this loathsome, blatantly manipulated farce.

There have also been many reports of people being built up on the show only to be dropped by Cowell from a great height the minute the cameras have stopped rolling and left with no support after being led to believe that their lives will be irrevocably bettered.

It sets a terrible example to young people to believe that fame and fortune is theirs for the asking without bothering to learn a talent and work on it but they can be fast-tracked to success.

At least the participants in Strictly all have media experience, and usually aren't expecting it to *transform* their lives other than boost an already established career. I somehow can't imagine Paul Daniels sobbing on Brucie's shoulder that this is his whole life at stake

Words cannot express how utterly disgusting I find everything about that show

But I've given it a go

I have just watched X Factor for the first time this year. (I can never be bothered with the auditions as they focus too much on the rubbish acts & that doesn't interest me). The talent on show in the X Factor is very poor this year, in contrast to the Strictly cast which looks great but it seems to be getting better ratings than ever. It's OK but X Factor can't hold a candle to Strictly IMO.

Precisely!

Last night was the first time I've seen Strictly, and, as someone who would previously have inappropriately lumped the show in with X Factor and BGT, I have to say this. It's brilliant. The show may do something for the waistlines of the Press-monikered 'Obese Britain' should viewers take up dancing and get physically healthier after seeing the show.

The same cannot be said for Cowell-O-Vision-Ker-Ching-Smuggery-Money-Money-Money-Ego-Look-At-My-Wad on the other side.

I certainly burned hundreds of calories laughing hysterically at the Widdecombe V Judges Showdown after her waltz. Submarines and Ark Royal!!!!! ** giggles uncontrollably**

Don't really want to support anyone but may probably veer towards Matt Baker as he's easy on the eye!

You know, I couldn't have described it better myself! You have hit the nail bang on the head there!!!

Oi. I watch both but the X Factor is more for entertainment and lack of other things to watch, and Strictly because it's fun and glittery and it isn't all a completly obvious fix, and the dancing is beautiful. (Well excluding Ann Widdecombe)

Derbyshire is north to me

They have always used pop music. I disagree...I think the use of pop music with traditional dance is ingenious.

Oh I can. I hate Tess's twang, along with Holly's and all the others. For the record, I am not anti northern, I just don't like the northern twang. It grates on me big time.

Excellent post and that's why I avoid X-Factor. The all powerful judge sits in judgement of the nervous nobody before him, and according to his whim he either raises them to great heights or crushes and humilates them in front of all the world. And when it's the latter, it is sometimes done in extraordinarily cruel fashion. X-Factor is nothing less than a greatly celebrated abuse of power.

I completely agree with you. I don't think it was as bad in the early series, but the producers quickly caught on that viewers love watching people being humiliated. The main reason I stopped watching was the audition shows. I don't watch BGT for the same reason.

Everywhere is north of Southampton.

It would be nice, if just occasionally, they would use more 'traditional' music for the dances ie Perez Prado type music for the cha cha. No wonder Goldie went all disco when they were playing disco type music! He must have found that a tad confusing
Yes, I do miss the regular pro's.