... that he's critical as ever, but often times ends on a positive note. Well, as far as the first show is concerned...

Good for him. I hope he keeps it up.

not to Paul daniels he didn't.....

i'd move on before I get onto the technical bits

I love Craig. I think his marking is always realistic & when he praises couples they know they have done well.

I did say oftentimes, not always.

I agreed with pretty much everything Craig said last night and am getting increasingly tired of the stick he gets from Bruce, and the childish booing from the crowd. :yawn:

If anyone should be getting grief, it's Bruno, who's far bitchier than Craig and much less constructive.

Viva CRH!

It's always been his way, tells the celeb what they need to work on and then follows it up with some praise of what they did well (if there is anything).

He's my favourite judge because he's the only one that actually seems to want to help the celeb to get better and it totally pees me off when the audience starts booing because he doesn't see the problem with telling it as it is.

The incomparable Monkseal puts it well:-

"He seems to be the only one who cares any more."

Bruno is awful, Paul Daniels could have come out and done the best cha cha of the night (well maybe not ) and he'd probably still have used his more like tragic than magic line

I totally agree. Bruce's rudeness to him is also well out of order. And at least contestants know they were really good if they get a high score from Craig.

I thought he was his usual vile self. He comes over as such as snob, which is a bit of a cheek given his former profession. I think he comes over as tolerating the celebs, no encouragement what so ever.

Forgive me, but so far I haven't seen any thing you said here or in other threads that's positive.

Will we be seeing the last of you soon, since watching SCD pains you so?

I have said twice on here I saw the best waltz ever on Strictly how is that negative.

I just don't like people being looked down on by a former rent boy who speaks like an English public school boy even though he's not English.

ETA:

To answer your question, no I'll be here all series, and let me check do you mind if I have more negative views?

He gave most of last night's celebs specific pointers about what they need to improve.

There are so many negativity from you I must have missed those positive comments. Twice I see, out of how many times you've posted here since last night? And you are criticising Craig for being too negative, talk about irony.

As to how he speaks (his accent, I mean) I don't see how that's relevant to this discussion?

It's bit like Over The Rainbow, the contestants are great, the production isn't. It bugs me when a show like this isn't as good as it could be.

I've posted other positive comments those were the ones that sprang to mind. Is there a limit on the ratio of positive to negative comments? Is it limited to certain topics? Or is only at certain times? I wouldn't want to be out of step the rest of the series.

Agreed...Craig, keep it up, daarrrling

Only listen to him and Len.

I learnt yesterday how useless Bruno and Alesha are as judges. They offer nothing and I cringed when she called I think it was Felicity 'babe'.


I also hate the way Bruce keeps picking on him

You already are out of steps.

No ratio, but just a feeling, that all. So I ask you, is Craig entitled to negative comments too going by your arguement?

Granted, I don't read all the threads here, but those I read so far, I've seen no comments coming from you that's remotely positive.

I think the producers did something right this year (the change to the opening credit, much more classy and less tacky). The feel of last night's opening show was very, very watchable, some dodgy wardrobe and silly props nothwithstanding. I agree that if they carry on with those silly props it might end up like DWTS, which is a big no-no.

To be fair I fast-forwarded the opening titles so they could be spectacular.

I've never liked Craig, like I say it is just that I get the impression he looks down on the contestants, especially the less able ones. I think that's a horrible thing to do to anyone anywhere but on TV it's uncomfortable to watch at times.

I liked the show, but I usually mump and moan about things I don't like to my Gran but because I watched late last night she was in bed so I mump and moan on here.

Oh, I see. Moan away then.

As for Craig, I guess we have to agree to disagree.

I don't mind Craig, but I really don't like that he does this. Most of the judges manage to weave in a bit of positive when they do a negative crit, but Craig always tacks it on at the end as an afterthought. With Goldie it was particularly bad - it came across as "this was bad, this was bad, this was bad, Kristina can't teach or choreograph, this was bad, that was bad, oh but there was one step that was alright". That's not "always saying something positive", that's "covering your arse so you can say that you always say something positive, even though it's borderline meaningless".

Goldie was a let down. I think Kristina seemed like a good dancer but a mediocre teacher. I mean, if she can't tame Goldie, who has potential, and did that silly disco/hip-hoppy nonsense through a char-char, then they deserved to be chastised. Hopefully Goldie gets a wake-up call and buckle-up next week and wow us.

The thing I don't like about Craig's judging is the flat, killjoy delivery, as if he is totally affronted by these people/celebs. Why? At least it gives him a job.

However, I think that in real life he would be fun, and he has a lovely smile.

Yes - he gives a list of constructive critique, then tries to find a positive note to end on.

Unlike:
- Len, who tries to shoe-horn a stupid analogy in for laughs
- Alesha, who's just there for eye candy
- Bruno, who simply wants to make extravagant gestures.


Me too. Craig's the only one actually looking at the dancing and commenting on it.

I see his delivery as deadpan. It's actually quite comic to watch, as he's definitely putting on a show, just not like Bruno drama-queeny, hyperventilated antics.