Gerroff that's mine.

Len's marking was absurd as well and he's supposed to be the most qualified judge of all.

I think that's the other reason I've quietened down about Alesha because she's not the only one guilty of placing the couples oddly.

It's the lack of saying anything of consequence that irritates me about her presence - frankly I can't be bothered to be annoyed . Len's abuse of the English language and the constant use of the phrase 'you came aout' are just as irritating as Alesha's grammatic faux pas (well more actually - i don't mind Alesha's grammatic incorrectness in the name of being street that much actually or her laugh for that matter) but he actually talks about technical stuff too. I felt that most of the judges pointed out things I couldn't have known and was interesting when Alesha was talking mentally I was going whatevar. People aren't complaining as much because of apathy (i.e a feeling it's been said before and ain't being listened to and will just get you flak from her die hard fans) rather than acceptance.

<Sits back and waits for the same die-hards to have a go with accusations of bitchery and being boring>

Why aren't the people you mentioned on the panel instead? or Karen Hardy?

Len is always over generous in his marking. Craig is a bit harsh.
Len certainly does not mark them as he would in real Latin and Ballroom competitions.

I don't object to Len's generosity, as long as he places all the couples in the right order.

But he doesn't.

Felicity wasn't brilliant but she was better than Anne and Paul and yet Len awarded all three the same mark.

My only problem with Len's marking is that he gave Gavin an 8, which really prevented me from warming to him as much as I was, because it was the height of stupid. Although it's Len and a SPORTSMAN! so...not unexpected. Tina getting a 7 was possibly a mite generous as well.

If he was splitting the contestants into four broadly similar groups, I think he did fine. That's about the best you can hope for from Len.

Alesha is gorgeous and her year on SCD was the shows best imo. However as a judge she just seems to tell the dancers they came out, got through it and well done for that. I just dont get the impression that she has much technical knowledge or industry savvy.

To be honest I think it would make much more sense if Len passed his"being nice" marks onto Alesha (who could then do the sympathy thing and increase her encouraging, been there before role) and he marked a little more stringently, pointing out technical mistakes that the other judges won't catch. He won't do that of course because he's the nice cuddly grandad who understands what it's like for the big manly men and defends the poor little women from nasty Craig, but it would make more sense in panel terms.

I don't mind the panel though. No, Alesha isn't as qualified as Karen Hardy would be but she manages about as well as the others. I think it's got to the point now that unless someone purposefully brings it up, most people feel they've had their say a hundred times before and can't really be bothered to go through it all again.

I completely agree with you Sid. The very least any of the judges should be able to do is get the couples in the right order where there is a clear difference. To group Felicity in with Ann and Paul is ridiculous. Fudd's thread shows how the judges scored this week.

Craig
7: Kara, Matt, Pamela
6: Gavin, Jimi, Scott
5: Michelle, Tina
4: Felicity, Patsy, Peter
3: Goldie
2: Ann, Paul

Len
8: Kara, Matt, Pamela
7: Gavin, Jimi, Scott, Tina
6: Goldie, Michelle, Patsy, Peter
5: Ann, Felicity, Paul

Alesha
8: Gavin, Kara, Matt, Pamela, Scott
7: Felicity, Michelle
6: Goldie, Jimi, Patsy, Peter, Tina
5: Ann, Paul

Bruno
8: Matt, Pamela, Scott
7: Gavin, Felicity, Jimi, Kara
6: Michelle, Patsy,Tina
5: Ann, Goldie, Peter
4: Paul

If I were Felicity I'd be upset at Len and if I were Peter or Goldie I'd be upset at Bruno.

Yes!
I have always liked Alesha and lover her as Strictly Champion. I wasn't keen on her becoming a judge but she has improved so much. Good for her.

i think having her there is a complete waste of time. Why oh why can't we have someone like Karen or Lilia or Camilla? Someone who actually knows what they are talking about?

I wish Len would stop looking in askance at Craig whenever Craig gives his score - it's nothing to do with len how the other judges score

Sure Len's marking is often incomprehensible - but I'm afraid I don't go along with the dictum "If Len is an arse we can excuse all others - including Alesha."

Len, Craig and Bruno - all can irritate the hell out of me - but all know about dance and can offer far more constructive criticism than 'You were hot babe, you can move babe, well done babe,' not forgetting the odd 'we was.'

Please respond kindly - I am feeling rough and have just had an almighty coughing fit.

Alesha will never be acceptable.

What annoys me is that we are paying this know-nothing with the our TV licence money, and she just doesn't deserve it.

There, there

I wouldn't suggest that Alesha's presence should be justified because Len and Bruno's scoring is sometimes off, but it does weaken the argument that just because someone knows what they are talking about they automatically make for a better judge.

Len and Bruno are better at critiquing a dance and offering advice than Alesha but it's ultimately marks that count and their marking can be just as nonsensical as hers.

no she is not - she started to disagree with Len on Satrday night about a dance but they quickly moved on - one series andsheknows it all

Quite frankly, Alesha can't win. If she gives technical advice, people complain she's not qualified to do so. If she doesn't critique, she's accused of not contributing anything. If she gives an opinion that differs from the other judges, "how dare she... she thinks she knows it all".

Alesha's doing fine, IMHO -- plus she adds a bit of glamour to the panel. After all, SCD is just a glitzy light entertainment show, not a serious dance competition. In any case, she's definitely an improvement on the increasingly embarrassing Arlene...

That's my view too.

To me, Alesha was a vibrant and beautiful "pop star" I might catch a glimpse of while channel hopping, and I might actually wait for her performance to finish and move on. Now, in a different guise, she's defacing one of the very few light entertainment shows I love to watch regularly.

She actually had the effrontery to call Felicity Kendal "babe"

The exaggerated silliness of the other judges is a price I have to pay (the BBC is aiming to net an audience of children of all ages) for enjoying a show where the contestants take their task very seriously and work like hell to produce the best they can, that's the main attraction for me.

The inclusion of Alesha on the judging panel reminds me of the last series of the Restaurant debacle. An insult.

parthena

She's a bit of fluff and doesn't deserve to be there, but it doesn't really matter. I kind of liked the way she was overly nice to the contestants, as some of them looked a bit deflated after the other comments. Her voice and laugh are both annoying though.

I totally agree with you. It's too bad the harping about her has to go on and on.

Cheap shots at Arlene in order to defend Alesha...what a shocker! All of the judges are embarrassing anyway. Alesha wasn't a very good dancer IMO and she isn't a very good judge.

The thing that elevated Strictly above BGT and the X-Factor was that the judges knew what they were talking about. Yes, Len was the main Ballroom judge, but all of the others were very experienced choreographers and dancers. Alesha rather spoils that. It is primarily an entertainment programme, but some authenticity would be nice.

I cringe when Alesha patronises older, more intelligent, more experienced people. Why does she do that? I don't dislike her in the least, but she certainly provides me with more fingernails on a blackboard moments than the other three judges combined.

yesterday on BBC Radio Richard Madely (sp??)) summed it up - "Alesha ls better than last year but I miss Arlene"
Never thought I woul d agree with him- I think it was softie who said that SCD is damaging AD's career - I agree

I agree with you, but it looks as if we're stuck with her banal comments for another year.

I absolutely loved Alesha as a contestant on the show. Series 5 was the turning point for me. Her & Matthew remain my favourite partnership, and all the drama of that series turned my casual viewing into all out obsession.

Whilst I have to whole heartidly agree with this.....


... her continued presence on the panel is beginning to tarnish my fab memories of 2007. Not because of anything she says or doesn't say, but because I don't believe her heart is in it. I fear for her in both her music and in Strictly as I can't see either part coming out well.

I won't forget how fab she was as a contestant. (I hope that was the right use of 'was' Was Police ) I love her as a person. As much as I wish she hadn't been; She was asked to do a job and she's doing it. She's not Arlene and she's not Karen (both of whom I'd much rather have seen on the panel) but as long as she keeps on being herself that's good enough for me.