I Sky +'ed last night's Strictly and watched it this morning. Thinking I could fast forward through the parts I didn't like if it got to gimmicky. My thoughts on last night

1) Pamela Stephenson and James taking an absolute age (well 30 seconds...I counted....sad I know) to get into Ballroom hold This is absolute filler. They should start deducting points as they did in previous series. The Foxtrot is universally acknowledged as the hardest Ballroom dance and this year I'm sseing couples sidestepping difficulty amd opting for schmaltz. STOP IT!!! :

2) It's been said before many times on this thread but I will say it again. The pompousity of Len Goodman is stomach churning. Doesn't like being booed by the crowd when he expresses his opinion, but will happily shout Craig down in the most boorish manner for a populist cheer

3) Alesha: "One too many splits" to Felicity ME-OWCH! Also I like the fact that Alicia seems to be a bit more opininiated of late but to say that Gavin outdanced Scott???....was his butt shaking that good?:

4) I did actually laugh at Anne's Charleston despite myself. I still want her out though

5) Brucie was his usual lecherous self. He must surely have children Kara's age. Would he like for his daughter to be chased by an 81 year old man. And his joke about Babs Windsor And Brucie is proud of the fact that SCD is a family show. How is that with his innuendo laden "jokes" (I use the term in its broadest sense)

6) Hated Flavia's outfit for the Quickstep

7) Sorry to return to Len Rudeman. But giving a 9 to Scott's adequate but not very good Rumba shows he's off his rocker (even if it is to spite Craig)

8) Kudos for Matt. Straight into hold and did a great Viennese Waltz. Needs work on facial expressions though

9) Patsy looked scarily like Kylie last night. Robin needs to learn not to outdance Patsy and make her look good, not himself

10) Gavin's face dropped when Brucie made a quip about his dancing. I think if Brucie had been within arm's length he would've got a right hook

Lastly it was interesting to see Scott second from bottom. So will be a test of public support but I don't think he will go though.

1) As I understand it, the professional judging standards have been deliberately relaxed this year. This makes sense as a) the general viewer wouldnt know a fleckerl from a ronde and b) it is unrealistic to expect amateurs to learn in a matter of weeks steps which take professionals far longer to perfect.

2) I encompass it as part of the show's theatrics and am able to enjoy it.

3) Yes

4) Neutral

5) The great thing about innuendo is it allows for all ages. Innuendo will fly over the heads of the younger viewer so no one need be offended.

6) Loved it. Didnt like Jimi's pinstripe so much though.

7) I agree, it was bizarre.

8) Um, did you miss the faffing about on and around the swing at the beginning of Matt and Aliona's routine?

9) I dont think Patsy was ever in any danger of looking good last night, whatever Robin did. And I have to say, I am always looking at Patsy, not Robin, during their routines, so I am not seeing what some are.

10) That's another one I missed.

It is becoming clearer every week that the dancing ability of the celebrities is almost irrelavent to the programme.
Craig is the only judge who is marking the quality of the dance performance.
Len and Alesha constantly mark on the 'story' or the 'entertainment, value and it seems to me that they are on to a good thing with the BBC handing them a big fat cheque every week just for turning up..........Bruno thinks he is the entertainment.

As far as the props are concerned, I would like to know if they are obliged to use them on the dictat of the producers.........and don't get me started on the nonsence of begining the dance up in the gods and faffing around taking half the dance to arrive on the floor.

The cameramen seem to have been told to keep the camera away from the feet in order to disguise poor footwork and when Craig mentions it (having had the priviledge of seeing the feet) he is ridiculed by Len and Bruno (Jimmi a case in point last night)

I don't think Scott will be going either......nor will Ann Widdecombe.......although if she becomes anymore cocky next week, it could be her downfall

Yup - the cheesey swing at the start of Matts routine is worthy of comment. Ann is begining to think she is a national treasure- she kept repeating her "witty" comeback to Craig and people may get tired of that. John Sargeant had been a comedy performer in his Uni days - Oxford comedy revues and wrote scripts with Alan Bennett so he knew what he was about comedy wise but am worried Ann might "jump the shark" if she overdoes her brand of comedy

Thanks for both your comments Smokey and Lynwood. While I understand the rules may have been relaxed this year. But I'm one of the general public who has no formal dance knowledge. Any knowledge I do have I've picked up from watching the show over the years. I thought the rule change would benefit the weaker dancers not the stronger ones (I consider Pamela Stephenson one of the stronger dancers), and never thought they would use it to their advantage, with such gusto. Yes I did notice Matt's faffing about. But I took it more as the "fairytale prince meets his princess" story and they got into hold in fairly short order and stayed in hold as opposed to Pamela who broke hold for yet more faffing about.
To lynwood, yes i did notice the dizzying camera work but I knew this is par for the course this year

How I hated that swing! Shame really as Matt is one of my favs.

Along with faffing about, props, themed shows and crazy marking.......anything in fact but dancing.
Maybe next year it should be called 'Strictly Come Faffing'

Simply STRICTLY ENTERTAINMENT, aka Britain's Got Celebrity Talent .. and I want copyright on that idea!

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Hmmm...debateable I think. At one point Brucie cupped his hands over his chest to signify breasts when making a "joke" about Barbara Windsor. I don't think that could've been missed. Not that I'm a prude or anything but Brucie makes these quips pre-watershed...and the show is on just before Merlin. He really needs to clean up his act.

Wasn't that just a play on the whole 'Carry On' thing though, as that is what she does in that scene?

Yes it was a play on the Carry On thing. But COMPLETELY inappropriate for a family show that comes on at 6:15 Brucie is apparently proud of presenting a family show. Why then pepper your show with referneces to breasts, and other innuendo when he must know there are children watching

The Carry On Film to which Bruce was only referring is rated PG and therefore suitable for family viewing

Lol, Carry on Camping is a PG rated film and is suitable viewing for 6:15 pm.

Are you on a wind-up Diamondlife?

I most certainly am not. I don't think bare breasts (even if they were covered up by Barbara Windsor's hands) is suitable family entertainment...add to that a fully grown woman acting as a school girl and there all all sorts of lines being crossed..but I digress. Bottom line it is Brucie needs to drop the smut and the leching. If he needs to lust after anyone it should be Felicity or Anne who are closer to his age

I felt like last night the judges were getting one up on each other with the scoring. This is not the x-factor scd!

Goodness me!

Have you ever had any fun in your life?

I felt a bit sorry for Kara really as I really didn't think it was pleasant having Brucie play a dirty old man to her. Yeah - it was meant in jest, but I thought it was a bit crass and made me feel uncomfortable. Kara looked like she wanted to hide behide Artem. Perhaps that's why they got Ann on the show - as peeps would be more 'outraged' at her antics and miss everything else.

Yes lots...why?

I don't think all of it is meant in "jest". I think a lot of the female celebs simply hide their embarassment or rage behind a "showbiz smile". I remember a couple of series ago when Bette Midler appeared on the show and when she made a comment about Brucie touching her bottom (presumably without Bette's permission) many years ago when she appeared on his show. Bette said it with a smile but you could feel the temperature drop a few degrees onscreen

ooh wish I had seen that ! I think there is a lot of show biz smiles and as previous poster said. Would love to know what they really think about some aspects of the show.