I'm nailing my colours to the wall pretty early, and making a massive assumption: But if Ann Widdecombe makes it to the final I won't be watching. I find the notion being put forward that she is "entertaining" an absolute steaming load of horse manure.(just call her rubbish and have done with) As well as the idea that the GBP loves her (especially on a show whereby there is nothing to stop a single person voting a hundred times if they so wished) as one monolithic block quite laughable
All the props, all the walking, posing, strutting, lifting, shimmying which all looks pretty but is being used mercilessly by couples to sidestep technique and run down the clock also leaves a sour taste in the mouth this year, quite apart from Ann Widdecombe comedy dance routines.
It may well be that next year the BBC may have to "screen" celebrities so that they are of a least a reasonable dance standard (I would suggest someone of at least Darren Gough's standard...or Felicity's standard of this year). Please no more clodhoppers unless they can be guaranteed a quick exit

I will be watching, but I will also be voting like mad for the other couple(s). I don't think Ann will win, but if she does the show will be ruined for me and I may not watch again (it will depend on the celebs).

*applauds*

We're in sync again! (I think?! )

If Matt doesnt make it to the final I wont be watching.

I won't know whether I'll be watching until if and when it happens. It's unlikely I'd watch if Ann made the final (unless I'm just totally bored.), or if I did, it would be in the hope whoever she was in the final with won.

Saying that, I wouldn't begrudge her being there, or anybody voting for her. It's obviously some peoples idea of entertainment, and that's totally their right. Personally, it's not my idea of entertainment, so I probably wouldn't watch. But I doubt me not watching would make a difference.

So I'd hope all the viewers watching enjoy it, and then watch a DVD or something, which would find more entertaining. (Then find out who won online )

I don't think Ann will win either. However I don't want her to make the semi-final...let alone the final as that would have been at the expense of a good dancer. Felicity I think is a goner (but doesn't matter as she's not that good). But I feel Kara may be vulnerable to the Widdy Effect

Yours would be a nightmare scenario, as someone else here said earlier,


" Dance is for All"

if Scott Matt and Kara don't make it to the final i will be furious

If Ann makes it to the final and my favourite - Kara - is out and my second favourite - Scott - is also out, I don't care who else is in it, I'll be voting for them like crazy and I'll be appealing to everyone I know to vote for them too. If she still wins it, I'm never watching Strictly again because that result coupled with last year's will be the death of this show for me. I decided to give this show another shot after last year, hoping it was just a flash in the pan, but if Ann wins this it'll be the final nail in the coffin and I'll be out.

Same. Even if it's someone I don't particularly feel deserves to win, like Gavin or Patsy, I would vote for them over Ann.

And whether or not I watch the next series depends on which pros are doing it, or I might just end up watching the pro dances and my favourite pros on iPlayer...

the only problem if ann wins, is that i haven't had a bet on her.


I wonder if the beeb put pressure on John Sargent to drop out. I Dont think Ann will.

I'll have to watch it too, Buddy, it's still Strictly after all (but maybe not quite as we knew and loved it).

I'm not in a position to vote this year as I'm at work whilst the show is on, but if Ann makes it I shall bribe Miss AD to vote freely for the others even if I'm not keen on them.

As for not watching again - I can't say really. But a repeat of the Ann factor would certainly help me decide.

If the unthinkable happens and Ann makes the final - I won't watch it live.

I'll probably record it - but if she wins I'll delete the recording and should she be in the Christmas Special I won't bother to watch that.

In fact if the producers try to pull a similar stunt in the future I won't bother watching again.

Oh I'll watch. It wouldn't be vastly different to the conclusions of series 1 or 2 really.

If in the unlikley event Ann wins, then so be it. I'll still be tuning in next year.

Guess you'll miss me then.

A final with Ann W wouldn't be the least bit entertaining,in fact the opposite really cringeworthy..When Chris Parker reached the finals Strictly was in it's infancy,the standard was not as high,and not that many tuned in to see couples improve weekly,and I'll repeat the word improve, as for me Ann hasn't, and has no intentions of doing so.
She admits freely she's lost no weight ,the only one who hasn't,while the others are putting every effort in to their dancing,and for me I find this irritating, whilst her arrogance assumes she will be voted in purely on entertainment value.
Anyone who thinks she is a dear grey haired elderly lady,think again she was a calculating,harsh, politician,and still manipulating the public.
So if Ann does make the final,and I think she might,let's face it the BBC have made this series the Ann Widdecombe show accompanied by Anton , I genuinely wouldn't be watching,it would be a total embarrassment,and very unfair when you have 3 outstanding celeb dancers Scott,Kara and Matt,they've put their all into this,and while working.In fact everyone who has been part of this series have worked their socks off,apart from Ann ,so all look forward to another contrived, comedy routine as she has latin next week,it's no longer entertaining,all very predictable now,and slightly boring.

Ellie

I agree with everything you've said, Ellie. I don't normally vote because I watch via recording too late, but I really feel that in the interests of fair play and a decent show I should set aside some time and dosh to beat the multi-voters at their own game.

Having said that, what if we ("we" meaning those who want Ann to be voted off rather than lose better dancers) multi-voted for couples near the bottom of the leader board and the leaders missed out

Oh what a tangled web we weave...

parthena

What I find strange is that while the forums are full of pro and anti Ann threads, none of the competitors have a bad word to say about her - not even James or Brendan who in fact backed her being in the competition.
I wonder if all along she hasn't been considered part of the ongoing competing as such but her role was only to generate publicity and viewers.

I still think that when the show gets to the 'serious' part, i.e. when the new viewers are hooked, and the not so good contenders have left, suddenly we'll find her in the bottom 2 and out.

That's another thing Bonnie96. Quite apart from Ann's continued presence in SCD is everyone's complete lack in testicular fortitude in saying that she is rubbish and should go (well apart from maybe Craig..but he is the "villain" of the piece). Whether the producers have threatened to break the legs of anyone who speaks out I don't know. James in 2007 chided the public for voting on personality instead of dancing and we all know he's fiercely competitive.

Don't get me wrong I love the fact that the BBC strives for diversity in its line-up and gets people of different ages, races, professions, and most importantly ability. But make no mistake those that don't cut the mustard should be eliminated QUICKLY!!!. Who knows what dances Jimi, Goldie, Michelle, Tina might have come up with, instead of having to endure the non-improving Ann every week

Ditto if Matt and Kara are'nt there then i won't be watching

Forget about Ann Widdecombe reaching the final. The one to be really worried about is Gavin.

Yep - I think 1 of scott, matt or kara could well lose out and gav get to the final. I like gavin but despite the over excited marking, he hasn't become nureyev overnight

Can't agree with that. The public decide who they want. The BBC who are already under fire for ageism would be on a hiding to nothing. What you're actually saying is lets have a few old duffers but we can make fun of them for a few weeks only. Long as people vote for Wids she has a right to be there regardless of aptitude. People might not like it but tough those are the rules.

They really are damned if they do or don't. The Beeb know that trying to get rid of Ann would look like another ageist prejudice episode. To keep her in is looking like ruining a decent show.

What would you do? The Licence Fee isn't just paid by dance puri.....fans, you know

Diamondlife, whilst the prodancers are taking the Beeb's money, they will toe the party line. They are professional competitive dancers, they won't want to go out when there are obviously poorer dancers in the show.

But as bobajot says, the public are voting, so it's fair game if AW wins. I'm voting for Scott and Nat since Jimi went, mostly as a tactical vote - or as tactically as my pea brain can work out.....