I felt that way watching Scott and Gavin. I was even more concerned that Natalie was going to suffer an injury.

Ann diving from 10 metres into a large tin tub of water mit soap bubbles.

(But she wouldn't be allowed to clamber out of it on live TV - the wet clothes would reveal the true size of her battleships.)

Surely she'd float? They look pretty watertight to me!

Stick to your guns, wildwestlady, stick to your guns.

"Outlandish" has another sense too = "anybody watching from outside mainland UK"

Lots of people able to watch BBC live on their expensive cable TV subscriptions (unable to vote, but I bang that drum too often) are possibly (and this is speculation) gobsmacked by the encouragement of utter awfulness on BBC's SCD. This seaside humour has to be explained to them slowly and patiently.
Then the obvious question arises - if Ann can do it, why don't all the others? Well in a sense they are. If they avoid the props and extra lifts, their routines would be so classically "dull" that viewers might (this is only speculation) emigrate towards the seaside slapstick. And possibly this is what they have already done, in numbers large enough to keep Ann in week by week.
To people outside the UK none of this makes sense. But as non-licence payers we really don't matter. We certainly don't count.

Already I never watch the results show, or bother to record it. The only thing I've missed is the Cirque du Soleil routine.

If Ann gets through to the Finals, I'm going out to see the new Harry Potter film on that same night - then I know I will enjoy the whole evening from start to finish.

So, would you say that Saturday was the day Strictly died?

I guess it was the day I realised that Strictly was probably dead for me, or if not actually dead, then certainly in its death throes. Like many bereaved people, I shall strive to remember it as it was in its glory days but shall have difficulty blotting out the gruesome picture of what it became.

Brilliant

Thanks Dorabella in Belgium - you've cheered my Monday morning, as I avoid getting down to planning panto rehearsals with a cast of thousands ....

I wonder whether the enjoyment of SCD does die for individual viewers, who stop watching, but are replaced by new followers, keeping the viewing figures - if not the actual viewers - broadly constant.

I started watching mid way through 2007 - I think it might have been the day of Kenny Logan's kilt, or Kate Garraway's eviction - and SCD has apparently died several times since, and I'm pretty sure it had already had as many incarnations as Doctor Who even when I started watching.

Or maybe people keep watching, simply so they can be appalled by what the show has become.

Dear NumberCruncher with 3 left feet:
if Doctor Who has 12 known reincarnation chances (and possibly we'll be getting into decimal places if 4 more actors take on that role), please could you calculate the number of chances of SCD reincarnations (called "revamps") with new producers before SCD goes the way of the 'Generation Game' and 'Eldorado'?

At a rough guess, 42.

I hate the over use of props, the more common lifts that have been allowed (they are the purpose of the showdance in the final).

Its just not the show that I used to like. Ratings are up but that doesn't mean quality has.

If Ann wins then I won't watch again. It already leaves a bad taste in my mouth every week shes saved. I'd rather the The iceberg won then Ann.

Trust you to bring Doctor Who into this, at least the doctor can dance!!

Every year people moan it's the end and they will never watch again but they always do!

They do indeed.

Gavin was rotten this week. But he's still there. It's part of the show.

No, Strictly is currently the Undead.
On 18th December a stake will be driven through the heart of Strictly by the old bag.

It will be the night of the full moon. BBC lights will tremble and flicker. Ghosts of Strictly past will heel lead across the dance floor. Arlene will intone awful alliterations. The orchestra shaken and stirred will play off key. The singing will break records in awfulness.

I wasn't shocked that Ann and Plank stayed in, I have given up bothering now. SCD has been dumbed down so much that those who vote for them must have one braincell between them.

Ah another insult about people's braincell count. It is purely an opinion on who entertained you. It has nothing to do with people's braincell count.

Love it! In your scenario I see Widdy as a canary-coloured witch on a broomstick, flitting across the moon and having trouble steering a straight course because of the weight of her vital assets.

This is a confident assertion. I'm interested to know how you can possibly tell how many people watch again and how many give up.

Of course it is, it is supposed to be a dancing competition, but people are voting for those who can't dance, if they had any intelligence they would be watching those doing the correct steps not laughing at clowns.

Actually, I personally have never moaned until this year. For me, any "joke" candidates have been heavily compensated for by excellent dances from the others and generally good TV all round. This year has been a shock for me because it is so dramatically different from previous years. I'm still watching in hope and because there isn't much else on Saturday evening TV.

The obvious explanation is the new exec producer.

If you think you can do better give it a go:


Commissioning Entertainment on BBC One

I think Gavin has a fan club who keep him in for the sake of his physique, and he is Welsh, so may be getting a lot of support in Wales.