Oh God why is Ann still in:

Beats me, Surely Anton must be embarrased by now, he looks it, he is a proffesional dancer dragging someone who can't/wont dance around a dance floor, he looks almost lost for words

No, not at all.

Just ask the public to vote for the couple that they feel gave the best performance on the night and not for their favourites. We all know that it's an entertainment show, but the title infers that the couples should dance.

the voice of reason.
To all Ann supporters out there- the point is it is a DANCE show. Ann is not even attempting to dance. For the vast majority of the nation she does NOT entertain either.
If she wins it will be a disaster but more importantly the bbc will change the rules on voting again so this can't happen again.
If you do vote don't abuse it or you may find that your power is restricted next year.

No, it's an entertainment show comprising of celebrities learning to dance. If it was a Dance show then only professional dancers or those celebrities who already had dance knowledge/ experience would appear and this is blatently not the case (nor has it been throughout the show's history).

I don't want Ann to go forward at the expense of those who can dance better. But I'm just one (occasional) voter. And DS is a microcosm of public opinion. It may or may not reflect what the millions of SCD viewers actually feel/enjoy about the show.

We are instructed every week to vote for our 'favourites'. That has been the case for the entire run. We are not asked to vote for the 'best dancer' or to vote out the 'worst dancer'.

Some couples simply don't appeal to the public imagination as much as others. And there can be various reasons for that (the oft-skewed videos of each duo being a part of it). There are also the existing fan bases of each celebrity to take into account.

On the other hand, some couples have the kind of appeal that can't be explained (a sort of 'magic' or charisma together).

I don't actually believe, personally, that Ann and Anton are in this latter category, by the way. I do, however, think the 'comedy' angle has got them where they are so far (even if sometimes, it could seem a little contrived).

Ann and Anton obviously appeal to a large section of the British SCD-watching population. Because they are entertaining them and as I said above, this is an entertainment show with dancing involved.

Chris Parker, anyone?

Julian Clary?

Do I think it's a conspiracy? Do I think that only Conservatives (and lots of them) are voting for them? No and no. (For what it's worth, I vote Conservative and when I have voted this series, I have voted for one of the others. But I'm not going to jinx their chances by revealing who that is!).

This happens (to a greater or lesser degree) every season. And we have the same complaints every season, with the same fear that SCD will be ruined if the 'non-dancer' reaches the final. It's not happened yet (course, there is always a first time!).

There's no one to 'blame' for their persistence on the show. They are there because the viewers are keeping them there. They wouldn't even have gone had the dance-off been kept, as they have not once been in the botttom two at the end of the voting (which is a proviso for being voted off by a judge).

If the viewers vote for them then they should be there. SCD is a show which relies on the viewers' vote and so they have the power to dictate who should stay or go. Would I like Ann and Anton to go through at my favourite(s)' expense? Heck, no! But I am just one viewer and there are millions out there who feel differently and are doing what they have been instructed to do. 'Vote to save your favourite'.

And, if this happens, then it happens. In the grand scheme of things, it's not going to make a big difference to anyone's life. It's not brain surgery. It's a TV show (albeit one we all get extremely involved in every year!).

Talking to friends and family, I have noticed that those who like and laugh at Ann are the ones who have never danced.

Thread answered in post 3, yet this thread now on page 4

First post! Can't believe that Ann Widdicombe is still there...her participation on this year's show has totally ruined it for me

Cally'smum

"Chris Parker, anyone?

Julian Clary? "


Not fair to include Julian in this category, because he took the competition very seriously, worked hard with Erin,and, to the disappointment of his many supporters, he refused to send himself up or the show. I still remember his Finals dance - not Nurayev, but still fairly graceful.


Chris Parker, on the other hand, a total air-head, drove Hanne Kartunen totally crazy with frustration.

She was brought in for a reason, the producers knew her capabilities, and good on her for sticking it out.

She is there for fun, and that is what she is giving, if you don't like it blame the production team and those that dreamt SCD up.

anyway without Ann it would be rather staid

Agree completely. I am a bit baffled as to who is actually voting though. There only seems to be a small number of people on here who are supporting Ann. Although there could be more and people are just ashamed to admit it. I know I would be. It also seems to be men who are supporting her which I find odd too. Mind you, no woman worth her salt would ever vote for Ann.

I find it very sad that people find Ann entertaining. She is being completely disrespectful to the show, to dance and to Anton. She's not even trying to learn the dances and I honestly don't know why she wanted to take part when learning to dance obviously wasn't what she intended to do.

Regardless of the views of pro or anti Ann it is obvious that people who are against something will write or post or email more than those who are for. Therefore the balance of views on DS is really no indicator of anything except the individual views.

John Sergeant at least had the good grace not to outstay his time on the show,and to make a dignified departure, a gesture that at present Ann Widdecomb looks most unlikely to repeat , to the detriment of the show,and the annoyance of countless viewers.

As discussed elsewhere John's departure broke his contract. Ann will not break a contract.

Are you sure she's entertaining people ? Maybe she was in the first two weeks but I think the vote for her has become purely ironic ; as one other contributor said, it is not as if there is any reason for a protest vote, viz. Wagner/Cowell etc., just a good show to ruin.

OK, next year have some weaker dancers, but not total duffers.

Without Ann I, and many others could begin to enjoy this programme again.
I do believe that the producers thought that she would do the honourable thing and fall on her sword when the time was right (she is making JS look like a saint now).
Unfortunately she has now started to believe in her own hype and become an out of control monster.
The producers also probably (and not unreasonably) believed that she would put some effort into learning the dances!! Everybody else has no matter what their dancing ability.

Bring back the dance off and this time lets have the bottom 3 in it so that we never have this situation again!!

People loathed the dance off last year.

He was slammed for doing that, Craig was one of the most vocal on the subject.

Anyone, including the show`s producers who believe that Ann`s continued presence is adding to the credibility of the show, should take a sanity check, for it is now becoming evermore painful to watch.

Again that is your view. The sanity of anyone involved has nothing to do with it.

Allegedly, in the weeks before he resigned last year, JS was receiving more public votes than all the rest put together!

Whether this is true or not I have no idea but it came from someone with "inside info". If true, it wouldn't surprise me if the same applies to AW.

Agreed - and (similar to the Sunday Results show) the very high (compared to last year) ratings that have proven to be remarkably static seem to show that the viewing populace as a whole continue to watch (and presumably like what they see) despite the majority feeling on DS. The show seems (a personal view here) to be giving the viewers what they want.

Now, if the viewing figures slump appreciably over the next week, there would be some cause for concern in the production camp, and it might indicate that those same viewers have tired ..... but a proportion of those viewers might also have tired of voting for Ann anyway (so she would be more likely to be in the bottom two, or eliminated)
So in that respect it might be a self-stabilising thing.

As for credibility - the show started to lose that when it started to ignore the rulebook, and where they introduced all of those pointless props (both things which to be are aimed more at entertainment than dance). And as long as the ratings seem to continue to justify those decisions, the format will stay the same.

I think having Ann in it was all part of the package of the ratings chasing changes they brought in. To me it is like the whole thing has been connived to be The Ann Show. There have been poor dancers before but we didn't know they were going to be rubbish. This time round though it is like they have bargained on her being rubbish and have built the rest around her and that is unfair to the other contestants. That, along with my opinion that she is a nasty, bitter, bigoted old bag is what is spoiling it for me this year (and I have always thought that so concede that she was never going to be my favourite) .

yes. I agree that as long as she is voted for she has the right to be there, but I am at a loss to understand the appeal. And a lot less gloating from her wouldn't go amiss either (though it is all part of her I'm right and everyone else is wrong mentality).

I also wonder how much of the ratings going up is to do with the new look. I would have thought it is more to do with it not clashing with X Factor. Most people I know stopped watching last year in favour of X Factor but have come back his year but only because it is there rather than because they think it has been revamped.

This forum and SCD is full of drama queens. The forum is more entertaining than the show though and is open 24/7. AW is the one shining light in what would otherwise be more than a tad boring.

Ann is still in because, presumably, people are voting for her.

Craig felt guilty - bless his silk socks