how many series now and they still haven't sorted this out.

I think they need to make it clear to the public and the pros what dances are allowed lifts and which are not.

Also what constitutes a lift - Artem said a few weeks ago he regarded that as an assisted jump rather than a lift( can't remember what dance).

just checked back on this forum and Zoe and Ian's samba in 2005 scored a 40 and included what some thought was an illegal lift at the end.

I think I would deduct 1 point for accidental such as Kara's foot and maybe as many as 5 points for an illegal lift (as in matt/aliona).
maybe that would stop the pros putting them in for showmanship.
Save them for the allowed dances and the showdance.

I'd remove one mark for an accidental lift and two for a deliberate one.

yeah agree totally

I wouldn't worry too much about accidents with lifts, it's easy to get out on the wrong floor.

Eh?

Craig is always the one who is a stickler for the rules, all three other judges let things go for some of the other competitors on occasions.
His "nine" I anticipated.
39 was right for Kara's performance given the general standard of all the competitors and the way others have been previously scored.

If it was deliberate I'd remove a mark or two. If it was accidental and blindingly obvious, I'd remove one point. If it was accidental and I had to have it pointed out to me, I wouldn't remove any points

I wish the male pros would stop putting those moves in. It's a 50-50 shot whether the female celeb is going to be able to pull it off (add in the adrenaline factor and it's probably worse). Instead of looking graceful, I'm always staring at the floor waiting for the foot to come up. That said, 10s aren't really for perfection anyway. Kara deserved to be at the top of the leaderboard, however they placed her there.

I would take off 2 points for an intentional lift and 1 for an accidental

Agreed on that

Going on that was it accidental or intentional. If it was intentional Kara should have scored 32- accidental 36

But the problem was that they had already overmarked Pam- who really was only 8's = 32
I would have had the following

1. Kara
2. Matt
3. Scott
4. Pamela
5. Gavin

They do seem to be overmarking Pamela and trying to get her to the final- but that is so patronising of them to do that - no room for favourtism

ok , so maybe I was a bit harsh on saying I would deduct 5 pts for illegal lifts, I just thought it would stamp out the problem quicker.

There have been some dances which have seemed to be more lift than dance and that has annoyed me - Matt's AT and Kara's Salsa for example - because it seems all flash and no substance. However, the odd lift in a dance here and there doesn't really bother me. What does bother me is the inconsistency of the judges when applying penalties for lifts. The randomness with which the judges have decided to deduct marks for lifts this series has come across as bias. Take a point off per lift if you want to but do it to all the offenders all the time.