I thought couples should not break hold for the VW. Looking back at Ricky Whittle, Tom Chambers, Alesha's VW they were in hold for the entire dance.

Should Kara and Artem have been deducted another point for ignoring this rule?

I always get really frustrated by the VW on Strictly, even more so on DWTS. It is my favourite dance but seems to have the highest proportion of faffing about of any of the dances. I can always tell when one of the celebs is rubbish at it - they have a 50 second intro, a 50 second ending and about 20 seconds in the middle, mostly out of hold and doing lots of pivot turns (not a VW step)

The very best ones have been those where they take up hold straight away, get on with it, do a full routine of VW including the fleckerl

120 seconds would involve overtime at time-and-a-half, as all dances are standardised at 90 seconds.

There is also sitting on the stairs, or Ann having a siesta or two.

Not a single Viennese Waltz this series has been in hold the entire time. Robin and Patsy's was barely in hold at all - about 10 seconds worth. Why would you single out Kara & Artem's?

Apparently, they are allowed to break hold as they long as they do VW steps. If they weren't, Len would certainly have brought it up and marked accordingly, as he did in Kara's AS.

I agree. I was wondering what are the rules re the VW and staying in hold for the entire dance. I'm sure I remember Len saying there should be contact between the couples for the entire VW.

I think over the years the VW has been modernised and Americanised, DWTS and SCD appear to have their very own version which is acceptable

With the inclusion of tricks and props this year, rules were relaxed to allow for lifts and dancing out of hold in dances where we wouldnt normally see that sort of thing. An additional 10 (?) seconds was also allowed for out of hold in the AS. The trouble is, they were quite vague when talking about it publically - even Craig was getting confused when trying to explain it in an earlier ITT - and they didnt remain consistent; Len saying allowances for lifts going out the window and then often ignoring his own assertion.

I don't mind relaxed criteria, but if they produce the show in the same way next year, the "rules" need to be far more transparent so everyone - judges, pros, audience - understands clearly what is allowed and what isnt.