So whoever we get - might be someone we haven't thought of - someone will be dissatisfied! Life's like that!

I agree with you on all counts.

Thank you kaycee!

I don't know why, but I really can't stand Graham Norton. He just irritates me. As soon as I see him on anything it gets turned off. So I'd be very annoyed if he took over- I wouldn't be able to watch any more!

I always got the impression Anton was being lined up to replace Brucie- and I wouldn't mind that at all. One thing to bear in mind is that bad jokes are cringe inducing no matter who writes them- replace the scriptwriters!

But the jokes have been tailored to Bruces 'style' of comedy. Bruce is the one who insists on having jokes to do.

Anton Du Beke and if not him then
Matt Baker

Matt Baker. I dont like any of the other suggestions. Gethin and Barrowman are far too luvvie ish.

Give Brucie one final series to bow out then bring Matt Baker in. He'd have done the One show for a year and the BBC would see by then if it would work. Infact for next season get the One show to get more involved in Strictly PR and start to get Matt more involved so it wouldnt seem such a jump by the time he took over. I'd expect Tess to join northern hubby in the US so Matt could have a new co presenter. I adore Julia Bradbury so those two together would be perfect.

Actually when I saw Matt Baker with Joan Collins on the one show and the way he offered her the bad joke he'd been given to say on the show I thought he could pull off strictly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AuH8...ilepage#t=609s

I wish people would make up their minds about Gethin! One time he is too "vanilla" (ie bland), then he is too luvvie-ish! He is neither of these things.

This might help

Gethin

Not a fan of Gethin at all. Very fake and smarmy. The lottery work is about his level.

Bill Turnbull - because it doesn't need jokes but it does need a bit of (irreverent) humour, IMO. Tom Bergeron does this excellently on DWTS, Bill would make a good equivalent over here. Hope Ms Ross takes note.

I thought I'd already posted on this thread but I can't find it or its been deleted, or its a different thread.

I originally suggested Anton and Erin doing the shows, with Erin and Claudia doing ITT. However, I'd like to try to get Liza Tarbuck into the mix somewhere. She's as mad as a box of snakes, very funny and I think she would be brilliant. I think I'd still like Anton doing the shows. I've seen his live show with Erin and they are brilliant with a live audience.

You are completely wrong - he is a charming young man - I have met him and he is great. I liked him when he was in Blue Peter. Did you see his work on Police Camera Action? So much better than the other bloke. Very sensitive under very sad circumstances.

Chris Hollins would be my pick - or JB

Matt Baker - he's the most professional presenter. Even Tess's husband has come in for a lot of stick in the US as he continually fluffs his lines and forgets contestants names. I'd take anyone but Barrowman who I cant abide but not a fan of Gethin either. He's a very wooden presenter. Chris is also very smarmy and would look silly next to Tess. Way too short.

AND writes the dreadful things himself - he is listed as one of the scriptwriters!

Not keen on Matt Baker as a presenter - too "Blue Peter" for me. I think it will be Anton who gets the job.

I've never seen Blue Peter (other than the occasional clip) so am not sure what people are talking about when they say "too Blue Peter". What does this mean exactly?

My preference would be Matt anyway. I don't much like Gethin, Aled is quite nice but might be better for a singing show. I expect it will be either Graham Norton (yuk) or Anton

The quest for a successor makes me realize what a gem they have in Bruce actually.

Gethin Jones or Anton please.

Saturn are you going to start the poll ? we seem to be going round in circles with the same suggestions now.

I do like Gethin and I think he was great on the shows you've mentioned but I just don't think he's right for Strictly. While we don't want someone too overpowering like Barrowman, he/she still has to be a firm hand when the judges start quarrelling and I just can't see Gethin or Aled/Matt Baker fulfilling this.

I think they should have Graham Norton AND his story chair that tips up so that he can tip the judges back when they go over the top.

I think the BBC have to decide when they replace Bruce which route they want to go.......a more straightforward presenter or a more comedy route. If the first then my main choice would be Gethin if the second then Graham Norton would be a safe pair of hands, who has shown more than once that he can host a family friendly Saturday show with no problems and is less over the top than John Barrowman. Add to that Graham has already got a lucrative contract with the BBC which Vernon for example has with ITV and it would cost the BBC more money to get Vernon than to use Graham....so for me that doesnt make logical sense.

Just to throw this into the mix......Gethin was on standby during the last series to take over from Claudia on ITT if she was ill or couldnt do a show for some reason, so he is definatly on the BBC's radar in terms of Strictly.

Fair enough. Anyway, I think Geth will be too busy to do it. He is doing another 71 Degrees North and PCA in 2011. Matt is doing The One Show (apparently) AND Countryfile. And Aled is doing Songs of Praise and presumably various property shows.

Wouldn't mind Gethin or Aled Jones, or Brian Conley. The one I'd quite like to see, having seen his live show is Brendan Cole - he's had a great run as a dancer, and I would love to see him in a different role on the show and think he could do a good job, despite lack of experience.