Not everyone is as awestruck by Jennifer Gray as you appear to be! The BBC would have to spend a lot of money flying her over and paying her to do the show - not very economical in these hard times - so she starred in a famous movie a long time ago and did DWTS. So what!

I would rather see one of the former pros - I think they'd offer a better perspective and would be more familiar to regular SCD viewers.

Yes.


Paul Mercurio? I mean, you can't mean Patrick Swayze, you know he's dead, right?


Titanic? Kate Winslet?

No, sorry, still confused...


Yes, because we've never had a previous winner as a judge before, so that'd be a real novelty.


Except for the ONE you DON'T, that is.


Well I'm glad YOU told US that. Backed up with your rigorous research and objective facts, of course.

I barely remember her.


Plus pay her fee of course.


Actually she was the co-star, not the star. Frankly, I think most people would consider Swayze to be the "star".

What the hell are you on about with her botox treatment? The reason she looks different is because she had a nose job which went wrong - something she has spoken out about repeatedly.

Who's to say he isn't? Sounded like a great big fat hint to me.

Jennifer Grey being co-opted as a guest judge doesn't necessarily mean that she's the one filling in for Len. She may simply be a fifth judge at some point a la Darcey Bussell.

Bring it on I'd say.

Sounds good. I look forward to seeing her judge.

Jennifer Gray has tweeted that she'll be sitting in for Len in November

There was a thread on this a week or two ago

Wheres Len going

He's taking a week-off because he feels like it.

Ill ask my work if i can do that too

Im not looking forward to this.Not at all!

Why on earth Jennifer Grey? Is she cheap or something?

Is this the season of crummy guest stars and guest singers?

Presumably, like yourself, Len won't get paid for the time taken off

Jennifer Grey is a legend. Look forward to seeing her

Maybe Len has got a family commitment or something.

The woman is the daughter of a bona fide dancing star, the winner of DWTS, and the lead in one of the most famous dance films of all time. While I realise this doesn't make her Arlene Phillips, that's a considerably better pedigree than Alesha and probably better than just about anyone else they might have conceivably got.

I look forward to Jennifer's week in the hot seat

I am looking forward to seeing her.......still holding out a small hope that they might bring over Derek Hough to dance with her for my viewing pleasure. Doubt we will get Derek but pretty sure we will see Jennifer dance.

Is she the daughter of Joel Gray ???

As Lorelei said she was the lead in Dirty Dancing a film alluded to if not a routine based around in nearly every series of Strictly....she still looks amazing and won DWTS whilst enduring excrutiating pain from a back injury (Nicole Whingzinger please take note)

Anyone who wants to see her dancing on DWTS here is a youtube link....bring on all your sniping and criticisms but I think she was fantastic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COeXmBZpLSE

If any of this year's 'contestants' had an ounce of her talent we'd have a better show. She was fantastic.

My only question is why would she bother being a guest judge on the show? I hope they're paying her enough to do it!

She'll be a rose among thorns quite frankly

Here is her Cha Cha which was also fantastic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz9R4Bvemy8

Agreed. Loved watching her and the Hough. Beautiful feet as well. He also produced some amazing choreography. Have always preferred DWTS. SCD is so tacky in comparison

Firstly - Jo Wilder? Seriously? A minor actress in the 50s, who was occasionally in musicals. What are your criteria for "bona fide dancing star"?

Secondlly, so what? My dad was a chemist, that doesn't make me any good at chemistry.


Yeah, if only we had a female winner of Strictly as a judge, huh? I wonder why no-one thought about doing that before.


"Minor co-star", not "lead". And it's not a dance film. And it was 25 years ago.

Apart from those minor details, all your facts are correct.


Why? Seriously, she's a minor talent who lucked-out with one good role, mainly because of who her dad was. She's an overprivileged and untertalented Hollywood brat.

That's it.

Whereas Alesha has achieved everything despite her background - broken home, abusive family environment, no support at all.

It's an insult to compare the two.

It is a lost opportunity not to bring in a professional ballroom/latin dancer.

I remember all of the fuss when it was announced that Darcey Bussell was to be a guest judge, and what a disaster she was.

I think you will find that Lorelei meant she is the daughter of Joel Grey the star of Cabaret, I think thats the bone fide dancing star that she was referring too, but yes she is the daughter of Jo Wilder too.

How on earth can you say that Dirty Dancing is not a dance film ?? whats it about then nuclear war ? and it may have been 25 years ago but it hasnt stopped it being used both as group routines and single dances over and over again in Strictly.

Yes being the daughter of a dancer/dancers doesnt mean you will be a good dancer yourself but in this case she is and she (like Alesha) won her series of DWTS and if you just using that as criteria (which they did with Alesha) then why shouldnt she be on the panel for one week ?

I thought Darcy was fabulous, and charming and funny. She is one of the greatest prima ballerinas this country has ever produced.

Bring in a ballroom dancer? What? Another Len? Ballroom dancers are rather limited in their knowledge because ballroom is all they know