I think the pro dancers work extremely hard and yet they are still slated really unfair. I think judges comments got to far and trying to outshine the dancers it is a dancing show not a judges show the x factor was like that last year and the ratings this year are crap.

Thats a fair comment, I think most people would agree with you.

I just noticed I mis typed the thread, do you think the judges comments alone sways votes ?

I guess they must to a certain extent, but I'm not sure by how much, thats why I don't like it when the judges are unnecessarily mean on the dancers it spoils the fun of the show.

With some viewers - but there are many who will vote for their favourites regardless of the judges' views/marks.

Defo Im a Robbie Savage fan I like an underdog that improves week on week not a person who is good at the start and has to maintain that level, it is about the journey, I think the judges comments has some bearing on the overall votes but the judges seem to have favourites thats why Im glad the dance off is gone all down to public votes.

Fair point.

I have to admit that before the show started I wasn't really a Robbie fan, but I have warmed to him and I am now.

Most people are glad the dance off has gone, the judges were getting far to big for their boots, but even with the dance off gone your right they are still trying to be the stars of the show.

The viewers don't want to sit down on a Saturday night and see things like Alex getting upset by cruel jibes by the judges, as I said it just spoils the show for all the viewers at home.

When I watch Savage it reminds me of Mark Foster...both make me puke for some reason.

Would you prefer the judges to be honest or 'nice' ?
There's nothing wrong with a bit of criticism.

Was there really any need for that!

The judges always cross the line and go way beyond that, there is absolutely no reason why they have to be mean, no viewers want to watch that.

In the some cases the judges comments can sway the vote for celebrities like John Sargent. Arlene Phillips was so rude that people who read remarks in the papers and had never seen the program voted to keep him in.
In normal cases I think if you agree with the judges any harsh remarks are brushed aside but if you don't agree with them then any negative comment are exaggerated three fold.

I don't mind the judges being honest as long as they're not too mean or inconsistent. For inconsistent, see Len: his comments for the last 2 series have baffled me, whereas he used to be quite reassuring and give encouragement.

I do like Craig's honesty but he can go too far sometimes and it must make the contestants feel rubbish, which is a bit much.

And I agree Johno, I like someone who improves each week like Robbie, or Chris Hollins previously.

The viewing figures would suggest otherwise

Criticism needs to be constructive, not destructive. Additionally the way you say something can make all the difference.
For example when Craig called Alex's dance (or Alex herself as his comment sounded to me) cold and sexless, that is destructive and doesn't help the dancer improve. Instead if he had said it could be warmer by looking up and at your partner more and pushing your foot into the floor will help create hip action, then that is constructive advice for improvement.

For me, Craig tends to focus too much on all the negative points highlighting them with short abrasive words without always extrapolating to suggest how to improve. He also rarely commends them on the things they did well. This to me makes him come across heartless and cruel (whether it's all panto scripting or not).
Bruno frequently seems to demonstrate his criticisms using baffling analogies, but his antics I suppose lighten the criticisms and he doesn't seem to be intentionally cruel.
Alesha and Len both seem to try and find the positive parts of a performance though Len is somewhat inconsistent in his critiques now and when he is grouchy about a dance he is very grouchy. I'm putting it down to permanent jetlag.

I agree.

I am not an Alex fan but I did cringe for her when Craig said what he did. You could see how crushed she was.

To defend him slightly (although not in this case as Bruce clearly asked him if that was all he had to say) he is often not given the chance to finish what he is saying. He comes out with a criticism and the crowd go boo, Len starts wittering on and so does Bruno and the rest of what Craig has to say just gets swallowed up. I find that he often does give very constructive criticism.

No one really likes to be criticised but the judges are there to critique the dances whether the fans always like their comments or not. I just wish they would all be more consistent!

So did I. Criag later said that he meant that the dance was sexless - not Alex. Maybe he needs to brush up on his linguistics before entering the world of public speaking!

Craig's comment of sexless, cold and stiff perfectly summed up the routine's performance. It isn't a criticism of Alex as a person, but it is a criticism of the dance routine just performed and accurately reflected what had just been portrayed.
Could he have said it in a "nicer" manner, perhaps, but in terms of accuracy, he was totally right. If he'd said she looked as straight as a ruler, or as stiff as a board or that the routine lacked any demonstration of passion or romance he'd still have had people whinging.
On top of the previous comments, it was James who was making a big deal out of Alex's lack of sexiness (or rather her belief in the fact she can't do sexy) throughout the whole VT of their rehearsals so it makes perfect sense to criticise that aspect when such a big hooha has been made about it.
The costume she wore did her no favours at all, it showed off her lovely body but when someone is that self concious then all it's going to do is make them feel even more awkward. She would have been much better in something with a Grecian toga style which could have given her more confidence and helped to emphasis her long legs and arms.

I think 'sexless' is a particularly emotive adjective. I think commenting on Alex's lack of hip action, which was certainly not present (with some guidance as to what she needs to do technically to obtain it) should have been adequate really. I don't think Craig's comments are necessarily ill meant, but sometimes they are counter-productive (e.g. I remember him saying this series that a performance made him feel 'uncomfortable' . It would make me feel terrible if someone said that to me).

James seems to be a good teacher, and pitches the routine at his celeb's ability, and so my guess is he tried his best but for some reason could just not get a good rumba out of Alex, surprisingly when she's done quite well in previous dances.

But she was sexless, the whole routine was utterly sexless so I think it was a valid, if harsh, point. As I said, if they hadn't made such a big deal out of "sexing" her up then he probably wouldn't have said it or called attention to it in such an obvious way.

It was just Craig trying to be the Star of the show at Alex's expense, it was very mean of him and not necessary at all, you could see it crushed Alex's confidence.

Craig's marks would be closest to how I would mark. Some of the comments are near the mark but then some of the things the judges say to each other are too. Sack Len as head judge, he's rude all the time and constantly looks down his nose.
They could all do with a lesson in manners and how to say things constructively.

You can say: The dance was sexless and cold.
You shouldn't say: YOU were sexless and cold.

Craig doesn't usually overstep the mark and criticises technique rather than getting personal. But he was out of,line with Alex. He may have apologised in person. Who are we to know?

The problem was he said neither. His comment was: "Sexless, cold ...". It was the lack of clarity in the direction of those three harsh adjectives that made it feel like a slap and more personal than intended. On IT2 last week he did state that he was referring entirely to the dance and not to Alex herself - indeed he emphasised that he thought she is a very sexy woman.