I could certainly do without Vincent and Anton

but equally would not miss Aliona in the slightest

Dont see why we need the old timers back even though Ian is a great dancer

The current series of DWTS has seen two pros being 'promoted' from the dance troupe. One went out very early (I think 1st), the other has proved to be very popular. So the dance troupe can audition new pros, as well as resting old pros until suitable partners roll around. But then again, DWTS has always had a more fluid relationship with its pros. There are some who are on it every season, there are others who are seemingly invited back as and when someone requests them or they are particularly suited in temperament/height etc. Louis, for example, returns to do pro dances with Karina, and occasionally partner a particularly short contestant. It is for me, one of the best things about DWTS, and something they beat SCD with.

So while I would love to see Ian say, because they had someone tall (just imagine how Holly could really straighten up with him or Matthew!), it's not going to happen because SCD doesn't work that way. It seems that once you're in, and accepted, you're in. Until they get rid of you, but when that happens, you won't come back. But that does give us some great new dancers, and sometimes some less than great.

Pasha has been a wonderful addition this year for me. Artem was fabulous with Kara last year. Robin may not be as strong, but has forged two good partnerships with less confident celebs. Natalie has been great with talented partners and this year is really getting the best out of Audley. Part of the reason they've been as good as they are is because they bring a fresh approach to their dances. Just imagine if a few of the current crop were rested, what great new pros we could get?

Rested you see Perdie - there's the word. Not "chucked out cos if we need change then anything we decide to change is irrevocably baaaaaaaaaad for the show and should never be allowed to be judged again". "Fluid relationship" - quite apart from being a rather wonderful (if slightly messy ) phrase, this also illustrates a desirable concept. How many viewers (yes forum, I'm looking at you (and in the mirror)) would have been so up in arms if they'd realised that those pros that had gone could well be back (one of the original premises of the dance troupe possibly?) It seems that part of the problem in the UK is that we're too cut and dried. Either you're in or you're out - no middle ground.

Can't believe what I'm reading - You can't get rid of Aliona or Katya otherwise the real men wouldn't watch SCD

oh no you can't get rid of Katya, she is serious eye candy! Aliona is too but she has lost support though her choreography. Bound to be another hottie out there that can take her place

I'm all for refreshing, could we please 'refresh' the Jordans and Du Berk out of there next year?

I don't even mind Brenda any more, James Jordan is my major bugbear now

you cant get rid of Ola!!!!!!!!

I will stop watching lol

James yes he can go, he has never been any good stomping around the floor pulling faces

I totally agree with you OP

I am a MASSIVE Aliona fan in terms of personality, appeal and kind of rebellious attitude, Pasha is brilliant and Artem created one of the best SCD partnerships throuhout it's entire run

Ola has no appeal to me, as long as Erin stays I will be ok with whatever decision is made

Now this would be a far better solution. Would keep things fresh and if a particular Pro or couple are busy they do not feel obliged to do the show because if they stop appearing it currently feels too final.

On the One Show last night Brendan was wanting to dance with Miranda who is taller than him so bringing Ian back for the very tall ladies would be brilliant.

The only pro I really miss is Lilia. I missed Darren last year when Tina had that awful partner. I bet Darren could have done so much more with her.

I agree with Lorelei Lee too Alli (and still like you even though you can't bear my man LOL!)

Definitely agree with your comment that the show needed to freshen. I loved the old dancers - Lilia was always my second favourite female pro - but I think in terms of TV purposes, same old same old every year gets stale and dull. You do need a change of style, or injection of new faces, to keep things more interesting. Even though for me personally, I would have watched them week in week out rather than how the show is now!

And also about Ola - I love her, think she is a sweetie - but I've never felt she was a good choreographer - and she used to be such a good dancer but I think on this show now she has become lazy - watch her in some of the pro dancers and she never straightens her legs!

As for her shirty husband - I wish he'd just sod off. Can't stand him. No dancing pedigree at all and same for his gob.

I feel V&F are too good for the standard of the show now so would prefer to see them go, even though I am a really committed Vincent fan and I love Flavia too.

Pasha and Artem for the men, and Kristina for the girls, are the only ones who I feel are of any decent standard of tens dancing left on the show, V&F aside.

So no, I don't miss the old pros in this show - it's a different show now and I wouldn't like to see them in it.

The older dancers wouldn't fit in with how it is now.

Because they were DANCERS!

I see James is not too well liked by certain FMs ?

I can't help thinking that much of his " shirtiness " is possibly scripted and I have a sneaking suspicion that certain parts of the show are too. Very often I will watch a dance and then the judges comments in no way match what I have seen

I think having some kind of altercation is somehow supposed to spice it up a bit.

I remember being rather naive when I went to the tour a couple of years ago thinking it was all spontaneous and off the cuff. Imagine my surprise when I went to another date later in the tour and it was all regurgitated practically word for word and Bruno was just an actor playing a part.

Kind of put me off a bit to be honest.

Some of the stuff is scripted for sure, Button, but the particular bit the other week was not - I know that for sure from someone inside.

My dislike of him comes, not from anything which is obviously scripted (because they are all given a "theme" e.g. Brendan Bad Boy, Artem serious, Pasha cheeky etc) but from the things he says in general both on and off SCD - he will say what suits his own situation or his wife's at a particular time - and I have no respect for that, I think you should be consistent with what you think! i.e. when he was with Cherie, he was moaning away saying it was all about the dancing, then when Ola was dancing with Chris Hollins, it was suddenly about the entertainment because it suited the cause!

I don't mind how someone thinks, either way, but I respect people the most who are consistent in the way they think. Yes you can agree we all change according to our situation, but not in something like that. You can't argue vehemently for the dancing instead of the (John Sergeant) entertainment, then switch to vehemently defend the entertainment! I know the show has switched from being about dancing to being more about entertainment and if you see it's changing and want to stay on it in that vein then keep quiet instead of making yourself look silly.

I find outside of SCD (and I have seen it) that he has a nasty streak when things are not going his way and I don't like him for that.

As for the scriptedness of the live show - I guess any show is like this - and I agree with you, it's funny when you look at a dance, and what is said is completely different to what we have just seen!

I have to say I love Erin, but I wouldn't be that upset if we lost Erin and Anton either. They're looking quite dated in comparison to the newer dancers and neither of them can really teach or even dance Latin that well.

And TQ, I like you too even though you have no taste and like Curtains Cutler!

So basically, woudn't be devastated to lose Erin and Anton, Ola and James, Flavia and Vincent! And to be honest, I'm feeling meh about Aliona, hate her choreography most of the time, but I'd have nothing to talk about if she wasn't there! Every show needs a baddie! And Brendan's rubbish at that these days.

I like Erin but I agree Alli-F I don't think she fits in anymore. Hope that makes sense, she just doesn't seem to have her heart in Strictly anymore and the less said about Anton the better

hee hee Curtains Cutler! The curtains are grey now and a lot shorter and more erect but I've always liked a good drape hun, you know me by now! And as for taste, never did have any!

Brendan IS rubbish at being a baddie these days isn't he - I love gentle Brendan though but I do miss his stroppy protectiveness!

you know I can't discuss FFT fairly so I won't!

The show needs Ian back in a higher profile capacity than at present because he's televisually charming, witty, personable, articulate and knowledgeable. And he's a great dancer. And most women I know would quite happily lick his face off given half a chance*.

Why wouldn't the BBC want to make capital out his undoubted talents?

* I'll let the guys speak for themselves on that score.

It's not only on the tour that comments are "scripted". They are on the main show as well - not necessarily word-for-word, but pro dancers and judges get the nod to "be controversial". Also, a lot of the training vts are "rehearsed" and acted out, they are seldom genuinely sponaneous.

BBC has a lot riding on strictly, it's not going to leave things to chance

Perhaps I an doesn't want to be committed to weeks and weeks of dancing with a celeb

I feel that, whether we like them or not, there needs to be changes on the show every series, otherwise it will soon become stale and boring. It began to go down that route a few series back.

I don't miss any of the 'old' pros. They were very good in their place, but time moves on and people do get older! The only one I would like to see brought back would be Ian - but not as a dancer. He is good with his little slot on ITT, and maybe could be considered to take over from Bruce? If so, they could get rid of Anton and Erin, who, for me, stand out like a pair of sore thumbs in any group dances they are in.

I like the idea of the rotating pro’s I would love to see Brian Fortuna as one of them. Production do a grand job of matching Pro’s personality with celeb, but surely there are times when this does not always work and past professional would have been more suited to a particular celeb.
However, as already discussed on here it does not seem to work in the UK. The show really needs to replace Anton, Ola & Erin. Everyone else I have no issue with, and I love the new professional Pasha, great addition.

Very well said OP, I agree

I disagree - I thought they all stepped up to the plate with Karen Bruce's excellent choreography for that number. The only one who actually made a mistake was Natalie, who held her top hat on her head instead of in her right hand like the others

I never rated Matt Cutler, Camilla or Brian Fortuna at all, so am glad they've gone. I love all the rest and enjoy all their different personalities - would hate to see any of the current pros. leave, and am glad Ian's keeping his foot in the Strictly door doing ITT.

The only one I really miss is Camilla, and she was lucky enough to leave on her own terms, so i really have nothing to complain about.

Keep Pasha; wouldn't mind if Artem and Robin went, and Ian and Matt Cutler came back. Never liked Darren much, Brian I did like but he's not essential. I like all the current female pros so wouldn't like to lose any, but I did love Lilia and miss her!