To save all our souls LOL, I thought, unusually for me!, that it might be interesting to start this thread and have people's thoughts on the following, and if we have enough interest in this discussion, perhaps the Mods might turn it into a poll?

Since the changes in SCD have veered more toward entertainment with dancing as a theme, rather than the other way around, as it used to be, and from what Tour attendees seem to be reporting, the changes are evident there too, do people prefer the Tour as it was from 2008-2010, or last year's and this year's (is my opinion only but I feel the changes have shown themselves from last year's tour particularly).

My preference lies in the 2008-2010 Tours - I am aware though that the viewing figures are up so perhaps people prefer the new way.

Which do you all prefer, and why? Or do you see no real difference?

Hi, TQ.

Good idea for a thread (and poll). After all, we've compared and contrasted different series - why not the same for different tours?

However, I can't be of much help because I was a tour virgin until last year, so can only comment on the 2011 and 2012 tours (I was in Birmingham on Saturday).

I liked them both for different reasons and would be hard pushed to make a choice; if forced at gun-point, I'd choose last year's tour over this one.

ooooh good idea

I loved the tour on Saturday!!!! I thought it was excellent

Loved no warm-up guy as he is painful to an extreme

Really loved seeing Hayley, Andrea and the 2 guys (dont know their names) actually singing from the middle of the arena - it was so good to actually see them and to feel like they are actually involved (if that makes sense) Hayley has an amazing voice and it was lovely to see her step down from right at the back of the arena and take centre stage

I thought Craig has done a wonderful job - Natalie and Ian have created some wonderful professional routines (the VW one brough tears to my eyes, it was magical)

How does it compare to other tours?

Dancing wise - I would say pretty much the same level although I do feel the inclusion of Mark Foster is pretty strange......

Choreography - amazing - I always love the pro dances, I always love the group dances and I always love the individual dances

I would say this tour slightly edges last years for me just because no warm up guy (he really is dire) and getting to see the Strictly Singers

Never having attended Shepherds Bush, Blackpool Tower, Wembley or any of the tours, unable to comment. The tour has the excitement of a live show, but it would differ from a west end song-and-dance musical because the stage is in the middle with 360 degrees visibility like a basketball stadium with sequins?

Sorry to hear Tangoqueen finds the tour veering away from her preference, but glad that Olive is shot of the warm-up man. As long as the house is 95% sold out with £200K takings per night, tour management will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Will the Tour tail start to wag the Strictly dog?

I have been to every tour so I here are my thoughts.

I think that this particular year that the tour is seriously diminished by the lack of decent previous celebs...it has meant the there is no depth in the dancing ability... there are extremely strange choice of dances .and the group and pro dances seemed rather lack lustre compared with previous years, I dont know why but it seemed to be all put together in a rush and lacked the polish of previous years....I actually think they are running out of steam and its perhaps time to give the tour a break for a couple of years to be able to build up the stock of ex celebs again and give others a chance to think about touring again.

Obviously how much you like a tour can be strongly influenced by how much you like the people taking part so I would be bound to say that the tour after series 6 was my favourite, that included my favourite ever and Julian Clary who really brought the house down.

For sheer star power it had to be the first show where there were more excellent ex celebs than you could shake a stick at. Then my favourite year....then Ramps and Austen but to be honest I am struggling to remember last years at all and this years is at the bottom of the heap.

Personally I missed a warm up man it just seemed to add to the lets get on with it and get this tour out of the way atmosphere for me.

The singers being showcased was a good move and they did it off the air at Wembley too.

Good thread TQ

For me the earlier tours were FAR superior to the recent ones. So much so that I sadly have no interest in going this year! My favourite Pro's are no longer involved and I feel that as a result of this the standard of the actually dancing has slipped as it is all about showiness and sexing dances up. The only people who would have swayed me was to see Ian and Natalie. I like Pasha and Artem as dancers very much but would I swap them for Matt and Ian? Definitely not! Lilia and Nicole are still head and shoulders above their replacements for me female wise!
So, without Vincent and Flavia and Brendan as well it was a no brainer! I'd rather see professionals in their own shows and doing showcases every time!

I disliked the central stage area as I felt the dances didn't use the whole floor as they previouslyy had. There were less pro dances last year. My favourite part. So that was another disappointment.

I was left feeling disappointed last year, this year no interest at all, too recent a celebrities so not much chance of comparisons from previous series and it seems like the order of winners is almost pre decided by judges scripting and comments however well or badly they danced.

So, summing up, for me the tour as has the series seems to have lost its gloss and become predictable.

I went to Live and Unjudged last week and as a show it was in a different league to last years tour! Feel good factor in bucket loads!

The distinct lack of slow ballroom dances on the tour this year made me want to desperately see Anton & Erins tour.

Exactly how I feel girls - couldn't have said it better x

After the extra enthusiasm I have felt for this year's SCD,thanks to a certain couple,I actually considered the live show but I had my reservations. Then I saw online details of Anton and Erin and to me,it seems the better 'deal',although the nearest venue to me has already sold out of the best seats.

Lack of ballroom & the fact that Craig's dance choices for the other couples seems to have cleared the way for a Harry & Aliona whitewash. Lack of competition = lack of enjoyment for everyone except H & A fans!! :yawn:

Another one who hasnt been to the tour this year. Have loved the tour in the past particularly the pro dances and group dances. From the reports and videos I have seen I am not too dissapointed I havent been. Odd choices of dances for the celebs and not as much of the pro dancers as I would like.
Lovely to see the singers being show cased, but the whole show looks like it has been part of a cost cutting exercise and there seems less of the glitz and glamour we love to see. Not a fan of the podium.
I dont like how some celebs are made stars of the show and everyone else has to fit around the script and are not doing their best dances.I think this is unfair on the celebs.
I really hope the pros past and present do another pro tour of the same standard that the last one was. That was the kind of strictly I want to see. If there is a pro celeb tour next year,I hope there is more group dances and pro dances.

I've always felt that the tour comes too soon after the series but I suppose they need to 'strike while the iron is hot' and before the players commit to other projects.

Got it in one DF! Is my feeling too.

I have the vid you wanted - I found it! Can you send me your email add again hun x

I agree entirely. Harry has no competition whatsoever, he's in a different class to the others. I supported him and Aliona, so for me the tour was worth it to see their QS, which is spectacular live in the same way that Ricky and Natalie's was last year. But apart from his dances, there was a distinct lack of anything remotely approaching perfection or even generating a similar audience reaction, apart from the comedy act that was Nancy, who was at least amusing where Ann Widdecombe was definitely not...

I enjoyed the pro Viennese Waltz as it was Ian & Natalie choreography, but I don't feel they really made good use of the floor, whereas previous pro dances did. I think that stage in the middle ruins the dancing somewhat, especially when all but one of the pros with a ballroom dance keep it almost all on the stage and ignore the expanses of floor around them! It doesn't generate the same atmosphere as previous years, even down in the dancefloor seats.

I enjoyed this tour the least of the 3 I've been to I think (and I'm not counting the pro tour in that, it was in a different league altogether!), although I have to say I didn't miss the warm-up man, and Kate did a decent job as host this year. It wasn't a bad night's entertainment, but the dancing was sorely lacking What I do miss is the focus on a high standard of dancing, proper ballroom dances, the genuine competition between brilliant partnerships (even if they don't care who wins) and the interaction between the dancers and the audience. Silly VTs really are not an adequate substitute...

I enjoyed the tour more than I did two years ago, because it seemed more relaxed and enjoyable and less pinched and "professional". It also felt like pretty much every couple there had a reason for being there, whereas I went there was chock loads of Series 7 filler (Natalie Cassidey/Ricky Groves/Zoe Lucker). Admittedly I went in with much lower expectations dance-quality wise this time (...and I was probably wise to), and the last show I went to was hampered by both Austin and Kelly (probably my favourite dancers of the line up) messing up their jives.

The lack of warm-up man was a GODSEND. The atmosphere was maybe a little flat and subdued to begin with, but it picked up naturally with the show as people got into it, rather than feeling forced.

My sister and I have been to everyone of the tour shows, but we both said that this years was not up to standard. Only seven couples made it seem sparse, and the addition of Mark Foster (bless him) made it seem desperate.
I thought the showcasing of the singers a bit indulgent, I want to see dancing on a dancing show.............
The judges and Kate Thorntons banter was fun, but we also missed the warm up guy, I like to Mexican Wave

The first one in 2008 was my favourite:
Christopher Parker (dancing with Nicole Cutler)
Denise Lewis (dancing with Matthew Cutler)
Darren Gough (dancing with Lilia Kopylova)
James Martin (dancing with Camilla Dallerup)
Letitia Dean (dancing with Darren Bennett)
Louisa Lytton (dancing with Vincent Simone)
Matt Di Angelo (dancing with Flavia Cacace)
Zoe Ball (dancing with Ian Waite)

*sigh* those were the days...........

Hello and welcome to DS

I haven't been to this years show but have been to all the others and have to say that I've enjoyed them all.

The 2008 show was most definitely my favourite too. I didn't really watch SCD until series 5, and the 2008 tour that followed it was really what got me hooked! I was there on the very first night of the very first tour in Glasgow where Matt & Flavia won and Louisa & Vincent runners up. I went to see the show that night a casual SCD viewer and came out a superfan! ..... That was also the night I discovered DS funnily enough!.....

Only went last year and this year - but have the DVDs of previous tours to base this on....

I much preferred the old format..... more dancers, only one real "comedy" pair (sorry but Robbie doesn't deserve to be put in that category with Nancy - his ballroom was good and he's not allowed to do a ballroom dance), and a good mix of past and current contestants.

I also preferred seeing the dancers do one ballroom and one latin dance rather than the odd combinations Craig has chosen for them... why Robbie who was pretty dire at Latin has to do two rather than his lovely foxtrot or tango as one of them, and Jason and Chelsee have to do dances they screwed up on the show, whereas Nancy gets to do a dance she DIDN'T do on the show (salsa - why not her rumba?).

Is it my imagination or are there fewer group and pro dances too?

I think the mix of dancers helps too - with Mark (who is actually surprisingly good now he's dancing with Natalie!) the only non series 9 contestant this year's show is lacking something... last year I was watching Colin Jackson hoping that he would win at least one show - but he was woefully undermarked to ensure the current series dancers were at the top of the board.....

But - that said I went to the O2 last weekend - and enjoyed every minute of the show... especially the judges dancing in the finale!

I've been to all of the shows except last years (had the tickets but too ill to go). Loved this years, partly because I wasn't expecting too much with the reduced number of dancers and the number of 'non-dancing' celebs but I thoroughly enjoyed it - even Robbie who I can't take to.

It did miss a bit of warm-up but having seen the warm up man every time I think I could do his spot for him and it soon got going.

Love the fact that Ian was dancing with Natalie and that both Harry and Chelsee were dancing their quicksteps. Also thought the showcasing of the singers was excellent - as were they.

Not keen on the raised stage, it interrupts the dancing too much and bunches all the couples together in the group dances. It also spoiled the fast moving dances to some extent and moved the focus of the dancing forward, which was great for people in the seats facing the stage but for us at the sides nearer the stage we were looking at the dancers backs for too long.

So both old style and new style shows have good and bad points and I enjoyed both.

Great idea for a thread TQ – and nice to see and be involved in some genuine discussion!

I’ve been to the tour every year – my favourite years have been 2009 & 2010 – partly to do with the good seats we managed to acquire, and partly due to the good mix of current plus old school participants & pro-dances/dancers. Nothing to do with my kiss from Ramps….. honest!

In the Arlene years we always had the inclusion of a pro couple extra – which meant we were treated to showdances from James & Ola, Matt & Kristina and Natalie & Ian. I’m sure in 2008 we had a Flav & Vincent AT extra too. (Dilly will have to confirm!) This was dispensed with when Craig took over, and he shoved that awful latin school number in last year. I apologise for the barracking I’m about to give last year’s show but it really was the biggest load of dross they’ve served up in all the 5 years by some considerable margin. The pro dances weren’t great, neither were the pro/celeb dances (Matt excluded) and the worst bit of all being Widdy & Craig’s horrendous ‘impromptu’ Charleston being crow bared in to create laughs. I didn’t find it funny, at all. I didn’t get to see my favourites that year either as both Kara & Artem were ill, so it was a bit rubbish all round really – for me.

Wasn’t planning to go again (as we’ve previously discussed TQ!) but my friend got a free ticket and against all odds I actually rather enjoyed it. I did feel it missed the warm-up man – there was a distinct lack of atmosphere for the first half. I agree with everyone commenting on Harry being the only standout dancer and the odd choices for the other dancers – Chelsee & Robbie especially. But Nancy’s ‘comedy’ turn actually worked quite well, and the decision not to include the latin school was a good one.

For me it’s about finding a balance between the comedy/’fun’ element with the decent & in the case of the professionals, a display of exceptional dancing talent. This is where I feel Arlene got it right. Last year Craig got it wrong, but by bringing in Natalie & Ian this year to choreograph went someway to redeeming himself.

I think a lot depends on whether you have a particular favourite in these tours as to how much interest you have in each year. My favourite two years where the ones Vincent and Flavia were involved in, and not only because I thought the standard of dancing was good, but also because it was a great mix of celebs/pros!

Personal highlights.

2008

Matt & Flavia - AS & Salsa
Louisa & Vincent - AT & Jive
Zoe & Ian - Tango

Brilliant Pro/Celeb group dances

Dirty Dancing
Viennese Waltz

Pro Dance was a great latin medley, and there was two showdances....

Vincent & Flavia - Argentine Tango (which Loueeeze mentioned)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHN4qO6izow

James & Ola - Rumba

All in all there was 8 couples with 2 dances each, so including the finale group dance I think that makes about 22 dances.

Is there as many as that still?

2009

Gethin & Flavia - Waltz & Salsa. A new partnership but were sooooo good together!! Loved both of their dances on tour and they did well winning a few shows.

Rachel & Vincent - Tango & Rumba. Absolutely exquisite every time and worthy overall winners of the tour.

Julian & Lilia - Can't really remember what they danced, but it didn't matter as they were hilarious together!!

Kenny & Ola - Won the whole 6 shows in Glasgow!!
Ola was pretty much genius in choosing 'Flower of Scotland' and Franz Ferdinand for their VW and Paso, as it really got the Scottish audience buzzing as we are a pretty patriotic lot up here and went mental when there was a Bagpiper brought in for their Flower of Scotland! The atmosphere was AMAZING and while he wasn't the best dancer by a long way, it was so obvious every time that he was going to be the winner!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=magiQ5gLl4I

Saw the 2012 show at Birmingham NIA. Loved the venue, got a great seat, low down near the action, a change from being up in the gods at Wembley. Disappointed with the celebs this time. The selection of Harry, Chelsee and Jason and four also rans makes the marking a no-brainer as the big three are guaranteed to be in the top places all the time.

Enjoyed it, not as good as other years but will doubtless be going again if there is a tour in 2013.

Love this thread TQ!
I've been to all tours except last year.
Although this year's tour sees the welcome return of my hero Ian, I don't think it is as good as previous tours.

I felt the first half of the show lacked excitement which is probably to do with the absence of any warm up. I agree that the warm up guy is soooo cheesey and cringeworthy, but some sort of audience warm up is required. As the wonderful band was featured much more this year, maybe they could have played a few dance numbers to get the crowd going ??
I also agree that the dance choices were a bit odd, as I would have loved to have seen Jason & Kristina do their wonderfully camp "I Will Survive" dance

There were nowhere near as many dances this year, and the central podium meant that the whole dance floor was not used enough.
I also used to like the end of the show when all the dancers and judges came to the edge of the dance floor and shook hands/hugged the audience (it was a perk of getting front row seats) but that didn't happen this year (although I was very lucky to get hugs and kisses of Ian & Natalie)

I enjoyed it at the O2 a few weeks ago. I've been three years running. It seems to be a bit of a tired format now, last year's was much funnier. Nancy, however, was very funny and I think the audience appreciated her OTT self-deprecating humour better on the tour than they did on the actual show, where she and Anton were a bit of a flop. I expected more somehow.

Harry and Aliona were in a class of their own, absolutely amazing, but others were good too.

Perhaps I won't bother to go to next year's tour. I want a bit more entertainment.

I really wish I'd gone the first year but we were about to go on holiday and it would have been the night before - still I wish I'd gone sod the jetlag and gone away from the amateur tour footage and DVD I bought it looked amazing.

They've sort of given up trying to re-create the show on tour and accepted that it's a different animal and I don't miss the warm-up guy either. Jason was actually doing a good job of warming up the crowd. I liked it although the first half more than the second because the flaws in the show became more obvious in the second but I missed the variety of dances and thought that two ATs which isn't a dance suited to the tour was a bad choice. I miss the early years when you got at least someone doing each one of the dances on the show and everyone did one ballroom and one latin - there was too much latin for my liking but none from Harry - I'd liked to have seen Robbie's AS and something ballroomy from Anita - AS or tango springs to mind, Jason's tango rather than his AS and Chelsee's jive rather than her rather underwelming showdance - I think showdances shouldn't really be on the tour (but out this year I have up for seeing Jason's again) partly because it just feels wrong and partly because with only a handful of honourable exceptions (Tom springs to mind - but also Zoe I think qualifies) they tend to be not that good.

On the whole though worth it just to see the two QS if nothing else.