[*Topaz*]

Originally Posted by Gooby

I wonder if they ran auditions/interviews for the post to see who performed best.
Like in a normal job.
Maybe they ran a few scenarios and tried a few people out on the panel and Darcy fitted in best.

Surely they don't just appoint on a whim - they must test it out first?

Yes they did - it was reported that the choreographer Karen Bruce was screen tested and apparently she did well in the auditions but the reservations from the producers with her was that she wasn't well known enough - which I think is plain silly because presumably Len and co weren't well known when they first auditioned!

[Mr_XcX]

I think Darcy should have taken Alesha's place anyway. Good choice IMO by the BBC. Her or Karen would havee been suitable options!

Peeps moaning saying she is too boring PLEASE what do you expect Female Bruno! No thank you. I thought Darcy had a nice and warm personality better than fake Alesha.

[tangos_with_tim]

I am slightly surprised they went for Darcey, but I think when she was guest judge she didn't have enough time to settle in to the role. She will probably play it safe for the first few shows, but I'm sure after that she will find her confidence. Even Alesha improved with experience!

Having watched a few of Darcey's documentaries she is clearly passionately interested about dance in any form, so I am sure she will wise-up on ballroom and latin this summer.

[latinloulou]

Originally Posted by SaraV1308

I t

My main comment is AT LEAST IT'S NOT KAREN.....

.

I'm not fussed either way that it's not Karen but . . . .


My main comment is AT LEAST IT'S NOT JENNIFER GREY

[kaycee]

Loved Darcey as a ballerina, but as a judge on Strictly? NO no no no..... When she was on before she was so boring and proved she knows even less about ballroom & Latin dancing than Alesha. She also came across as being completely devoid of personality which is just so wrong for a show like Strictly.

[Honestweegie]

Why cant Alesha do both BGT and SCD? Its not like its a full time job

[Honestweegie]

... or is she now property of Cowell?

[jjackson42]

Excellent!! She'll start slowly and work herself in.

Bags of personality, a critical eye.and more charisma than anyone who has been on the show.

Dont forget - guest judges are supposed to be bland and non-committal.

JJ

[zackai48]

Great news. Now all we need is a return of the dance-off to make it all perfect.

[Servalan]

Originally Posted by tangos_with_tim

Having watched a few of Darcey's documentaries she is clearly passionately interested about dance in any form, so I am sure she will wise-up on ballroom and latin this summer.

After some content-free performances we saw last year that were overscored beyond belief, what makes you think that any knowledge of ballroom, latin or indeed any form of dance would be relevant qualifications for a SCD judge ...?

Unless Darcy is going to be the new 'queen of mean' and the show is going to do a massive U-turn from the dumbed-down path it took last year, she is going to stick out like a sore thumb.

It's not a particularly encouraging sign ...

[Servalan]

Originally Posted by zackai48

Great news. Now all we need is a return of the dance-off to make it all perfect.

No. No. And no again.

ANYTHING but that! (Even Jennifer Gray!)

[The Swampster]

What a relief - a real dance expert! I'd have been very happy with one of the former show pros, too - someone suggested Karen - but maybe they thought there might be a bit of baggage there with the other pros? Delighted Alesha's gone. She seems a nice enough person but lacked credibility as a judge.

[Jan2555*GG*]

I ought to be happy......

I really didnt want an OTT person like Louie Spence
I really didnt want Karen or Camilla
I really didnt want Anne Widdecombe

So why am I not happy ??

It just seems like a completely unimaginative choice and this worries me deeply.....I am really worried that Strictly is going to fall by the way side because of all the money being thrown at the Voice.

[jackbell]

I knew of Darcey Bussell from a French and Saunders sketch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_tBn...ture=endscreen

[cymrugirl]

Originally Posted by Jan2555*GG*

It just seems like a completely unimaginative choice and this worries me deeply.....I am really worried that Strictly is going to fall by the way side because of all the money being thrown at the Voice.

I hope this means they'll take the props budget away

[CloneClown]

Thank goodness it wasn't Jennifer Grey or an ex contestant like Kara or Rachel - any of those three would have been worse choices than Darcey.

I was rooting for K Hardy but I can see how she may have become too full on and could have become quite gushing which I don't see Darcey being.

Darcey does need to improve from her stint as guest judge and I'm sure with the fat pay cheque the pressure will be on for her to step up to the job. Most importantly, at least she is a professional dancer and will hopefully give proper critique.

[andallthatjazz]

From what I remember of her when she guest judge she was quite boring with no personality whatsoever, so not really jumping up and down about this decision.

Having said that I wouldn't have like Karen Hardy either, just something about her, she's too in your face for my liking.

[alan29]

As long as she is a dancer, thats all I care about. I am able to concentrate without some "personality" jumping up and down to keep me on topic.

[*Topaz*]

Originally Posted by Honestweegie

... or is she now property of Cowell?

Yes he no doubt did a deal with Aleesha and her agent that she would be exclusive to his show - he was boasting about having poached her from the BBC - as if most of the audience who watch SCD care I don't think the BBC would have stood for her doing both shows either

[Servalan]

Originally Posted by Jan2555*GG*

I ought to be happy......

I really didnt want an OTT person like Louie Spence
I really didnt want Karen or Camilla
I really didnt want Anne Widdecombe

So why am I not happy ??

It just seems like a completely unimaginative choice and this worries me deeply.....I am really worried that Strictly is going to fall by the way side because of all the money being thrown at the Voice.

I genuinely don't think SCD will suffer because of any money spent on The Voice. Strictly is still the BBC's flagship entertainment show and there is no guarantee The Voice will last as long as it has.

Also, the BBC desperately needed an entertainment format that would bolster Saturday nights. It's tried out countless series, none of which have gelled with viewers. So The Voice's success should, if anything, take a bit of the heat off Strictly (in a good way).

I agree with you that DB's appointment is unimaginative but, at the risk of repeating myself, also seems rather at odds with the tone of the show we saw last year - brash, OTT and with less attention to dancing detail than ever before. So either DB is going to be given a 'character' to play - or the show is going to take a different route from the one it's taken the past two years under Moira Ross' stewardship.

[Taz93]

Originally Posted by jellyred

I found Darcy very bland when she was on the panel as the 5th judge but maybe being a proper part of the judging panel and not a spare part, she will not be so dull. Well I'm hoping anyway.

I agree. I'm willing to give her a chance though.

Originally Posted by Honestweegie

Why cant Alesha do both BGT and SCD? Its not like its a full time job

Neither channel would allow it. It's do-able but both channels are too petty.

[Miriam_R]

Originally Posted by Charmaine Camer

Amazing how suddenly Alesha has become popular as a judge
I guess Karen wasn't chosen because she is too gushy, opinionated and loud.....and we already have those qualities on the judging panel

Alesha was kind of opinionated, gushy and loud too, by the end anyway. I just don't think the BBC have any interest of employing a former Pro, for some reason. Camilla Dallerup said outloud she would love the role but never got it.

The only plus point with Darcy is that ballet and Ballroom are closer to each other than Ballroom and R&B music (or whatever the genre is) were. The main downside is that Darcy is too nice (or dull as is the other description people are offering).

Maybe she will be asked by the producers to bring a harder edge to her comments, or maybe her role will literally be that of a completely contrasting judge to Craig, Bruno and Craig who are not short of airing their opinions. she'd certainly be a contrast to Bruno

[Chris1964]

Originally Posted by The Swampster

What a relief - a real dance expert! I'd have been very happy with one of the former show pros, too - someone suggested Karen - but maybe they thought there might be a bit of baggage there with the other pros? Delighted Alesha's gone. She seems a nice enough person but lacked credibility as a judge.

She is arguably far more suited to Britains Got Talent, but imo in the end she was working well with what Strictly has morphed into. Its bigged itself up like Cowell did with X Factor and has become more of a pantomime and Alesha's relative youth and good looks sat well with that, and I reckon the majority of the wider viewership werent bothered by her lack of technical expertise from her second series-largely because the series has drifted a bit from serious critique to scripted catchphrases and pantomime reactions. Whatever peoples opinions on that, its certainly been popular.

[Lizzie60]

Not my first choice, but I'm willing to wait and see.

[linc52]

im very happy with this choice