Does anyone know why each of the judges have a chunky keypad in front of them on their desk ?

they press the number of the score they are going to give so that it can come up on the screen

Not seen it but to transmit it to graphics in the studio so they can put the graphics and scores up in time?

Cool ! Thanks for clearing that up.I had always wondered why the keypads were there despite the judges using the paddles to show the audience at home what they've scored.
Makes sense now.

I'm sure I've seen them pressing it before they give comments so it may mean they can't be swayed by the critiques of others.

Hmm..

Is that why when Craig gives a low mark, at least two of the others sometimes give a mark, two points higher than his?

IT2 did a feature on it a couple of years ago. The judges have to key in their score the moment the routine ends and then be ready to give their comments once Bruce has the contestants with him. They do not see what the others have scored.

And yes, re. Craig's lower marks! When he awarded a 6 for Louis' waltz, he said on IT2 the following week that he had been mortified when he then saw that the other judges had opted for 9s as he had calculated they would probably opt for 8s