Bit of an unusual thread bit interesting. My guess is at least 20 series. We are now at series 11, and it is as strong as ever. And if the popularity was ever to wane they can successfully revamp it, as series 8 demonstrate, although I appreciate there are only so many times you can refresh a show...

Thoughts?

Honestly, I think it still has plenty of life in it yet. I know people like to complain about the amount of reality tv there is these days, but I think the viewing figures speaks volumes for the shelf life.

I think the fact it's probably the most unique of all the "reality" shows really helps it's cause and I think, for as long as there are no other "Ballroom/Other Dance" shows to challenge it when it's actually on, it's got a good chance. (I know there ARE other dance shows on, but none are quite as unique.)

What would they ever replace it with? A singing show? (we don't need any more of them), a game show? (I'm not even sure they're as popular as they once were). In order to justify an end to Strictly, they'd have to have a serious crisis in the number of viewing figures AND have something credible to replace it with.

I suspect they'll probably just take it year by year and consider ending it only when they feel they have no other choice. For as long as it's getting the millions of viewers it is, I think it'll be safe.

(I hope so anyway. I wont know what to do with myself between September and December if it goes! )

The big test will be when Bruce goes (either by choice or by extinction)- it could usher in a whole new era with someone new at the helm.

I think it's safe for a good few years yet, regardless!

I'll say until 2017. That'll bring us up to series 15, which is a good solid number.

Hopefully no scandal will cause it to have to end abruptly.

I can see it going for another 10 years when then perhaps there will be another shift in terms of Saturday night family entertainment shows whereby the viewers will be seeking something new and refreshing which hopefully moves away from the reality TV era (which I don't consider SCD to be anyway). I often think whether if I was a child now whether I would enjoy Strictly. I was a child during the early 90s with Blind Date etc which I consider to be the last significant era in television programming before the big shift into the production of shows which were more interactive for the audience at home.

I just hope, no matter how long it lasts, that we never get an All-Stars edition.

We are swiftly approaching ten years since it first began... (next May, I believe?)

All-Stars on anything never work, and the DWTS one was awful (not so much an All-Stars as an "All the ones who could be bothered to do it again")

A one off special featuring all of the winners so far would be nice, but not a series!

That would be fabulous but I can't see it happening, esp since Natasha Kaplinsky says she was forced to do the show & Alesha is now judging BGT plus most of the winning pros have been booted of the show

It will last as long as the ratings are high & they can afford it. However I am a long long long term fan & I found the last two series so predictable that its changed my enjoyment massively. I find myself less excited about this series than usual & I am looking forward to The Great British Bake Off a lot more

I would echo your views Jan2555*GG*, I too have been a long, long, long term fan, since series 1 in fact and my enjoyment of the show has slowly been decreasing, I dont like the theme weeks, I dont like that the focus is becoming less and less about proper ballroom and latin dances (the main 10 dances) and has become more do-what-you-want type ballroom and latin dances (if that makes sense) I used to love the show, record every one and every single ITT episode so that I could re-watch (yes, sad, I know) but now I am not bothered if I miss a show and rarely tune in to ITT, its sad because I miss how Strictly used to be but Im afraid its heading more and more in the direction of a SYTYCD type show

I guess what I am trying to say is that I wouldnt miss it if this was the last series

I have to say, I think it is beginning to show it's age somewhat. Not to say it's not entertaining and 'good' Saturday night telly, but it's ten year in now.

The quality of the contestants isn't the be all and end all, but its starting to dip a bit, and the formula is somewhat showing. It's not all about how 'famous' the celebs are, but how entertaining and engaging they are.

I would probably say (baring any major issues), that another 3 or 4 years at least, but it's already on it's 'slow decline' from its peak, which was probably in the year which Alesha won.

They are only doing all the things you said because it makes Strictly appeal more ti a wider audience, as the viewing figures show for the last three series.

Im not bothered about viewing figures!! what I am bothered about is what I watching and I am not liking the direction in which Strictly is going - many many many people may enjoy watching a SYTYCD type Strictly show, I dont, I want to see proper ballroom and latin dances, like I saw in the early series of the show

I'm so lucky that a while ago some very kind person allowed me to download the whole of Series 5 in HD which as others may feel was the golden era of the show. I do think it set a bench mark which I agree has unfortunately since been in gradual decline - perhaps because it's no longer for charity?

Despite the unpopularity of Series 7, I think Series 9 was worse in terms of most of the celeb's overbearing personalities and also the production issues with comedy VTs and props. I thought last year was a massive improvement but with a disappointing winner.

The thing is, no matter how some of us detest the recent changes, no matter if some of us here stop watching, the increase in viewing figures shows that those changes seem to be popular with the wider audience. And it is that wider audience that will ultimately determine if the programme is to continue (leaving aside a rather odd decision by the BBC to kill it whilst it is at or close to the top).

On that basis, and as long as the audience is there in the numbers or percentage shares that we have become accustomed to, it could easily run for many more years (especially if it keeps on changing so as not to become stale, and if the BBC has no credible entertainment programme to replace it)

In reply to your first sentence: So you're saying strictly should be tailored to what you want to see?

No - dont be silly, of course I am not saying Strictly should be tailored to what I want to watch!

Would I like Strictly to be tailored to what I want to see? yes, of course I would - wouldnt we all love shows to be tailored to what we want to see?

Its not going to happen because Strictly has moved away from what I want to see so I wont be avidly watching like I used to

Come Dancing? - I think that was the dance show years ago that died out after a spell.

Strictly would have a limited life if it was always like a real dance competition with celebs.

I like to see the celebs having to work hard at something they are not familiar with, which is a good test of character. I do like there being a standard that they are judged against - ie. the 10 standard dances. That way I can gain an idea of what they are trying to achieve and they can be judged against something that is a fixed standard.

If they start bringing in other dances, like the AT, Salsa, Charleston, then they have been brining in other pros to choreograph the routines and teach the pros how to dance the dance.
Its looking to me like they may be going further on that route towards a SYTYCD format but with one good and one bad dancer. I don't think SYTYCD with one good and one bad dancer would last long.

There is a risk of Strictly being boring if they just do the standard dances to the same songs, so I'm happy with some theme weeks and a bit of slight mixing of the dances where it will work. I'm also interested in the dances being set to new and unusual music - if it works.
It takes a lot of ability from a pro to be able to keep things looking new and interesting with the standard dances and that's what I would like to see.

Only when it looks like that route has run out of steam would I want them to abandon the original vision of Strictly and go more SYTYCD.

Great post skia!!! You have worded it beautifully...
Agree with you specially the BIB....
My only issue is that they keep the AT and Paso music traditional... Although danced as best as possible with great choreo,.... I will never forgive BEEB for a Paso to 'Hungry like a wolf'

Honestly I can see it lasting for at least 15 or 20 series like someone else said. It is really popular and its popularity it still on the rise no matter how much some of us (even me at times ) moan about some of the changes .

Take for example the US version of Strictly (dancing with the stars ) . Not only the ratings keep decreasing year after year and now this season they cut it to 1 show per week, some of the beloved professionals are leaving , they have this show twice per year, plus given the fact that they tried to compete with many other shows (Xfactor, the Voice, .....) but fail nowadays....all these factors make me think that Our version of strictly (Dwts )only has a few years left (I give it 5 maximum ). I know its a bit irrelevant to the topic at hand but I wanted to make a point.

Yes all in all, IMO Strictly will still be around for many years to come . The fact that it is only once every year helps a lot; It makes people look forward to it even more. Too much of a good thing makes people tired of it, evidenced with DWTS which goes twice a year; A lot of people lost their appeal in this show and once again looking at the ratings that keep being low as the seasons goes by is a statement to that .

Yessssssss to the BIB my point exactly .
The fact that the viewing figures keep increasing every year no matter how much some of us hardcore strictly viewers complain says a lot. Usually these competitions or talent shows ratings decrease as the years go by but strictly keep going strong

I agree. Dancing with the Stars did one in season 15 and they had their lowest ratings yet. It was a disaster. One of the main reasons is that people want to see journey that celebs/pros take and not people that they have already seen dance; may sound cheesy (as I sometimes hate that " journey " word at strictly...cough.... Jason Donovan ) but yeah that is the reality of things .

So yeah I hope that Strictly never has an Allstars season.

BIB I concur

Olive/Jan Im with you on this.

I want Strictly back to what it was. The changes in my mind (might have appealed to a wider audience) but Strictly was at its zenith in series 4/5 (and 6 apart from Snowden). Those were the years when ballrooms were proper ballrooms with recognisable figures for that genre, whereas the last couple of years everything has been so much of a mismatch...

Im sure the new pros are great dancers but I am not sure they are great teachers (or can teach the type of ballroom or latin dances I want to see as recognisable)?

I wait to be proved wrong but I cant help thinking Strictly is on the slippery slope downhill.