Claudia is great with the couples - plus (unlike Tess) she doesn't feel the need to paw the male contestants

Personally I find Brucie totally cringworthy every time he comes onto the screen. I did think it was an age thing but my parents, who are in the 80s, also agree with me.

Give or take on Tess, but can deal with her fronting, but would rather she limited her input to just doing the introductions and not adding any comments because she looks a bit stilted. Claudia I love, so refreshing and entertaining but I can see that she would not be everyone's cup of tea.

Claudia should most deff be a Saturday night host, love Tess but her gurning gets on my wick

Can't stand Claudia and her "helpless and hopeless" act, never could. She reads the autocue as if she should get a prize for getting the words out and her humour seems to be written into it, too. But if she does have to be associated with the show, I'd rather she was talking to the dancers than on ITT, she's marginally less irritating in small bites.

I thought it was a win win. Tess is better than Bruce, and Claudia is better than Tess.

the sparkle is provided by the dancing , NOT by the presenter. Tess knows enough not to get in the way of the star of the show or to shout down the judges. I really preferred the show this week with the two girls presenting and no Dreary Old Gaffer in sight.

Me walnuts definitely pickled tonight!

Brucie is the master. Tess and Claudia did well (well done girlies - pat on the head) but Brucie is irreplaceable.

I like the 2 of them together for the odd show but I would prefer a different host altogether for the main show & would prefer Claudia to take over Tess' role permanently.

Better to quite while you're ahead I say.
Well done Bruce now let Claudia take over.
Not sure sure about Tess I am afraid too?

Nobody is "irreplaceable" - there is always someone else around the corner who would be equally as good, albeit different.

Was pleased to watch the programme all through tonight. When Bruce is on I have to mute him as he makes me cringe so much,
Loved Claudia and Tess tonight.
Very smooth, great programme tonight.

I thought the show flowed real well tonight. A joy to watch. I love Bruce but I would prefer for Tess and Claudia to do all the shows. They work really well together. And it's nice to see two females presenting together.

Bruce & Claudia! Peanut butter and jam

I agree totally agree.
Tess did bruces script really smoothly, and Claudia was better at the ad libs

There is a poll in monaogg's thread for those that would like to vote

I wonder whether they pay Claudia a retainer to be on standby for the duration of the series? just so she doesn't go off on a winter holiday somewhere far away!

As she is there to do the results show bit recorded after the main show, would be somewhat pointless her going off anywhere. Just means she starts earlier than normal when she fills in for Tess while Tess does Bruce's bit.

I don't think this pairing is ideal. They do a creditable job for one-offs but I don't think that Tess is ideally suited to dealing with the judges, and Claudia's style does grate a little in my opinion. Claudia was better in the relatively informal environments.

I do hope you watch it on your own, doing that while someone else is watching must get irritating for any other person present. Reading about all the people who do this and the FF makes me think that an awful lot of the posters on here must watch Strictly on their own. I know I can't get away with doing stuff like that.

The show did move fast tonight, it had to...there were 15 dances to get through. Nobody had time to do anything but a couple of lines per couple.

It will always be 50/50 I suppose. Personally I haven't been able to watch the show live for years and fast forward all the Brucie bits

Totally agree. She was much better doing straightforward presenting rather than her usual pouting and gurning in the Tess pit.

I particularly liked that she mentioned some of the things that were said by the judges the previous week when introducing the dancers rather than forcing in a laboured (and usually fluffed) joke like Bruce. Gave a bit of context.

most of the time on my own but sometimes my mum and aunts watch it with us but we all find Brucie atrocious so its a win win

Love Claudia. I'd ditch Tess and Bruce & find a replacement male.

Tess & Claudia together is a bit awkward.

I love Claudia, she's so much better with the celebs. I would prefer her to do the show with Bruce than Tess, if we must have Bruce. Of course, if Bruce was replaced too I'd be ecstatic :P
I don't see why the main presenter should be male though, as long as they could do the job it wouldn't bother me in the slightest, after all most of the judges are male. It would just even it out more.
Just not Lisa freaking Riley, I beg you!

The thing with Claudia is you never know where her mind is at any one time. She does need someone to balance her off as good as she is and I am glad she's back as it were. It pains me to say as I am quite partial to Tess that she is good but certainly not great.. One of the 'jokes' was obviously written for Bruce and she delivered it 'ok' but not well.

Bruce is on the cusp of embarrassment to himself. I love and support him but after last week felt his time had pretty much come. Always leave them wanting more.. I hope he watches his performances and seeks advice of a trusted professional willing to say what needs to be said..