As I said, with Tess on the floor it was Claudia's contribution that was being cut short and it was consistent during the whole show. This rarely happens when Bruce has the floor, so using your own logic he manages to keep to time better than Tess does (or did in week 3).

Sorry, I can't say there's any logic there.
A lot will depend on how much time the judges take.

As an observation, Bruce wastes time and is admonished by it by the floor manager, as I said you can tell by his reaction.

Tess usually ends up having to talk "nineteen to the dozen" giving voting details for certain contestants, this happens every week.

People can draw their own conclusions from that.

Not forgetting the truncated Judges comments, which is where time seems to be saved most obviously.

Voting details on any show I have watched are normally read out at machine gun pace. It's the boring bit that no one likes to listen to.

[LIST][*]Bruce hosting - Tess has time to interview the guests in a generally unhurried manner most weeks[*]Tess hosting - Claudia barely had time to say hello before cutting to the scores[/LIST]
You can draw whatever conclusions you like from that. If the judges waste time, blame whoever is responsible for letting that happen. Or you could choose to enjoy whatever is dressed up as spontaneity; though admittedly I have you down as a less than spontaneous guy
Last edited by Smokeychan1 : 26-10-2013 at 11:39

[LIST][*]Bruce hosting - Tess has time to interview the guests in a generally unhurried manner most weeks
Judges comments are cut/truncated.[*]Tess hosting - Claudia barely had time to say hello before cutting to the scores
Huge number of contestants yet no judges comments cut.[/LIST]
Personally would rather have the judges comments.

None of the judges comments have been omitted or cut short this year Mona...not yet anyway.

ETA: In fact I think that at least twice, Bruce has tried to encourage more commentary from Craig this year ("Is that all you want to say?").

Perhaps they have overestimated the time needed this year for Bruce to waffle. Or due to him not being as sharp or quick as in previous years he is waffling less.

Either way it must get very tiring for the floor manager, running around all the time trying to speed him up, slow him down or get more out of the judges. Perhaps this is why Bruce pulled faces at the guy last week as he was fed up with being reminded what to do.

You'll need to toughen up MrJames - there are always some who know everything and try to put you down. Not that it is ok, but I have developed a strategy for dealing with it now

Hmm..

It's all down to perception, isn't it?
As you've chosen to get "personal" in your response I can see that you've not really an open mind.

What can I expect next?

An; "I merely"?

Hmm..

I probably fast-forwarded through that. But from previous series, I'd suggest, that was Bruce trying to be sarcastic and funny at the same time.
It's like someone saying after a less then friendly critique, "Don't sit on the fence, tell us what you really think."

Bruce would never seriously encourage anyone to take the limelight away from himself.

No one on here would object to you liking Bruce, but you can't deny that on occasions he makes mistakes, is irascible, downright rude and wastes time.

I really didn't mean to get 'personal'. At least not beyond what people are willing to convey about themselves on a message board. I apologise if I overstepped the mark.

I agree about perception of course. Once you notice something irritating - a partner's habit of sniffing, for example - it is very hard to un-notice it and it becomes a constant irritation. I'm not sure there is a resolution to that. Well except for fast-forwarding when it comes to TV shows.

ETA to your further comment. No it wasn't said sarcastically. It was softly said, querying, a little disappointed maybe, but not sarcastic.

And more. I really should read all of it before editing

I don't particularly like Bruce and agree to all you have stated about him, with the exception of the time-wasting (but that's from a lack of knowledge about how the show works/runs - for all we know, someone may be shouting at Bruce to fill some time). However, he doesn't irritate me in the way he does some of you. I also don't think much to the suggested replacements, so I maintain a 'better the devil you know' stance, for now.

I think Claudia is the more "Marmite" character. I think she's great, but I know a lot of people who can't stand her. Zoe is similar, I can't stand that "shouty" over excited type of presenter, but I'm sure many love that style.
To me, Tess is just bland and inoffensive. There doesn't appear to be much there to like or dislike, but perhaps that's all you need to present the show ?

A spot on post

As I said earlier they all have different jobs, which suit their capabilities.

I don't usually watch Zoe's show, she's far too manic for me and I've no interest in the "guests" who are really only there to attract more viewers. The BBC believing extended videos of training footage and critiques thereof, would be a turn-off for people who'd rather see pop artists or so-called celebrities displaying an unconvincing liking for Strictly.

Claudia and Tess have shown convincingly, they can manage the show and aren't constantly "in your face," as is Bruce.
But I think the BBC will want such a presenter, when Bruce finally goes, which should be the end of this series.
Doing a "Tommy Cooper" would not only be a tragedy for all concerned, but the show would struggle to get over it.

I really don't think the BBC will take the gamble of making Tess & Claudia permanent - unfortunately. It's too conservative & still thinks a man needs to be the main presenter. You're so right about the two women being taken for granted and in the real world if Tess was passed over for someone new, she'd probably move on.

I hope there is no 'Tommy Cooper' ending for Bruce - although I can imagine he'd like to go that way.

For me, Tess is patronising and false. Every Sunday when she makes out how sad she is to see the celebrity leave, it makes me cringe. It's perfectly obvious she couldn't give a toss.

She can read a cue card, but that's about it.

Claudia is warm and funny and ten times the presenter that Tess is. Zoe would be great if she just calmed down a bit. All imo, of course.

everybody is oh so wonderful and delightful. She always has this habit as well as making out she's great friends with 'the girls.'

I would never call Tess false she always seems very genuine to me.

Tess is doing what she is getting paid to do very well. She gets a lot of criticism on DS but people elsewhere must like her since she's still there. She's an attractive accompaniment for Bruce. She can tone her personality down so that he can have the spotlight. Zoe and Claudia's personalities are so outgoing and strong that it would not work. They would constantly embarrass or overshadow him.

Tess also showcases a lot of designer fashions that get a lot of attention. Zoe and Claudia could not pull off wearing some of these styles. People that are fashion conscious watch what she wears. In return the designers fashion lines get more attention. It may not seem important to those that make fun of what she wears but she knows how to wear the clothes.