Does anyone know when the seemingly endless gushing over how amazing and fabulous it is to be at Wembley is planned?

The way the Beeb forces the issue is a major turn off for me. They push it at us even more than Bruce forces the audience to laugh at his jokes.

They're not going to Wembley this year, they're going to Blackpool. I think it's a week Saturday, so I'd expect the politicking to start in earnest on Saturday.

Thanks - but I bet the OTT acknowledgment of how special is all is will be just as pronounced. Disgusting.

To be fair, going to the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool is arguably a much bigger deal than going to Wembley Arena for a show about ballroom dancing...

To whom is it a big deal? Those who lived during the 1920's perhaps? To the rest of us it's meaningless, unless the Beeb forces us to honour a tradition that should have been buried ages ago.

I'm ok with them going to Blackpool. Wembley is terrible, the stage is too big, the camera work is clunky, they struggle to fill the space, the screaming is annoying, I could go on.

I think they have to move for Children in Need anyway as they both need the biggest studio, so CIN gets first dibs.

Agree, Wembley was great just to see Russell Grant blasted out of a cannon and see him get eliminated. The rest just looked too huge to be presenting the show. The dancers looked like ants on a wedding cake.

Much prefer the Blackpool Ballroom as you say. Much better history there and plus the camera and viewing is better than the BBC studio IMO.

I love it when the show goes to Blackpool.

I wish it would re-locate to Blackpool completely. I'm sure that the costs etc couldn't be any more than using Elstree and the Tower Ballroom is a dream to dance in. It might also make some of the pros return a bit more to basics. I don't mean to just do the basic dances but to get closer to the originals. Nat and Artem's VW last weekend was a step too far and to get 10s for it was shameful. A beautiful dance but NOT a VW compared to most others ever danced from the start of SCD. If the judges and producers have changed the rules then please tell us as many of the long time viewers are bemused.

It isn't a big deal, but at the same time it isn't a problem. Particularly as the reason why they can't film in their normal studio is because it's required for Children In Need. Taking the opportunity to film at a larger venue and raise money for charity at the same time seems like a practical idea really.

I'm pretty sure the BBC aren't forcing you to uphold any sort of tradition...

Couldn't agree more, Wembley was just rubbish! Dance area way too big, acoustics were awful, and the audience too loud! Blackpool does have a certain charm about it, and I should think, for the travelling audience, the Blackpool lights along the prom will add to the experience.

Previous poster said that Blackpool means nothing to them...honest, don't knock it. I travel to Blackpool a lot, and tho it is very commercialised and can be tacky, there is a certain magic about the place.

But I do agree, Blackpool/Wembley is seen as a milestone for the dancers and the beeb has latched into this.

This is spot on!

How many viewers who lived during the 1920's do you think watch SCD?

It might be meaningless to you but no-one forces you to watch.

The Tower Ballroom is a joy to behold imho.

I've always admired the architecture of the Tower Ballroom. It was specifically designed for dancing with the correct floor. It certainly has an atmosphere.

I was surprised at the excuse the BBC made for not using it one year, when the question was raised.
The reason given was that the street furniture made it impossible to get their big control vehicles near enough to it.

As a venue it gives people in that area the opportunity to see it live, if they are lucky enough to get tickets, rather than a likely round trip of over 400 miles and an over-night stay.