The only farcial side is the judges voting. They are supposed to be the leveller in the programme. I am perfectly happy with voters voting for a bloke who takes his shirt for example but if the judges cannot get consistancy by marking the technical aspect the the sow is lost.
Sadly I suspect there i sjust too much riding on the BBC flagship saturday night entertainment show for them to be allowed sufficient freedom to do just that.

duplicate..

I thinks it's a bit of a farce. Len has sold his soul to money and should continuet to criticise the excess use of props (largely absent last night) and the inappropriate music being used for the chosen dances even though his criticisms would of course be ignored by the producers.
No, our Len is laughing all the way to the bank and why shouldn't he? The result is we have ridiculously high marks being given where not warranted and, as an aside, I think that the Rumba should be removed from the list of dances as celebs can't do this modern iteration of this dance properly and looks quite absurd in their hand.

No, Strictly is not a farce, a farce is a ridiculous, light hearted and exaggerated dramatic comedy, Strictly is an entertainment show built around dance.

What a nasty post, every dancer is entitled to one week off.

I am sure the powers that be are all shaking in there shoes when they hear that you won't ever watch again because of your high principles. What a loss!

That's nothing compared to what i would say if i was a judge lol

Celebs are allowed only one 'bye', or however it's written. If they are not well enough to compete after a bye then they withdraw from the competition.

Love EVERYTHING about Strictly

I would advise the bottom two to take a sickie each if they get through this week. That means they'll have a free pass to the next episode. After all Natalie did it and why not the bottom two??

Just as well you are not then isn't it?

Carted off to hospital after collapsing is obviously not good enough a reason for you. Do you work for ATOS?

Instead of posting this, I should probably go outside and urinate into that gale that seems to have blown up but here goes.

The rules of SCD have been established for several series.
Any celebrity can have one week off provided it is backed up by medical opinion. It is not just a case of "Ooh me toe hurts" or "I feel a bit icky" - Laila Rouass (series 7) and Patrick (a few weeks ago) are evidence of this.
If, after the one week, the celebrity is still not fit, they have to withdraw.
These rules are the same for all celebrities.
The show and elimination continues as usual without the celebrity and their partner.

You don't have to like it and anyone is free to switch off if they wish but them's the rules.

Natalie didn't take a 'sickie' she was rushed to hospital.

For all we know it might be a bit of staged drama. what about her sore back stunt! That healed up well in a day where the medical books say months lol.

If it's not and is a real medical emergency then i apologise, but something tells me it's a stunt.

They would be just going by the rules if they said they were sick. Nothing to stop them if they wanted.
I'm only making a point

So are people saying that any couple should leave if one of them is too ill to perform for one week over the whole run?

That to me seems very unfair. You can't help being ill. Obviously there's a limit and therefore if Natalie can't perform next week she will have it withdraw, but I think it would be more unfair if a couple had to automatically withdraw because of one absence on a run that lasts for around a quarter of a year!

It did not heal up in a day, she's on strong painkillers and that's why her pain not noticeable, she still suffers from the back problem.

Yeah i know what your saying, but it's not fair too if someone is voted out in a place of an act that wasn't there. Maybe a double vote off next week would be fairer? Keep everyone in and let the voters decide when everyone shows up all fit and well.

No matter how many times you post your disapproval, nothing is going to change.

Natalie was ill and if she is better she will dance next weekend.
Better face up to it and stop moaning.

Why does she need a stunt?

Yes i know i do moan but how would you feel if you were one of the acts getting booted off this week. I'm only moaning for them! I just want things to be done fair even though some of the dances were bad.
I might be a big moaner but come on let's make it fair.

I don't know why, you'd need to ask her between sore backs and fainting? Seems to play the system and act to up in my opinion. But i'm just a moaner

Does not matter who gets booted off this week. Someone would be going no matter what. If you really believe Natalie & Artem would have been anywhere near the dance off had they danced this week, you are somewhat clutching at straws. Let alone that the judges would not save them over most of the other celebrities anyway.

Now if Dave, Mark or Fiona had thrown a sickie this week you might have something to grumble about.

What happens if a contestant in the bottom two falls ill or twists something on Saturday night before they have a chance to compete in the dance-off on Sunday?

I would have said the same about Dave,Mark and Fiona. Fair's fair and no difference with them if they did a Natalie in my opinion. If they don't show, it's time to go!

You do realise that the Dance Off is recorded on the Saturday .....