I did try suggesting this earlier, but obviously not very well...

What has happened to DS????

Its all weird!

We've all got faults - you, me, Doghouse and all the other posters on this forum. Most of us are big enough and sensible enough to realise that some of us really dislike Fforsyth and will continue to say so, and many really like him and continue to say so. That's what a forum is for.

I agree with everything Doghouse says - so do many others - his comments are reasoned. We're entitled to say what we think about Fforsyth's performance, and to complain when our words are twisted to change their meaning or to make a remark seem extreme, so long as posts are within the Ts & Cs. Where they're not the mods will remove them and, if necessary suspend the poster concerned. The mods are the only ones who can decide what's acceptable and what's not.

As far as I'm concerned it's time Fforsyth called it a day; not because of his age, but because of his declining ability to do his job, his irascibility, his ramblings, his old "jokes" (even children in a playground wouldn't have laughed at his doctor, doctor effort the other week because even they've already heard them many times), his interruption of the judges, his opinions on the dances, his touching of the women.

Terry and others will vociferously defend him - that's fine. That's their opinion and they're entitled to it, just as those of who dislike him are entitled to ours. Occasionally someone decides to get up tight - it's not worth it; it's only a discussion forum on which all views are permitted. I do think counting someone's posts is a bit strange.

The problem as I see it, is the discussion about Bruce, his health and his capabilities, had reached its natural end ages ago and was going round in circles with a minority from each side of the debate determined that their opinion was the true and right one and so it descended into overly personal remarks against both Bruce and each other - some of which were becoming defamatory imo.
It's a fact of forum life that this happens from time to time when posters are passionate about the subject but then it's no longer a viable discussion.
The alert button is the best resolution, walk away and let the mods sort it out.
(As long as they sort out the colour scheme on the boards too! )

It's important to remember that this is just a forum where people can post their views. Whether other people like them or not, is entirely a matter of opinion.
If you don't like what someone says, never mind the alert button, if the post is within the T&Cs, just scroll down.
No one is forced to read anything on here.
There's who I consider is a persistent "pointless thread starter" on this board, but I mostly just ignore the threads and they are on my "ignore list" so they don't bother me. I wouldn't expect the mods to stop them making so many.

If you take the "spoiler thread," you could say that it includes a lot of pointless trivia for much of the time and some contributors posting responses back and forth to each other, which might be more suited to personal e-mails they are of so little interest to others. But if that's what they want to do, it doesn't bother me.

It's always those who object to criticisms of "their favourites" that complain about the situation.

The discussion about Bruce on this thread hasn't reached any conclusion, as people will continue to point out his mistakes and others what they see are his endearing qualities.

So plenty of time for more comments.

The discussion about Fforsyth hasn't reached it's natural end - not while he's still on the show and doing something to annoy each week. None of the comments are defamatory if they are fact, which they are when they mention his irascibility, poor reading of the autocue, fluffs, etc - they're all fact. Even the media include opinion and some of his failures in their weekly reports.

The Alert button is for something which breaks the Ts & Cs. The mods are aware of discussions and intervene where necessary. They and only they are able to censure posts. As has been said, the best way to solve any problem you have with a discussion is to ignore posts and posters, either by not reading them or putting a poster on your personal ignore list.

Until the series has finished, there will be more criticism of his performance from some (that's what this thread is about) and counter comments, with annoyance at daring to criticise, from others.

As ever, well said!
I keep being afraid that we'll have more cause to criticise next year, but hope that this season is his last.
If people can refrain from launching personal attacks on other posters because they don´t like what they have to say, this discussion should be fine, even if the opinions are diametrically opposed. Hope it can continue in that vein!

Hear, hear Miss Edith!

god its like a brucie witch hunt.

Who cares if he messes up his lines on the odd occasion? Its a family show, hes been on television for donkeys years and i think the average person can appreciate the odd mix up from an 85 year old. I think he does a fantastic job for his age.

Claudia Wilkleman i cannot obide watching with her face gurning and childish speak, id much rather watch Brucie any day.

As for a replacement, well his little mini me Anton Du Beke who again seems to get slated, I think hes great and they are both well know faces for strictly.

Tess cringing at Brucie? its him who should be cringing at her in some of her outfits and the noise she can make I do like Tess though but it needs another male presenter not 2 females.

Agree, a post with sense

I note that Ant and Dec continue to mess up on the lice parts if IACGMOOT, no one say there too old, and their jokes are far more corny than Bruce, in fact rather cringeworthy.,

Tess has a laugh with Bruce, some negative posters either make stuff up! or look out with negative glasses on and misread sny gesture.

People forget SCD needed a star name to start it, and without Bruce it might not have been the instant success it was, many programmes require a big name to get people to switch on in the first place.

What needs to be made plain is as well as people holding their own strong views which everyone is entitled to, there are 'one or two' in the minority who use the Bash a Bruce as part of a regular bash the BBC you can see this from looking at their posts and where they try to expand the argument outside of Bruce's performance or skills but to BBC pay and directors and so on. They post similar negative comments on many threads not just on Bruce.

To be honest whilst thinking a lot of the negative posts go to far, and people posting would tell the same to Bruce's face if they had the opportunity to see him face to face, as their comments are disrespectful, I actually think these threads are pointless and futile, as I do think this now is his last series, he might come back as a guest artist next year, but I think he will call it a day very soon.

I think Graham Norton has already been lined up as his replacement.

exactly, especially live, and they have youth as an exuse. i take my hat off to the oldies who can still show the young how to do their jobs, id rather watch brucie presenting than alot who are on tv at present. He still gets the giggles, im not a big brucie fan or anything, but i have nothing against him either he is Strictly and just because hes old people seem to be writing him off he has a few years in him just yet and its not like hes losing viewers, strictlys never been better from what im reading

Yes, so much of TV is pre recorded and edited, and mistakes occur, think this week, X Factor went off air, Dec in particular messed up his words ( when live) on one show it took Dec four attempts to say one line, their paid millions.

Funny Ant and aded do not come under scrutiny at all, but their jokes are out of Christmas crackers, and make Bruce's ones look like there M&S Christmas cracker jokes.

It's fantastic a man of his age is 1) alive 2) fit 3) can hold down a live show, 4) can fill when things go wrong, 5) deserves some respect, 6) he is credited as a writer, 7) negative posters say he does a few hours work, he has go go through dress rehearsals before, and stand up for over two hours on the longer shows, 8) read out loud from autocue, how many people here who post negative comments have had experience of that? It's actually very difficult.

Finally ratings are consistently good, it's a great show a great team effort, traditional Brest Saturdsy entertainment, the band, singers, pros, celebrities, production, all presenters, all support, it takes two, is all fantastic a great team, no one person now makes it, it's live not edited, where other people may look good they will not dare go live.

"Brest Saturdsy entertainment?"

I certainly agree with that statement.

Depends of course on what Tess and Kristina are wearing.

Like many of his critics, I've not added to this thread for a few days.

What's the point of going over old ground. Weren't you one of those complaining about the constant criticisms of the old codger?
There's nothing worth saying about his performance until after Saturday's show. It's all been said.

Your "eulogy of effusive praise" ain't gonna change the opinions of those who see a far too frequent poor performance, on nearly every Saturday night.

Let's wait until after the show before we start with opinions again.

Don't we get a Bruce free show this weekend.

We do, that's why there'll be plenty of positive comments and more critical comparisons made of the old fella.

I hope there will be loads of positive comments. Tess and Claudia usually breeze through the show keeping it running smoothly and making it a pleasure to watch.

Only three more Fforsyth fronted shows including the Christmas Special. If he has already decided not to any more and makes an announcement at the end of the Christmas Special there's a lot of people keeping the secret. Think it's more likely we'll have a happy spring when the planning takes place in April and it's confirmed that he won't be doing the next series. Even then I expect he'll want to do a guest spot!

I just hope he doesn't decide to ruin the moment for the winners of this series by announcing it during the final. He wouldn't be that mean, would he?

There is the very valid point, made by a number of respondents on this and other threads, that the show is first class entertainment that does not depend upon, or need, FForsyth.

The fact that there are around 40 - 50 licensed versions around the World attests to the fact that the format is strong and popular. Unless it was kept very quiet, none of those versions needed FForsyth to launch it.


The show is about dancing, the development of dancing skills, not a tired old presenter. Always has, or rather, should have, been, and hopefully always will be.

[/claps so hard my teeny hands hurt]

Just for a giggle The Grandad Shuffle Put's Bruce to shame

The guy in the left background could show the stumbling mumbler a thing or too as well!