Just watched some clips of DWtS and Len's comments are very familiar. He tells Corbin after his Jazz 'I expected fireworks.....that was an explosion' - sure he said the same to Ben at some point.
Then he said after their samba relay 'that wasn't a samba...that was a wamba' same as Patrick.
Does he not have anything different to say, makes me cringe a bit when it's so obvious he is using the exact same phrases.

I suppose you should give credit where credit's due; he makes his own stuff up- he doesn't have script-writers like Bruce, and if you're doing two shows (and DWTS is on twice a year) it's not surprising his ideas get used up quickly. And let's not forget- a lot of this show is aimed at kids as well as adults. But I do think his metaphors and similes get rather laboured at times.

OMG LOL I love that this thread was made. I've noticed Len reusing the same lines for Strictly contestants and DWTS contestants as well. I noticed it a lot this year and think I have in past years too. It's so bad that I know exactly what he's going to say because he said so on the other series.

He also used "the People's Champion" comment to Dave awhile back and then used it for Bill Engvall last week. There are other examples of this but I can't remember.

If DWTS is anything like the US version of The Weakest Link then I think you're wrong, Ann Robinson had her witticisms written for her. I suspect the same for Len, US producers know the importance of 'constructed' ad-libs.

How do we know he does not have a script writer? His one-liners are very obviously prepared beforehand. He used one from the Children in the Need Special in an interview before the programme and said something about it being for later.

Len reuses comments between the two shows all the time. I don't suppose he realises there are people who watch both programmes.

and??

What's the problem?

Has he repeated this 'adlib' to Bruno on SCD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKFxYyDLY40

He spelled Whamba wrong?

He is supposed to be a judge, most of the time he just delivers a scripted one-liner and gives 7 though he seems to be keener on 8 at the moment. The score given seems to bear to relationship to the performance given by the dancer.

Some here are keen on knocking Alesha she gave far more sensible comments on the actual dance then the supposedly most experienced judge does.

We do this every year.

"There's nothing like a bit of carefully rehearsed spontaneity containing elements of onomatopoeia and alliteration."

Len probably thinks them all up in the bath, or the scriptwriters give him some suggestions. He'll have a list in front of him and choose what one he'll use probably when he watches the rehearsal.
Ex (failed) apprentice welders aren't usually known to be erudite.

In my experience they are usually rather blunt in their choice f words. FForsyth could have a whole new meaning!


Not too worried about his comments, but it is very noticeable that there is often no relationship between his comments and his marks.

A friend of a friend is a pro dancer on the Finnish version, she says most of the judges comments are prepared by script writers during dress rehearsal...

With this pantomime, it's more important to draw attention to yourself with a perceived witty remark, than have what you say bear any relation to the score you give.

That was sort of my first thought I have to admit.

When he said to Abbey, "If you were a stick of Blackpool rock you'd have talent written right through the middle", he had said exactly the same thing to Harry after his showdance.

I wish the judges would just speak plainly rather than using metaphors they had clearly thought up before the show. Arlene was definitely the worst for that, the others aren't that bad.

The AA thing to Abbey and Aljaz was also done before with Ann. The trifle metaphor too I think.

And, of course, the whole 'pickle me walnuts' and 'you did good for a sportsman' and 'it wasn't your dance' and 'the [insert all dances here] is a hard dance' make the rounds seemingly regularly.

Oh and 'you came out there and gave it a go'. Forgot that one.

Len has been saying the same things on both shows for years. I don't think someone is giving them a script, but I'm sure when he started doing the show all the judges were trained on what type of things they should and should not say. If anything, he needs someone to write a script for him when he's on the US show. Len catches allot of flack from American audiences because of some of the things he says. It doesn't always hold the same meaning for Americans as it does in the GB.

He called last night's winner Amber Riley a little sausage, she repeated it on the show with a perplexed look on her face and a discussion broke out on twitter about whether he meant it as a insult or compliment.

Clearly he prepares them beforehand- nothing wrong with that, and it's what he's paid to do- but I'm sure I've read somewhere that they're all his own.

If anyone followed any commenter here around for 6 months I am certain that they would find that they repeat the same stock phrases. It is a ridiculous demand to make that he change his personality and phrases. That is who he is and why so many people love him.

Len is at his best when he does his job and that is to point out where the celebs went wrong and what needs to be improved .

No need for all these weird metaphors, similes.

I expect a lot of the judges comments follow on from what they see during rehearsals. So if a celeb messes up their footwork in rehearsals the judge will make a note, prepare the comments, and will be tempted to use those comments even if the celeb isn't so bad on show night.

As this show is micro-managed by the producers, I'm sure "additional material" for the judges will be found. I believe Len has a stock list of comments he has used before on which he can draw, but I've never perceived him to be bright enough, to think of them all by himself.

As "head judge" he has to be seen as the "best at anything."
Though when it comes to dance, I've never seen him move at anything other than walking pace.