Why is Len so grumpy, and snarling at the audience already ?? He did it last night and then tonight he was snappy and irritable again. Lighten up Len, please.

it's pantomime

I like Len and think he's the best judge.

Are he and Bruno doing their commute to USA for Dancing With the Stars? He always get very cross and tired when he is doing that but it's not on being so grumpy and rude. Get a grip Len.

He was the same last year. I remember him being unnecessarily unpleasant to people on more than one occasion, with remarks that weren't even constructive - just cruel, or rude. If it's panto, then he's doing it badly, because it comes across as just being genuinely nasty and a tad arrogant (in that he comes across as if he thinks the audience have no right to disagree with him and he might shout at them for daring to do so.)

I agree, even though I think Len is an excellent judge. It's just that sometimes he seems in a pretty foul mood and it's started with the very first show this year. As far as I know, Craig has never been snappy or rude to the audience, even though they often disagree with him and boo him regularly. He just carries on as normal. I think he's an excellent judge too, as it happens. I'm awaiting Bruno falling off his chair again, as he's already leaping about and gesticulating.

Len's the only judge from a proper competitive ballroom dacing background, so maybe he's feeling more and more alienated as the show moves further and further away from that background. Wouldn't you end up feeling a bit grumpy sometimes if that happened to you?

I found him a bit grumpy and he hasn't even started jetting back and forth over the pond yet has he?

He plays the grumpy judge on DWTS and is very funny with it. Pleased he his bringing that persona to SCD.

"A dance made for radio"

I'd be grumpy if the second I made anything approaching a negative comment, I was booed. It's ridiculous, but the production team put the audience up to it.

If I was on the hourly rate he's on, I'd feel churlish being anything other than bloody ecstatic all of the time.

He's as much a part of the pantomime as everyone else on the show, as his frankly appalling acting skills betray.

Are people genuinely sucked into believing that the judges behave authentically? That Craig is truly the Pol Pot of the dance world? That a dancer of Darcey's calibre is incapable of judging a male dancer because his biceps have made her teeny little brain turn to girlie mush? That Len is a solid-gold 'dahnce purist' befuddled by the modern trends for rule-breaking and waftiness?

Its all fake. Apart from Bruno falling off his chair. That happens for proper real every series. Honest.

Whether it is an act or not, it seems to make for an uncomfortable atmosphere. Not what people want to be around on a Saturday night.

I don't like the faces that Len pulls when Craig is giving his comments. It's not pantomine - just rude!

He wasn't snarling at all - in fact considering that he was in the middle of making a professional judging point, the audience should have cut out the booing just because he was giving some criticism.

I agree with this. He is paid to be a judge and to give an opinion. Like it or not, the audience should be respectful of that fact, no matter who is speaking. I've not been in the audience at the live shows and have always wondered if the Production team get the audience to boo?

I suspect that the booing is actively encouraged.

He just plays the pantomime baddie, I am sure he often says things that he knows will get a reaction from the audience (and would not be surprised if the studio managers then encourage the audience to boo).

He's a miserable old Wazzock!! He really irritates me by grumbling at the audience when they take issue with his remarks and then making gurning faces and gestures whenever the other judges, especially Craig, say anything he disagrees with . Hope he's replaced next year

Well said, I am not sure that I was watching the same show as some people and it's only week 1!!

When audience boos Craig that's okay with him, if they boo his pearls of wisdom he gets grumpy. But it's an act anyway. But what bugs him really, I think, that one can't even begin to say something critical without being booed.

Why cant the judges be themselves instead of taking on a role and playing panto ? Bugs the gell out of me to see its scripted and false

It annoys me soooo much. If I was judging I'd make Len's reaction look sweetness and light. First few booers who got downed with a sniper rifle would soon put a stop to it



I'd take the active encouragers out too

I completely understand if on occasion the audience feel the judge says something which is uncalled for and express disapproval (or rather support for the dancers) but no, it's every negative comment Craig and Len make. Every. Single. Time.

I absolutely HATE this, its so bloody rude! Never has Craig shouted down, pulled faces, shouted at Len, yet Len thinks its acceptable, he's a bully and hope he's pensioned off so someone who really knows what they're talking about (look at Karen/Ian on ITT) can take over

Len is the only judge who knows what he's talking about, being a championship dancer himself, and he probably gets fed up of all the faffing and not proper ballroom dancing.