I can't see that the combination of Tess and Claudia is working. Neither looks comfortable ....... Say what you like about Old Brucie but he was successful on there for many, many years or they'd have got rid of him long before he left.

But he's gone and we have to move on. . No shortage of people out there who could present the show and they pick Tess who always looks presentable but doesn't give off much warmth.

Then there's Claudia who people seem to either like or dislike. She would be alright on a kids programme where her clunking about in high heels and stumbling all over the place might be seen as amusing but it isn't right for Strictly.

People I think would have made much better presenters are Amanda Holden, Kara Tointon, Louis Smith, Chris Hollins, Natasha Kaplinsky and Jill Halfpenny. I think any of these would look professional, have poise and would be able to interact with people without drawing attention to themselves.

Elsa suggested Russell Brand on the five thoughts thread. I'd love that! Especially with Brian the Trews dog in tow.

Instead of Tess, I mean.

For me I would love to see Anton du Beke as a presenter, full of personality and humour, those two girl presenters are awful.

Louis Smith? How many shows has he presented? He'd be a disaster.

Tess just needs to relax into the role of main host on the BBC's flagship entertainment show, it's a big responsibility but I'm sure she'll be OK.

Claudia is fine, no problems there.

Me too! I think he would be great.

Do we really need another thread on this when there is already one running? People have made their feelings there quite plain already. There's really no need to reiterate old arguments.

Quite frankly, I think this kind of judgement after just TWO WEEKS of the show is utter nonsense. Besides, the ratings have gone UP since the show started and XF have gone down.

But, just to say:

Kara Tointon is an actress, not a presenter. Louis Smith is an athlete, not a presenter. Jill Halfpenny again is an actress and not a presenter. What makes them qualified for a job where you already have two females who have been presenters for years, irrespective of opinions of their styles?

Nothing. That's what. And I can't see any of them being any good at presenting. They don't have the ability to think on their feet like qualified presenters do.

If Natasha Kaplinsky was given the job, then I'd switch off because I have never taken to her. Besides, she's a newsreader, not a light entertainment show presenter. Chris Hollins - maybe. But for goodness sake, let's give the ladies a chance to prove themselves before we start throwing brickbats at them.

I reiterate. It's been two weeks.

There's a lot of personal bias feeding into all these complaints about Tess and Claud. If people don't like them, then that's fine and that's their opinion. But no-one can claim 'the show is not working', simply because they have something personal against the presenters. It might not be working for them personally, but it IS working fine for others (and presumably for the BBC as they have seen the viewing figures rise this weekend).

And DS is a teeny tiny microcosm compared to the viewing millions. Who are tuning in in droves, apparently, regardless of the fact that a select few 'don't think it's working'.

I really don't know why everyone can't just enjoy the show for what it is - a light entertainment programme to while away Saturday nights, instead of finding fault with everything.

I think Graham Norton and Claudia would be amazing. I thought he was great on the Andrew Lloyd Webber shows.

I do like Tess, or rather, I don't dislike her as many of my stupid friends do. But she has that woman's thing of trying to make everything safe and nice for everyone, and that has the effect of making the judges' comments a bit gabbly and even more talk-overish than usual. Bruce would support celebs on occasion, but he didn't have Tess's need to make everything OK.

It's not a bad thing in itself. Most women would do the same. I know I would, but it doesn't give a solid enough frame to the show. It just lacks a bit of definition at the mo. Maybe she'll learn how to make it work though... Early days

Brian Conley would be my choice, Claudia in the pit

I think both presenters are acceptable. They are still feeling themselves into the role so hopefully in a few weeks they will settle down a bit more - it feels slightly forced at present and their 'new looks' seem imposed from above rather than being a product of natural evolution. Given the over-use of the term 'darling' on the show, Tess might want to consider not adding to it. Also, I'm not sure what face gloss (whatever) Claud is using - Zombie Resurrection by L'Oréal? She might want to consider changing it.

A lot of posters seem to think Anton is too old for Strictly now..........at least as a dancer anyway, so why not give him a go at presenting with Tess when Judy is voted out? I love Claudia and can tolerate Tess (just!) but as much as Brucie was past his sell by date.........it needs more than Tess to carry the main part of the show and even when Tess & Claudia are together it looks kind of amateurish and forced...BBC help them out please!

Who would make a better presenter on Strictly?


Mrs Winkle out of sight, Tess back in the pit and almost any Known presenter would be an improvement .

That's an excellent insight ... I think you've hit the nail on the head there!

I really don't see the point of going over all this yet again. *yawns*


We had all this discussion last season when Bruce decided to, thankfully, call it a day.

The decision has been made to give Tess and Claudia a chance. Can't we just do that?

Nothing is going to change as far as the presenters are concerned, not for this season anyway, so what is the point of going over old ground yet again.

I personally love Tess and Claudia and think they are doing a great job

Haha, thank you. I usually blacken my thumb

Surely as its a discussion forum we can discuss anything we like? Peoples views alter hourly, never mind show to show....so I for one would like to hear other people's opinions

precisely.

Firstly I'm quite happy with Tess / Claudia. It's a much more comfortable watch compared with the Bruce / Tess combination. I think Claudia is terrific in the Tessanine and Tess makes very little impression on me, positive or negative, in the old Bruce role.

That said, certainly I think there are better main presenters for Strictly than Tess (and plenty worse). My suggestion before Bruce retired FWIW was Gary Wilmot if they didn't want to go down the Tess / Claudia route. I felt he would tick a lot of boxes.

Yawn all you like but people come and go on here and not everyone would have been part of the discussion you took part in.

It amazes me that people are still bangin' on about the "presentation," it's the least important part of the show. Most people just want to see the dancing, there's precious little enough of it now as it is, with all the additional time-wasting nonsense.

What do some people want? "Spoon feeding entertainment, by a familiar face?"

This isn't "Sunday night at the Palladium" though the old codger still thought it was and his supporters probably would have preferred it to be that too.

The current presenters are doing an adequate job and are probably costing a hell of a lot less than the old codger. The money saved can be better spent elsewhere.
As a licence payer, I consider that a good business decision. But it took long enough for the BBC to make it.

No one at present I think the girls are doing just fine, remember Ronnie Corbett anyone ?

Agreed and most (if not all!) of the names fill me with dread and many would make me stop watching - du Beke, Norton ....

Part of me feels it is good to have one male and one female, perhaps something to do with it mirroring the balance of the sexes in the dancing couples. Not especially logical but not designed to decry the current arrangement either. They're doing OK.

Bradley Walsh or Brian Conley would do a great presenting job for me. Put Tess back in her pit and Claudia back as a filler in. Disappointed in Claudia so far.