I like to think that all the front row seats are connected up to the national grid, so that at the flick of a switch they all jump out of their seats and give a standing ovation.

haha, it certainly does appear that way doesn't it! good theory, I like it

The singers are bloody awful so I don't mind a bit of clapping to drown them out.

That is absolutely appalling olive, to resort to intimidating your audience . I had no idea they went this far to get their clapping and shouting .

And we musn't forget these floor managers are acting under instructions from the producers .

If it's anything like the U.S., they are absolutely encouraged.

They have told audiences flat out that there is incredible competition to stay on the air, and if they aren't seen to be enthusiastic enough, the show could get cancelled. DWTS has an audience control guy wildly waving his arms to signifiy to the audience they are to keep cheering - long after someone is trying to speak.

They have even began requiring DWTS audiences in fan sections to stand during the entire show except during commercials. VIPs and friends and families of cast members are in sections where they can remain seated. So if you see some standing and other sections sitting, you know they are VIPs and don't have to.

Anyway, that's why Tom snarkily commented during the DWTS Premiere while the audience was doing that overly-clapping thing, "Our audience loves to clap." A little dig at TPTB for making them clap.

Its probably distracting to the celeb dancers too. I remember reading that from time to tome,some celebs have missed the start of the song because of the noise. Of course for Ballroom, assuming they start in hold, the pro would know exactly when to start, but for the celebs out of hold, or Latin, would easily miss the start of their routine due to not hearing it.

From all the evidence Louise Rainbow, the totally crass Executive Producer of Strictly Come Dancing is completely tone deaf and doesn't understand the concept of dancing in time to music. She evidently isn't in the slightest bit interested in music or dancing - just ratings. So her prescription is drown out all the music even if the dancers can't hear it so as to keep in time to it. She just wants cheering and standing ovulations. Why not just have a full programme of cheering and standing ovulations? Why bother with the music and dancing?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/lat...louise-rainbow

The house singers and band are better than nearly all of the guest star singers.

You read my mind. I was just thinking how rude it was to sing when people are clapping.

Or indeed ovulating ...

A celeb in the dance-off should ask the audience to stay silent during the dance to allow them to concentrate on the music.

If screeching counts as singing these days then I suppose they are.

I agree it's very irritating. I'm sure the very early series of Strictly didn't have audiences whooping and clapping during the performances. The UK version just becomes more like the tackier DWTS with every series.

It's a shame that simply watching a performance and enthusiastically clapping at the end is no longer considered as appreciation.

Who's ovulating?
How can you tell from watching them on TV?

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1773748

I'm surprised some of the bigger name artists even let them put dancers in front of them while they perform. I would have expected that to be a complete no no.

Was it Annie Lennox who got round the problem completely by having the floor covered in candles?

If they're encouraging the audience to react more during quieter more subtle routines / songs then they're idiots. As i said earlier of course no one objects to folk clapping cheering etc but surely there's a kind of unspoken etiquette in terms of how enthusiastic you should be during a performance / show that ebbs and flows????

As i said before during a subtle waltz or other slower / calmer routines you can sense the audience waiting for the slightest little twirl or leg action so they can interject a little 'whoop whoooop'

pathetic and shows ignorance from whoever instigates it.

This ^

If the "bigger-name" artists don't like dancers performing in front of them they have an easy way to prevent it - just don't go on the show. No one forces them to. But I suspect most of them are looking for cheap advertising for their new album or whatever.

Thank you for your replies.