My thoughts exactly
On top of that I'd sort out the wardrobe department, dressing up as superman or a crab or outfits that look as if they were bought off the peg in a cheap high street store do not cut it
I'd also limit the theme weeks - the focus switches to the music/costume instead of the dancing and the use of props, they distract from the dancing and spoil the flow if the celeb struggles with them.

Probably not a lot given that, if I were the producer, I'd have an obligation to maintain the show's current popularity.

Personally I would much rather Strictly ditched the (usually) anti-climactic dance-off and broadcast the results show live later on Saturday evening (as in the past). If I were the producer, though, I wouldn't make that decision knowing how difficult it would be to replace the Sunday show with something that would get anything approaching the same number of viewers.

And bear in mind that the old Saturday results show got many fewer viewers than the main show. With the show on the Sunday, many more people are watching it now (which has to be a good thing).

Fully agree with point 1 - I hate those VTs - I take it they are for the older generations who watch it??

And going by last Monday's ITT "Behind the scenes" segment, it did look like Scott had been wearing some crab headgear which he quickly took off just before he went out onto the stairs at the start of the Saturday programme. perhaps the headgear (crab legs or antennae I think?) just would not stay on and he felt that it was hindering him?

Agree with many of the points raised in this thread, especially regarding the dire VTs. Yes, I understand that they need to put something in that slot to allow time for scene changing, but how about some genuine training footage rather than phoney excursions?
Secondly can we give the judges half marks on their paddles? As they mostly don't mark below 5 for fear of being nasty, the scoring is a bit of a blunt instrument. Half marks would double the options available to them and help sort the sheep from the goats.

I don't claim to be a dancer, just an interested viewer who wants the programme to continue and go from strength to strength unlike the X Factor where people are getting fed up with the "tired" format, the unnecessary gimmicks and the accusations of fixing and consequently are turning off in droves. IMO this is going to happen to SCD if the producers don't listen to the viewers and changes aren't made quickly.

1. Get rid of Tess and give her job to Bradley Walsh, Graham Norton, Anton Du Beck or any other quick witted male presenter capable of carrying a show of this calibre. I love Claudia, who interacts with judges, contestants and the public wonderfully well and doesn't take herself too seriously.

2. Stop the stupid training/activity VT's shown before each dance. They are pointless and look exactly what they are, false, staged and self promoting. Instead let the judges talk about the requirements of the dance and what they'll be looking out for, from the contestants. The same must be said of the stupid and pointless prancing of the judges at the beginning of the programme.......it sets the tone for the show and IMO it says cheap and tacky.

3. I actually like the judges, yes Bruno is OTT, yes Len is grumpy and sometimes Craig is cruel and Darcy sometimes tries to be too kind and positive.....but they are all dancers and know what they are talking about unlike the disaster that was Aleisha Dixon BUT I would remind Len Bruno and Darcy that there is a score below 5 and they should use it when necessary.

4. I don't think the public should be invited to vote till the 3rd or 4th week, which would allow the judges to get rid of the likes of Judy and Scott based on their ability and not on their ability to manipulate social media and call in favours from their celeb buddies.

Finally.....make a place for the likes of Karen Hardy, James Jordon, Vincent and Flavia. They are tried and trusted dancers with the skills to demonstrate, present and critique dances in a fun and informative way.

This. Absolutely.

Oh, and get rid of Tess and give the job to Graham Norton or Anton Du-Beke.

this old feller thought they were for the little kiddies.

More than any other statement on this thread you have hit the prime nail on the head imo.

For those that think Strictly is just a dance contest, it isn't. Its a modern age Saturday night entertainment blockbuster. Its there primarily to attract as many viewers as it possibly can and that means having the widest possible appeal. That's why the VT's are there-a bit of dance but also something related to family/friends/excursions/public etc which sections of the audience will enjoy (I will admit the Halloween episode goes completely over the top).
Strictly has had a huge run of success following the comparable disaster in 2009 when X Factor was sweeping all before it. From 2010 onwards it gone from strength to strength, so what is being presented is clearly popular-and just to reiterate that's what its all about. Its a celebrity show in a celebrity age-its as much about the celebs popularity as dancing skill.
So, if I was producer I would say leave well alone as much as possible (change for change sake rarely works anywhere imo), and that might be the best way given that trying to include all posters wishes on this thread would be physically impossible.

I like these ideas. My only disagreement is with getting rid of Aliona and although Karen Hauer has a lovely positive attitude, her choreography doesn't seem actually to help her partners. And I feel it's still to soon to see how good for the show Trent is.

People suggesting scrap the phone vote is just ridiculous. It's an entertainment show that relies on public taking part. If you scrap that then you could see a fall in ratings.

Few things I would do though would be:

1. Take the X Factor out of Strictly. I think a lot of Strictly's success in recent times is that it is not the X Factor. The Judges bit at the beginning needs to go now.

2. The Results show needs to be live or at least recorded as live. I don't think it is edited well at all.

3. Never been to keen on the dance off but if your going to have it and say it's two votes each then it should go back to the public vote. Head Judge Len should not get the deciding vote.

4. No "comedy" VT. No guest judges. No theme weeks. Only use props if they enhance the dance.

5. Have 14 couples and start by half doing the same ballroom dance and other half same Latin dance. Plus couples should start doing 2 dances a show a lot earlier than they have been doing in recent series. Charleston's and Argentine Tango should be danced much latter in the series.

6. Replace Tess. She just not good enough. I personally think Alexander Armstrong would be a good host. But saying that it does not necessarily have to be a man it can be another woman just someone with talent and who isn't out of her depth.

7. Sorry for the long post

That would not be practical at all:

a) If the Results show was live, there would be little time available for a new vote (without screwing up BBC one's schedule and the production schedule (which would include allowing time for the audience to vacate the studio, pick up their belongings and exit Elstree, as well as the time for the crews to dismantle everything)

b) If the Results show was recorded .... well the problem is obvious!

No my point was don't have a new vote refer back to how the public voted on Saturday night after the main show.

I've been thinking about who might do as a host - someone like Lee Mack or Rob Brydon? Sufficiently showbiz mainstream without being Bruce, able to handle the complexities of a live show and be quick on their feet.

I'm still holding out for Miranda Hart or Mel and Sue, but I suspect they won't allow another woman to do it if/when Tess gets the heave....

Ah, I'm with you now (sorry about that )

Exactly, SCD is not the X-Factor

The Judges 'intro' is actaully more cringe-worthy than 'entertaining'.


Yes, that would also have the advantage that we wouldn't have see Len give his usually smirk when his role is announced.


Probably the single most important point you have raised. Other than allowing time to clear the floor, the VT's have no value and certainly no entertainment value whatsoever. Absolutely awful, without fail, every week. Props - only if, as on rare occasions they can - enhance the dance.


Good idea to start the series and then have them swap so that everyone starts from a common baseline.

One suggestion that I haven't seen yet would be to have the contestant at the top of the judges leader board perform their dance again on the results show. For draws, the judges could choose their top dancer. Call it "dance of the week", or "star dancer" (to steal from the Bake-Off).

This would enhance the results show, as at the moment I feel it has far too much filler, and (if all goes to plan) the only contestants dances are the two worst - so we the public have something to look forward to, and the better dancers have a chance to be a 'winner' each week and not just in the final show.

Dancing with the Stars has Judges Choice reprise dance - which can be anything from top of the leaderboard to simply the one they found most entertaining.

Have to say, with 9 million vierwers for the results show last night, I don't think it's going anywhere.

With the exception of Karen Hardy, I can't stand the other three and was more than happy when they all left.

Naked dancing week!

Please may I add the following suggestion which I forgot to add to my previous list?

No fawning over the celebrities by the judges, however much they may fancy them.

Bubbles de Vere

Hardy is awful imo.

1) Let pros choose music and ensure it's the correct music for the correct dance.
2) If the judges must dance, make them do it properly! In fact, maybe it should be a requirement for each judge to demonstrate a dance every week to show they now what they're talking about....
3) No more stupid training VTs, and stop the completely unnecessary "coming up next" bits