I've lost count of where the in-favour tally got up to but chuck another vote in for Claudia from me.

I enjoyed Brucie as presenter for the first few series but he was long overdue retirement by the time he eventually left. I cringed at all the Graeme Norton/Vernon Kaye/Anton-as-presenter suggestions and was delighted when TPTB made the decision to stick with Tess and Claudia. I haven't had any reason to change my mind.

To those complaining about the silly props: you don't really think that's down to Claudia, do you? You don't think she comes in to each production meeting with a suggestion to wear a boxing shield or whatever? I've never worked in television but even I can work out that's the sort of thing decided by the producers, and if you have a problem with it then it's the producers not the presenters who deserve the flack.

Well, they have my flak then. It's still annoying

I'm pro Claudia too! She's a breath of fresh air. Unpredictable, quick and witty - and the boxing headwear made me laugh. Not many female TV presenters who who would willingly make themselves look a bit daft for a giggle. She and Tess work really well together. Well done them and well done BBC.

I agree to an extent - I like Claudia, She is warm and, above all, quick-witted.

However, you are right in that she could never fill the main presenter role - she is perfect as the wise-cracking, slightly irritating and uncontrollable sidekick.

On a related note, I've just noticed that Kirsty has a really lovely voice - perfect for a presenter. She could make a great replacement for Tess.

Some years ago someone described Claudia as 'mad as a bucket full of frogs'. I don't know what it means but it does seem to fit! I like her and balances Tess who has to be more serious as the main presenter.

Yes, it's really tedious now and not funny.

I actually like Claude, but I do wish she'd drop the bumbling, scuttling exits and entrances and the hunched, possum-eyed posture she adopts.

I know it's the norm for English women to play at the 'oh, silly me' supposedly unassuming, 'am I really here, oh gosh' self deprecation. It's a really bad habit. Katie Derham doesn't feel the need to apologise for her presence.

In some it's might be quite endearing, but in a TV presenter it's just awkward and I am not buying it. I mean she and Tess can't even walk (stumble) onto the stage without pretending they got there by mistake and their shoes don't quite fit.

Claudia is a highly intelligent woman with great wit and a fast brain. Why can't she own up to both and quit with the awkward gawky schoolgirl girl act on SCD?

All very well said.

My guess is Claude was asked to play up her natural quirkiness, probably to make kids laugh. I did read somewhere that younger kids loved her joking around. I don't care really because I think she's a foil to Tess as the straight man (woman) and together they create a good feeling to the show. Yes, she's an intelligent woman and she does other programmes showing that side of her, but that's not her role at the moment on Strictly.

Thanks for your views Buddy. You may well be right, but it saddens me that she feels she needs to do this. The audience are not all kids and some of us are ancient feminists! I just think female presenters can be great role models.

When I go out and talk about media to young students lots of them want to be a presenter and ask me how they can there. I'd love to have a long list of great role models to give them.

And yes, you are right of course, Tess does need a foil. She's very pretty and very, very dull - and she never gets any better either.

Both are miles better than Bruce of course

Totally agree - love her on the show. Nothing wrong with some "fun" when presenting and far superior to silly old jokes.

Big fan of Claudia here. She is very intelligent and has a wicked and quirky sense of humour. I agree that she also "calms down" Tess a bit (not a big fan of hers I have to say).

She calms down Tess? Surely it's quite the reverse that's needed!

Maybe that's the wrong expression. I mean that Tess seems less tense and brittle when presenting with Claudia. I will never be a fan of Tess's but Claudia seems to bring out a slightly nicer side to her.

My honest opinion on this is thank God we finally have a top show not just with no male presenter, but with TWO female presenters. I can only imagine the powers that be dithering about the risks, even though it had already been a success when Bruce was off ill. No doubt there is an element of aiming to satisfy the ageism bias for females working for the BBC, but I'll take what we've got. The first steps in the right direction can be taken on tip toes,

The Great British Bake Off?

I get exactly what you mean. Not having to keep an eye on Bruce because he wouldn't wear an ear piece must have been really hard work. She's much more relaxed now.

Not quite the same thing, especially as Bake Off isn't a live show. Mel and Sue are brilliant though and have just the right touch.

That's a much better way of putting it - she is more relaxed.

I love Claudia, but to me she's an ideal wing-man to a main presenter with gravitas. Sadly Tess isn't that, so Claudia inadvertently highlights how lightweight she is.

The bloke on the US DWTS is my idea of a good main host- authoritative but without being "me me me" and only ever goes for light-hearted rather than funny.

Melon Sue have far less air-time than Mary & Paul. Mary & Paul carry the show- Mel & Sue (and I do love them and they are a vital part of the overall feeling of the programme) are more of a brief diversion- esp when the history bit's missed out. They do far less than is required of Tess & Claudia.

Maybe that is the reason that I can't stand watching her then....I am not a 'younger kid'! I didn't like ITT when Claudia presented it though but I do now that Zoe does and she does a fair amount of 'joking around'.

" What exactly are you suggesting by the use of that word. "




When you get time an explanation would be appreciated.

Probably too busy hanging their head in shame to elaborate on using that word in conjunction with Tess's name, there can be no reasonable explanation for that anyway.

I'm glad Claudia has not bowed to pressure to remove her fringe, I like her quirky style.

But she's not the main presenter, Tess is the main presenter . Same as Bruce was the main presenter and Tess had the supporting role .

I'm ok with the role Claudia has on the show .

Another vote for Claudia from me. I appreciate that her presenting style isn't for everyone but thats just life; who is universally liked? Tess isn't for everyone. Bruce Forsyth wasn't. Ant and Dec aren't. Anyone you can name will have someone saying, oh no I cannot stand them. In my opinion (and it's only an opinion!) Claudia does a great job as the giddy wingman to Tess' more straight man. This is a role she may well have been asked to play up.

Just to open up another can of worms...potentially... I thought Zoe Ball did a brilliant job when she was needed to fill in for Claudia.