I love Anita and Gleb, but their performance definitely was quite theatrical and contemporary. Len said it was just the right balance for him - but where is he drawing the line?

Also, last year, there were lifts where there shouldn't have been, but he came down harsh on Pixie and Trent late in the series...just sounds like plain old bias to me.

Actually, though I do think Peter is being over marked by the judges as a whole, his CCC did have some cha cha content - it was just hard to recognise because his (and his pro partner's technique was dodgy. Ditto with his QS. Both Helen and Georgia have had a lot of prior dance training; although Peter seems to be labelled a ringer, I don't class his dancing videos in remotely the same league as Helen's years of formal ballet. I do think all the judges are protective of Janette's own fairly obvious lack of 10 dance technique and training, which in turn results in poor technique in those she is teaching.

Again I read it as drawing the line where the pro and celeb have fewer options. He expects those who have the ability and prior training to abide by the rules and try to incorporate and execute proper 10 dance content but is more tolerant of gimmicks where the pro has a less talented/trained celeb and cuts them some slack, particularly earlier in the competition. There was absolutely no reason for Trent to need to put in illegal lifts with such a talented celeb who could out-perform others and stick to the rules. Len was right to penalise them. I suspect Anita and Gleb might have been marked less tolerantly by Len if that routine were produced later in the competition (and was so out of hold) but he was marking such a good performance so early by a non-trained celeb more tolerantly at this stage.

Craig should be HJ, he is the only one who scores properly.

Soooo...in other words...bias?

Duffers can do whatever the heck they want on the floor and we'll give them some nice comments and a 6/7.

I don't think it's unreasonable for pros (particularly new ones) to assume they could circumvent some rules when others aren't penalised.

Darcy's turn next year?!

Positive discrimination.

I suppose it keeps them off the streets, better sitting at their keyboards moaning about everyone on the programme.

Yes, fair enough!

As missfrankiecat points out Peter did do cha cha steps. He was over marked though as the technique was poor.

I would argue a waltz without heel leads (a main feature of the dance) is actually not a competent waltz (I do like Helen a lot though and thought she was good last weekend). Whereas Peter danced heel leads in his QS but it was aesthetically displeasing in parts.

As for the rumba, two recognisable steps. Georgia deserves better than that.

Also, I don't mind some positive discrimination as missfrankiecat describes it. People can't be too discouraged in the first few weeks.

Generally, I don't think Len in his current persona, gives a very positive representation of ballroom dance, and so I wouldn't mind him being replaced, but the question is by whom? I'd rather not Karen. Ian maybe. Or someone completely different not previously associated with the show, but if they're that good, they'd be putting other commitments on ice and downgrading their status to appear on, the admittedly lucrative, Strictly.

In a real competition, all the competitors would be of a roughly similar standard, and the judges really do have to look for those with that little bit extra to decide the winner. All of them should have similar knowledge of technique, and the required steps of each dance.

On strictly there is such a huge range of ability, that you can't use a "one size fits all" marking style. You really cannot compare the likes of Jay with his extensive street dance background or Helen with ballet with the complete rookies like Jeremy and Anthony.

They need to rank the celebs properly but without being unduly harsh on the rookies or over generous to the ringahs too early on. There's no need to demoralise the celebs by harsh comments and cruelly low scores

It seems that Len has decided to pick up the pros on their dodgy choreo this series. He was right to pick up Giovanni and Anton for their crap choreo last week - but he does need to look at the others too - Janette should have been picked up for lack of Cha Cha and dodgy quickstep too - but wasn't. He should be picking up ALL the pros for their choreo where needed, not just edited highlights.

And I'm another one who would switch off rather than see Craig as Head Judge..... He really doesn't know what he's talking about sometimes!

Ian Waite I would be happy to see but, personally, I cannot stand Karen Hardy - yeah, she knows her stuff but she would be worse that Arlene at fawning over the males

Lol, yes, I made a thread about Karen Hardy recently and saw just how much she divided opinion!

I personally love how theatrical she is (although that trait can annoy me in others) and would much prefer her over Len or Darcey or even Bruno, who has seemingly started getting nastier these past few years. I do like Craig, he makes me laugh, gives honest critiques, and you know a performance is good when he brings out the high scores!

I would be happy to have Karen as HJ, but clearly she would annoy the heck out of quite a few of you!
Ian is great (I wish he was still a participant - his ballroom was sublime, and his skill at coaching was excellent,) but I fear he is not a sufficiently forceful personality to be on the judging panel.
Maybe it needs someone with the right credentials from outside show, but as others have said, while the ratings stay high, TPTB aren't going to tinker too much.

Whilst Len is supposed to be the head judge with the experiance of competing, judging at competition level and running a dance school a lot of times for me he dosent appear to give as much constructive criticism as the likes of Craig, or Bruno, he comes out with it was entertaining, it was nice, next time give it some welly etc. Many of his comments really dont give the celeb anything to take away to work on, thats how it appears to me.

Those comments really irk me. STOP talking about whatever they're doing next week and comment on what is right in front of you!

If they did something badly, tell them what it is. If they did something well (however small), give them credit for it. How hard is it?

Len's experience was years and years ago. He was not exactly at the pinnacle of ballroom dance. Judging a bit of ballroom and running a dance school does not make you an expert in dance - especially if it was yonks ago and only in the UK.

He knows sod all about and other forms of dance in general, zilch about anything after about 1975 and is out of touch, chauvinistic, ill tempered and bored to death with his job. Ian was a fantastic pro, but he chose to leave.

I wish he'd push off.

I know Karen and Ian are loved by many, but neither of them are capable of or being a judge on the show. They lack presence and charisma and Karen just isn't bright enough. Leave her on the sofa with her mad outfits and gurning gushing.

People were similarly disparaging about Darcey joining...but she seemed to settle in fairly quickly (I'm still not a huge fan though).

I think Karen and Ian would fit in well soon enough and would find their niches (good judge, bad judge etc, mandated by producers!)

Thank you. My heart sinks into my boots when I read posts saying these two would make good judges.

Over the years of watching Strictly, and I watched from the beginning, Len has gone down in my estimation. I used to like him but he is becoming petty and rude, and it is clear that he has favourites.

I sincerely hope they don't get rid of Darcey: changing the female judge three times whilst never changing the men would be...irritating...

I also used to find him funny too, but not any more.

The only lesson he ever learned from this show was how to dress well.

My only gripe with Darcey is that TPTB seemed to gone for a huge 'dumbing down' exercise and have asked her not have any opinions any more and the play the Nice One.

They have even demanded she flirt - when it's really not her thing at all.

She has enormous knowledge about dance. Shame she is not allowed to share that on the show it AND not allowed to say what she really wants to say.

You say there are judges better qualified; certainly better qualified that Craig, Bruno, Arlene or Darvey anyway.

When Strictly first started is was meant to be a show based on "proper" ballroom & Latin dance (unfortunately, something it has since moved away from).

Feelers were put out among the dance community for judges, but very few were interested. To be honest, most could not see the show succeeding, and felt it would be detrimental to their reputation. A few "big names" did apply (I'll not mention names) but were not right for the show, for all sorts of reasons - including lack of personality, or television presence.

The fact that Len was asked is not so surprising. However much viewers might to disagree with him, he does know his stuff, and he was already known to the BBC as he had been a judge on the prior Come Dancing. There was no question of him being anything but head judge as he was the only one with ballroom and Latin knowledge; part of his job was to teach the others what to look out for (Darcey, bless her, still hasn't much idea!!)

In case you are wondering about Len's "pedigree" - he has owned 3 dance studios, which have catered for all standard of dancers from beginners upward, though - prior to his retirement - Len coached mainly worldclass amateurs and professionals (including some of the past, and present, Strictly pros).

He has run his own competitions; and has judged top professional competitions all over the world, including the prestigious Blackpool Open, and World Championships.

Sorry, this is a bit long, but hope it answers you question of how Len became to be Head judge.

Try and tell that to the muppets at BBC towers and see what reply you get.