Anton has a decent partner this year in Katie Derham.

Anyone else think this might be his final year, so they've actually given him a chance to reach the final, and maybe even win?

I love Anton, so am struggling to imagine why he would want to retire.
Is this not the showcase of his career?
It's keeping him and Erin getting bookings for their show every year.

I hope he becomes a judge and they dump Len.

It may well depend on whether it's Len's last year.

Surely though the producers have no way of knowing in advance what standard a celeb's going to be? And looking at Anton's stats on Wikipedia he's had a third, fourth and a fifth finish so hardly "duffers" every year...

Hope Anton doesn't leave. I'd miss his rehearsing in a tie and pullover

But Anton normally rejoices in having a dud for a partner, so he can play it for laughs.

I suspect he may be the one pro who is allowed a say in who he gets.

It's a less crazy theory than many we have here. But I suspect it's more that there was only one obviously "older woman" this year, and Pasha had a winner's forfeit to pay. Not that Carol isn't already head and shoulders above the usual weakest celebs.

Not sure how Katie and Kellie compare agewise. But Kevin has had two years of good partners, and I'm not to be honest sure which of those two would be the better dancer anyway.

It may just be that Katie very obviously wanted to dance with Anton and they could see no reason not to make it happen.

(If he does get to the final, will Anton wear that pink "saving it for the Final" shirt? )

Katie would be far too tall for Kevin so giving her to him wouldn't have been an option really.

To be honest that had occurred to me too. I think next year Len will be gone too and Anton might take his place.

I think if Anton replaced Len next season, there will be far more complaints about Anton than Len ever received: too smarmy, doesn't know much about Latin, under / over marking, too monotone, doesn't say 7 in the right way, doesn't know what to do with his walnuts ...

Can't imagine why Len may not return.

Is it just wishful thinking?

Katie's been in another competition and her 'mentor' reduced her to tears I think.

She perhaps insisted on Anton as he's always kind and patient.

(Was impressed how encouraging he was with Katie's elder daughter's dancing in the only VT that was worth watching!)

I am confused too DD. Is this thread built on any substance at all or is just speculation built on rumour built on wild conjecture?

Whether it true or not, I have no idea but I did read/hear that Judy Murray would only participate if her partner was going to be Anton.

She did Maestro a few years back, where they learned to conduct. I don't remember her mentor being especially horrid, but she did put a lot of pressure on herself. I want to say she came 4th in the end, but I couldn't swear to it. Sue Perkins was fabulous in it. Goldie thought he was rather more fabulous than he actually was.

I think so. Len has stated on national television that it's a dead easy and enjoyable job which pays well, and is more than happy to continue for as long as the producers want him.

Good.

I like Len and feel he gets a lot of unfair abuse around here.

Anton makes everything about himself. It's not about teaching his celeb dancing. It's poor me, I got another duffer, if he can get laughs out of it at their expense he'll do it. Or now he got a good one and it's about him again. Me me bloody me. I can't stand that clown.

In this scenario, who would become "Head Judge"?

I hope Anton doesn't leave as he is now firmly part of the Strictly fabric. If he wins, however, the would be no better way for him to bow out.

I don't think it's a conspiracy theory. I thought everyone had accepted that this years storyline for Anton was that he'd got a good partner and was going to be shoe-horned into the final because it will probably be his last year. He's 50 next year. He's looking so out of place next to the other male pro's. Definitely time to go.

I would love that, but I don't think Len would go willingly. It would be another Arlene situation. The 'Head Judge' question would be interesting. None of the remaining judges is a ballroom specialist, are they? Of course, if they had only three judges there'd be no need for a head judge, but there'd also be less potential for points differential. However, as most of the judges seem to score the same much of the time, perhaps that doesn't matter?

I always assumed he was earmarked to make a transition at some point. I think taking over from Brucie was scuppered by the Laila controversy and his dismal performance in Hole In The Wall, but a move to the judging panel should still be a possibility. His story line kind of reflects that of many duffers on the show, they usually get good comments in the week they finally leave, maybe he is being allowed to bow out with a good series performance. He cannot feel comfortable as the old boy when the other guys do their energetic pro dances...

Not everyone.
I'd never heard that before now.

Oh yes I remember hearing about Maestro after it aired, and I missed the whole thing. Would love a re-run on BBC4 maybe... but I guess they don't tend to re-run "reality comp" stuff. I doubt it's archived on iPlayer anywhere. If anyone knows otherwise...?

re Anton retiring, yeah it'd make for a nice narrative if he got to the final and then retired. But switching to being a judge would be a risk for him and I don't think he'd go down well, especially next to another big personality like Bruno.

some of it, including Sue conducting The Simpsons theme tune is on Youtube