Considering most on here have thought the Blackpool danceoff the worst thing no matter their perspective this week, Tess hardly registers on that scale.

As for the annual dross on here about her accent and locality, "if I had a dime, for every single time"....

I think Claudia does the 'side presenter' thing quite well. Tess on the other hand...it always looks as if the main presenter's ill or on holiday.

The VTs are the worst thing about Strictly. I'm beginning to think they should now move to a three person presenting team for Strictly on Saturday. Tess for the formalities and managing the show. Claudia as she is now. Bring in an extra person to assist with the comedy links.

Far from it. She's not presenter of the year but keeps the show running smoothly and has a good rapport with Claudia.

And the two jokers hosting X Factor over on ITV show BBC could be far worse than Tess.

Tess is fine, she gets on with the job in hand, although I do find her to be irritating at times..... Claudia is great. I love her quirky sense of humour.

As John Lydgate said ... “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”

I thinks there are far worse things about Strictly than Tess ( and Claudia for that matter ). They do a decent job between them and I would not like to go back to the cringeworthy latter years of Bruce.

Get rid of Tess and develop Darcy as the main presenter, I think that could work you know. Darcy brings an inner warmth and human touch whereas Tess brings absolutely squat to the show.

If in doubt claim that the presenter reads everything if off an autocue even if it is an invisible one that no one has ever noticed.

I think it was in Broadcasting or UK TV forum, no idea what prompted to him to have a rant.

Is Tess still on Strictly Come Dancing? I didn't really notice. It's like one of those things you tune out and only really notice when it stops. Like the tinkle of the urinal or the hum of the air conditioning. Does she come with one of the blue cubes at the bottom too? They're yummy.

Where is this autocue hidden? I presume you have been to the live show and seen where it is hidden because I have never seen it.

There you go, all is explained. The camera actually "sees" through the auto-cue screen. "They're everywhere in TV,"

https://eyefish.tv/dictionary/autocue

edit.

Exactly right !

If Tess stopped speaking and yawned the transparent Autocue screen would have " yawn now " printed on it.

But look at the cameras when they come into view.

You can't talk to the judges whilst reading off a screen that is off to one side and similarly you cannot talk to the dancers whilst reading off a screen not in your eyeline as well it would be necessary to script everything judges, dancers etc though I am sure the conspiracy theorists believe it is all completely scripted. She has cards to act as reminders of the next dancers.

Do you honestly believe that Tess has the skillset to talk completely unscripted and off the cuff in a total pro manner like Fiona Bruce ? I mean seriously.

Well, there's always several cameras. Part of the job of the director is to make sure you don't see the camera or how close they are to the presenters.

The asides she makes to the contestants can be prompted by the director/producer or whatever, with instructions through her earpiece.
When she says something gauche, unfunny, or unnecessary personal to the couple who've just completed their dance, I believe they're the ones which are all her own work.

The cards will be constantly updated by someone in the production team. As when she relates something one of the judges has said shortly beforehand.

She does an adequate job and is "living proof" that you don't have to pay silly money to someone to present this programme. Claudia is a different kettle of fish. She's much more intelligent, witty, funny and actually spontaneous, though too she will be working for much of the time with a prepared script.

As for the judges. They don't need a script, though I'm sure they'll get some "helpful suggestions" when necessary, from the production team.

They will have likely have seen the dancers in the final rehearsal, so will have had plenty of time to "prepare a spontaneous remark." They're more about drawing attention to themselves.

But knowing what must go on, for me, just adds to the enjoyment.

However recent events have left a bad taste in the mouth and the judges, certainly, have lost some credibility with the public, well with some of those who thought they had any in the first place.

Darcey isn't a great judge and would make an even worse presenter. Obviously her inner warmth and human touch are lost on me!

No no no. When we went to filming of the Christmas special, she was all smiles on and off camera, despite what was a very long session. I like Tess, she doesn't try to be Bruce or Claudia. I think the programme needs someone to do what she is doing. It wouldn't be as good without her.
The worst think about Strictly is that they pick the celebrities from too small a pool. We always have some sort of presenter, soap star and member of a pop group which have gone past their best. They should look for internet personalities and people like stuntmen, who are good at what they do, but not overly famous because of it.

I have to agree with you - I do not dislike her but she is very bland - and putting her next to someone with such charisma like Claudia just makes her seem ten times more beige

Tess isn't perfect but she does a good job on Strictly. She knows the show inside out and holds it together well. and is much much better than Bruce. Look what happened to XF when they changed an experienced presenter for two new ones - disaster. They do not need to change Tess.

As for the judges though, that's a different matter. They are the ones who have made cock-ups this year especially and sometimes just talk a load of rubbish.

wow, lots of dislike for Tess!

I like her

Think she does a good job and I much prefer her to Bruce - she works well with Claudia and I enjoy the show far more now than I did with Sir Bruce rabbiting on and going of at tangents, subjecting us to his singing and tap dancing!

I would prefer Zoe to replace her.

I think Tess is a bit banal but she does her job and doesn't make it all about her like that oaf Bruce. She keeps to time and the show is a lot slicker and professional since the Tess - front of house / Claudia - up in the old Tesspit/Clauditorium combo came into place.

Tess used to annoy me greatly, but now she just annoys me. That's progress. Keep up the good work and maybe next year she'll just irritate me.

Love Claudia though.