Once upon a time (when all this was fields...) the judges were strict about lifts.

Only allowed in very few dances, and only a limited number in that routine.
But now not only are lifts slipping into non-lift dances, also the number of lifts is increasing (yes Gleb, I'm looking at you!)
Added to which the lifts are getting increasingly gymnastic and gynaecological !

And the judges are barely batting an eye .
(Remember when Craig went on and on about Rachel Steven's toe coming briefly off the ground in a VW spin?)

I'd like to not only get back to strictly limited lifts, but also introduce a limit on height of lifts - like Ice Dancing did back in the days of Torvill and Dean.

My preference would be no lifts where woman's waist is above man's shoulder.

What do you think?

Apart from Anita's there hasn't been any illegal lifts has there?

Kevin said they would have 6 lifts in their AS tonight. Now whether he was being tongue in cheek, and/or taking a sideswipe at excess lifts being used by someone who shall remain nameless, I wouldn't like to say! 😼

Not this year, apart from accidental ones. Yeah I was thinking when Kevin said they had 6 lifts in their AS that they must have changed the rules. Cos it used to be 2 lifts in the AS, and it was increased to 3. So now they can do as many as they like??

Yeah - make the lazy little buggers use the stairs.

'Gynaecological' 😂😂😂😂😂 love it!!

Get rid of lifts, props and backing dancers. Then we can judge who can really dance!

When lifts were used to hide the inability of the celebrity to actually dance, I did think it was wrong, and the judges were tougher on everyone. But I don't think that's been the case this year, certainly not among the celebrities who made it through to the latter stages anyway. The judges know that, and perhaps it explains their leniency ?

Ooh, do you think Kevin from Grimsby as had his nose out of joint by somebody else? Can't think who

Only Anita has had two illegal lifts in the latter stages. One she was penalised for in the rumba, and the other one on the Paso I don't think it was visible by the judges (or they assumed it wasn't a proper lift).

Lifts are put to also create a wow moment, to get the audience engaged. If the rules say no lifts, then there shouldn't be any.

The query has arisen due to the number of lifts some seem to use in dances where they are allowed!

I thought the maximum now is 3, yet this was ignored quite blatantly last week, so who knows what the rules regarding number of lifts is?

I think Kevin as taking a swipe at the amount of lifts - I bet he sticks to 3 in theAS

there has been a couple of illegal lifts that have been ignored this season

I do remember a time when they were very strict about lifts. Personally, I think the rule is important and should be kept.

We agree in something quique!

Did Anita have more that 3? That dance is a blur.

I forgot that Kellie had some lifts (to the table, from the table, and back up).

Hahahahahahahaha!!! Yes, we do!!!

I used to like the lifts being kept for just the Showdance - made them seem special and different. Now we've seen them through the series and it's a bit yeah? So?

yes she did

I think there were about 5 or 6 lifts in Anita''s AT, previous years only 3 were allowed - and Craig was the judge who was the most vocal and would harshly penalise. Now he doesn't seem to bother!

Kevin seems to have taken a few swipes these past few weeks at one of his fellow pro's indirectly and obviously. You don't think the wife has a lil bit of a crush on he who shall not be named and he's feeling a bit jealous?

As for lifts - the more there are in a dance surely that means the less dance in the dance so they should be limited in number.

I remember that when Bonnie Langford was on Dancing on Ice at times her skates barely graced the ice she was being lifted so much.

Maybe more a case of professional jealousy? As in all jobs but maybe especially in this dance world, having someone new come in and be heaped with attention (both positive and negative) for his looks/choreography might be hard to take.

As to lifts, I just watched Kara Tointon and Artem's showdance for the first time and felt like I was watching a cheerleading routine--it was like some dancing was put in to connect the lifts.

Just hoping they do not have the usual "weightlifting to music" between the dance changeovers. So inappropriate for Ballroom & Latin.

Like Patrick Robinson and Anya in the good old days

It is time that. Judges start to be harsh on people who do lifts, they do sometime, but they need to do it more often.

What about restrictions on the height of a lift?
Is this even feasible?