He tells Sun Online: "The most important thing was that when I was involved in it there was only me, my partner and the music, nothing else."

Vincent complains that the show's appeal has been diminished with the use of special effects, props and other people on the dance floor, and he slams the show for trying to imitate its American counterpart, 'Dancing With The Stars'.

He says: "It works in America because in America everything is big, but I don't know. I think there was something about the simplicity of just a man and a woman dancing, in my opinion."

Vincent's previous partners on 'Strictly' included Edwina Currie and singer Rachel Stevens, with whom he succeeded in reaching the final . Vincent's professional partner Flavia Cacace previously departed the competition, and the pair are now touring with their farewell show 'The Last Tango'.

He's saying what most of us on here have been saying .

Yep, he's spot on.

Strictly does not need it.

I agree with him. I've always loved that Strictly is more into the basics, less gimmicky. I've loved the 'feel good TV' vibe, I don't want Strictly to throw any contestants utb in their packages. I also dislike pros trying to force contemporary into the routines.

I agree with him.

Vincent was an expert in all 10 dances and the AT. He was also a good teacher and partner - as we saw with Rachel, and all done with the costumes, music and dance.

The show has lost a lot of skill with Vincent and Flavia leaving - and Aliona too.

Those 10 dance skills have been gradually devalued over the years, and the show has become a more fake version of itself.

Change in itself does create interest, but changing away from the original concept of the show, where it was about celebs being taught to dance, and taken out of their comfort zone. That does involve actually trying to dance the dance properly.

Everyone's obviously entitled to their own preferences regarding the show (I like elements from both "approaches"), but it's hard to argue generally rather than personally that "the show's appeal has been diminished" when every single series with props'n'gimmicks'n'themes has rated higher than every single series without, and last year saw the ratings go up.

That is an irrefutable fact. I guess it just goes to show that however much we may like to think we are representative of the UK on this message board .... we're really not!

totally and utterly agree with him

I think its a real shame the show has strayed from its original roots but that might be just me

And that's the bottom line for the BBC.

A number of changes were made for Series 8 and they definitely gave the show wider appeal. The TV screens, lighting, use of props all allowed them to give the show a different look. That could be done while still adhering to the 'teaching a celeb to dance properly'. There has always been the entertainment part of the show, along with the trying to achieve a standard at dancing. It's a difficult balance to get right and I think its easier to swing more towards the entertainment side and away from the 'it matters whether the dance is done right or not' contest.

There is more emotion generated when the celeb and pro have to form a team (or not) and they have a lot of control over their future - ie choice of music, theme, choreography. That needs a lot more management, and training videos have to be edited well. It also means there is more risk of a result that isn't ideal in the management's eyes. It may be more expensive to go that route.

The alternative is to not bother much about what they learn to dance and stage things more. It's easier to manage and probably cheaper to do that, and you can get a more predictable result.

Agree - the bottom line is keeping up the viewing figures, and widening its appeal when TV audiences have been falling overall. Strictly has been trying (and probably succeeding) to pick up some of the fading X-Factor audience too, so has been moving more towards 'entertainment'.

Can see that it's easier, and probably cheaper, if the Producers 'manage' the process and therefore the risk, but do agree that it can be done alongside 'teaching the celeb to dance'.

I do feel, though, they could make more use of their Celebrities' and Professionals' skills. Ask the celebrities about music they like beforehand, and in consultation with the Pros, choose some new pieces - instead of choosing totally inappropriate music or endlessly recycling the same songs.

Tristan has said the Pros have sometimes been asked for suggestions, which are often not used or are given to someone else - this seems daft to me. How can a handful of Producers come up with more ideas than 15 Professional dancers? Why not combine and come up with some more ideas? Let the Pros use some of their own ideas - they might be more interesting!! Pros with interesting characters are more appealing to audiences. The Producers can put forward their ideas too and still have overall control - and so control the costs.

I sometimes think the often daft videos are designed to appeal to the children in the 'family' audience. Am not sure that training videos are more expensive than the usual video as camera crews visit the pairs in training to show on ITT anyway. Perhaps more of a mixture between the two types of video would be better? Even in my 'non-dancing' family, everyone finds the process of learning to dance more interesting than 'fake' visits in daft videos.

Final thing - I know the budget is tight, but surely some brightly coloured costumes, instead of beige, and some trousers that fit wouldn't break the bank?

Personally, I agree with Vincent completely.

However, I can't help wondering if the show had stayed much the same as it was at the start, with more genuine dancing without the gimmicks, whether viewers would have begun to get bored with it by now. Maybe complaining about "the-same-old-same-old" ..............

As it stands, the ratings seem to improve each year, so whatever the relatively few of us on DS might prefer, the beeb do seem to be getting things right.

I don't think the ratings do improve each year. They were up a bit this time, but the final in which Caroline won had the lowest ratings since 2009 and I don't think they've ever reached the all-time high of series 8 again.

It would be interesting to see if Strictly retained viewers if any of the other channels were providing real competition (as the X Factor has gone so badly wrong). I've never met anyone in real life who thinks the show has been improved by the props and extra dancers, but I guess the BBC must have found some people who do, presuming they even bother with audience research.

Its an entertainment show first and foremost or it would not be in that slot. Its made for a wide audience so it has to be as populist as possible.

What was the most popular dance last year? The Jive by Jay and Aliona, which was done in a theme week (Movie Week). Conceivably the Pulp Fiction music could have been used in the "classic days" but Jay and Aliona would not have been dressed as John Travolta and Uma Thurman and I doubt the dance would have had the same impact.

I do think that casting helps, last year I think the casting was more or less spot on and I enjoyed it more then the previous few. All it lacked was a second serious male contender but otherwise it was a likeable cast.

12 million watch.
The most popular LE show on TV.

I disagree, the producers get it right.

Despite all the hooplah perpetuated by the press, both shows, and various stans, X Factor and Strictly aren't in competition. They don't air at the same time, except for a few short overlaps in the early weeks when both shows go on forever and it's unavoidable. The highest ever rated series of Strictly and the highest ever rated series of X Factor were on at the same time. They might be rivals but a sudden renaissance for X Factor wouldn't hurt Strictly in the slightest.

Fair enough. I guess I was just going by all the comments I've read from people saying X Factor was getting so bad they were going to give Strictly a go instead. Probably me putting too much stock in what I read on the Internet.

I disagree as to why Jay's jive was so popular. People were stunned by his skill and technique, his kicks and flicks and synchronicity with Aliona. The over the top Travolta styling almost took away from the dance, I'd like to see him dance the routine as Jay. At least his hair on the show wasn't as bad as his tour wig!

"there was only me, my partner and the music, nothing else"

"I think there was something about the simplicity, of just a man and a woman dancing"

Vincent has worded what the original magic of Strictly was perfectly. I loved watching my favourite celebrities try and master the technique of each dance. Watching what the pros went through as they took full responsibility for music choices, choreography and teaching their celeb in order to perform a dance in front of millions. Karen's partnership with Ramps always sticks in my mind. We saw the pros and celebrities reach breaking point at times. There was an elegance to Strictly and a feel good factor. Remember when some of the voting proceeds went to Children In Need?!

I watched from the early series too but I am not stuck in the past. The feel good factor as you put was actually lost in series 6. I didn't see much friendship between those four couples.

About Jay the Jive was about the only time he really got into the dance and that's because I think he got into the character, the theme worked for him.

Disliking the direction Strictly has taken doesn't mean being stuck in the past.

Jay's jive the only time he really got in to the dance?! My favourites may have been Helen and Anita but Jay was the one who immersed himself in each dance the most of the top contenders in my opinion. He has a subtlety about him but there was so much emotion and expression there.

I never got that he had all the moves from early on but apart from the Jive never got the character of each dance. Strange how different people see a dancer, I wanted him to give more to the audience.

Jay was himself as was Helen and that's what made me like them both so much. There was no hamming it up for the camera, dragging their families and loved ones into those ghastly short video slots, faux tears, life threatening sore throats and that's what appealed to me. I felt with them, and the same with Anita, that loved dancing more than they loved themselves.

Vincent has also now said he is not going to do Big Brother unless its the end and he has nothing else left to give.

http://www.tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv...g-brother.html

I agree with everything you've said Lou and you've worded the BIB perfectly. With Jay his Salsa at Blackpool particularly sticks in my mind, I loved it and watch it back regularly. Pure joy in dance written all over his face.

What a loss Aliona, Kristina and Ola are to the show. Three pros with the skills and teaching ability for the old format of Strictly. It is going to be very interesting to see who their replacements are as that will give a strong indication of the direction the producers wish to go in.

Loving all these comments from Vincent I wonder which pro or celeb post Strictly stint will be the next in the CBB house.

"I used to love it- especially when I made the final with Rachel Stevens, that was just me and her and the music and you get drawn into what we're doing and you don't have a car or a train, dogs..."

Perfectly put.

That's very true Ochre. I like having new pros as it gives the show a fresh look but some have added more than others. I was very disappointed that Oti went out so early. And, as for Jay's salsa, yes, it was utterly mesmerising. What a joy he was to watch.

it doesn't look too much like DWTS and as already stated if SCD didn't make any changes people would be moaning of the same old same old