It's still the beeb's best show for ratings. I'm not totally surprised the final which Caroline won had the lowest ratings. I've been an avid fan of the show since it started, but even I barely watched that final. Caroline was a hopeless ballroom dancer - yet made the final. That put me off, as it did many others I know.

It is, of course, debatable whether scd would retain it's viewers if another, just as popular show was to be shown on another channel. But one thing scd has above so many other shows is that it's something that can - and is - enjoyed by anyone of any age, and that doesn't happen very often.

Completely agree about Caroline - it still makes me cross that she holds the records for most 40s in a final when she had such poor technique. That series really did limp to a boring end. I think the Great British Bake Off is now the BBC's best rating show - the final got about 2 million more than the Strictly final last year. It shows that they don't need flash to get ratings, but no doubt they will start messing about with the format of that soon to 'keep it fresh' as well.

Over 13 series change is needed to keep things fresh but that happens naturally with new pros bringing with them fresh ideas and each celeb having a different personality and skill set to bring to the partnership.

When props and costuming are so over the top they distract from a performance it's a real shame. Wardrobe and makeup have Halloween to go overboard for a week, surely that's enough.

The alteration in pro dances is one of the most detrimental in my view. We've gone from sublime ballroom dances to having a world champion ballroom dancer writhe around on a prop washing machine. Makes me want to weep.

If props were good enough for Fred Astaire, good enough for Strictly.

There's props and there's props. I'm not arguing against hats and canes.

The celebs aren't quite Fred Astaire.

Exactly - I don't remember Fred Astaire ever sitting on a giant plastic horse .

As you say, the celebs aren't Fred Astaire - just because he could look good dancing with a broom doesn't mean Fern Britton can do the same.

He was dancing in films- so if they must, save the props for musicals week.

I think Strictly reflects today's society where there is a tendency kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. It Is fun to have the odd week of showbiz, lifts, props, jazz hands etc. and that's why the showdance in the final was so popular. However, sometimes less is more, and it is also to nice to have the weeks where people dance some recognizable dances and steps without a teapot, horse, pyrotechnics or whatever in the background. Variety is the spice of life.

As for viewing figures, we don't know what they would have been if the show had kept to the original format. It isn't necessarily a foregone conclusion that they would have gone down. Other shows retain their original format and popularity. Also, whatever the format, a good celeb line up should be a winner. Most people are probably attracted by the glamour and escapism of Strictly and so good costume design would also be a winner.

Ps Fred Astaire didn't use a lot of props really, given that his routines were part of a story line and had to have some scene setting. He relied more on elegance and glamour. There were more props in Gene Kelly films (e.g Tom and Jerry). I'm more of an Astaire fan than Kelly and so personal taste comes into it.

Absolutely! She was one of the poorest winners, worse than Chris Hollins and Abbey Clancey was not so far behind. In addition to being an average dancer at best, I found Caroline a boring personality and her partnership with Pasha was a damp squib.

BGT at 12.46m just 3 episodes in.

Biggest SCD rating in 2015 - 12.4m
Biggest BGT rating in 2015 - 12.75m


Biggest SCD rating in 2014 - 11.67m
Biggest BGT rating in 2014 - 12.39m


Biggest SCD rating in 2013 - 12.79m
Biggest BGT rating in 2013 - 12.85m


etc.

In short, Britain's Got Talent is bigger than Strictly Come Prancing, therefore your statement is factually wrong.

BGT what an awful show. Its appeal escapes me

I think the show would retain it's popularity if there was a return to more of the old format. There is Movies/Musicals/Halloween week to go with theming but the opinion I come across most often in RL is it's most enjoyable when there's say an elegant Viennese Waltz or a party Latin with no gimmicks.

Completely agree with you about the costumes as well. If the budget for teapot, horses and giant guitars went to wardrobe we could see a return to all the ladies both celeb and pro in gorgeous ballroom dresses every single week and the men in trousers that don't spoil the line.

Agree with you about BGT and that is despite Alesha, my joint all time fave Strictly winner, judging on it.

You have no real evidence that it would and really why would the producers return to the old format when its been more successful since the revamp? I'm not saying its perfect but for me personally I would miss Halloween week because the costumes and makeup are so good and everybody seems to having so much fun.

Your right about Alesha though I so wish she was not on that show. Everyone has to make a leaving I suppose and Cowell pays well.

I still feel sorry for Anthony Ogogo. He realized last series that he was given an awful boxing theme for a Pasodoble, his pro surely had to agree, but the producers refused to change it. I'm guessing that's the sort of thing Vincent was talking about. The producers were more interested in their theme night than in letting the celebrity and his professional partner perform a genuine Pasodoble for the audience. That's producer interference.

I wasn't suggesting getting rid of the costumes and makeup on Halloween week, rather restricting the theming to Halloween and maybe one other week, musicals or movies. I do wish they'd lose the props at Blackpool. Why travel there with the show if they're not going to show off the ballroom and instead fill it with naff lighting and props.

A return to each individual pro being fully responsible for music, choreography and teaching, lots of training footage on the main show, the focus returning to just the couple on the dance floor, a number of beautiful ballroom dresses to admire every week (instead of poor Kellie having to wait til the semi), three couples in a more competitive, less drawn out final...all changes that I believe would be popular and wouldn't be much of a risk. Look at the fix furore in the media last series, people want to see something of a genuine competition.

I realise most of the changes I've outlined aren't likely to happen and it's up to me whether to continue watching. I am looking forward to the new series and am prepared to enjoy it for what it is. It'll be down to whether there's a pro celeb partnership I really engage with as to whether I watch as avidly as the last two series

I always love Strictly Ochre and watch regardless of who is on but we were spoilt for choice last year with Jay, Helen and Anita - all three partnerships with their pros were just so enchanting to watch and connect with. I have never been a fan of Anton's but I did actually enjoy, for the first time ever, his relationship with Katie. And, again, I'm no fan of Kristina's (sorry, I know you are!) but she was quite sweet with Daniel O'Donnel. Karen and Jeremy were just lovely together and as a R2 listener (getting old), I now really like Jeremy having spent many a week day morning getting cross with him on his show. His warm personality really showed through and although not a fan of props ... who could forget the horse?!

"I'm back cos I wanna dance with you"

I wish I could forget Craig riding that guitar at Blackpool though. And I did feel for Jamelia that night. Much as I enjoyed Jeremy and Karen's partnership it was time for him to go the week before yet it was made very clear the production plan had been for Blackpool to be Jeremy's night. I really admired Jamelia and Tristan that week, they'd clearly worked hard on what was a very good Quickstep when it would have been understandable if they'd given up and just put on a showdance.

We certainly were spoilt Lou and having particularly engaged with Helen and Aljaz, Pixie and Trent and Sophie and Brendan in the last three series it will be interesting to see if I feel as strongly about any of the couples this series. I do watch for the dancing and there are many dances from previous series I watch back that weren't by my favourite couples.

Don't apologise about Kristina btw, it would be boring if we agreed on everyone

Well I wouldn't.
I love the old concept of a pro dancer training a celeb.
The introuduction of cringy and quite frankly ludriciuous scenarios (vt's) has done the show no favours.
(I can never get the Scott Mills debacle out of my mind.) No need and unnecessarily embarrrassing for all concerened.)

I've watched Strictly since the start and completely agree with you, during Georgia and Giovanni's dance that teapot even obstructed the view of the judges, I was watching some of Matthew and Alesha's dances recently and they were superb, just beautiful dancing with no tricks or props, with Matthew in a tail suit for the ballroom dances, perfection, imo of course

I agree about the G & G Foxtrot Ruby!!
That dance was sublime & the addition of those 'extras' distracted from it rather than added to it!! Such a shame!!

Which part of Scott Mills' time on the show are you referring to?

He was never going to make a great (or even ordinary) dancer but the fact is Jo Clifton worked absolute bloody wonders with him, making the public love him, through comedy routines even though he was neither a natural dancer nor a natural comedian, hence why he got as far as week six if I recall!!
Ironically the one week where he finally showed digns of improvement was the week he was voted out!!
Really hope Jo is back this series, with a real contender!!

Him dressed as a RED lobster. Do you not remember

It was absolutely appalling . Nobody is doubting his partners prowess, so not sure why you feel the need to point out her abilities, quite so randomly and vehemently. The point here, was the direction SCD is going down..and not the magic of Joanne Cliftons dancing ability, which is debatable.

Absolutely, I'm completely with you on Matthew and Alesha's dances and Matthew as perfection in a tail suit I have so many favourites of theirs, in ballroom if I had to pick it would probably be their Viennese Waltz. And 'Memory' makes me cry everytime I hear it

When I was rewatching and posting favourite pro dances recently a number of them were from series 5 too, I remember us discussing the Rebel Yell jive. Beautiful, elegant ballroom routines, dynamic and exciting Latin. As Vincent said you are drawn to and entertained by just the couples on the dancefloor, no need for anything else

I believe the Producer and her producers are terrified of showing pure dance as entertainment and that's why she chucks in all these extras to cover as many bases as possible . I believe her thinking is if they're not entertained by the dancing they'll like the music, even though it might be completely inappropriate to the dance . Lets also distract them with props and themes, even though a lot of them are again totally inappropriate like those stupid teapots . Now the worst distracting gimmick imo is the introduction of other dancers .

I don't mind some props and themes now and again, as long as they remain true to the dance, whether it be a foxtrot, a waltz or a tango .

Those producers underestimate their audience and people's love for a well executed dance because, no matter what extras are added to the show, in the end the viewers usually pick the best dancers as the final 4 .