Len Goodman leaving Strictly
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Sort of inevitable, but very sad all the same. The choice of the replacement judge will be critical to the continued success of the show. Strictly isn't the Len show, just as it wasn't the Brucie show, but he's a component that will be much missed by the stalwart viewers who've (most of them) watched 12 series with him at the helm of the judges' table.
Some beautiful no gimmicks pro ballroom numbers for Len this series as a send off please.
It will be interesting to see who replaces him.
It will be interesting to see who replaces him.
Originally Posted by dizzie:
“Sort of inevitable, but very sad all the same. The choice of the replacement judge will be critical to the continued success of the show. Strictly isn't the Len show, just as it wasn't the Brucie show, but he's a component that will be much missed by the stalwart viewers who've (most of them) watched 12 series with him at the helm of the judges' table.”
“Sort of inevitable, but very sad all the same. The choice of the replacement judge will be critical to the continued success of the show. Strictly isn't the Len show, just as it wasn't the Brucie show, but he's a component that will be much missed by the stalwart viewers who've (most of them) watched 12 series with him at the helm of the judges' table.”
Totally agree with you on this-well said
Hmmm he's hardly retiring gracefully. He's going to America full time because they pay more. Despite once saying that if he had to give one of the two up, it'd be DWTS...
I hope the producers go for someone with a respectable dance background to replace Len instead of trying 'headline grabbing' judges (Jennifer Grey / Donny Osmond anyone?
)
Perhaps this is the time for Anton to finally give up the ghost and take a place on the panel? As much as I'm not keen on him, I'd rather he was not dancing.
Craig for head judge please.
I hope the producers go for someone with a respectable dance background to replace Len instead of trying 'headline grabbing' judges (Jennifer Grey / Donny Osmond anyone?
)Perhaps this is the time for Anton to finally give up the ghost and take a place on the panel? As much as I'm not keen on him, I'd rather he was not dancing.
Craig for head judge please.
Darcey as head judge!? she has that commanding swagger. And with Teresa May as the new PM.. girl power time ! 
Originally Posted by ads84:
“Hmmm he's hardly retiring gracefully. He's going to America full time because they pay more. Despite once saying that if he had to give one of the two up, it'd be DWTS...
I hope the producers go for someone with a respectable dance background to replace Len instead of trying 'headline grabbing' judges (Jennifer Grey / Donny Osmond anyone?)
Perhaps this is the time for Anton to finally give up the ghost and take a place on the panel? As much as I'm not keen on him, I'd rather he was not dancing.
Craig for head judge please.”
“Hmmm he's hardly retiring gracefully. He's going to America full time because they pay more. Despite once saying that if he had to give one of the two up, it'd be DWTS...
I hope the producers go for someone with a respectable dance background to replace Len instead of trying 'headline grabbing' judges (Jennifer Grey / Donny Osmond anyone?
)Perhaps this is the time for Anton to finally give up the ghost and take a place on the panel? As much as I'm not keen on him, I'd rather he was not dancing.
Craig for head judge please.”
Craig almost certainly will be head judge - can't see it being Bruno, can you?!!!
Agree that it's absolutely the next move Anton will be making - I did wonder why he was carrying on dancing, when last year was basically as good as it will get for Anton and celeb dance partners. Clearly, he knew that sticking it out for one more series as a dancer would mean he was in prime place to replace the retiring Len.As for Len's non-retirement, and more permanent move to (likely massive paying DWTS), I don't really blame him. The money he will get over there is enormous compared to his BBC earnings. For a guy in his 70s, he's hanging onto the part of his work that has the highest earning potential, without the stress and exhaustion of crossing 8 time zones twice a week for several months of the year. However, DWTS's future isn't particularly secure - dropping ratings have lead to a lot of rumours about the end of the road for that show in the US. it'll be interesting to see what happens.
Just, god please, no Donny Osmond as a replacement judge - I think I'd cry! Anton is far preferable to him!
Originally Posted by Sue_Howarth:
“Joanne Clifton could work. She knows her stuff and was great on choreography corner.”
“Joanne Clifton could work. She knows her stuff and was great on choreography corner.”
Of the pros I'd vote for Karen Hardy, Darren or Lilia.
I think after this series would be a good time to get rid of the 'head judge' role and in the event of a tie go to the public vote to decide which couple leaves.
Originally Posted by dizzie:
“Sort of inevitable, but very sad all the same. The choice of the replacement judge will be critical to the continued success of the show. Strictly isn't the Len show, just as it wasn't the Brucie show, but he's a component that will be much missed by the stalwart viewers who've (most of them) watched 12 series with him at the helm of the judges' table.”
“Sort of inevitable, but very sad all the same. The choice of the replacement judge will be critical to the continued success of the show. Strictly isn't the Len show, just as it wasn't the Brucie show, but he's a component that will be much missed by the stalwart viewers who've (most of them) watched 12 series with him at the helm of the judges' table.”
Yep - agree with this - but glad that's going on his terms and at the time that's right for him, rather than being shoved out of the door or something.
Originally Posted by Ochre:
“Of the pros I'd vote for Karen Hardy, Darren or Lilia.
I think after this series would be a good time to get rid of the 'head judge' role and in the event of a tie go to the public vote to decide which couple leaves.”
“Of the pros I'd vote for Karen Hardy, Darren or Lilia.
I think after this series would be a good time to get rid of the 'head judge' role and in the event of a tie go to the public vote to decide which couple leaves.”
I agree, think going to the public vote is a fairer way to decide which couple leaves.
Originally Posted by Ochre:
“Of the pros I'd vote for Karen Hardy, Darren or Lilia.
I think after this series would be a good time to get rid of the 'head judge' role and in the event of a tie go to the public vote to decide which couple leaves.”
“Of the pros I'd vote for Karen Hardy, Darren or Lilia.
I think after this series would be a good time to get rid of the 'head judge' role and in the event of a tie go to the public vote to decide which couple leaves.”
I wonder if they'll choose to change this anyway. If Craig was head judge, I doubt he'd alter his judging style, which is never neutral. Len always had his favourites, as they all do, but he never quite gave the impression that someone was being voted off to save a favourite. Even if he was partisan, he was always able to present his swaying vote with an impression of some neutrality and fairness. Craig, on the other hand, tends to deliver his dance-off decisions with damning criticism of people! I think that would have to be adjusted to stop people being up in arms about his overt influence.
That's more than a year away, so they may actually choose to reduce or eliminate Len's deciding vote this year, to give the change a chance to bed in, and not just be a (perceived) reaction to a new head judge! Perhaps until top 5 or 6 only, and then public decision afterwards for any split vote, Public vote decision is always the fairest anyway, no matter if the outcome means terrible dancers stay.
I reckon this will be Anton's time... I can't see them going for someone unknown to the public and they've had their fingers burned going for a 'yoof' casting before.
I reckon James Jordan would be a good judge, in the same way people like Simon Cowell, no BS and gives it straight.
We already have the nicey nicey judges Bruno and Darcy, we need someone with a bit of fire in their belly who isn't scared about being unpopular.
We already have the nicey nicey judges Bruno and Darcy, we need someone with a bit of fire in their belly who isn't scared about being unpopular.
Originally Posted by FusionFury:
“I reckon James Jordan would be a good judge, in the same way people like Simon Cowell, no BS and gives it straight.
We already have the nicey nicey judges Bruno and Darcy, we need someone with a bit of fire in their belly who isn't scared about being unpopular.”
“I reckon James Jordan would be a good judge, in the same way people like Simon Cowell, no BS and gives it straight.
We already have the nicey nicey judges Bruno and Darcy, we need someone with a bit of fire in their belly who isn't scared about being unpopular.”
Christ, absolutely not.
Originally Posted by FusionFury:
“I reckon James Jordan would be a good judge, in the same way people like Simon Cowell, no BS and gives it straight..”
“I reckon James Jordan would be a good judge, in the same way people like Simon Cowell, no BS and gives it straight..”
Not only will JJ have likely burned his bridges as far as the BBC is concerned, the producers would probably want to go with someone who is either still part of the Strictly family, or a respected pro from outside.
I agree with those who think they should get rid of the head judge role, but if they keep it I don't think they could make Craig head judge over someone who actually knows what they're talking about (assuming they go for Anton or another ballroom pro). They will probably go for a 'personality' who knows about dancing generally rather than ballroom, continuing the show's move away from recognisable ballroom dances.
Well, to me it's a bittersweet one.
It's sad to see to see him go because, after all, he's been part of the show since the beginning but he really has become a tad too big for his boots in the last couple of years. The outbursts and grumpiness, which were said to be due to his flying back and forth from America, were still there last year when he wasn't commuting weekly. I'm not going to deny that he is a charismatic person, and to fill his boots is going to prove a hard task.
What worries me is, he the only person with a ballroom and Latin background (which he could sometimes conveniently "forget" at his own accord when he had his pet favourites, but let's move on), and I hope they replace him with someone with the same background, from the same world.
Not that Len had any creative control but if they replace him with someone from a different background, it signals that the show might as well be going in the direction of jazz hands, every week being a themed one, and all that malarkey, and it will lose that initial innocence (for wanting of a better world) that made us to connect with the show in the first place. The premise of the show was always a non dancer learning to dance so we could see their progress. I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say that I wouldn't watch it anymore but it would become a lot less interesting. To see a super ringer like Nicole Scherzinger entering the show here (like it happened in DWTS) it would be a total and complete killjoy. Where's the fun in seeing someone who is a trained dancer competing against a bunch of naturally non dancers?
Anton wouldn't work as a judge IMHO, he spent far too many years as a dancer on the show for that to work properly but I understand people mentioning him. I think Joanne is way too young despite being already retired from the competitive world. I suspect she would like to continue as a dancer on the show given the chance rather than going behind the desk. I don't mind Karen Hardy but I know a lot of people don't really like her. However, she's already got experience as a judge so it counts in her favour.
(God, I'm sorry for rambling, that's an awfully long post
)
It's sad to see to see him go because, after all, he's been part of the show since the beginning but he really has become a tad too big for his boots in the last couple of years. The outbursts and grumpiness, which were said to be due to his flying back and forth from America, were still there last year when he wasn't commuting weekly. I'm not going to deny that he is a charismatic person, and to fill his boots is going to prove a hard task.
What worries me is, he the only person with a ballroom and Latin background (which he could sometimes conveniently "forget" at his own accord when he had his pet favourites, but let's move on), and I hope they replace him with someone with the same background, from the same world.
Not that Len had any creative control but if they replace him with someone from a different background, it signals that the show might as well be going in the direction of jazz hands, every week being a themed one, and all that malarkey, and it will lose that initial innocence (for wanting of a better world) that made us to connect with the show in the first place. The premise of the show was always a non dancer learning to dance so we could see their progress. I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say that I wouldn't watch it anymore but it would become a lot less interesting. To see a super ringer like Nicole Scherzinger entering the show here (like it happened in DWTS) it would be a total and complete killjoy. Where's the fun in seeing someone who is a trained dancer competing against a bunch of naturally non dancers?
Anton wouldn't work as a judge IMHO, he spent far too many years as a dancer on the show for that to work properly but I understand people mentioning him. I think Joanne is way too young despite being already retired from the competitive world. I suspect she would like to continue as a dancer on the show given the chance rather than going behind the desk. I don't mind Karen Hardy but I know a lot of people don't really like her. However, she's already got experience as a judge so it counts in her favour.
(God, I'm sorry for rambling, that's an awfully long post
)
Originally Posted by 21stCenturyBoy:
“Christ, absolutely not.”
“Christ, absolutely not.”
I think James Jordan and his lovely wife have well & truly burnt their Strictly bridges over the last few years so I can't see either ever returning.
Originally Posted by FusionFury:
“I reckon James Jordan would be a good judge, in the same way people like Simon Cowell, no BS and gives it straight.
We already have the nicey nicey judges Bruno and Darcy, we need someone with a bit of fire in their belly who isn't scared about being unpopular.”
“I reckon James Jordan would be a good judge, in the same way people like Simon Cowell, no BS and gives it straight.
We already have the nicey nicey judges Bruno and Darcy, we need someone with a bit of fire in their belly who isn't scared about being unpopular.”
BIB
Have you not seen Craig's act ?
Jeremy Corbyn has just asked David Cameron in PMQs if his next move is to take over from Len Goodman on Strictly!
Would be nice to see a 2nd female in the role just to even out the panel a bit. For me I would love to see Flavia back as a judge 
Originally Posted by VicsMum:
“Anton wouldn't work as a judge IMHO, he spent far too many years as a dancer on the show for that to work properly”
“Anton wouldn't work as a judge IMHO, he spent far too many years as a dancer on the show for that to work properly”
I think Anton is probably one of the only dancers from the show who would work as a judge. All his old friends, bar Brendan, have left and he has never really been in any of the 'cliques' (Jordan, Clifton, BTF etc.). As a wrangler of the elderly and because of his own limitations, he's never really been in a position to be particularly competitive with any of the other pros so I don't think viewers would suspect favouritism or grudges. He's also one of the only pros that shows real 'TV personality' - even if it's one that a lot of people on here hate it seems to be popular with viewers in general.
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