I don't mind Brendan, he can obviously still cut it with the younger dancers if you watch the pro dances on Sundays.

Can't stand Anton, because he always makes it more about him than his partner (the antithesis of the show's ethos). I've long nurtured a desire to see a summer Strictly spin off where celebs who didn't do well (mostly with Anton) come back for a second chance to try with a different teacher

Watching Ian tonight on ITT showed what a great loss he was to the show . A great teacher and dancer and great fun . Shame on whoever removed him from the main show . Certainly far more entertaining then Mr. Cole .

I find Anton irritating at times and wouldn't miss him but I would miss Brendan. He still can really dance.

I could never work out why they disposed of Lilia, Ian or Matthew.

Why is age even a consideration? Most of this thread seems to be about how old Anton and Brendan are, not how well they work, dance, teach, perform or get on with their collegues or the crew. It's not as if the show is aimed at the 18- 25 demographic. Nor is ballroom dancing particularly the province of younger people. I don't understand why there is a seeming need to avoid having anyone over 45 on TV?

No need to avoid it at all - now, can we just have a couple of female pro's of the same age ...

Get's my vote.

Because they are very much liked by many people, myself included. We don't all need new faces all the time and enjoy the tried and tested. I wish Matthew was there as well.

Well said. Anyway, that's why there are different programmes for different people. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than watch the execrable The Voice, but I understand that a lot of people enjoy it.

How lovely - NOT. Ditch two pro's who have given us hours of enjoyment to exchange them for the oil slick that was Gleb. I had nothing against him but he lacked depth and I thought a lot of his choreography was pants. He has gone to the land of glitz and that should suit him better.

Mine too. She's not old but I would love Erin to return.

Well said, they need a steady person to turn to if things go wrong. These two are now the Rocks of SCD and some of the newbies need that. Look at last weekend , the story is that Brendan lost it about the DO and Anton was the only one to calm him. Also these two have the sense of the old days of ballroom etc and not so much like the fast razzmatazz of Gleb (when he was there ) and the like. Some of the younger dancers always say they look up to Brendan and Anton, as they were the ones to get their interest in dancing.
I know some on here are anti Anton and Brendan but there's not many to stay the course like these two and to be fair once some of gone do we ever see or hear of them again??

Good post! I never took to Gleb.

Re:Anton. The same arguments often regurgitated but I don't think they're always necessarily true. For example it's often argued that Anton makes it all about himself and that he can't dance Latin. And yet I thought he danced a perfectly reasonable cha-cha (technically) on Saturday that allowed Lesley to take centre stage.

Re: Brendan. Yes he does seem to have got his mojo back although I am hoping that recent events will not reduce some of his enthusiasm.

Anton's USP is that he's content with dancing with a partner of certain age and thus having fewer chances of winning. Other male dancers are very competitive. They could make them take an old partner once and then they would be off somewhere they could make a bigger impression. This way everybody's happy.

My favourite fact re : Anton's Latin is that he's been eliminated FAR more often on ballroom.

Lesley G : Jive & Quickstep
Esther : Tango
Patsy : Jive & American Smooth
Jan : Viennese Waltz
Kate : Paso Doble
Gillian : Foxtrot
Laila : Salsa & American Smooth
Ann : American Smooth
Nancy : Rumba
Jerry : Quickstep
Fiona : American Smooth
Judy : Viennese Waltz
Katie : Quickstep & Showdance

Arguably Nancy's dances of either genre defied restrictions, descriptions and definitions, so really the only time in 13 series he's been cut on his latin alone was with Kate.

Can I broaden this out to why are certain pros chosen at all?

Is it because they come as a package?

Whilst Janette is fearless and great at Latin, her ballroom still leaves a lot to be desired, her tango dancing last week was shocking, she looked like trotting pony.
Surely there is a big enough pool of dancers that you could have someone good in both.

The list of female pros dropped good in both include Erin, Katya, Iveta. Now I know babies are part of the reason that some females didn't want to do one year but for Heavans sake any other proffession women return to the workplace.

You should probably also look at an entertainment factor of those dances. One could argue that he went for joke Latin routines more often than joke ballroom ones. People like when he entertains them. The moment he gives them a straight routine they may turn to somebody else.

It's odd even though Brendan has been there as long as Anton I don't have any problem with Brendon, especially this year his pairing with Anastasia seems a good one. I really think Anton has been far less bareable since Erin finished. She softened his brash cheesy edges. There's no way I'd like him on the judging panel. I'm up for Karen Hardy for that job!

I don't think Anton should be a judge, Karen Hardy maybe.

Neither Anton or Karen for judging please.

Someone unknown on TV but well respected in the dance world would be good.

The wicked part of me wishes this too.

Haven't you worked out that he often has to?????

Agree. I'm no expert so just enjoy what I see - and I always look forward to Anton's routines because they are so entertaining. He has been my favourite pro from day one and I would be devastated if he left.

I really liked all the original Pros and would love to see any of them back - especially Darren & Leila.