Some interesting names mentioned on the list for who will replace Len for next year's show:

Anton Du Beke clear favourite with the bookies so far!

My money is on Louie Spence, he would be brilliant!

The full list is:

Anton Du Beke 5/2
Karen Hardy 6/1
Robin Windsor 8/1
Mandy Moore 10/1
Brendan Cole 16/1
John Meehan 16/1
Erin Boag 20/1
Donny Osmond 25/1
Wayne Sleep 25/1
Andrew Lloyd Webber 50/1
Caroline Flack 100/1
Nigel Lythgoe 100/1
Arlene Phillips 5/1
Ian Waite 7/1
Gleb Savchenko 10/1
Tom Chambers 10/1
Jason Gilkison 16/1
Louie Spence 16/1
Kimberley Wyatt 20/1
Jay McGuiness 25/1
Ashley Banjo 33/1
Michael Flatley 50/1
Lisa Riley 100/1

http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/e/9600742/Strictly+Come+Dancing+-+To+Be+A+Judge+in+2017.html

Anton

Lets just say that my opinion differs from yours.

According to the press today, there is another candidate not listed above....

http://metro.co.uk/2016/08/14/strict...odman-6066344/

Anyone know anything about her?

I thought Jason Gardiner was in the running?

Thanks for that. Don't know anything about her at all, but she might be a good solution to the problem.

Anton will be very upset...

she is well qualified to judge and was head judge on DWTS Australia - but I know of a few others who have been 'interviewed' by the BBC all eminently qualified so makes me wonder if anton has ever been in the running

Only in the Daily Mail, probably

Helen Richey is Australian; she was a great dancer, an excellent coach of both ballroom and Latin. She has also judged high ranking competitions. She would make a formidable judge for Strictly.

Oh no no no no PLEASE NO. You can't seriously think he is qualified to judge ballroom and Latin dance?

I would say not just yours but everybody's ! Louie is a joke - nobody would be keen on him for Strictly, same for Jason Gardiner. Nobody on the William Hill list either - some of the suggestions are ridiculous. I like the sound of the Australian lady - now she's got excellent credentials by the sound of her, which is important.

I think the bookies are just having a laugh with that list.
The only people I would say were credible are Karen and Ian, with Nigel Lythgoe as an outsider.
But, I mean, seriously - Andrew Lloyd Webber? Louie Spence? Donny Osmond?
Though even they would be preferably to Jason Gardiner, the spiteful little whatnot.

(And much as I love Jay, no, no, no.)

I do agree about the bookies having a laugh; either that or it just proves how dismissive they are of scd.

I have to speak up for Jason G. The part he played on DOI was just that - a part. He was told to be the "evil" judge to spice up the show. Sometimes it was thought he went too far, but he got people talking, the media included, which of course was the whole point. In real life Jason is a really nice guy. The same as Craig is totally different when away from his judging chair.

The bookies aren't having a joke, they're angling for publicity in newspapers to promote themselves, and there's no doubt a little bit of hoping to get money off stupid people (ie 95% of bookmaking).

Craig can be a harsh judge without offending people. The same cannot be said for Jason Gardiner.

Yes, but if Jason Gardiner became a judge, he would no doubt be expected to have the same personality as he did as a judge on DOI, and do we really need both Craig and Jason playing that same role? Besides, I'd rather see a 10-dance expert replace Len on the panel, otherwise there won't be any judges who are actually experts in latin/ballroom.

BIB yes most definatley. Jason is actually a nice guy, I'm guessing you didn't watch him on stepping out? at least he knows ballroom and Latin and its what we need for Strictly and he will not mince his words at all. if it was upto me the panel would be Craig, Arlene, Jason and Louie

Using : knowing ballroom and Latin and then Craig in the Same sentence is a contradiction in terms

Craig knows his ballroom and latin

Craig's knowledge of ballroom and latin is limited - sometimes when he makes a critique I actually cringe at his lack of knowledge

Me too, actually I cringe at a lot of their technical critique - Len aside

Lol, wouldn't be surprised if people now thought that ballroom technique is mainly about hands and fingers based on Craig's comments. It's particularly weird when he makes it a big deal in a ballroom routine (Latin American and American Smooth, I can understand more but even then not with that emphasis and to the exclusion of everything else).

Although it is great that someone with extensive ballroom and latin knowledge is being considered, I would find Helen Richey a slightly unexciting choice and can't help but feel a bit disappointed. I think I'm being a bit demanding!

I said that Jason was actually a nice guy, I didn't say I thought he should be a strictly judge. As you rightly say, Len needs to be replaced by someone with his type of expertise and knowledge of ballroom and Latin.

And don't forget 'arms', which is about all Darcey seems able to comment on.

Craig danced ballroom when he was a kid in Australia, but that doesn't mean he understands technique - which like Bruno, and especially Darcey - he doesn't.