Craig to replace Len as Head Judge.
With Anton also on the judging panel.

As reported by:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...ead-judge.html

Hope not, but it just looks like the DM reporting on speculation in The Mirror at the moment.

From the Mirror:
But show sources say bosses won’t be making any firm decisions until Len’s stint ends. The new series starts next month. The insider said: “There’s no rush, but they have their early favourites"

They should scrap it and make everyone equal.

No to Anton.

When it says ' a TV insider ' or a source on the show ' you know that it's all speculation and they actually have no more of a clue than anyone else. Plus it's a year away and anything might happen between now and then. Many a slip 'twixt cup and lip, as they say .

press are just speculating at the moment I think, do not thinnk the BBC have made up their minds on anyone - do know they have aproached 4 or 5 people from dance world so do not think Anton is a shoo in at all

Definitely scrap the head judge role after Len leaves at the end of the series. Ties decided by public vote.

O/T but also in the article, I love that Claudia was inspired by Louis to take part.

I agree about going to the public vote in the event of a tie but I also think that making Craig head judge is the right thing to do and adding Anton to the panel is also the best move for the show.

I go with you but I don't think they'll want to look like XF going to the public deadlock with a tie

Much as I like Craig, Head Judge needs to be someone with an in depth genuine knowledge of ballroom and Latin dancing, as that is what the show is meant to be based around.

And a definite NO to Anton.

The best way to achieve both would be to leave it as 3 judges, then no need for a head judge and definitely NO need for Anton.

They could get away with having Craig as head judge if the new judge is someone with a similar vague dance background rather than ballroom and latin, but giving him more power than someone who really knew what they were talking about would look silly. I don't know why they need four judges - by the time it gets to Darcy she usually just 'agrees with the boys' anyway.

They should just get rid of the dance off and then there'd be no need for a Head Judge. Taking it to the public vote in the event of a tie would just lead to a load of X Factor style "I'M GOING TO LET THE PUBLIC DECIDE" grandstanding.

I certainly hope Craig won't replace Len as Head Judge! Even I as a non-dancer can see that his knowledge of latin/ballroom technique is minimal.

Either have a Head Judge who knows what they're talking about, or scrap the Head Judge's deciding vote when there's a tie in the dance-off and let the public vote decide the tie.

This wouldn't be a bad move in my opinion. Obviously Craig ins't the most knowledgeable about all things dancing and doesn't know the ins and outs of both disciplines, but he's a part of the Strictly family.

I don't think the general public would take well to a new judge coming in and taking top spot, if that was to ever happen.

Oh, and Anton as a judge is for me the logical thing to do. I honestly don't get the hate for him which this forum is full of. People on here do realise they are against the majority view on him when you take in the general public, don't they?

He is the pro that 'gets' what Strictly is best of all. Some take it far too seriously for its own good.

Oh, and keep the show away from the bottom two being decided on public votes. Then it is just a popularity contest, and when fanbases get too involved it can spoil proceedings (Jay last year - yes I know he wasn't in the bottom two, but my point still stands)

Having just 3 judges would work ok, and, as you say, do away with the need for a Head judge.

Even so, at least 1 judge needs to have a real knowledge of bb/Latin, so that would still mean finding a proper replacement for Len, and then dumping one of the remaining.

But not having anyone on the panel who really knows what he/she is talking about makes the whole thing look silly.

Agree with the 3 judges, I've said this for a while - save some money and avoid controversy with split votes.

However my panel of preference would probably be Bruno, Anton & Karen Hardy! *ducks for cover*

BIB - No need for that.

I think Craig is has cemented his place in the judging panel and will be hard to get rid of him.

I think Katen will be good, but can't see it happening.

NO NO NO to Anton.

I'd like Craig to remain as a panel member so his critiques can remain unfettered by any constrants the "Headship" might confer.
Big fat NO to Anton being a judge.
Let's have someone old school from the dance world to get the gig - new talent instaed of a retread.

Hear hear - Craig talks a load of codswallop in his critiques but it sounds as though he knows what he's talking about - even when he doesn't!. He hasn't got the knowledge of ballroom and Latin dance to be head judge - and his role as Mr Nasty and supercritical is not what is needed in that position either.

I wouldn't really mind seeing Anton there - but I'd really rather it was a bona Fide REAL judge taking over

To be honest, Anton is actually a REAL judge, as he has judged many comps. However, he's a big no no for me.

Yes, he's knowledgeable and can talk very sensibly when he wants to .

When he wants to...

I suspect he wouldn't gel with the other judges - so perhaps an unknown, straight-talking expert judge would be the best solution. Craig would be OK as head judge - it's only a bit of fun, after all.

So, he's more than qualified as a dancer, has previous judging experience, would make the transistion easy (the key thing for regular Strictly viewers and the general public) but you don't want him.

Have an Anton prejudice per chance?


So, you suspect on something completely unfounded. He gets on famously well with all the judges, don't know why you think he wouldn't gel? Have you got an Anton prejudice too?

Craig could still be mean, Bruno can still be mad, Darcey can still letch after each good looking man and Anton could be the entertaining, friendly judge. You know, the one who celebs could respect a lot too because he knows the show extremely well, been there done it etc.

I'd take a lot more from Anton's critiques than the others if I'm honest because he understands Strictly so well...

Isn't Anton's humour the wrong style for a judge - faux serious comments?

Er, I actually said he was (when he wants to be) a good judge. And I actually quite like him.

I have no anti-Anton prejudice - it's just that he always wants to take over the show (in his own banal way). Not good when you have egos like Craig and Bruno too. At least with Len you have an ego who isn't trying to out-bizarre the other two.

If Anton could turn off the silliness, he'd be OK. But I doubt he can.