You can call it prejudice it you like; I've known Anton from the days when he was still known as Tony Beke, and sometimes prejudice is caused by reason.

He maybe qualified with ballroom, but knows precious little about Latin, especially the technique; he admits he dislikes it, which is his right, but more to the point he has no respect for it. I want to see a head judge who has a good knowledge of both ballroom AND Latin.

And I'm not sure whether or not he gets on 'famously' well (really?) with the other judges has any bearing whatsoever.

There is a much simpler solution
none of the present judges were household names prior to being located onto SCD
apart from ballet lovers
So let's have. a brand new panel of judges
Do'nt tell me the dance world cannot offer up 3/4 entertaining knowledgeable New faces

Providing at least one is from the world of ballroom and Latin, I'd be happy with a brand new panel. There are indeed plenty who dancers would recognise.

Some are claiming Australian judge Helen Richey could be the replacement as she meets all their diversity targets . Could be true as targets and quotas seem to rule today with companies .

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

She seems a good choice but its still only speculation . It could be someone completely out of left field . Whoever thought they'd pick a ballet dancer to replace Arlene .

Or even a former SCD contestant...

If Helen Richey meets *every* diversity target then they don't have many of them.

Craig has just said on breakfast tv that he does not want to be head judge; he likes his current role. He would like the role to go to an unknown ( presumably he means unknown to Strictly audience).

So either he is far more realistic about what is required than posters on here or he knows what the BBC have planned.

I don't know much about her, but looking at the panel, the biggest diversity box is still to be ticked.

Or he knows the BBC have been talking to several well known (in the dance world) Judges - think he is right about bringing soneone in from outside the Strictly or DWTS world

I'm not keen on the 3 judges idea. We'd have so many more ties (which already affects the distribution of points too much) and you couldn't really compare scores across series if some dances are out of 30 and others out of 40.

I think this is possibly true. I do know of one coach/judge who has been "spoken to". That person has said categorically he is not interested.

I think the idea of liking the 3 judges idea comes from it would then be impossible to have a tie in the dance off, and therefore no need to have a head judge.

I agree.

Does anyone have any idea on when we'll find out who the new judge is?

Probably about this time next year; why would it be any earlier?

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but are we only gonna have 3 judges this year?

Yes I see how it overcomes that particular issue but like I say it potentially throws up other ones. I'd rather eliminate the dance-off altogether but never gonna happen!

All four will be there. It's Len last year, so we are guessing who would replace him for next season.

OHHH. I'm sorry!

I feel stupid now

No, you are not. This shows that you have a life, unlike some of us, who are just hanging around on this thread.

Haha

No need to feel stupid, and certainly no need to apologise.

There's 2 pretty long threads about who will replace Len, so not surprising if some thought Len had already left.