If Judy/A N Other were bottom of the combined leaderboard then they would go. Anastasia didn't stay because she was injured, she stayed because she wasn't rock bottom on the combined leaderboard - that was Melvin.

No I understand that. I don't need that explaining! I was putting Judy in the same situation as Anastacia. Let's say she has hit the bottom two for the first time because of a slight loss in popularity (she's starting to outstay her welcome) but is still not bottom. She would stay in because she was injured and refused to do the dance off and that would cause a massive outcry. That's why I'm saying the rules have to work generically, and you should not be influenced by the result you wanted this time.

With the dance-off unable to go ahead, they decided to revert to the public vote. Is that really that unfair? Was there another workable solution?

This is only my take on it and nothing to back up. I have no doubt Anastacia must be carrying a small injury, but I think she must have wanted to dance on the show to show the viewers that she is a tough cookie, but I am sure Brendon and Anastacia never would have thought that they would end in the bottom two. so when that happened they just had to survive. I have know problem with going for lowest public votes, but do feel sorry for Mevin. Because it's Anastacia, who was saved, I can't see the social media going with conspiracy theory.

Yes - put everyone through and carry the votes/judge's score across to week three. They'd also have a back up in place in case Anastacia's injury forces her to withdraw as well, so they're not left with less couples in the final then they would like.

See Brendan's blog on DS. Anastasia had a problem with her shoulder and he had been in a small car accident.

Thanks for that heather.... Gutted for Brendan, Anastasia, Melvin and Jeanette

And maybe next week Ed, Melvin and Lesley end up bottom three because Anastasia gets a sympathy bounce. How is that any fairer.

In that case then, the one not bottom stays I don't think it's so much she refused to do the dance off, as she was signed off as medically unfit to do the dance off. It will be interesting to see what happens this week as technically she is still eligible for a bye.

Let's face it, there's massive outcries when Len has the casting vote/when someone is hauled through numerous dance offs/any manner of things. A celeb going because they are least popular doesn't really twitch the conspiracy antenna.

This is just carrying the chain on though, and asking for more problems. Is it fair if, for example, Naga does a great dance next week but is still at the bottom end of the leaderboard due to her first two scores holding her back? It's for the best they made the decision now, there's so many ways this can be made more complicated and less transparent a process. The scoring of the first half of the final of Series 6 was an impenetrable mess, and they were only carrying three people over there.

It would have been an absolute nightmare to execute, not least having one more couple each week and having to reschedule all the live shows. They would've had to have a double elimination at some point to make up for it - would they just scrap the dance-off and automatically eliminate the bottom two? Surely that's open to accusations of moving the goalposts and being unfair on whoever got the boot as a result? It simply wouldn't have been workable in practice.

EDIT: also, what Monkseal said ^

It should be scrapped because the Judges can't be relied upon to do the right thing,

IIRC the dance off is supposed to save the couple who dance the best, and demonstrate that they have attempted to take heed of the constructive criticism they have received, but I can't say that I ever believe wholeheartedly that to be the case. It would never go to the public vote based on a hung panel if this was the case.

In the instance that they both had danced last night and Melvin HAD picked up his performance and danced the better, he would have (if the judges did their job properly) been saved........isn't that what we keep spouting SCD is all about - non dancers showing improvement week on week...

The fact that they didn't get the opportunity to do so doesn't seem fair and I agree with other posters that if they (eg production team via Tess) didn't declare a "bye" for A&B, then Melvin should have gone through on virtue of the fact that Anastacia couldn't dance.

They didn't even have to reveal teh result necessarily though; just allude to injuries. Besides, everyone gets an additional week to dance - if they're not good enough in the eyes of the judges and the public after three dances then so be it.


The first half of the series six final was simplicty itself... or at least it should have been. The semi final result was revealed then everyone danced, the judges scored for guidance only, the votes got talied together.

I did allude to an issue with revealing the public vote this time around and maybe that's why they decided to cut someone. But people are saying it might not be fair on x, y or z in the metaphorical future but I don't think it's fair on Melvin to go without having a second bit of the cherry to save himself, like every other couple who have performed since the Dance Off was introduced.

And how does that tally with the fact that couples who can't dance on the live show are allowed a week's bye?

It was a difficult situation, and whatever decision the powers that be made would have gone down badly with some people. I believe they went with the right one.

Edit - Just thought of the reason for it.

I assume this is only being proposed as theoretically possible. It would in no way enhance the show.

It is a results show. They will still announce the result.

Am I just being dense here?

What is the alternate meaning to "just read up"? As far as I am aware, it means just that - that someone has read something.

Does "just read up" mean something else entirely?

There hasn't always been a dance off and those who haven't seen this thread are awaiting the result.

Yeah, I realised that almost as soon as I pressed "submit reply".

You can't do that. How do you even tally the public vote in that case? People voted for the dances they saw this week and last. What if next week they want to vote for someone else? What if their favourite has a nightmare next week but their votes from this week inadvertently help that person stay out of the dance off over their favourite? People based upon where people were in the leaderboard yesterday, carrying the votes over would cause more ruckus than anything.

Nope, that would be FAR too big a can of worms to open.

The show did the only thing it could - throw it back to the points. When the points are tied then it's public vote that wins anyway. Tbh that's how it should work if the judges can't decide.

Melvin was the least popular his total points were a long way below Anastacia - if he'd been against Naga, Ed or Lesley he might have stood a chance but he was never staying against her.

The system in place does not allow for any circumstances in which a celebrity can eliminate themselves. Therefore, without a dance off, the alternative is eliminating the couple with the lowest public vote.

The biggest issue for me with the whole dance off business, is where the judges repeatedly save a couple who are clearly not popular with the public. Which leads to further backlash with accusations of judges pets.

As they appear to like the dance off for the results show, I do think that when the judges are tied on who should leave, the public vote takes precedence. Then that might upset the losing celebrity as it would clearly show their lack of support from the votes.

I think musicangel fell foul of posting shorthand - she put 'just read up' as in I've just read up ... and it was read as an instruction to another poster to, in effect, go and read up.

Too many reads and reds

For these very reasons, I'm surprised there is anything contentious at all about the decision.

Melvin was pretty rubbish, and not even in an Ed Balls "at least he's giving it his best shot, and it's entertaining" kind of way. If Anastacia hadn't been injured, nobody would have questioned the decision to eliminate Melvyn. He was the worse dancer of the two.

Completely fair and correct decision imo.

Aaaah I see! I was beginning to think I had failed to grasp some trendy new buzz phrase!

Thanks for clarifying that. Apparently then, I read the original comment in the context in which it was intended.