Anything they did would arguably be unfair to someone. Why go for an option that is definitely unfair on everyone? What you propose would be unnecessarily complicated and penalise all the couples for no reason.


Someone, somewhere, is going to be denied a dance-off as a result of this where they would otherwise have got one. It is better that it is done now and we lose an unpopular also-ran than do it later on in the competition and risk creating an even more controversial result.

This just proves they should scrap the dunce off completely - and go back to other series where the couple with the lowest combined points just left.

To use a public vote was a best way to solve this. Forcing the DO on Anastacia would equal to forcing her out of the show. If she now decides to leave it will be her decision and not because they cornered her and there was no other way out.

At least they'll know that's coming rather than having it dumped on them on the night itself with a sudden change of rules.


I agree with this. It's an unncessary addition; the judges have already had their say.

Right, so it's a choice between all fifteen celebs getting unfairly shafted but seeing it coming with a solution that will also create more problems down the line, versus just Melvin arguably being treated unfairly on the night itself.

And is reverting to the public vote in these circumstances really so unfair, or such a shifting of the goalposts? It seems to me to be the logical thing to do if the dance-off can't go ahead.

This forum is going to go into meltdown once the Results show has been viewed!!

They wouldn't be unfairly shafted, I'd argue that's an over-reaction to the proposal. And it wouldn't create more problems down the line - especially with Anastacia and Will both seemingly injured. Having an additional couple might actually work in their favour in case of withdrawals; they could even cancel the Dance Off for the semi final and eliminate two then. Shafted when more couples get further then they would otherwise?

Except when they got totally screwed by the judges tie in series 6, every results show has had an elimination. Do you seriously think they would even contemplate changing this just for series 16?

What if, when they decide to do a double elimination, the front-runner falls into the bottom two? Say if this had happened in the first elimination in 2013, and Tony Jacklin had been unable to perform in the dance-off and they skipped the elimination that week, then Natalie Gumede would have failed to make the final because they decided to be fairer on Tony.

You're not happy because you feel the solution the producers came up with was unfair on Melvin. I understand that, but at the same time I'm afraid I simply can't see that there was any other solution that was both workable and fair on everyone else.

Oh yes! and it is only week 2. The producers must be rubbing their hands at the publicity this will generate.

No way they gonna win this one. No matter what way they decided to go they were going to be hammered.
Wonder if viewing figures will go down a bit with people deciding to show their feelings in it.

ITT should be interesting on Monday. Will they will out a judge to explain?

uhh yes she couldn't dance therefore melvin should have gone through as she couldn't be judged on her dance in the dance off.

yes Melvin was not the greatest dancer and would have gone but she withdrew through injury therefore Melvin should have stayed by default. Why can't people get their heads around this?

Controversy usually boost viewing figures. Look at Bake Off after the hoo ha about selling it to C4.

I can see them reinstating Melvin next week if their is an outcry luckily Melvin was not a favourite had it been one of the favs out due to a low public vote and they were better would the decision still be justifiable they are lucky their was a high chance anatasicia would have stayed regardless.

And how does that tally with the fact that any injured couple gets a bye for a week? Surely sending Anastacia home automatically would have been contrary to that?

That's not going to happen.

Has not happened so far, when there were far more worthy returnees than Melvin.

I agree to be honest as I said previously said the only workable solution was maybe play a replay for her and let Melvin dance or replay both if that was fairer but then Melvin would have stayed bet it was craig idea he gave her 8 last week after all he wouldn't want her to be left outside alone

I agree but imagine if say Will Young was in bottom 2 and ended up leaving would peoplebe ok with the result then.

It's decided so no need to go around in circles, it won't change anything. Melvin will survive and if they were nice to a woman that has been through a lot then be it.

If Will danced worse than his opponent in the dance-off, or ended up bottom of the leaderboard overall, then yes.

True,but if I felt strongly enough about it I'd switch off until Anastasia was dumped out of the show, then start watching again. Might not make much difference to the Beeb but ar least I'd have had the courage of my convictions,as it were, and I voted for her. But she did not do well in the show, she should not have danced at all by the look of it. but hey ho it's all done now.

*prepares for outcry*

In two minds about the result, and really, Strictly can't win either way.

While reverting to the public vote shows that Melvin was, obviously, least popular with viewers. So if people scream fix then it can't be fixed as Melvin didn't do well in the votes!

But no dance off does seem unfair, and you can argue that Anastasia is favoured far more than Melvin by NOT doing the dance off. But then again, if Anastasia was made to do the dance off people would call it cruel and unnecessary for someone who is in pain to dance again.

They can't win. The Strictly forum will go into meltdown very soon!

So true. I'm off to watch and have a rum and ginger beer.