Funnily enough that's exactly what Strictly was until series 8 at least...I'm always amazed how many people seem to forget that!

Of course it's not a dance competition in the proper sense, and it's never going to be a professional standard, I'm not expecting that. But there's a vast difference between taking it seriously and actually trying to do the dances properly on the one hand, and on the other spending 60 seconds out of 90 faffing around with swords or dragons or sofas rather than actually doing any dancing. The latter never has been and never will be entertaining to me, and I struggle to see how it is dancing at all! I actually don;t think Ed's the worst culprit for that at all, and it's clear Katya is actively trying to teach him proper technique, but for me the show has gone far too far down the route of props and gimmicks that just aren't necessary to create entertainment. It managed it without all the add-ons perfectly well for years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1a1wHxTyo

And yet its more popular now than it was back then. More viewers etc. I would say that's a fair indicator of what people want from the show. Of course, there's a different person in charge of the show now so with all the good press they get from it now, they'll just keep it as it is.

And with all your criticism of the props etc, you do have to bear in mind they are added in to help viewers get the tone and character of the dance straight away - especially those that are younger. And for celebs that are a bit more shy, it does allow them to come out of their shells etc. If Ed hadn't have been the mask or been his lumberjack etc, he'd have carried on being safe and subdued.

The current system benefits not just the viewers, for whom it is an entertainment show, but for those taking part.

You pigeon-holing it into the solely dance competition with no frills bracket would most likely shorten the life span of Strictly and mean they might struggle to get stars in future. It's the way it is now because it works.

To be honest, I can't think of anyone this year who hasn't been trying to dance properly. All the celebs seem to be quite serious about it. Of course there are varying abilities, but in terms of people taking it seriously this has been one of the best years.

Right from series one, Christopher Parker's dancing ability and his reaching the final, mainly because of his likeability and effort, was a point of controversy. I remember an interview on ITT where this was discussed with some of the strictly pros who were very supportive of him and Chris was quoted as asking what more could he do since he was trying his very best.

Well, all you people voting for Ed, I hope you feel responsible next time he tries a deadly lift and kills Katya dead on spot. You'll have blood on your hands, bloooooood!

f
Well he's running out of chances to kill Katya. Only the salsa and argentine tango left to do lifts, and those lifts tend to be more modest. . So I doubt I'll be washing the blood from my hands like Lady Macbeth.

Also there is a possibility that Katya contributed to the lift going wrong (noone has identified the cause of it going pear shaped as far as I am aware). It does happen with professionals. My dance teacher put his back out for a while after doing a lift with his professional partner.

I'm blaming Vicky WarDrobe and the slippy, satin culotte thing. Don't be taken in by the innocent and giggly demeanour ..... 👹☠️👻💣

I have voted for Ed but won't after this week, I only wanted him to make Halloween!

From the inception of the show we have been asked to vote for our favourite, not the best dancer, or funniest or most attractive.

What makes our favourite is probably a mix of all sorts. SCD has never been a pure dance competition, thank goodness.

Ed is a hoot

My mum votes for him. I am a Laura fan but been voting for Laura and Lesley.
I think it will be good if an older person won. Now that Lesley is out, I will be voting for Anastacia ( not a fan) and Laura. It will be good to have a different kind of winner.
Sick of all the 'Ringers' doing well. Kills the spirit of Strictly.

Most of the time, best dancer has won, but it's not fair on older celebs, they can't compete with younger celebs.

The people in his constituency didn't like him he's now a nothing in politics this is his last 15 minutes of fame.

for halloweeeeeeeen !!!!
ban the lifts , just keep the comedy ,

my vote for the balls

I haven't voted for him (or for anyone this series) but he's my 2nd fave!

Salsa is deadly, Ann. Highly dangerous.

not me

Well Katya is safe this week with cha cha.

I have been voting mainly for Danny and Ed.

Opposite ends of the spectrum but both deserving of votes IMO.

Danny is fabulous to watch and Ed is hilarious but also giving it his full commitment and trying very hard.

I think people like to vote for celebrities that try hard. Even though there are errors in Ed's perfermance, he is certainly trying his hardest.

I think it is sad that Ed can do really well in the public vote, getting thousands of votes more than most other celebrities, but the voting system can still place him in the dance-off, and once there is likely to eliminate him.

I thought it was from week 8 that the public favourite could be eliminated. Its not. It is every week (just a lot more improbable in the earlier weeks).

I wouldn't say that increasing viewer numbers= approval of the way a show has evolved; I never watched Bake Off in its early days, and only came to it last year. That wasn't because I disliked the way they did it in series 1, it was just that as it became more famous, I gave it a go to see what all the fuss was about. I daresay there's a lot of that mentality behind why so many more people now watch it than before- success in viewing figures breeds success.

Well after Ed's show stopping performance to Amarillo
His voting fan base may be growing to an unstoppable level of support .

Ed and shoulders above the rest in entertainment value

I like a good Balls up.
Are the judges moaning about him still being in yet? Once they start, I'll pitch him a vote or two, for the chaos factor.

BIB Groan!


BIB Double groan!!

That doesn't make sense to me. Surely we're not going to have a proportion of the 10 million audience watching for the sake of it or because they hate it? They're watching it now because its become more popular and more accessible while its opposition (on t'other side) regularly has its crisis after crisis.

If it had carried on in the way it had pre-makeover, then Strictly would most likely be on its last legs. Those wanting it to return to its more classic days don't seem to understand that in its current form, it is at its peak. You don't change something like that.