I like them when they are used properly . I don't like them being part of the routine itself , like when they pass props to the pro/celeb . My pet hate is when they actually get in hold with a celeb or pro . Keep them faffing around on the sidelines sitting at cafe tables/benches, or in the background not being overly dancey .

Dont like them.

Yes, I agree that they should be in the background, not dancing directly with the couple.

Not when they get between the couple and the cameras.
Not ever.

Yay:
Danny & Oti
Ed & Katya
Ore & Joanne

Nay:
Claudia & AJ

Waste of Vicky Gill's precious time & sanity:
Rinder & Oksana
Greg & Nat
Louise & Kevin

A definite Nay for me, distracting for the audience and must be distracting for the couples too, since they are surely not there during training.

I don't like the space-fillers at blackpool.
They only really worked in Danny's dance because the timing was impeccable.

There is absolutely no need for backing dancers, just as there's absolutely no need for props either.

Neither will ever make the celeb look good!

Jo managed to choreograph a dramatic routine that used the backing dancers perfectly and kept the focus on her and Ore.

No one else did last night, in my opinion. Louise's paso was lost. Poor Claudia seemed invisible. Rob Rinder's rather good salsa was obscured by bodies...

On balance, they can bugger off. If they don't add energy or drama, what good are they?

After Jake Wood's AT, nay, nay and most certainly NAY.

Unless they're in the background like Simon and Kristina's waltz.

Big fat nay for me usually, there have been the odd occasions when they've worked though but not many.
I didn't mind them in Natalie & Artem's Charleston or in Jay & Aliona's Samba.

Agreed. It didn't help with Louise that she was dressed identically to the backing dancers - I kept losing her in the crowd. Really no need for them at all.

Definetely Nay. I find them too distracting and do not really see a point in having them there.

Absolute NO . They made what was an appalling nights so called entertainment much worse . Confused the whole situation . Even the idiotic director was spending time showing them instead of the couple we were supposed to be watching .

I tried to watch a recording of it today and had to give up . A complete and utter noisey, confusing mess .

NAY. Mostly they add nothing and just get in the way.

It's a tricky one. You can understand why they have backing dancers, why at Blackpool anyway. It's such a huge dance hall and the contestestants would look lost within the vastness of the floor. But invariably what happens is there are too many of them so much so that you end up not seeing the main contestants and it always looks quite manic.
The only time I think it paid off and looked very good was last year with Kevin and the actress from eastenders whose name escapes me. That was a very good piece of stage management

No No No

Keep the backing dancers
Keep the scripted VTs
Keep the stupid costumes
Keep the absolutely ridiculous song choices
Keep the sporadic scoring
Keep the inconsistent judges comments

Keep ignoring the fans and watch the show crash and burn.

I seriously think the show is on its way out. It's become far too controlled by the producers to the point that it's suffocating.

My views on backing dancers can be summed up in four words:

Fecking. Stupid. Dancing. Teapots.

Nay nay nay.

AND don't get me started on the camerawork. Couldn't see a thing. Especially Louise's paso.

The key is to know how to use them. They should amplify one's performance and not detract from it. The problem is that a lot of pros don't usually use them well in their routines. I absolutely loved them in Danny's Charleston because they made the routine even more special without taking the focus from oti and Danny. On the other hand, they were absolutely terrible in Louise and Claudia routines because I could barely see the main couples in the first place , all they accomplished in these routines was to make the routine even more messy




So Yay and Nay op.

NAY

They're distracting.

They don't stick to the back most of the time, meaning you can't even see the dancing couple.

I believe they only get limited time to practice with them so often half the dance is rehearsed without their bits included.

They make mistakes and the celeb gets the blame - One bumping into Jake, one nearly dropping Georgia.

It give the pro's an excuse to fill a non-lift dance full of lifts because apparently it doesn't count if the woman's lifted by other dancers.

They ruin the 'mood' of a lot of dances- They were good in the part of Louise's Paso where they pushed Kevin away but I felt the rest of it would have a lot more impact had it just been the two of them.



Yes they worked for Jay's Salsa and do have to mention Kellie's Quickstep last year but for the most part they just ruin the dance. What's the point of going to Blackpool to use the big floor only to fill it with large props and dancers? Couple's survived long enough without backing dancers at Blackpool, don't know why it was suddenly decided they need them.

No. They're off putting and distracting. I like to focus on the main couple.

I agree - I genuinely have no idea whether Louise's paso was any good or not. Identical costume awful camera work "backing" dancers between her and the camera. I found it really annoying. I suspect she was good but really dont know

As for backing dancers in general its a nay from me - the best that can be said for Saturday was they didn't spoil Dannys Charlstonm, though I dont think they really added much either, and they were a helpful distraction in Ed's jive

a big no from me