When I was a child, Bruce was a brilliant entertainer. However, that was 30+years ago!

His double entendres now are just embarrassing, as is the way he hustles the contestants off so he can have his chat to camera. I am afraid I watch "the other side" and tape SCD, purely so I can fast forward through all the Brucie bits and just watch the dancing and the judges. It certainly makes the show much shorter!

We seem to be forgetting that these Brucie interludes which seem to annoy people so much are a necessary part of the show. They are BRIEF (so brief that i am astounded by people's OTT reaction to them) links to give the contestants time to make it up the stairs to Tess.

Look, even I accept that Brucie isn't half as good as he was in his prime. I see that as an ASSET to this show. He fits the pitch of the whole programme perfectly.

I do agree that he needs to stop talking over the judges, but the rest of his performance is absolutely fine. In fact, the show is all the better for it! I cringe too and i enjoy doing so.

Perhaps he has to talk over the judges because if he let them go on, the programme would overrun - it's the hardest part of a live show with so much logistical stuff including timings; I think he's doing his best to control all these people.

Gillypand,

Firstly, you say that over thirty years ago Bruce Forsyth was good entertainer. Name three GOOD entertainers on mainstream UK television today! You won't find it easy!

Secondly, SCD is not a format that gives Bruce the scope to entertain in the way he could so on the Generation Game and as the ever sensible Trem Two points out the one-liners simply serve the purpose of getting the dancers into the arms of Tess. To be honest, I wish they'd give Bruce a chance to do the ad-lib patter he's so capable of with the couples. Then you really would see what an entertainer he is!

No, I wasn't actually!!

So glad I have an ally here Gillypand! Some of the posters don't remember him in his heyday and I am sure those of us that do, can see how his presentation and comedy skills have rusted. His "jokes" to camera become more of a struggle for him to read the autocue so the timing is completely lost. Where are his little looks to camera across his shoulder that was his "trademark" (as if to say to the audience at home "Blimey, look at the state of her/him etc). The whole point of Bruce was his act and the way he really delivered to the audience. I guess he was taken on because he was an old pro and has dancing in his genes etc., but if you didn't know his past history you would think you were looking at a really bad amateur. Sometimes he makes Tess Daley look competent and I never thought I'd say that!

Janie B

I agree entirely. I grew up watching Brucie every Saturday and I don't remember him being smutty then either. Now he just seems to want to be on camera all the time, the celebrities are just incidentals.

When he did the Generation Game he seemed genuinely interested in the contestants, with as you say, the over the shoulder looks that we were all thinking.

I think he should be pensioned off to enjoy his golf and his family!

I repeat, Gillypand!

Yes I read you! I know it's not the same format as Generation Game etc, but it's just the way he does things nowadays. It doesn't seem to flow with him and is most of the time downright embarrassing.

There are very few natural entertainers nowadays I agree, but just because Brucie was 30 years ago is no reason to drag him off the golf course today.

Did you see the photos of celebs in a magazine earlier this month? They put Brucie with Vernon Kay +another who I can't remember. The picture was fab, with Bruce doing one of "his looks" and is how I would like to remember him, not as a jaded old fellow desperate for the limelight one more time!

PS Easylistener, you're not the lovely Mrs Forsythe are you???

I dont mind the links he has to do to let the dancers get up the stairs to Tess but its when the judges are trying to speak and he completely cuts over them! i mean that is what they are there for even if they do dole out a lot of negative thoughts.

Mind Tess isn't much better, i cant stnd her accent, i loved it when Natasha was presenting, she brought a bit of class back to the presenting part of the show.

Hey guys - I know this is an open forum and I love that everyone feels it's a safe place to voice their opinion but do you not think that 'accent' is a really unfair thing to rate someone on?

It's essentially the same thing as blaming someone for their skin colour or the amount of money their parents earn. The accents of this country are what make English so beautiful and I know we can't help which accents we find easy on the ear or not, but it is not an issue when discussing someone's skill as a presenter. Thye do not choose where they were born or brought up or lived.

Ok just had to say that - can we get back to the sequins?

My problem with Tess is I can't see her link to dancing. It was so lovely with Natasha being able to say she had actually been there. I think it was supportive to for the celebrities.

Yes - that is quite fair. Part of me feels that there might be a bit too much 'history' there though. I know they're all adults and have moved on but Brendan and Camilla are still on the show and perhaps it's better to have someone where there is no question of partiality.

Bruce and Tess have not stopped us all from growing to love the show. They have let the dancers and all other aspects of this wonderful entertainment shine on their own and perhaps it's ok to criticise them because we have the luxury of doing so in the programme's THIRD series?

The links are a minor part of the show and Bruce as a figurehead gives the show some pedigree. He does represent Mr Saturday night and I like that he is as shambolic as I am - do we want a slick and glossy Americanised version like Dancing with the Stars?

What about Terry Wogan not Anton he has to dance

I've never liked Bruce in any show ever, but I think he is right for this one.

Especially after I see some of the suggested alternatives.

Vernon Kay?
Graham Norton?
Justtin Lee Collins?

This is supposed to be mainstream entertainment with the focus on dancing, not the cultish, in-joke ridden, focus on the presenter rubbish that JLC would make it.

I don't think there's much chance of Natasha having anything to do with presenting SCD again to be honset, she wants to go down the 'serious' route and I see that she is going to be doing the 6 o'clock news shortly for a while.

Please God no, not Natasha on the 6 o'clock news?!?! That's me switching to ITV then. Sorry but I really don't like the woman, one of those people (along with Fiona Phillips, Carol Vorderman and Carol Smilie) that for no apprent reason I cant stand. Maybe it's their over exposure - well not in Fiona's case though.

If she started presenting SCD again I think I would have to start watching X-Factor and recording it. Cannot stand her.

I love Tess and I agree I think it's unfair to say she's not fit for the job because she has a northern accent. Does that mean that all presenters should have southern accents because they're more 'classy'?

Sorry rant over......

Yeah, I know sorry
She is apparently covering maternity leave for the girl who is currently on the 6 o'clock (her name escapes me ... can see her face ......... urgh, gone!)
And Sian Williams, I think, is taking over in the interim for Natasha at Breakfast (so some good does come out of it )

Her name is Sophie Rayworth

Thank you!

I love northern accents and would love to have them all over the TV! I think the reason I dislike Tess's voice is because she's so strident. I positively hate Kate Thornton's even more strident southern accent.

I remember someone saying that they saw Tess Daly when watching a shoe being filmed. Apprantly, she's all sweetness and light in front of the cameras, but as soon as the cameras are swicthed off, she's a right little madam. Does anyone know if this is true, because I always thought she seemed like a genuinely nice person.

Ive heard something similar to this but maybe it's an urban myth. I think it was something to do with the t.v programme 'Faking It'. Someone was faking it as a t.v producer on a kids morning show and T.D was v rude to said 'fake producer'.

Talking of kids morning shows, did anyone see Bruno on Sunday Morning? He was teaching a 'routine' which involved the moves (I kid you not) 'smelly armpits' and 'no,no,no mate'. It was a SCD fans dream! I love him! He's fabulous darling!

Ohhh, I love Bruno Tonioli too. He's so funny and lovely.
Definitely fabulous!