With apologies if this has been done before: Several FMs have said it is a shame a certain couple was knocked out, and in all three series there has been a bit of controversy at some point about a couple that was knocked out.

So my straw poll is....

Keep the current version with a couple knocked out each week

or

Have all couples dance every week and keep a cumulative score until the last week.

To add a bit of mystery the public vote results could be kept secret until the final week so we wouldn't know who was going to win..

What's your preference? (or alternative suggestion?)
Last edited by pad : 11-11-2005 at 02:23

That's a cunning plan

I would choose League but I don't think that the BBC would go for it because they want the Knockout cliffhanger every week - after Series 1 they didn't even let the couples dance a Ballroom & Latin before being knocked out.

oooh now i like that idea..give people a chance to improve rather than getting booted out in the first few weeks as well!! but i agree that the bbc are never likely to go for it!!

Interesting idea, Pad. But I think I would stick with the current format. Controversy is all part of the fun.

I like the way it is. I love the thrill of a couple you hate getting knocked out, and seeing a couple you love survive. There's also the emotional journey that you take with the programme - for instance, I was majorly p***ed off that Julian Clary and Chris Parker got to the finals, but the fact that I cared so much kept me watching the programme week after week.

Glad I wasn't the only one!

Agreed, I think the formula works very well. But Julian Clary instead of Aled Jones?? I think the judges should have some sort of overall say or something!

I think the knockout format works quite well, but I would either have 10 couples with no knockouts until week 3 or extend the series by a couple of weeks and keep 12 couples with no knockouts until week 3.

I think giving all the couples three weeks to make an impression (or not) would give the less famous celebs more of a chance.

That sounds a very good compromise

that does

Captain Sensible, I see why you're thusly named. Such a good idea. I think that given more of a chance both Siobahn and Jaye might have won over the public. I think it was a mistake to put them with unknown partners too, because Matthew and Zorro didn't have the national fanbase of say Brendan and Anton. I know it's all to do with height, but I thought it was a shame that they didn't get more of a chance to show off their abilities.

This really does seem an excellent idea - it not only minimises what must be tremendous stress on the couples by giving them three weeks to 'settle in', it also extends the series (Hooray!) and guarantees more money for Children in Need!

I'm not too sure if this change would have benefited Andrew and Jaye though .. as pretty as she certainly is, she is also a very robust girl and always gave me the impression that at any moment she could just tuck little Zorro under her arm and make off with him.

I think this is a great idea. We'd get to see a lot more dancing! And I think it would build a bit more tension as we'd all care that bit more about the first few couples knocked out.

It definitely makes more sense and is a good compromise, as well as, as you say, raise more money.

They would only need to start the new series a month earlier, and that's is still in the 'It's Autumn Let's Put the Good Telly On' period!

I like the idea of a League. It is frustrating to see dancers that are improving go without attempting all the dances. And if they have to fit all of them in, it would give less time for Brucie to have to fill in with "jokes". Bonus!!