I would just like to acknowledge Len Goodman as far and away the fairest and best judge on SCD.

It is extremely regrettable that unnecessarily harsh and vitriolic criticism of contestants by the likes of
Arlene and Craig has seen undeserving couples saved by the public - who predictably take exception to it.

It is equally disappointing that a show beloved for its warm, friendly nature should be dragged down into bitterness and disharmony as a result of the ludicrously biased and unfair marking of judge Bruno Tonioli.

As a footnote I would like to point out the hypocrisy of both judge Craig and dancer Ian Waite.

Craig like a typical playground bully loves dishing it out but can't take it back, witness is pathetic responses to the comments of Julian last series and Patsy this.

Ian's obvious displeasure at Erins comments should be tempered by the fact it was he in the last series who after only week one was making videotaped messages criticising the marks awarded to Brendan and Sarah, leading to their rumba the following week being overly criticised and undermarked.

This in turn was directly responsible for the distasteful bust up between Brendan and poor Sarah.

As the saying goes, Ian, "What goes around, comes around !"

Craig, Arlene and Bruno need to realise they are not the stars of the show.

i love how len is so encouraging
he always tries to tell them they were useless in the nicest way possible!
but i also think craig and arlene's role is being exaggerated a bit
sure they arnt always nice but they arnt always nasty either
its constructive even if it doesnt always appear to be
they want the celebs to improve - the whole point of the competition and they are trying their bet to let that happen!
i know that a lot of what they say is harsh but if all 4 said how great it was when it wasnt it just wouldnt be right
they're only doing their jobs at the end of the day!
although at times they arnt nice it is over exaggerated how nasty they are!
when on ITT they are really nice having a joke and all that - just because their comments arnt always lovely doesnt exactly mean they are the personification of evil or anything!!!!!
in this series i have really started to like and respect arlene and craig (i have always love len and i cant justify brunos marks and comments)
i think they actually really want the celebs to improve but people just dont see that
i loved how the other day whe the audience started booing arlene she was like get over it im not gonna say something was good when it wasnt - and why should she?

sorry for the ramble!!!

Len is the nicest judge on scd he is very fair with his marks

When you watch ITT and read comments from the dancers and contestants, they almost always say how nice Craig is in "real life". He is doing his job and understands he must be the villain of the 4 which makes his positive comments all the more outstanding. I do agree with you though Lupe, Len is a legend and when he tells the contestants they were useless, he has a way of doing it with sugar coating and a bow but without sounding like he's pandering to the celebrities. And if we're honest, we're all waiting for the day when he squeezes Claudia's bum during the dance lessons on ITT - Go on Len!

Arlene to James on Saturday :
" your dancing has plateaued out over the last three weeks and therefore you should go "

Arlene to James only 1 !! week ago :
" the master chef has turned into a master dancer, that was your best dance yet"

Craigs comments constructive ? !!

" you are a noose around Brendans neck " to Fiona

" that opening to the routine was repulsive" to Karen and Bill

" you are a disaster on the dancefloor, go back to your world of snooker" to Denis

Such comments only further the resolve of the public to keep undeserving couples in, which is totally unconstructive.

they're only a selection of his commets not *everything* he says is nasty and more to the point just nasty for the sake of being nasty