haha your giving your age away with richard and janet gleave (im leg pulling btw) Im probably older than you. I see why your all jumping up and down about arlene but if the board was replaced with sweeties like len then it may be a bit boring dont you think.

As much as I love Len if they replaced Arlene with a top ranker say Sammy Stoppford or Donnie Burns ( bothe ex world champs and good at criticising dancing in an informed way) what do they do about Len being head judge Sammy and Donnie regularly adjudicate world championships - Len doesnt ?? They may replace Arelene with that awful guy off Dance fever (god forbid) As SCD again beat X factor this week in the ratings it may be best to leave the formula as it is

Arlene's and Graham Norton's remarks on J and C on Friday's show were dreadful and totally out of order. They should apologize.

I had my say on the judges on the other judges thread, (for next series) but to put it shortly, Bruno and Arlene to go. She's nasty, he's contradictory.

I didnt actually notice her say it but looking back it was probably done with their blessing ie for votes or like the whole show carefully scripted by the beeb everyone in their panto place you know

Karen can most certainly bitch too you know as can we all

Hello retired pre-am, thanks for your good, considered argument - much appreciated. I think it's clear we've both got strong views on Arlene! I suspect you and I could mull this one over for a long time but I do realise now how much she irritates you.

Can't say that I'm that impressed with the way she behaves but I am a bit of a sucker for the combative disagreements among the judges. I suppose it fits in with the style of tabloid TV the Beeb wants?

ooops, I guess your right re the age I am more Grey than Brown these days

I used to practice with Donny and Gaynor at the Canford Dance Studios in Birmingham.

I do agree that if the board was full "sweeties" it would be boring, there does need to be a bit discussion/debate just not as screechy and nasty as Arlene and Bruno.

Yes it would be difficult to have Len as head judge if there were a more qualified judge on the panel, so I think the answer would be to have a (slightly) less qualified but still competent person alongside him. As far as Bruno and Arlene are concerned, if all they want is someone to judge on sex appeal and sparkle, then two members of the public could perform the role perfectly well and probably without letting their over-inflated ego turn it into a slanging match.

I also agree that the last thing the show needs is any other awful people off Dance Fever (isn't that where Arlene came from too?) Nooooooooo

hi Gazbo,
It's good that we have been able to have such a debate without getting personal. I think we are on similar ground with respect to Arlenes behaviour on this show, but opposing ground with regard to the "skills" she brings to this particular party. If she were commenting on any other field of entertainment I would agree with you entirely about her qualifications although I do still stand by my comments re her major claim seems to be "hot gossip" which isn't exactly a shining star to have in a CV.

anyway, as you say, we could discuss the issue until the moon freezes over and probably would have to agree to differ, but it has been interesting.

Right the judges are the experts and being at the top of their field (artistic license) are liable to take a hissy fit when people don't do as they say they should AND at least twice this year the GBP has given them a right kick in the teeth and not done as Arlene and her bosom buddies (MORE artistic license) have been told to. Will got the push after his best performance and James has been getting the sympathy vote (even more artistic license).

SO the precious little loveys this week were stamping their childish little feet, in a very unballroom like fashion and were going to get their own back on James on Camilla, now being so 'artistic' they think that the best way of getting their opinion across and get a job done is to shout, scream, have a temper tantrum AND abuse anyone who is even remotely responsible for their important and skilled opinions NOT getting acted upon.

Fortunately for the sake of the programme some extremely brave soul at the BBC managed to get through the judges self centred brains (or at least the part NOT thinking about themselves) that giving both barrels and screeching that the public are a bunch of ignoramuses that couldn't recognise a decent dancer if it hit them with a frying pan would NOT be a good way of getting James and Camilla off the show. Hence James and Camilla was the only way they vent their spleen.

After the judges not only took it out on J and C and then let it overflow to the rest I am almost sorry it didn't backfire on them.