OK so Claudia and one or two others may read this site. But does anyone on here really think she has any influence on how her programme is projected?

At one time she did this programme once a week from the equivalent of a "Tinsel decorated Christmas Grotto." Just a couple of interviews with competitors and a few clips.

Now because of it's success it's been on five nights a week for the last two years. The format is dictated by the "suits"
The've got their eyes firmly fixed on the ratings. Their prime objective is to beat ITV on viewing numbers when SCD goes "head to head" with X-factor on Saturday nights.

SCDT2 has now been merged with TOTP. That's why we've had those knowledgable ballroom dancers McFly and "Tattooed Spice" making comments and singing pop songs on a dance programme.
I'm only surprised they haven't dragged in a "cookery spot" in an attempt to attract even more viewers.
The fact that young people who'd watch McFly on SCDT2 won't be in their houses on Saturday nights, but out with their mates, seems to have escaped the BBC.

Don't think for a moment anything will change on SCDT2 other than it having even less dance content.

Yep thats why we cant have them having too much power! they are bad enough allready1

I have to differ with you.

It's no longer 'entertainment.'

It's nasty.

LOL
They still haven't had James Martin on so there's still time for them to do that. It will happen eventually. Hmmm cha-champagne cocktails, cuban salsa dip, viennese (waltz) biscuits

Exactly - I (and I think most people) can handle/don't mind a bit of inconsistency and favouritism and lechery etc., but something went very wrong on Saturday.

totally, and i really hope they don't make brendan a scapegoat for it

Absolutely right. It was always 'fun' before and taking the mickey and having Carry On style humour, but it's all gone to pot.

I think its worth a shot! we as the viewing public sit back way too much and take whatever they say as law, and in reality its us that makes the show!!

OVER MY MUTLIATED BODY!!!

Or something long those lines lol!!

Yes you are right it was John Byrnes. He is a judge , and a seriously brilliant teacher. At least you know he would not be nasty to the celebs, he hasnt got a nasty bone in his body, but he does have a wicked sense of humour. Good choice for a judge if he has the time to spare for it. He dropped out of the show because he couldnt commit the time to all that training due to his dance school and his family. Perhaps he could find time to judge. Dont know who else you could put in there but really Arlene should be retired.

One thing which will go "right" for the BBC for the next two Saturdays, will be that Emma Bunton will stay "in" even if she falls flat on her face in the middle of a dance. They've a lot riding on her.

Children in Need is on 17th November, when we'll be sufferin' her "charity video" so expect her to survive past a third Saturday, carried by the "popular public vote" on the 18th.

A Competition?

It isn't really is it?

Now its time to make our view known about that!

Stop the dizzy camera work and give Tess some good dresses to wear like in the previous series..

Sorry was going to add that will ask him when I see him this week what he thinks about the way the show is moving. I know he watches it.

too true!!

It would be really interesting to know what he thinks given how involved he was at the start

and i thought it was just me who thought tess's dresses weren't up to the usual standard

I think we all need to calm down a bit.

Personally new Judges are due I think as the current 4 are losing the plot

But the format should stay the same shock exits are what makes it exciting.

I don't think any of the language or words are that bad (apart from Bruno's slip of the tongue last week) You are all sounding like a bunch of Mary whitehouses, if you let your kids watch the soaps week in week out I'm sure they see and hear worse.

Tongue in cheek humor is Saturday night all over has been for century's.

I wish the camera action would change also if the dancers make a mistake don't go off them we want to see all the mistakes if we don't how can we judge the dances

1. Cut out the swearing on a family show. My daughter was especially taken aback by Bruno's outburst of b*******

2. Ask Arlene to minimise her raunchy comments. She must accept that what she wants to say and what may be applicable to dance, is not acceptable at six o'clock on a Saturday when young children are watching.

3. Ask the judges to explain their reasons for support of a couple; use descriptions of the quality in their dance or partnership, and not just make bland biased statements e.g. Craig to Emma 'You know how I feel about you two'

4. Ensure consistency with marks and comments. Do not say 'best foxtrot so far' and then mark it lower than a previous one.

5. Improve the camerawork. It's awful this series.

6. Improve the musical accompaniment. Music choices should be appropriate to the dance, and not use modern muisic for the sake of it. Do not be afraid of the effect of using real Tango and Paso music on the family audience.

7. Dispense with Bruno. He has a very limited range of paddle use, and would make little difference to any of the weekly judges rankings. His uncontrolled outburst is not acceptable.

8. Use the, now odd number of judges, to allow a dance off of the bottom two, with the choice of who stays given to the judges.

I am very serious with these comments. Thank you for readiing.
Last edited by Kez100 : 30-10-2006 at 17:04

I think I'd like to be able to see the voting figures on the monday show to see exactly where the votes are going.

I have to admit I don't normally vote until the final show in the series but this series has me worried about my two favourite professional dancers. Yes the professionals not the celebs !

I think the points made above about the judges are also valid and I had to do some explaining to my 9 year old about Bruno's language. She also finds Bruce very funny but even I cringe when Arlene starts on her sexual harrassment of the male celebs. It's the explaining of what she's saying I don't like having to do with a 9 year old.

I'd personally like to see Arlene replaced with someone more connected with the Ballroom Dancing world.

Craig I always feel is honest ( except when it comes to Emma)

Len is lovely and Bruno is just excitable.

Ok rant over

On the whole, I think Strictly is brilliant and there is very little I would change given the chance. However there are a couple of things:

1.) Bruce Forsyth.

Now I love Brucie, he's a legend. He's 'old skool' and he clearly adores the show. However, I feel his inclusion is now utterly embarassing and for the sake of quality, he should be assigned a lesser role, maybe as a commentator on the red button feature or interviewing the couples backstage. The cringeworthy 'jokes' are not even "so cheesy they're cool", they're just bad. In a show with such a high quality production, this kind of 'end of pier' schtich looks like a round peg in a square hole and I have to mute the sound now to avoid hearing the one or two kind souls in the audince who raise a titter. He often loses track of what's happening, he has a tendency to forget to ask all the judges opinions, but most of all, most of *all* the constant talking over the judges and contestants. How many more times do we have to see one of the Judges break off to let Brucie say "Oh and all those kick's they were, yes...oh yes.." Sometimes he actually speaks over the comments in their entirity ! It's so, so frustrating.

It makes the show look creaky, naff and unprofessional. A certain amount of old style cheese is a good thing, but sadly Brucie in such a pivatol role makes the whole thing seem ameteurish. I would love to see Graham Norton take over the role who has shown he is EXCELLENT in both Strictly Dance Fever and Maria at being genuinally witty, empathetic to contestants and giving the show some razzle dazzle.

As I say, keep Brucie on in a lesser role, but I strongly believe the show needs a more dynamic host who will keep things moving and give it a modern edge. I don't want to cringe in embarassment !

2.) Camera work

As others have said, it's dreadful. I. Just. Want. To. Watch. The. Dancing. I want to see feet, most importantly. I don't want to get sea sick and have to look away during the whirling. Just a few angles with a static camera please. If it's now at the point where the Judges are talking about mistakes that we the audience dont' even get to see !

3.) More SCD-ness.

You knwo what ? I'd buy a mug, I'd buy a soundtrack of the band perfomring the songs (note: not just the songs, but the band performing them), I'd buy the complete series on DVD, I'd watch more behind the scenes features, maybe even subscribe to a broadband feed of training a la Big Brother. I think there is enough love for thes how out there to warrant it having more merchandise and features. I have the book, but what else is there Strictly related ? And yet it's such a smash hit !

I love SCD but Tess' outfits are a travesty!

I'm wondering whether she is pregnant again due to the fact that all her dresses seem to be comparatively baggy. She could do with a better bra though regardless

They've all been nasty so far - Usually I love the majority of her dresses but the one on Saturday I've got sheets that colour and almost went to check they hadn't been nicked, as it certainly looked like they'd been drapped round Tess.

ok my thoughts......

1) Camera angles need addressing..more attention to footwork.
2) Judges should not be making 'personal attacks' on celebrities or pro dancers.
3) Judges showing fair and un-biased scoring.
4) More attention paid to music choices.