I would imagine that during the weeks prior to SCD, the 4-Egos sit down with a pad and write down smart comments and insults hoping that there will come a time that the comments will be appropriate. They probably rehearse the gestures.

They see themselves as all powerful 'star makers' and are more interested in getting the next gig for themselves than being constructive. Also a passing interest in bringing a celebrity down to size is probably there too.

I see no reason for hurling invective at contestants claiming that it is constructive. The same points could be made and probably responded to if the egos were kept in check and problems explained.

I was quite amused to see an early video of Horwood dancing. One would assume he had practised, worked hard to get it right; he succeeded in looking unconvincing if not somewhat lame. He was that bad after the training and practising.

I wonder he could have taken the ugly invective he now throws at some quite vulnerable celebrities who are trying very hard, under pressure and many without a dancing background and and not really built for it. By the way.... nothing seemed to have worked for him with all his training.

The panel should be dismissed and replaced by professional
dancers without an agenda.

That quartet, with the exception of Len, are past their sell-by date. But even he is falling between two stools now.

What a hideous spectacle to see these unpleasant egos, not giving way, shouting to be heard, constantly striving to pull the focus of the viewers.

It really is now getting to the point that viewers now have the same curiosity as a crowd watching the aftermath of a bad car accident. Tuning in to see if they ( the egos) could make bigger fools of themselves than they did last week.

Apart from the producers selection of contraversial dancers every year, you know; we must get a fat one, we must get an old one and so on.

The 4-Egos are continually demeaning what was, for the best reasons, an excellent entertainment.

Originally ballroom judges were approached to be on the programme. All but Len refused, assuming the programme would make a laughing stock of ballroom dancing. Now it is so popular, I am sure many would jump at the chance of being on the show, but they missed their chance! Also, having four ballroom clones would be tedious in the extreme. Many of us know that an awful lot of competition judges would make for extremely boring television, unfortunately.

I personally would not mind replacing Arlene, as her screeching voice really gets on my nerves, and Bruno is just an absolute joke, but I do not mind Len and Craig on the whole.

Der Chef says

Well this is what I said the other day.

When CRH said he was purely their to judge a dance competition.

NOOOOOO you are there to try to be seen to be entertaining by making hyperbole comments and comparing peoples movements to that of farm yard animals and the like.

If you were a dance competion judge (WHICH YOU ARE NOT ) you would sit behind a desk looking po faced and putting scores up on a board.

You and the others WELL KNOW you have a hidden agenda in the wider context of the show.

I wish the four of them would be man (woman) to simply admit it

Ohhh Yeah

I completely agree with you jrk. The 4-egos (love that title ) have ruined what was the best show of the week for me.

Their childish bickering is ridiculous, and they have no credibility with me at all. So-called professionals resorting to personal insults is not constructive imo, maybe in theirs.

They are a pathetic joke. Bring on some real professionals who know the world of ballroom and how to conduct themselves in public!

Len is good!
The others are OK too. Better the devil you know, if any one of them were replaced we could get worse!
However - Donny Burn would be great.

If Donny were on, you would have to adjust the colour on the TV to reduce the orange effect!!

He might not bother with that so much now that he is getting older! Could he outdo Craig in that regard I wonder?

Saw him quite recently - still very orange I'm afraid! Think he could even outdo Craig.

hmmm...dance is very subjective. I don't think what the judges say is actually personal. And if you went to professional comps, you'd see there are problems in their judging systems as well (dancers forums have a lot to say about the judging).
Dancers are also very passionate people so it's no wonder it gets heated on BOTH sides. I think the celebs are too sensitive and the judges play a bit too much to the camera but that's the whole point as it is a tv show.

It would be fairer if the judges pointed out the good bits about the dance (as the pros keep saying they should) then they could do the "BUT...." part and give constructive criticism rather slagging the celebs off and shouting and ranting on between themselves. I know we need humour but its getting to be tedious now when they try and outdo each other. I also love the heading

To be fair, I think that is what Craig often tries to do, say something positive if he can, before saying BUT and then listing all the things he didn't like. He actually is my favourite judge now, as he never gets hysterical, is always quite rational, and although he does not have the expertise of Len, is far more consistent in his marking (albeit low). Never thought I would say he was my favourite, but there you go!

With so little time to make comments, I personally would rather they point out what could be improved on than what I did well. Their professional partners I'm sure tell them on playback what they did well. In reality, you wouldn't even get any comments from judges. And I've heard similar comments made in dance halls between students and their teachers

Have to agree with you Alfie but would say CRH's marking is not low but realistic. Without him the marking would just go crazy with maximum marks being awarded left, right and centre like on DWTS!!

The title of this thread makes them sound like the vilans from a Wuxia series.

I like it..

Craig.......Elder disciple, skilled in Deadly Mouth kung fu
Arlene......Elder sister schooled in Look of Death
Len..........Grand Master
Bruno.....Failed disciple of Grand Master

Apart from his hysterical, after the event , call for Kelly and Brendan to be disqualified, CRH is the only judge who scores consistently and credibly. Len should get back to scoring properly and cut out the personal insults.

Well I think saying Willie looks like a walrus and Kenny "Conan the Barbarian" is personal and has nothing at all to do with their dancing.

Yes, you are right Jive Bunny, I think Craigs marking is more realistic, he hardly ever gives 9s or 10s, although sometimes a weeny bit low, he is the more rational judge.

walrus and conan to me are quite descriptive. you know the image instantly when they mention it. I've heard much worse in dance classes. It sounds personal but in the context of dancing it really isn't

I don't have that many problem regarding the scores. However, I think all of the "judges" could be a little more encouraging and constructive and a little less personal and rude. The show shouldn't be about the Judges or their formatted scripted remarks.

Not nice on national tv though. Even a toughie like Kenny wasn't happy.

I have to say I have never heard any such remarks in any dance classes I have ever been too.....thankfully!

LOL...Len is the worst culprit on this front, regurgitating comments fairly often. It's become more noticeable since he's started judging on both sides of the pond that his script is a little limited!

I was in a class where they reduced one girl to tears and made snide comments about people's weight. Now that's getting personal.

A teacher said to me once that I was an elephant. But they meant that when I did my jetes, I didn't use my feet enough so was landing quite heavily. Take elephant on it's own and people would think it was about the way I look. Put it into context of dancing and it makes sense.