Is it just me or is anyone else fed up with the way Len scores people. Kenny and Kate get marks just for turning up and having a good work ethic, yet penny and leticia dont? Len seems to be able to pick fault with those better dancers but those that arent any good - Kate - get praise! for just turning up and coming out and performing?? What is that all about?
Can we please have some consistency and FAIRNESS to ALL the participants and less of the sympathy votes for dancers that might try hard but dont actually deliver.

Len is thoroughly getting in my wick.

Giving John a 10 and then saying best dance of the entire series. He is defintely on something.

Btw John did well but he was nowhere near 9 mark quality tonight let alone a TEN!

Yup, he annoys me too. Is he still "head judge". I must admit that sometimes I like Len, but I do find him very inconsistent, and this is clear from the way his score often differs from that of the other judges. They all differ at times, but he does most frequently. He does have a tendency to be kinder than the others though, so I like him for that (although Bruno is probably my favourite).

I agree with you 100%. He has gone from being my favourite judge in the past to being the worst this series. I hate the way he will not let the other judges have their say by trying to shout them down. He is coming across as a nasty bully.

I adore Len, he's a comedy genius and a terrific asset to the show, but I'm doubting his SANITY tonight.

A 10 for John's Salsa is utter and total madness and makes a mockery of the scoring system.

I agree, and although I'm no fan of John's I think it would be fair to say that was John's best dance of the series, but THE best dance? Every one of Alesha and Matt's dances have been better than that, and there were several dances tonight which were better in my opinion. I was even surprised at the 9s he got. That did irriatate me when Len gave him that completely OTT comment and mark I threw up my eyes in disgust, although I don't have a general dislike of Len.

He's an embarrassment...I could go on but I think that covers it.

I know Len always had the greatest respect but this season of SCD and DWTS just seems like its all gone to his head and he is believing he is Mr Ballroom and he isnt

Most ridiculous 10 ever.

I certainly did not think that was the best dance of the series.......

I am fed up with Len this series, how could he say Kate did a good job, she walked around the floor, she was terrible, if I was her I would not want to put myself through that week after week, how could he give John a 10, it was ok but nothing brilliant and certainly not the best dance of the series so far, he is certainly Len's favourite no doubt about that and as he has the overall say in who goes, I don't hold out much hope for any of the others.

I didn't enjoy the dance that much - but Len was right in so far as it was a brilliant cuban salsa style, which none of the others had.

Alesha was AMAZING, but perhaps to our more modern dance/hip hop style eyes - because Arlene was right about the feet - she wasn't using her feet exactly how a salsa dancer would use them.

Funnily enough one of the friends I was watching the show with is Cuban - and he was blown away with Jons dance, even though it left me a bit non-plussed.

I want a new head judge!!

Maybe the guy who inspired that film take the lead... oh heck what was his name!

piere!??

he is the real ballroom master!

It's called encouragement, presumably - the worst ones need the most encouragement, whereas the best ones will react to critiques more.

Let's face it, there's no point providing detailed critique of Kenny or Kate's dancing, you may as well just find something nice to say about them.

I agree that he overmarks, but that's almost his job title now - "The One Who Encourages And Marks High"

I think Len is fab But that 10 for John was bizarre i have to say. I just watched it back and it wasn't perfect.

Oh and i do think that he expects more from some couples so he's more harsh on them but i'd say the same with all the judges tbh. Also he likes to encourage the not so good ones i seem no harm in it.

I was amazed he gave John a 10....that seemed high (even for him!)

But I think it is important to have a judge who encourages and supports the other dancers.

The blame is not all Len's..... Bruno already managed that with his 10 for "Liftgate"

Can't believe the double standards. He wasn't happy with Bruno doing it, but then goes and does it himself! No way was John's dance better than Gethin's. As for best of series? I wonder what Alesha thinks?

I've always prefer Craig. Might be cruel in his remarks but the marks generally are fairer

Piere Dulane?? dont think he is right for TV his qualifications without doubt but he didnt come across that well personality wise on baby ballroom

I don't like Len when he introduces a sour note into an otherwise enjoyable program.

And I particularly don't like it when he condemns something or other here, and then when he's on DWTS, the same thing gets praised, and he gives 10's for it (such as lifts and the girl power paso).

And I don't think that Saturday afternoon is really the right time for jokes about "Willie" Thorpe, and Dom's "big one" (a joke which Len also used on DWTS).

But Len was all right this week (I can forgive the 10 for John - it was well intentioned).

Len's certainly a big character in the show, and it would be a lot poorer entertainment without him.

I did. It was the best salsa of the night, and for me the most excited I've been about a dance in the past two series.

Watching the girl power paso vs Kelly's back to back, I think the girl power one was rightly praised (though overmarked IMO) for having good content and being danced well. Kelly's paso was disappointing, and having watched Len's comments a couple of times I'm pretty sure his intent was to say "You can dance a heck of a lot better than that", which is a fair comment.

That said, the marking on DWTS is wacko.

That a better dance score higher? I think threads like this are from fans of other celebs who're bitter they haven't had a ten yet (bit like ramps fans pre AT).