I agree with everything in this post. If there is a positive, Craig tends to end up with it, which is why it was so jarring that he interrupted Craig before he's finished. I don't think Len's outburst would have been exactly helpful for poor Matt, either. Frankly I was taken aback with the whole thing. Len can be entirely negative if he wants to be (like he was about Kelly and Brendan's samba), but it seems only he among the judges has the right to say what he wants. I'm not convinced that his outbursts this series have been entirely spontaneous, either. I suspect the producers may be egging him on to play the 'boss', considering it good television, when in fact it's just embarrassing. I'd not be sorry to see a replacement for Len Goodmanon the panel next series. Craig has easily been the most reasonable, considered, and, yes, even the most pleasant of all the judges this series.

Bruce's material and performances as host are becoming more excruciatingly bad each week. He really needs to get someone to write him some decent gags.

Both Bruce and Tess are making me squirm lately.

Len's hypocrisy is unbelievable, he was nasty to poor kelly something that Craig never was and now he's lambasting Craig for being mean

Absolutely agree. First thing I said was "What a bl**dy hypocrite! He couldn':eekt find anything good to say to Kelly. He body language,and facial experessions indicated exactly his nastiness. LEN IS A VILE MAN!

Hear, hear.

How on earth does Len goodman think he is going to get away with criticising Craig's comments tonight. It was LG who completely lost it a couple of weeks ago at Kelly and Brendan, and he now has the nerve to tell Craig to give constructive criticism!

He is (over)due for the funny farm surely.

I do believe that. All the celebs expect Len to be nice, so by the the time the comments get to him, they are all at ease. I think the celebs value positive comments from Craig and Arlene more - because they are critical- but usually in a constructive way.

Darren was definitely simple if he said that because he was a cricketer!

Ooops!

There is nothing genuine about Len.

I used to think he was, but I'm not so sure anymore CD

I thought he was out of order to Craig - Craig often says something positive as well as negative, Len gushes about the most mediocre dances

if you ask me whose opinion I respect, it's Craig every time

If I were in Strictly, I wouldn't care about the judges' marks apart from Craig, and probably Arlene. Len and Bruno has been a joke.

I wish Len had allowed Craig to finish his bit - I'm certain he had even a tiny positive thing to say about Matt's samba, even if it was awful, but now we are just left with a bad taste in our mouths and the patronising "he's only 20" spiel only made Matt more uncomfortable and the viewers more annoyed.

Len Goodman has become an embarrassment to the show. The way he has treated and talked to Arlene and Craig this series is most unprofessional. His rant at Kelly and Brendan was painful to watch (he had a point, it was just the way he delivered it, with the angry fingerpointing). If he's acting it, it doesn't help the show at all. His marking has been unbelievably inconsistent and nonsensical. His horrible 'jokes' about chesticles, prostates and urinals (on Friday's ITT) are cringeworthy. I couldn't imagine Strictly without any of the four judges a few months ago, but I can after this series. What a joke this man has become. Can't bear to watch this hypocrite any longer. Time to retire.

Craig is the only judge that I want to listen to (and Arlene is fine when she doesn't do the pre-rehearsed rubbish and points out specific good and bad things).

Len is a tosser...

I missed it, what was Matt doing while this rant happened?? Did he just stand there?

I don't think I'd like someone going off at someone else in that situation, screaming 'He's ONLY 20!!!' when nerves affect anyone of any age, he probably wanted the ground to swallow him up poor lad.

Craig is right - Craig is always right.

Len was wrong. and made himself look pretty stupid after that outburst. Clearly he picked on the wrong judge.

Craig and Arlene are better at picking out the tech bits of the dance more and more. Len and Bruno are more and more just looking like hangers on really.

Sorry, for me it would have to be Bruno, who slavishly copies Len's scores, has little worthwhile comment to make and definitely shows favouritism. However, Craig should replae Len as Head Judge. It is noticeable how much the dancers respect his comments.

I don't think Len did himself any favours last night and he obviously made Matt feel very uncomfortable - I think Matt would rather have made a quick exit than listen to the judges disagreeing amongst themselves.

As one of the early posters said, it was all the more surprising as Len hadn't been that positive himself - or perhaps he thought he had been.

Craig (and Arlene) can be a bit too cutting at times, but they are consistent. Len and Bruno do tend to overmark to make up for any perceived low marks from Craig and Arlene.

Or perhaps Len just thought 'it's Diva time' ....

Yes and yes - poor Matt, Craig was obviously feeling sympathy for him and allowing Craig's honest, unflattering assessment and let him get away would have been the kindest thing for Matt.

If I'd messed up like that an honest assessment I could take, sympathy & excuses would make me blub!