I also think this series has been the worst. My order would be:

SCD 3
SCD 4
SCD 2
SCD 1
SCD 5

There just seems to be so much missing from the year. A lot of the excitement and anticipation has gone with the pre-recorded results show. It's just not the same knowing the result before hand (I know I don't have to look but it's too tempting)
I do think it's maybe to do with the fact I don't really have a favourite this year, I have ones I prefer to others but it's nothing like last year (I spent way too much than I should have voting for Matt and Lilia and was nervous and excited all week for appearances on ITT and their dances on Saturday)
I agree with what previous posters have said about the lack of exciting choreography. I've also not really been wowed this series
The overmarking has been apalling this year. I remember when 10s were really hard to get, now they appear all the time. Next year they should go with the scores being this:
1 = horrific
5= average
10= perfection
Then they can start with 4,5,6s or whatever in the first few shows. It gives something to actually work for.

On the other hand I think ITT has been slightly better this year. There seems to have been less people just on to plug who have clearly never watched the show. Obviously there has been a few ('Strictly Ballroom' woman) but it doesn't seem to have been as bad as last year. Maybe it has and I just haven't been paying attention though

I wish they'd bring back Blackpool too

Have watched two series, SCD4 and the current series.

Best SCD5
then SCD4

As for the others, I've seen most of the youtube clips and well I very much doubt any of the previous 3 series would displace the above two.

Enjoying this series hugely. Difficult to compare celebs from series one and two especially with those for series 4 and 5. Natasha and Jill danced for only 8 and 10 weeks respectively (I think) , danced possibly 5 or 6 fewer new dances and so argueably were not tested as stringently as the current crop of celebs.

All in all, I'd probably like no change for next year. If there is to be a change then the only one I would suggest is replacing some of the existing pros. Bring back some from series 1, 2 and 3 or introduce a new pro. or two.

4 the best - Karen and Mark -sole factors for me
3 Colin and Zoe were damned good
2 Jill - but too little competition
1 - had not properly got into it
5 - sad about Kelly, didn't think the remaining pros in the latter stages were that sharp in terms of choreography, the marking ludicrous, they'll need paddles up to 25 next time and then we can have more variation and percentages!

5 definitely disappointing

Not bothered if there's a 6 any more...

I think has been a good year. It started off with probably the best set of dancers of any series so far - but the series suffered from losing Gabby & Penny too early - and Kelly having to pull out. It started off as incredibly competitive - and it's slightly fizzled out. What a difference it would have made if Kelly was still there.

I prefer the Sunday show, I like the dance off & the judges' veto.
I think these are all improvements.

It's the only year I can remember agreeing with who got through to the final.

But I have just been watching some of Mark & Colin's dancing - and Gethin & Matt just aren't as good.

Don't worry I'm not going to jump on you about having an opinion!! Everyone is intitled to an opinion and that just has to be your!! By being a MASSIVE fan of Karen Hardy I've heard a lot worse things than you have just said so don't worry!! Personnaly i don't think what you said was true in my opinion but we obviously have different perspectives of Karen!!

I've just been watching some of the past two series on youtube - I'd forgotten how good Colin & Zoe were.

This is undoubtedly the worst one to date...I believe you should quit while you are ahead.

For me there has been a poor selection of celebs...and an uneven balance, Alesha is obviously a far better than the rest and has made it a one horse race, the Judges drooling over her makes me wince.

The Judges argue over what they are supposed to be assessing, technical ability or effort...how can Kenny Logan dance perfectly...he did very well and should be marked accordingly,like the others...

The dance of is a farce! Why cant we know how the public voted? eg if John and Kate were in the dance off, Kate may had 43,787 votes and John only 27665, but judges put him through...how is that fair?

Tess Daley...why? Is she on commission from BT? Voting should be free. I dont vote because, I cant see the result of my vote, I cant have the option to decide if I want to donate to charity orr not, and 090 numbers are banned in my house!

Enough said

I certainly haven't enjoyed this series as much as I expected, although I would stop as far as saying it was a complete washout. At first I liked the idea of the dance-off but I'm not altogether convinced of the need for it. Seems a bit pointless really, especially at the begining of the contest. I also think Len should learn to control himself a little. Just because he doesn't agree with what the other judges say shouldn't be a reason to talk over them as if their opinions don't matter. It isn't about the judges at the end of the day, but the dancers and the dancing itself.

Series 4 was my favourite. It had a good balance of celebs who were well matched with their partners. It was utterly gripping. I thought it had more 'wow' factor dances than any other series.

Series 3 was incredible for its last minute twists and turns, and three fabulous dancers in the final. Great stuff!

Series 2 was my third choice. Jill - spectacular, as was Denise, although the lack of competition as others have already said make it not as thrilling as it might have otherwise been.

Series 5 I would put next, because the standard was vastly higher than the little of series 1 that I did see. But I've found it difficult to take to a lot of the dancers this year, and I think that it suffered from the best choreographers (such as Vincent, Karen and Lilia) making early exits. Great dancing in places, but nothing that made me shriek with astonishment. And at the risk of showing no imagination I'd like the results back on a Saturday too. If the BBC want to put something in that Sunday slot get the professionals to record a dance show of their own.

Series 1 is difficult to judge as I came to it about half way through. I thought the right couple won, but the series was finding its way and bless him, Chris Parker getting to the final was in retrospect a complete joke! It somewhat devalues the strength of the contest.

I've been doing that too and totally agree with you about Gethin and Matt.

Colin had it all I think once he had cracked the intimacy problem with Erin. I wish he had won, but at least he had the Xmas special.

I was thinking about series 2 and 3 being more innocent and more about the dancing. It really felt like quality entertainment without the usual lowest common denominator factor. Last year for me wasn't as good, and this year has been a near total disappointment. I guess now most people watching are more interested in the drama and the upsets and the personalities than they are about dancing, which is a shame.

And I miss Blackpool!

This series has been my least favourite, and I've been addicted since series 1. I loved all the others for different reasons but have a special fondness for the newness of the first series - it was so wonderful to have all things sparkly and sequined return to the goggle box on a Saturday evening.

I'm frankly not sure I want to watch next year if things remain the same. My reasons:

The judging has been so inconsistent - the judges need to get their acts together and decide on a consistent marking standard.

A 10 should mean perfection, nothing less. A 5 should not be seen as an insult - 5 is average, average isn't a bad thing. Scoring an average dance with 8 means that they are forced to score a dance that's good, not great just good, with 9 or 10. The judges might feel fabby waving their 10 paddles but they have made it so that a 'perfect score' means very little. Indeed, their very concept of what constitutes a perfect dance seems to change with the wind. OK, the judges say they are looking for different things in a dance but there must be some standard for them all to judge against surely? A 10 simply because they loved the routine? Tsk, I 'loved' particular routines but was also able to see that they were not perfect. If I can do it, surely the judges can.

The Dance Off has proved to be a total waste of time - it wasn't effective in getting rid of the worst dancers first. If my friends are anything to go by, it rather put people off voting. I'd be interested to know whether the voting level has changed since last year.

The producers again failed to make proper plans for the possibility of a contestant dropping out - it happened last year, surely they must have realised it could happen again. They should have had votes roll over to the next week to be sure of a three person final. The final will be less enjoyable because they just carried on regardless.

Finally, the producers need to remember that SCD has been so successful because it wasn't one of those ITV talent shows with judges at war and insults flying - I for one will switch off if they continue down that road.

Rant over....and breathe

Series 3
Series 2
Series 4
Series 1
Series 5

Worst series for me purely down to the judges getting the final say every week and the format being messed with as a lonbg time fan though the final dancers are great. As they have been all along really.

For me the Jill/Ramps series tied
Then the Gough series
The first series was great but as hardly anyone knew about it went on for less time so you didn't get so much time to watch who you loved.

I have to disagree with the majority and say this certainly isn't the worst series.

Looking at the talent of the dancers alone this was one of the best.

Series 1 - Natasha was best and she wasn't that great looking back.

Series 2 - I watched it back over this weekend and it really wasn't as good as I remember. Jill was great, Denise and Aled were very good, everyone else was substandard.

Series 3 - Great but imo won by the wrong person.

Series 4 - Alright but I never got the Mark/Karen hysteria and thought it was a step back in talent from series 3. Loved Matt's ballroom and Mark's latin was good but didn't think there was a complete dancer amongst them.

Series 5 - Ridiculous overmarking aside there's been a lot of talent on show; Alesha, Gethin, Matt, Kelly, Gabby and many others who have had great moments.

The Sunday show is a waste of time as the result gets leaked on here anyway

There's also too much padding. I'd wager that 99.9% of the viewers just want the result, we don't care about james Blunt, and an array of technically brilliant gymansts who we've never heard of.

That's why I liked it. And that and the overscoring are the two big reasons I've gone off it.

I enjoyed Series 3 with Colin and Series 2 with Jill.

The contestants had to really work for the 9s and 10s, but Len and Bruno have thrown them about like confetti in this series.

This series is definitely the worst. There are many great celebrities though, but the format (dance off, sunday show and the judges) has killed it. Dead and buried.

I totally disagree. I've enjoyed series 3, 4 & 5 equally.

I think this one had the best line-up & the highest general standard of dancers from the beginning - & certainly some of the biggest celebs like Kelly Brook & Penny Lancaster.

In series 1 & 2 Natasha & Jill were really only halfway decent dancers.

I agree entirely with all your comments.
Series 3 should have been won by Colin or Zoe.

Mine would be

SCD1
SCD2
SCD3
SCD4
SCD5

I seem to have enjoyed each series less as the years go by! To me what ruined it was the increase in the couples. Personally I think 10 is just about right.

SCD1 was the best because it contained my favourite SCD couple, Anton and Lesley! But not only this, it was fresh and everyone seemed to have so much fun. Someone posted how it was much more low key back then- I agree! Everyone wanted to do well but I don't think they took it as seriously as they do now. And they went to Blackpool!! They did in series 2 as well, but in the first series them being in Blackpool was a riot! Everyone broke the rules and did lifts! Imagine that now! The first series couples were rebels!!

I think all the couples were really well matched too. It was the series with the most chemistry between couples- Natasha and Brendan, Lesley and Anton and Martin and Erin. Even Chris and Hanna, and Jason and Kylie had a great rapport.

The thing is everyone knows how to play the game now and so it is so much more contrived. In series 1 there wasn't as much game playing- and if there was (Martin and Erin!!) it was outed and laughed at.

People need to remember that it was the success of series 1 that meant we got another series so soon (in the same year). I'm sick of people saying series 1 was rubbish and dismissing it (including the BBC), when it was everyone's contribution to that series that made SCD the success it is today. Had it flopped we wouldn't be here now.

I sincerely hope that this programme they are showing on the history of SCD, over Christmas, doesn't neglect series 1. If it is what it says it is then series 1 should actually be the main basis of the show.

Yes I agree. I think may have won but for Erin's strange misjudgement about the original dance.

Series 1, maybe. Series 2, I disagree. Cast aside all the Jill worship and remember Denise, Aled, and other couples did have their moments of greatness. That is why it is my favourite series.

Da na na na. The list!

1) Series 2: First series I watched. H00rah! It rocked so hard. I need not say anything of Jill that has not been said before. I supported Julian, myself, so you may all beat me with rusty spades now. Sorry Aled fans. Next series needs more duffers. I love the duffers! Quentin was classic. More Quentins please.
2) Series 3: Also awesome. Zoe, beautiful. Colin, immaculate. Darren, spiffy. And many gripping, humorous moments along the way.
3) Series 4: Under all the drama llama poop about Emma and so on, she was brilliant. Mark was a well deserved winner. However, I felt it took itself too seriously sometimes and the standard was set too high.
4) Series 1: I didn't see this first time round. However, because it sucks, and the dancers suck, I still have a place in my heart for it. Oh, such innocent times.
5) Series 5: Drama drama drama chameleon...you come and gooooo...you come and goooo~ooo! Yeah, sniping aside, there needed to be more rubbish couples and less tens. Please hold back on the tens next year judges, and also...the new format is awful.

Nooo - not *more* rubbish couples, there were quite enough! lol

I loved Julian too, and thought his Officer and Gentleman dance with Erin was fab. I was gutted that Aled got knocked out, but was still happy to see Julian in there.

I also thought Emma Bunton was great - she was my favourite that year.