I think you're right. Agree re. some of the pros with the best choreo not getting very far, and agree re. Ian's choreography as well, though I have liked some of Camilla's routines. Ian did try this year, but got slated for not making it a 'clean' Samba, or whatever. Daring choreo is a sisky strategy, it either works or it doesn't.

For me, the rot set in last year. I think it was when it went up to 14 couples, it's just too many. The show goes on just too long and I'm now almost bored with it. The characters, as a previous poster has said, have not been such fun in the later stages, and when it comes down to just two or three it's boring. This is the second year of having a two person final, not good. The three person final in two elimination stages is far more interesting. The judging has been just crazy, the judges bad tempered and the dance-off idea has backfired when not one but TWO decent dancers are in the bottom two.

The best series for me were S3 then S2.

The real let down for me this series has been the judges.

Len is extremely annoying and "goes off on one" when Craig criticises anything about the dances.

He's just growing into a grumpy old man, and should wake up and smell the coffee!

He doesn't say anything about the technical steps, and just comments on "coming out here and dancing". Anybody can do that!

IMO Len should either be replaced or not given the deciding vote in the dance off.

Is it me or have the judges become more & more personal in their attacks?

I don't want to see people who aren't naturally gifted dancers being slagged off in front of 10 million people. It's totally un-professional.

Unfortunately, I feel this season has been a let down.
For me from series 2, its just got better but this year didn't follow it- but I think thats because of my obsession with Mark and Karen. I wasn't going to replace them easily.

This is a really good post. Actually, you've made a good point. I think the standard HAS got too high and the show takes itself way too seriously. I think S3 is my favourite because yes, eveyone worked hard and took it seriously, but there were loads of laughs and great partnerships. This year may not have been quite such a one-horse race if the better dancers had not gone early, Gabby, Penny etc, and the best characters too, Stephanie, Willie etc.

I suppose the greatest tragedy was Kelly having to pull out and no contingency to avoid a two person final.

Scd 4
Scd 3
Scd 2
Scd 5
Scd 1

Series 3 was the shiz!! By far the best.
Series 2 was pretty damn good too.
Series 5 is...ok...a bit sh*t. Two words: Ten Goodman.
Series 4 was the worst.
Didn't see series 1.

After a few viewings I really liked that samba. I think rather than just doing the steps Ian does try to create an atmosphere with the dance. Off the top of my head I'm thinking of Denise's jive, QS, Zoe's tango, jive, showdance.
And I really appreciate Ian's effort to create something and be daring rather than just dancing to the beat.

I have always thought 'if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it' and the BBC has been guilty of doing this for this series. They attempted it last year when they did the dance off once for Emma & Louisa. This year they added the dance off for every week and it has been crap - very X Factorish.
What they do need is to look at new judges and presenters. Much as I like Claudia, even ITT was stale this year. She tried to keep it going, but was fighting a losing battle - all the horrible celeb fans etc (well, some of them were OK) but instead of witty and fun, this year it kinda went to how fawning can we be to everyone.
I kinda wish they would have all of the contestants be of an equal standard to start with - that way all of them could have their 'journeys'. When it is so lopsided talentwise it seems unfair. If they were all 'real' beginners or even all talented, it would be more of a contest.
For me the best series was probably 3, then 2, then 1. Last 2 years has gone rapidly downhill. I haven't really enjoyed the show, found myself getting angry about something every week.

I think sometimes going for something special it can be too risky. I loved Camilla's tango with James but James let it down really because it was fairly early in the series. The judges scores were only around 6 to 8.

Agree totally. There have been issues with this year - overmarking of everyone; the change in format I believe brought about a change in voting (vote to keep someone out of the bottom two, as opposed to the bottom place) which may have kept Kate in for longer; the Sunday results show took away the tension and the immediacy; the three person final works much much better and there should have been contingency plans - even if it meant pitting the SCD final against X-Factor - SCD is winning in the ratings so why not? Utterly spank it!

But then it all depends how much you invest in the show and the couples. Series 1 I just wanted someone other than Chris to win; Series 2 I wanted Aled in the final but alos loved Jill and wanted her to win; Series 3 I adored Zoe and perhaps because of that I couldn't invest as much in last year's, leaving it one of the duller series for me. This year, I am so completely in love with Alesha and Matthew's relationship so I am really enjoying it. Actually, though I really like Darren, Lilia and Zoe, I'm loving seeing more of some different pros, and that's one of the things boosting the show for me.

Think this year has been the worst so far, nothing has excited me, series three was the best IMO and Series two, agree last year wasnt that exciting with the exception of Louisa and Mark and well this year has just bored me.

series 3 was the best as all the contestants provided so much entertainment and was never bored once, liked series 2 as well but the series 4 and 5 have been so boring and missed series 1. I hope it gets a bit more exciting for next year or I'll be switching off.

... a lot of series 5, then sign my new online petition to revamp the judging panel and get remove Len as the head judge:

http://www.petitiononline.com/SCD123/petition.html

Please sign if you agree and forward to others...

Thanks!

scd 3 and 4 (can't choose)
scd 2
scd 1
scd 5

This one was by far the worse.

When it comes to the actual dancing, I really really like this series. However, the judges' idiocy is only getting worse, and all of the manipulation (Matt's monumental brainfart and recovery and his are-they-aren't-they with Flavia) really annoys me. The problem is, all this will continue as it's pulling in the punters. Obviously to the BEEB, that's what's doing it, not the quality of the dancing or anything like that.

SCD 3,4,5
SCD 2
SCD 1

This year has been one of the best. It started off with the most number of talented dancers by far. It's a shame we lost Penny & Gabby far too early, and then Kelly had to drop out. That detracted from the potential drama.

The finals in 3 & 4 were total let-downs.
Mark was good, but I don't get the general obsession with him - I thought he was a rather dull man, personally
Matt wasn't great & Louisa & Emma were lost too early.
The year before - Zoe was lost too early and Colin should have won.

I'm happy with this year's final - except Kelly should have been there too - then we would have had a stunning show.
I wasn't bothered who out of Matt or Gethin went through - they both have their strengths & weaknesses & are fairly equal.

SCD 1
SCD 3
SCD 2
SCD 5
SCD 4

I've ranked these purely on how much I enjoyed watching.

1st = Series 5 - So many good dancers, yes the scores have been a bit weird but the celebs etc have been fantastic
2nd = Series 4 - Again the standard was high in dancing terms
3rd = Series 2 - Jill and Denise were great as was Aled and Julian was fun
4th = Series 3 - The wrong person won IMO. Zoe and Colin were robbed
5th = Series 1 - It was a different programme back then

You've actually saved me having to write a post out because the above sums my feelings up!

It's been a letdown this year...bloody dance off, don't get me started....Sunday shows....sniping...shouting....10 obsession....

Series 3 was the best for me. Loved the mix, dances were outstanding, it wasn't taking itself too seriously and 3 class acts in the final.

Also I think the best choreographers in the pros left early this year, Camilla with Gethin did manage to save the last few weeks when I was getting thoroughly bored and switched off by it all.

As for the final, I will echo Anton, Gabby to win!!!

Thing is I may have ranked them

2,1,4,3

but I loved all these series and felt thoroughly involved and excited by each weeks dances.

This series is the first one where I really haven't felt connected to it or had the same level of enjoyment. Perhaps its because of the excessive meddling from the BBC(The dance off for me has really spoilt what this show is about)..perhaps its the overmarking and the Judges (in particular Len & Bruno) thinking they are the stars and playing up to the cameras more and more (I'm looking at you Bruno!)

Some great dancers in this series but it has been ruined for me by the daft Sat/Sun split - with the pointless dance off -and the judges' ludicrous behaviour and bizarre voting!

SCD3 was probably the best ...... I didnt see the 1st two .

There were 3 in the final which its my belief Darren and Lilia won partly with their great rapport in the training room . Alesha and Matthew have that same rapport this series .
Colin Jackson was a great dancer and I like Erin but I felt a coldness in their partnership . Maybe Erin learnt from that .... she seemed warmer with Peter Schmichael and Willie Thorne.


Biggest problems this series .........
The music ......... hardly ever suits the dances
The overmarking
The lack of a Plan B thats led to another 2 couple final ....... BBC should have learnt after last year .

Best thing this series is the partnership of Alesha and Matthew ...... maybe they havent 'wowed' in the Latin - maybe we expected too much ......... but his ballroom choreography allowed her to wow in at least 2 dances - for me anyway .

Totally agree. The celebs this year have been some of most interesting. I agree with your all your other ratings/comments.

Last year Matt shouldn't have been in the final, and the year before the final should have been Zoe & Colin.
Darren winning was just ridiculous.

Why do people think this has been the worst year when it's had some of the best dancing?

Matthew and Alesha made it for me.

The judges spoiled if for me. I could have judged more fairly.

There should be an award for the best chorography,...should go to Matthew.

The celebs were brilliant, some pros were down right rude.

Some were just too flirty.......some just dam horny..........

But loved it all in all