The dance-off gives dancers the chance to put in an improved performance taking onboard previous judges' comments.

Equally judges are free to reassess the dance having been bowled over by the novelty first time round. Viewers and forumites frequently change their assessment on second viewing. There is a lot to take in. Flashy tricks make an impact on first viewing, but less so on repeat viewing.

Yes I do!

Oh no you don`t !

Neither do I, however I have a feeling that if it were Alesha/Matt in the dance off both Craig and Arlene would have saved Matt, Bruno probably Alesha and Len would have voted with the majority as usual.

But it didn't clear some of the dead wood (sorry Kate and even Kenny) for ages. Those two should have gone before Penny and Gabby. If we had had Gabby, Penny, Matt, Gethin and Kelly as the last five, just imagine what a show it would have been! (And absolutely dire to have judges deciding who went further!)

Spinaker - absolutely blatant manipulation, hence all the bad feeling.

Don't know if you have read the Ben Elton novel "Chart Throb", but it describes in detail how a judges' verdict scenario can be used to bring about a final that suits the producers. Under the old system, it was far less predictable from their point of view.

They have sold the dance off as a quality control measure, which it is - not on who is the better dancer, but who they value most as a celebrity.

Do the BBC read these forums? A healthy debate on ITT would make compulsive viewing. They could run ITT for a further week after Christmas and deal with all the Forum Angst!

Without the public interest and voting, the show would collapse. They really should listen.

The producers are in a tricky position - they want really good 'names' at the start to attract the viewers, but to get them to take part, they have to offer them something in return. An easy ride to the later stages is quite a good incentive.

They still rely on public involvement and actively encourage an interest in the 'journey' of some contestants, but they can't afford to let the public have too much control - so take away that possibility with the dance off.

It's the involvement of the public that has made this show a ratings winner, but if they are going to persist with this unfair format, it won't be for much longer.

How does the judging etc work on DWTS?

I've never watched it but would be interested to know if the format is the same as ours. What are Len and Bruno like on it compared to how they are on Strictly? And, do they also have a dance off?

I have just read through all the comments on this thread - I am appalled that the judges got to decide the final (well at least 50% of it) what on earth was the point in voting then?
Mind you I have felt like that for weeks - although have always voted for my favourite - as instructed by Claudia and Tess. With the judges giving scores as well as deciding the dance off they have far too much say in the results, and to a degree in the early stages it did backfire on them. I think like *whispers so no-one can hear* the X factor comments only judges decision in the early rounds and then down to the public, we afterall pay a licence fee to the Beeb so are entitled to be a bit miffed when our "vote" doesn't really count - nothing but a con and you'd think the Beeb would steer clear of that sort of behaviour now wouldn't you
Last edited by Tango Trish : 18-12-2007 at 13:44

I agree with you. Those are the people.

Thanks for some common sense.

To add finally and then I'm done or maybe not.

I've hated this series pretty much all the way through as the manipulation-bloody pointless dance off-overscoring (to all couples) reeked to me, and I did have a terrible feeling on Saturday that I could vote for Gethin forever and it would count for zilch.

You see, I don't have a problem with a public vote as my living relies on them, and if there's one thing I've ever learned in 20 odd years is that they are never wrong. If Gethin and Camilla had gone out in a public vote I would have shrugged my shoulders...well, not supported enough...end of....sad...but OK. But like this, when it's effectively one man who's left his braincells somewhere in mid Atlantic and who should be given an intensive course on the correct use of the 10 paddle it is very hard to take. I adored Camilla and Gethin's partnership and since Kelly left they were for me the best couple out there and they deserved that crack at the final.

I now realise that what Gethin SHOULD have done is have a complete meltdown one week, have a comeback and then maybe HE would have had a standing ovation for simply doing what he's been paid to do.

No soap opera with those 2...just buckling on...working hard....doing great routines.....why bother?

Amen to that nancy1975!

There has been so much sense written on this thread... Thank you for running with the original thought!

I don't remember such ill-feeling towards the show's format in the past. SCD brightens up the early winter and it would be such a shame if the BBC don't listen. My enthusiasm for next year is already on the slide...

Nancy1975 - couldn't agree more.

What used to be an engaging and interesting show that got people involved has kind of had the 'heart' taken out of it for a lot of people.

I agree with you that the public are usually right - if not about who is technically the best dancer, then at least about who they want to see week after week.

I always liked SCD as a bit of 'feel good' TV, but this series has left me feeling jaded, cynical and disappointed.

If they keep the dance off next year....arrgh!!!!

But...it's not beyond redemption. Though the public clearly reacted this year by keeping the worst voters out of the dance off. Amen to them.

If they insist on keeping it next series, IF there's a next series, then it should be ditched before the quarter final.


I am disappointed as before I felt it did MATTER what we thought and felt who should be through every week, also it didn't take itself so damn seriously.

I go with Brendan and agree that it should go back to being the nice bit of fluff it was in the early days and FFS, somebody tell the judges that they are not the stars of the show.

If it's not based on the dance off who is kept in then what is the point of the dance off?????

However, in the past when saying who is kept in and who must go, the judges have mentioned other factors such as previous form, improvement made over the weeks,then how well the dancer had overcome his nerves etc etc.

The comp is great but the method of choosing winners is not so good. Should it be judges, should it be public, should it be toss of a coin.

Oh really? Why go through the trouble of introducing a dance off in the first place, then? Why not just rig the phone votes so the "chosen one" avoids the bottom 2 everytime? You know, like Emma did, last year's "chosen one"- the judges clear favourite, the show's biggest name and singer of the BBC's CIN single to boot? Why weren't her semifinal AT and salsa scores "fixed" to maximise her chances of going through?


Now THIS makes perfect sense!

Nancy1975 - agreed again.

This show has always been at least as much about the public's involvement with the contestants as the dancing - why else use a bunch of untrained celebs, follow their every move and discuss them ad nauseum on ITT?

If you're looking for serious competitive dancing, probably SCD isn't the place to find it.

Let's go back to the old system and see it for what it is - a bit of Saturday night fun which people feel they are participating in along with the contestants.