According to my TV guide on Sky Len Goodman will be on The One Show tonight showing Christine some moves.....and plugging his book no doubt.

Looking forward to this

Can I just add I had the pleasure of meeting Len on Sat nite after the eurovision...what a gentleman...spent loads of time with me and my friends, chatting away, maiking sure everyone got all the pics they wanted etc etc

I know a lot of people don't like Len because of the way he comes over on Strictly, but although most people who know him personally would probably agree that he can be a bit 'prickly' at times, he's basically a really nice guy, and unlike some people in the dance world, he is very loyal to his students, and people who attend his school.

Thanks for the heads up Jan.

Will be sure to tune in.

When I went to ITT he came into the waiting room to say hi to us and did a load of signing before the show. He was a real gent.

Len came across really well on the One Show. He's wise and opinionated and made some excellent contributions when invited to comment on the various topics covered. He is also great for a laugh.

Aww Christine seems really nervous!

I hope she does herself justice. I've grown rather fond of her

Not sure Len's book will do quite as well as Craig after his recent revelations!

I got a feeling Christine is going to be a huge flop on the show. I just feel her nerves will get the better of her. Time will tell.

Was I watching a different programme? Christine didn't seem the least bit nervous to me.

I was actually irritated by Len and his assumptions as to who would be good and who wouldn't. I don't think he should voice those opinions and have preconceived ideas as "head" judge. I was annoyed when Craig did a similar thing last year. What is wrong with them saying they can't comment before seeing them dance, even if they have their own private ideas? Even if some on here might agree, Len writing off poor John Sargent already before he has seen him and telling Christine she "looks like a dancer and has a great figure and should do really well" I personally found rather poor.

But wasn't what he said to Christine all part of the running joke throughout the programme about bribing him so that Christine would do well???

I didn't see it like that I'm afraid. I just wish the judges would keep their opinions to themselves until everyone has danced. And saying John Sargent would not do well (although I suspect he is quite right!!) was a bit unfair to John and Kristina - give him a chance! I am just waiting for the Sunday articles where they all rate the participants. Still, I expect the public will ignore their opinions anyway, hopefully.

I didn't watch The One Show but I agree with you. I lost any respect I had for Len when he said he criticized Kelly Brook harshly because he knew she'd come back the following week with a better performance so he could then say how great it was, or words to that effect. He effectively admitted that he judges people a week in advance, as from what he said he would not have made the comments had he known that was going to be her last dance.

I also suspect he gave Alesha & Matthew a 9 for their waltz in the final because he expected Craig (and Arlene) to give them a 10 for their chacha and he didn't want them to get 2 40s. I can think of a few other examples, but I'm now convinced Len in particular manipulates the scoring to suit what he (or TPTB) wants for that particular week. Rod Stewart had been booked for ITT the week Penny was in the bottom 2 against Gabby so he was never going to let her go, which was reflected not just in saving her but in her overscored samba.

No doubt he has his xmas special scoring all planned out, with Kelly Brook returning..

Just my opinion, of course

ITA, As a head judge of SCD and appearing before the show begin and talk to the host as one contestant, for me like "kiss an ass" . If he promote his book, he should talked much about his book, as Len Goodman not as a head judge of SCD, it's to early and he even not seen the dances or dancer/contestant in the show, how could he say you are a natural dancer and the other not. I suspect he talked about his book much than give an advice to the host to be confidence, I hope in the show, Len will wiser and judge the dance,

I think that it makes things worse for the people who he has high expectations of in a way. Those the judges say won't be any good are going in with a bit less pressure and something fairly reasonable can look better if your expectations were low.

Look at Willie last year - no one was really expecting anything of him and I think his ballroom impressed people because of this.

I agree with some of the above sentiments about Len writing off some of the older contestants.

And when asked who was in the running to win, he seemed to emphasise contestants' looks and youthfulness.

I hope Gillian, Cherie and John surprise us and dance really well!

To be fair to Len, he did then correct himself and say "not that looking like a dancer neccessarily makes you a good dancer."

I do agree overall though. It is natural that they will have their opinions on who will do well and not so well before they have seen everybody dance, just as we all do on here, but it is perhaps not appropriate for the judges to voice their thoughts.


I think Gillian is going to be a dark horse this year and may well surprise a few people.

Unfortunately the manipulating has already started with the silly story about Christine....isn't it really no longer enough for people just to go and do the best dancing they can without those in charge trying to drum up controversies that don't exist?

I missed out seeing Len last night as I'll be hearing more than enough of him over 4 months. His marking as you say was not only weird but deliberately weird last year and I do get annoyed on the 'prejudging' thing. Surely the judges have to be used to the idea by now that the public are going to vote for who they like and who they perceive as trying hard. There isn't anything wrong with that.

I've given up voting as I feel as Len is basically calling the shots in the end it's lost all meaning. I do hope they can reign in the personal comments that would never be tolerated in a dancing comp for one minute...I had more than enough of people crying last year and I don't want it again.

[quote=alfie71;27440751]I was actually irritated by Len and his assumptions as to who would be good and who wouldn't. I don't think he should voice those opinions and have preconceived ideas as "head" judge. I was annoyed when Craig did a similar thing last year. What is wrong with them saying they can't comment before seeing them dance, even if they have their own private ideas? Even if some on here might agree, Len writing off poor John Sargent already before he has seen him and telling Christine she "looks like a dancer and has a great figure and should do really well" I personally found rather poor.[/QUOTE]


I felt he was only passing a general comment. I'm not great fan of Christine, but she has got a great figure, and being slim and trim, and relatively young, a lot of people would agree tends to give her a better chance over someone of John's age and portleness [excuse spelling] (however lovely a guy he appears to be). And Len did say Christine SHOULD do well, not that she necessarily WOULD! He also told the guy on gmtv Someone Castle, that he SHOULD be ok because of his sporting background....again not that he WOULD be ok!