This is one I always struggle with...because sometimes I have wanted someone I haven't warmed to to go more than someone with no evident skills.

I try to justify it by judging each celeb on their own merits - they were like this week one, this week two etc.

Otherwise we would never get to see any progressions.
However, the Chris Parker thing must never happen again...ever.

I think all the comments on this thead are brilliantly 'spot on'
I am looking forward to being part of the DS boards this year as the SCD ones last year got very heated and quite scary. I'm all for everyone having different opinions - but not to be torn apart if those opinions are not shared by all.

Great comment about Bruno and his paddles

Any of the three would have made worthy winners - I'm glad Colin and Erin's quickstep won the Xmas special, that was a beautiful dance, funnily enough it was a close run thing with Zoe and Ian's Rumba, I would have been happy if that had won too. They were the star turns on that Xmas show. Likewise though, Darren and Lilia's Smooth at the last Xmas show was wonderful and they were worthy winners there but I wouldn't have complained if Gethin and Camilla's waltz had won.

Some couples have that magic ingredient that appeals to different people, I'll probably never just vote for someone because they're technically proficient, they have to have that undefinable something about them too, that makes me jump from my chair and punch the air when they finish.

I accept that, but the judges should be impartial.

The producers need to resist the temptation to over-contrive and hype up a show that doesn't need it. The last few weeks of the last series had a really phoney quality with presenters and judges trying too hard to over-sell a frankly mediocre competition.

I know there's a ratings war to be won and I know it's a bit of a soap opera....but judges don't need to indulge in ridiculous, inappropriate 'outbursts', there doesn't have to be silly amounts of 'shock' - almost mourning - and general over-reaction if one of the better dancers goes early, we don't need hinted at showmances shoved down our throats...etc.

I hope that I can vote for whoever I want to no matter the reason. A terrible dancer has never won the competition so it works itself out in time.....Dont think Gabby or Penny or any of them who went out before Kate & Kenny would have won....obviously not popular enough and thats the bottom line no matter what anyone says.

I hope that Lisa Snowden goes out first week I have only ever seen her on the preview programme and I have developed an irrational hatred already.

I hope the GMTV curse strikes again....good for his ego...never forgive him for his completely biased commentary on the most wonderful Wimbledon final for many many years.

I hope we dont have anymore actually romances, just get on with the dancing for goodness sake.

I hope John Sergeant and Cherie Lunghie dont go out first weeks they dance (see my hope above about Lisa Snowden and Andrew Castle)

I hope someone puts tippex over the 0 on Bruno's 10 paddle.

Agreed, which is what got on my wick last year - they kept changing their own goalposts, especially where the dance off was concerned.

How do you know that....

I hope the best couple wins and I really hope this year's strictly is a great series - really looking forward to it...

The judges never sway me, I vote for whoever moves me on the night - of course I grow to have my favourites, we all do, it can't be helped.

They should be more impartial, but I guess they are just like us and end up having their favourites too and as long as we realise that and just vote for who we enjoyed the most, it shouldn't faze us too much.

I really hope the threads don't get too heated - we are all entitled to our own opinions and different people appeal to us for different reasons, that is human nature. There is no need to be nasty about it; we will all like different couples and the dances and all dislike couples and dances all for different reasons.

My wish - though I'm not expecting it - would by that the judges would just calm down and be judges, instead of thinking that they are the drama of the show. I'd agree with other posters on Len's sportsman bias - he has this way of presenting certain men as dancing 'like a man', which I think is massively offensive to the other men. If he can go back to kindly uncle Len instead of diva that would be wonderful.

My other wish - which I also know is not going to happen - is that I could watch the series just for the dancing, and not have a favourite and just be able to enjoy it. Every year I get a favourite (always a bloke) and I get too caught up in it and I end up in tears when they get voted off. I would really like not to be like that this time. If I could not care enough to resist voting, that would save me a fortune, which would be a very good thing at the moment.

Great if people did vote on the basis of the dancing, but I wouldn't bet on it. The thread for last Saturday's preview show was jam-packed with posters roundly declaring their likes and dislikes based on a few seconds of edited tape and/or supposed injustices done to favorite pros. One or two people bravely suggested waiting till we saw some actual dancing, but they were ignored.

Couldn't agree more, but I think we'll see a 'flock' of pigs flying over the white cliffs of Dover before it will happen!!!!

You've saved me having to post on this thread. Ta.

I hope that there is a shock exit, in that the worst dancers get voted into the bottom two by the GBP.

I hope there is some sizzling romance in the show this year and that it's confined to the dancefloor.

I would sincerely love the judges to give honest opinions, constructive criticism where it's due, but NOT pile alliterative insults on to a bunch of brave contestants. It's easy to be critical to someone who's way outside their comfort zone, when you yourself would be well within yours by doing the same. I wish the judges comments could be more positive, like they were during Last Choir Standing.

I wish that during the extended Sunday show we could have features on each of the pro dancers and maybe get the insights into what they do between series as was alluded to before the preview show.

And finally, I'd like to share the wish of several posters above that this forum doesn't become quite so agressively partisan as it did last year. We all like or dislike certain celebs, dancers, presenters and judges for very different reasons, and I certainly have come to like people I didn't previously think much of as each season progressed. I also have come to like certain pro dancers when they've had a nice rapport with their partners.

Roll on SCD6!

I so agree with this. I said this last year, but it bears repeating that sometimes, the actions of some of the fan(atics) can make a pairing much more dislikable. If you are jumped on for daring to say "I didn't think that was their best performance" and treated like you have critised a baby to its mother, it can be easy to view the couple as as bad as their fans.
Last edited by artlesschaos : 15-09-2008 at 18:30

I hope that the judges comments don't come across so scripted again this year. Last year some of them were awful

I also hope that I remember to stock up my cupboards this year whilst waiting for the spoilers late on Saturday nights! Last year I was at the point of eating hot chocolate powder like a sherbet dip

That someone tels Tess that belts do not go with a full length dress- and not to wear that brown dress again

You would have thought the judges would have learnt that by now, but alas I fear not!

Please, Arlene, don't use your irritating alliteration this series!

It drives me up the wall!

Arlene's alliterative attempts annoy almost all articulate. anguished associates - affirimative?

No booing Craig when he gives a realistic score to the likes of Kate Garraway. Otherwise, it just means Len and Bruno will overscore.

No Chris Parkers this year. I want to see people improve even if I don't like them but are better dancers then those I like but are crap.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I hope no one uses their position as a presenter etc to blatantly canvass for votes à la Kate Garraway last year.