I am not sure that the current format is very fair to the dancers, as some people will have a natural affinity to Latin and some to Ballroom.

So far the boys have done:

Austin, Don and Andrew - one Ballroom and one Latin
Tom and Gary - two Latin
John and Mark - two Ballroom
Phil - one Ballroom

It would be much fairer if they alternated between Latin and Ballroom. And it would give us a much better indication of their talents.

What do others think?

Much fairer as proposed. Gawd knows why they haven't scheduled it that way!

I posted a thread very similar to this one last week, and it often comes up. No it isn't fair and alternation would make sense but the producers do not seem to think so, and it is set to continue. This week Christine will be doing another ballroom and Lisa another latin.

I agree Wiz.

I would also like the first vote off to take place after a celebrity has performed each of disciplines.

I really cannot understand why they haven't done it so they alternate between ballroom and latin- like you said, some people (like Gary for example) are more suited to ballroom and yet have had to do two latin dances. I also think the celebrities should have an opportunity to dance both a ballroom and latin before leaving the show- although that would lead to a very long show.

I did feel a bit sorry for Gary because he was desperate to do a Ballroom. I feel that the Latin dances do leave the celebs much more exposed. The format has no reason or rhyme.

I think it's a real shame that Gary didn't at least get a chance to do a ballroom. Imagine having salsa and jive first - what a nightmare!

Hear hear and a point I have made a number of times. I would rather have fewer couples and two dances each before any elimination. I am also not keen on this boys girls boys girls thing. i can't wait until they are all together!

Didn't it used to be the case that they alternated or am I just making it up?

Completely agree. I can see an argument for letting John do two ballrooms rather than a jive, just to avoid any problems like Tarbuck had - I think any unfairness there is balanced by the massive unlikihood of older contestants staying in for many weeks.

But there was no need for that to stop any of the others doing the opposite of their last dance, and I can't see any reason at all why Lisa has 2 latin dances and Christine 2 ballroom, when they could just swap them round.

I wish the programme gave more information about how these things are decided, especially as we've got ITT every night to tell us about the workings of the show.

I know what you mean, they're like the two hardest latin dances there are, so it's unfair to him that he had to do them both. That said, he did still deserve to go this week- he is the only celebrity that, in my opinion, actually left the show when they should have done.

Not until they do two dances a show. There has always been a few couples who have done more of one than the other.

Ta! Then, yes, it is a stupid format.

Eventually, when John has to do a faster dance/latin/jive
and has to dance separately from his partner he will not be protected.
Nice and cuddly though he is he will soon have to be judged on dancing ability.
He deserves to be still in but will not last much longer.

In the early series (at least in &2!) they alternated for the first 4 weeks

Wk1 Ladies Waltz Men Cha Cha
Wk2 Ladies Rumba Men Quickstep
Wk 3 Ladies Tango Men Jive
Wk 4 Ladies Paso Men Foxtrot
Wk 5 All did Samba and Group Viennese Waltz
Wk 6 Mish Mash like now.

I really don't see why they changed it - even allowing for Boys weeks and Girls weeks all they have to do is the one one they DIDN'T do 1st time out!

If John does a fast latin at the moment he'll probably have a coronary...

However it would be fairer to alternate them; it seems strange why they haven't really

Don't be so sure! I can't wait to see John do a Latin (He already HAS done a Latin group dance) and what's more I reckon he will be game for it! He has a brilliant partner and is clearly growing in confidence. Just because he is 64 and a little bit tubby don't write him off just yet!!!!!!

There are loads of people on here who love him to bits and love the joy his dancing gives people!

I agree they should alternate especally at the begining of this serris 2 weeks boys only 2 weeks girls only much better to fit in 1 ballroom 1 latin

So it's not for the sake of numbers. I've also posted that it would be better this way , I think it was done in the early days of SCD, The rumba and the foxtrot are also not good dances for early on.Why couldn't both the girls and the boys do the waltz and the quickstop and the cha cha and the jive?

I just wish they would go back to fewer couples, no vote off for the first week, no boys and girls week, and alternating the dances. Why they keep on tinkering with the format heaven only knows. They could still run it for longer with no eliminations until everyone had done a ballroom and a latin, and males/females would compete against each other straight away which would be much fairer. This Saturday another female celeb will go before their time, as I believe they are all better than at least three of the men!

I think they should have no votes for the 1st 2 weeks followed by double evictions weeks 3 and 4 that would give everyone the opportunity to have a fair crack at 2 dances preferably 1 ballroom and one latin

No...but there are many unfairnesses. Compromises between fair and entertaining are inevitable.

You have to keep things in perspective. It's not a sporting contest. As long as broadly speaking the good dancers stay to the latter stages and the less talented don't, I don't have a problem with a bit of unfairness....as long as its purpose is a more entertaining show....or at least to counterbalance other unfairnessses.

Fewer couples. No eliminations until week 3. Week one ballroom for everybody. Week two latin for everybody.......if I ruled the BBC!

Good idea.
When to you take up your new post?

I like your style.

Gary didn't do both those dances. He did Cha Cha and Jive. Although the way he did them, it's hard to tell what they were supposed to be.