I don't think vast swathes of Middle England actively cast racist votes by refusing to back black contestants. Neither do I think people consciously consider race when they place their votes. Neither do I think race is an element in BBC thinking. I agree with the posters who have said the best dancers will gather votes completely irrespective of ethnicity.

However, I do think that people tend to vote for those with whom they identify. They're not thinking race, gender, sexuality or anything like it - but they are attracted to contestants with whom they feel simpatico. And this *does* have an effect on black contestants who *aren't* the best dancers.

Much of this thread is terribly defensive. It's not nice to confront subconscious prejudice but it does exist.

Well Tim Westwood did win Best Club DJ.

Amy Winehouse & Joss Stone cleared up at the MOBO's a few years ago!

The same could be said about the NME & MTV awards though.......never loads of Black artistes winning anything there either. [Rihanna could strike lucky this year i suppose ].

I could go on, but i think we're straying off the subject now.

Correct. Too many people are too shit-scared to go on the offensive against this type of lazy, unsubstantiated, snide and cowardly innuendo.

I suspect most articles of this nature are written without the slightest intention of inviting people to confront subconscious prejudice. I think some of the responses in this thread could be taken as evidence of that. More likely it's about creating prejudice and suspicion by putting people on the defensive when there's nothing concrete being offered that requires defending.

Same here. It's no more relevant than having two men in the dance off. Or two women. Or two sportsmen. Or two singers.

As other posters have pointed out, Colin and Denise came second and were just unlucky not to win, and the "non-white" contestants have survived into the top half in all but one of the series. How come they weren't voted off early on if the voting is racist?

What next in the conspiracy theory? Julian Clary came third behind Denise Lewis because he's gay? Some contestants were voted off because they're Welsh? (Aled Jones, Gethin Jones, and... oh look.... Colin Jackson again!) I suppose if Cherie's voted off it'll be because the audience is ageist.

It's sad that some people will believe any old rubbish that they read without checking the facts.

Amy Winehouse won last year.

Is this the same racist public that voted for Alesha last year, Leona to win X Factor and Andy Abraham to represent UK at Eurovision.

Why is it always racist to the black community if a black person fails at something

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/strictly...sm-claims.html

A fair assessment I think.

yep good on Heather for saying that, as far as im concerned race has never been an issue on SCD.

Heather's responce was classy and intelligent.

Articles like that just stirr the pot and widen any divides, and the morons who write them know this. It's amazing such idiotic bile makes it to print.