Before it is too late it may be worth us complaining to the Beeb re 'Ask Len'. Either on line or by phone.

What about it?

Why bother?

As long as people on the BBC site are posting questions, they will get Len to answer them. I'm sure it's quite nice for the people who get a namecheck.

Yeah, that's what I thought too...

Just done it!

Complained?

Oh yes! ended by saying 'I expect it to be gone by next week'.

I will accept flowers thrown and chocolates! Cash is good but cheques will do!

Why is there so much dislike of this feature? I am really no fan of Len's. In my opinion of him as a judge, I think he readily overmarks and develops an obvious bias against some couples much more so than any other judge. However, I will admit, I quite enjoy this feature. QM's right. It's a bit of interaction between the audience (and of course the best part of the audience - the forum members!) and the show which is always welcome, and I at least find it entertaining.

I will say I miss the panels they used to have and a few other features, but everything needs a shake up now and then.

I hate it, one because personally I find it boring and unfunny, but mainly because stuff like Ask Len means we don't get to see every couple's midweek training - and if you're an Austin fan in the depths of horrendous worry over his rumba a little snippet might have eased the panic most of us are having

No problem with Len, just this feature because it is a fine example of 'busywork'.

It smacks of the production team grasping at straws and implementing things to show that they're coming up with fresh new ideas and so being dynamic and contributing.

Also be very wary of TV and radio encouraging you to 'get interactive' because they are using the audience to fill airtime by pandering to our need to be 'on the telly mum'. Reading out questions about horses arses is not interacting. lazy, lazy, lazy.

I really dislike this feature and think it's a waste of time

I'm all for a bit of "audience interaction", but I think they would have been better off doing an "Ask the Pro" feature - same format as Ask Len, but each week with a different pro.

I agree that it wastes time that could be used for seeing the midweek training. Also get rid of the Masterclass while they are at it.

Or if they must have it, they should only ask him questions about dancing.

If people stopped asking Len stupid questions, it would stop of it's own accord. Nuff said........

Gag and tie up "Crazy like a firework" who I suspect could be a member of the production team because they keep asking most of the stupid questions! I swear the Arlene/marble question was the third question from them!


What is the point? It's not cute, it's not funny, Len's not a cheeky chappy! I appreciate it's a filler, but can we have a filler with some actual point to it?

Well I emailed them 3 pages of posts from here about the manufactured rivalry between Austin and Tom they were trying to foist on us, and it seems to have done the trick because they stopped with the rivalry nonsense.

Wow, really?! You are my hero! Can you do the same to the Ask Len segment?

I realise I'm in a minority here but I love this feature! It's the sheer randomness of it I love! Makes a welcome change from the seriousness which has pervaded this series.

Trouble is the Beeb only wants feedback that suits them and their forums are censored to that end. The questions are inane. The whole thing is looking like a two and a tanner budget being stretched to fill holes in scheduling.

"Cheap as Chips" springs to mind... *sighs*

But it could be replaced with something equally light-hearted and random that doesn't involve Lord Len of Sev-ern who is coming across more and more as a grumpy old git who believes himself to BE the show.

Sorry goughy but you haven't really thought of all the people who like the feature...

Imagine if it was here that they were asking people to "Ask Len". You would have had your question in and would be looking forward to the feature. Even if the question was "What colour washing up gloves do you wear"?

I can take or leave the feature. But I can see how people would like it. I'm delighted that you found it necessary to complain but I really doubt it will get you anywhere.

But this presupposes that that "need" is necessarily a bad thing. If I'd put in a question for the feature, why should I not want it read out? Why not try to interact with the programme more? I always find it a bit of a thrill when members' posts from here are read out, or that the production team have clearly taken note of positive suggestions etc. One of my favourite features was the alternative panel, which was often highly entertaining. Again, it showed it was interacting with the audience, but I don't see this as a bad thing! It means people feel more in touch with the show, and we get to see the opinions of fellow viewers etc. In the case of Ask Len, I think it uses a bit of offbeat humour, all rather tongue-in-cheek. It's the only time really that I can say I enjoy watching Len! And it allows viewers to interact with the humour of the show. If it wasn't for interaction of one sort or another, the show would be woefully flat.

Whats wrong with "Ask Len", I enjoy this feature.

That's seems to be exactly the point - to fill time. This series of ITT appears to be struggling for content more than any other, although I will say for balance that the choreography analysis is a welcome addition.

Ask Len is just filler, you might as well stick Arlene in front of a camera and ask her to tell you about her holiday last year for all the relevance to the show that it has. In fact, that would fill even more time as it takes Arlene an hour and a half to put a coherent sentence together.

I think its fun, it makes me laugh and I look forward to it each week, I love the silly questions and answers, why do people need to put down silly things that are enjoyed by many Keep it I say

I can't answer your question about why people put down silly things in general, but as far as this particular silly thing is concerned, I'm putting it down because it's irrelevant to the show.

In other words, I've no objection to hearing Len's opinions on anything, but just not during ITT - that, in my opinion, should be about SCD.