No spoilers please, but anyone who's now given up on this farce, please sign here.

I don't think there is really a right or wrong elimination at this stage. All four couples who danced tonight are virtually on a par IMO.

At this stage seeing as there are so few couples, it should be down to the public vote - No Judges vote off

[No spoilers please, but anyone who's now given up on this farce, please sign here]


No spoilers required here....

I've been a 'Strictly' fan for years but this series has killed it for me for so many reasons.

Like you, I've given up - don't care who wins - its all been so loaded from Day 1 - and that's not cynicism, that's realism

All four couples are excellent, there's nothing farcical about it.

Although I agree there should be no dance-off in the final 4/5, I don't think there was any 'conspiracy' tonight.

These figures suggest you're not the only one losing interest.


Week 11 - Voters: 498. You may not vote on this poll
Week 10 - Voters: 700. You may not vote on this poll
Week 9 - Voters: 809. You may not vote on this poll


300 fewer voters on the DS poll last week than 2 weeks ago.

That's what happens when the judges forget that above anything else SCD is an entertainment show.
If they vote off the most popular celebs every week what do they expect.

The qualifying rounds were a bit dull. I could have done without them frankly.

However, since then, it's been an interesting and unpredictable competition which I've really enjoyed.

Strictly remains a superior RTV show in almost every respect.

The judges, presenters and all the cast really have helped to produce another excellent series.

I actually trust the judges (other than looney Len perhaps) more with the decision rather than the public.

Agree totally

Hand on heart, you think X out-staying Y is even remotely justifiable?

One of the better series now after the JS distortion. 4 strong dancers left. None of the usual irelevant journey stories overwhelming the dancing. Lots of discussion of the judges marking but few credible suggestions the leaderboard has been wrong for weeks. The dance off rule has managed to ensure so far that the stronger dancers get to the final. It may avoid the fate of those SCDs where only one really good dancer made the final and one of the best two never saw the final. All it needs now is a lot of uncommitted voters to vote in the final stages on the dancing rather than on sex or race or nationality or looks or joke telling ability or whatever.

Excellent post

I was never any good at algebra.

Can't you ask me an easy question?

In regards to the original post. Yeah I have lots interest. I dont give a damn anymore,which is sad cos till about four hours ago I had really enjoyed this series.

Totally disagree. Low on performance and entertainment ( I do not count JS as entertainment); high on competent dancers rather than those able to wow even if not technically that good. Massive amounts of over-marking compared to earlier series, despite dances low on content compared to previous years (Check out Jill's paso cf Austins - and I like Austin, so am almost unbiased!) Austin is the best of a bland collection; hardly the entertainment value of the 'journey' - the genuine falling in love with dancing - of Darren Gough. I would rather have had more showmanship and diversity than bland mediocrity; and rather more journey and enthusiasm than this over-earnest lot. The show needs people who bring warmth and joy to the dance-floor - Jodie and Ian were the exception to the rule this year. Since I dance, I like to see good dancing win through to the final, but dancing isn't mathematics, its not enough to do all the steps in just about the right place. Once again, too, thanks to the stupid JS debacle, we will have a bit of a final damp squib. Last year, the semi's were more exciting than the final, and I say that knowing my favourite won. This year, it will be the same thing.

Well, each to their own. I never really took to Darren Gough TBH. I felt both Colin and Zoe had been robbed that year but there you go!

I'm not overly bothered about the "J" word. Much prefer to see great dancing.

I can't really say much else except I'm pretty p*ssed off at the result tonight.


Or should I say 'tomorrow'!

Strictly USED to be a superior RTV show,it no longer is it belongs with X Factor and Big Brother..The judges have manipulated situations , also with their scoring,overmarking and undermarking which manipulates the LB, to ensure their selected individuals stayed,hence you have the blandest finalists in the shows history..Rachel although technically the best dancer,is very dull,Lisa I can't warm to and feel that she has been grossly overrated by the judges,Austin and Tom well we had the fake rivalry,and that was about it..The judges have managed to turn the show into farce watch Peter Kays Christmas spoof on RTV and you'll see that Strictly now has more in common with the X Factor than anything else,CRH is Cowell etc;..Judges worst crime has been their total lack of respect for not just contestants, but the public who vote ,we who help fund the Beeb and pay the wages of the 4 inflated egos we now have..Think back and remember how the past finals had so much public support.Jill series 2 she was the first to bring that magic to the final and it continued,Darren Gough,Ramps, Alesha,all the fantastic professionals and we the public were allowed an opinion,and even if the winner wasn't our particular favourite,we saw them as worthy of lifting the trophy. Series 6 has been very different in as much we the public haven't actually selected the finalists,we're told we have but look at who's there and say hand on heart that without manipulation all 4 of them would be there..2 of them maybe ,but the 4 of them definitely not.

Ellie

The Dazzler wasn't that great, but he was enthusiastic and genuine. Colin was amazing, and I agree he was robbed by Puppetgate - I'd have been delighted to see him win. I don't care about the 'journey' in terms of being rubbish then getting better...I like people - even if they aren't brilliant - genuinely falling in love with dance. I don't necessarily want them to win, mind you, but I do like to have it in the series. This time has felt rather earnest and flat.

Loved tonight - looking forward to next week - why must everyone be so negative?

Great contest tonight. More please... can't wait till next week.

I agree this series is tosh but only because the amount of 10's that are flying around for what I would call competent but hardly spectacular dances. Len and Bruno talking over the (even if you disagree PROFOUNDLY with what they say) other judges is just SO rude. Even the robotic audience in SCD get on my nerves who boo CRH and cheer Len when they give out their marks. Although lately with Len giving lower marks than CRH on some dances the audience seems confused as to whether to boo or cheer.

Lastly if Austin has gone as some threads on here seem to be suggesting then I think it was because of the relative poor Latin he was dancing. The Salsa Erin chereographed was REALLY poor. In my opinion Austin (and it seems with Erin's approval) seems to have been going for the horny housewives and gay men's vote (showing off his great physique, and dancing to gay club classics such as "It's Raining Men") to cover up his poor performance in this area

I agree with you Taxi. Not pleased.

The last series and this series i've not enjoyed as much as the first four.
I think its because of the dance off - I hate that! and the judges with their bias and overmarking seems to have got alot worse in my opinion.
It just puts me off

Totally agree. It's a "Catch 22" situation in many ways. At this stage of the competition the judges have the power to manoeuvre their least favourite couple into the dance-off. That's fine if the public have kept someone like John Sergeant in, not so good if they want to ease out someone they don't favour.

Last night, the two girls were, I believe, overmarked on dances where they lost rhythm and balance in places. It was fairly obvious that the judges wanted to manoeuvre Austin and Erin into the dance off and I would make a substantial bet that, when the results are broadcast tonight, Austin goes.

I will probably not watch SCD in future - I'll be living abroad in any case by the time any future series is made - but I would hope that any such series would incorporate certain changes: Arlene may be leaving anyway, so my 50/50 feelings about her do not come into it. Craig is often harsh, but usually fair all round. Len is rude, will not listen to opinions differing from his own, has his favourites and marks inconsistently - he should go. Bruno also has his favourites and "Italian solidarity" has been marked this year. He should go.

Can the BBC please get rid of Bruce? He wasn't funny when his jokes were new and certainly isn't now. Above all can the BBC invite no more non-starters. Age is not necessarliy a barrier - witness Cherie this year, but surely celebrities like Jimmy Tarbuck and John Sergeant should never have received invitations. No-one can tell whether some celebrities have dancing ability or not - who would have thought that the stocky Darren Gough would ever have proved so good? However, let's at least see a better and fitter selection of contestants for the pro-dancers to work with - a selection where no-one can definitely pick the no-hopers from day one. If they prove to have two left feet, well, that's the risk, but let's find out from their dancing and not have the obvious thrust at us as soon as we see them.

Can we also see a better judging system or perhaps "system for elimination" would be a better expression. To give slow starters a chance, perhaps no eliminations until week 4, when the four weakest go entirely on the judges vote? After that how about the public voting only on which couple to save from the lowest two on the judges scores?

As I say, though, it's entirely academic for me as I shall not be here, but those who are here and also wish to see a better competition than we got this year deserve a fundamental shake up of the show.