This series has been a complete shock for me. I never thought SCD could generate such a level of total indifference over the outcome.

So, can you explain to me quite how it has been "loaded"?

I didn't like the beginning with so many dancers.

I lost interest when John was pushed out. Even more so when the delightful Ian and Jodie went.

Nothing is wowing me from the dancers who are left - we have no Alesha and no Ramps - and there is no entertainment - Chris Parker, Julian Clary, JS style.

D-U-L-L.

So do you think that the small membership of this forum (and internet forums in general) is at all representative of the 10 million or so viewing public?

Whew! Thanks for an intelligent comment! I'm getting fed up of year after year constant whingeing. I'm surprised the series is still running to be honest. The amount of negativity is amazing. If there are people not watching since John left well so what? I got thoroughly fed up with it and how anyone can think that he was made to leave or bullied doesnt know this man's history. I bet he's having a right laugh at the moment.
Also, I was never a Ramprakash fan - and was one of the minority - but did I moan and complain because he won - no I got on with my life. Also a poster went to the live show and said Bruce was thoroughly professional and I'm afraid people who dont like him can tape and fast forward. Personally I love Lisa - I didnt at first, but there is something about how she is improving - she is really growing on me - I love Brendan this year - and you can throw comments about footwork etc. I dont care - I like the overall entertainment show.

I'm in two minds. I've enjoyed the series as much as any other up to this point. I do think the separation of the genders went on too long/or there were too many couples at the outset. And the judges sometimes obviously manipulative marking has been an issue. But overall it's been an entertaining series. After last night's result, I have lost interest as it's now obvious who will win. Sometimes that can't be avoided but a fairer system where all the dancers dance the same dances at the latter stages rather than placing depending on the luck of the draw or removing the dance off would have prevented tonight's fairly disastrous result.

I think this series has definately gone downhill. It's meant to be an entertainment show but, apart from Tom, the remaining dancers are boring as mud and are treating the competition as a life or death issue. The whole John Sargeant debate proved that the judges believe the show is about them and that it is a serious dance competition, rather than an entertainment show. Isn't is ironic that John left an entertainment show because he was too entertaining?
I'm still watching the show because I want to see Tom, my favourite, go all the way and win it (which I hope he will), but I think the lack of interest is because it just isn't the same as before. I will definately keep watching in future because Strictly is still the best show on television at the moment and hopefully will continue to be.

It's become unpleasantly polarised with public and judges riding over the wishes of each other - instead of a compromise candidate whom both like or at least can see the point of - we've got both trying to inforce their will on the others and the program suffered. I'm not sure if I'll be watching next year and if I do I'll practice some detatchment. I think the judges could do with being replaced though they're all getting too big for their boots, their comments are becoming samey and the over-marking is getting silly.

I agree, I think they should replace some of the judges, because they're really starting to wind me up, especially Len. I don't like the way he has a go at Craig for everything he says- he is entitled to say his own opinion. Whatever they do though, I will definately be watching next year.

A good dancer had to go this week and I guess there are people who are going to be upset whoever it was.



I do agree with this. Last year at the semi-final stage especially I think it should have been down to the public as personally I think the judges made a big mistake picking Matt over Gethin.

The judges have made it a farce with their overmarking of Rachel and Lisa, so determined are they to have a girl in the final. We can all clearly see that Austin and Tom are the better dancers, we are not fools yet they are treating us as fools. I will never watch again if Austin leaves tomorrow.

My husband assures me (having played rugby union for 25 years) that there's a couple of songs guaranteed to fill the floor with rugby players and one of them is "It's Raining Men" so, rather than a song to appeal to the gay viewer, it was obviously picked as a song he would have been well used to dancing to!

OK...that's the easy part...slagging off the judges.

Now for the difficult bit. Why exactly are they so determined to have a 'girl' in the final? And who is the 'we' you are speaking for (i.e. those who can clearly see that A & T are better...apparently)?

IF SCD comes back next year with the same pathetic judges and the even more pathetic dance off I won't bother watching.

They have totally ruined it this year.

It should be a STRAIGHT PUBLIC VOTE. The person with the least votes should leave each week.

For weeks now it's been obvious to me and hubby that the judges want Lisa to get to the final if they've got anything to do with it.

But why? And why are they all of one mind on the matter? I'm sure you and hubby, clever clogses that you clearly are, must have worked it out by now.

Are they on some sort of bonus scheme if she's in the final? Are they all sleeping with her? Have they all put a huge wad on her down the bookies?

Why?

To my eyes Rachel has been the best performer and I'd place Lisa second. I thought Lisa was a little undermarked for her jive last night by the standards of other jives we've seen in the competition over the years, either that or they've all been overmarked.

I think Austin's very best dances have been better than Tom's, but on the whole I'd rate Tom slightly above Austin.
Austin was definitely the least of the performers last night.

If anyone is overmarked I would say it has been Tom and Austin on occasions, or more accurately they have been more generously treated for their lesser performances than Lisa or Rachel have.

Could have done! She had massive odds at the start.

Or perhaps the judges just think she is vastly improved from the gangly bambi on ice she was at the start. I certainly think so.

Exactly! Some people have a really high opinion of themselves and their fellow forumites. Personally I've really enjoyed the show this year, and would be happy to see any of the four remaining couples win. I didn't particularly like some of the dances last night, but I do think that each couple's performances prior to this week have been good enough to warrant a place in the final. So what if Tom is perceived as smug, Rachel as boring, Lisa as desperate and Austin as arrogant. None of them are remotely dislikeable, in fact quite the contrary and the pros left in have shown themselves to be gracious with regard to the judges comments, apart from Brendon's little tantrum last night, which must have been really uncomfortable for poor Lisa. I wonder though how the public would vote if there were no judges at all from day one? There are so many votes cast because of the judges good/bad comments and/or supposed manipulation/favouritism, that if those votes were taken out of the equation the opinion of the viewing public may be completely different to that which some of the conspiracy theorists would like to think.

I was avoiding posting a spoiler, but I think you know very well what the values of X and Y were

You're just dodging the question, innit

Yup. Bored with it. There's no entertainment and fun about it anymore. 4 competent dancers left but no-one outstanding like other years, the marks are just being ridiculously inflated to make us think that this year's crop are "The BEST dancers ever". Judges manipulating it and saving dancers who the public don't like repeatedly.

I think the right one went tonight in terms of the dances, but I know who I was wishing to go, but that didn't happen.

I'm enjoying the later stages of this series much more than the earlier stages.Far too many couples,alot of which who were rather hopeless cases & it's much better when both boys & girls dance togeter.Once of them been seperated was enough if necessary,twice was too much.The judges are getting worse & constantly disagree with each other,which i suppose is accepable but it's when they started talking over the other & not lwtting them have their say.
The final weeks have been so close & the most exciting for years.It's a great end & i agree with the result.It's a shame to see anyone go now though.

But that's just what you think - I think Rachel is the best dancer left out of the 4, then Austin, Lisa and Tom but in my opinion Rachel is leagues ahead

I think it deflates the show when someone who is at least less popular than 5 or 6 other contestants could win it.

We'll either have a complete walk over of a final now or one that the majority don't seem to care about. It's hardly going to be a great final if the public by and large are apathetic about those taking part. And a rather hollow victory if we have 'you won because the public disliked you the least! well done!'

The dance off should stop at the quarter final stage. By that point we're likely only going to be left with good dancers anyway and that will give the public a bigger say in which of those dancers they want to see competing for the win.