I totally disagree, it should be a judges vote ONLY at this stage of the contest.

If that was the case, they'd may as well crown Rachel right now.

I am not going to give the spoiler away, but I have been a strictly fan since the very first show which aired in the spring of 2004.

I think after yesterday, the show is a complete farse. The number of 10s that were dished out were ridiculus, the over marking for the ballroom

I like some of the people on this thread don't really care who wins now and I am not going to watch the show any more.

On a personal note I think that with the quarter final, the public vote should have stood and should not have had the dance off. You can disagree with this statement, but I am entitled to my opinion, and that is that.

I think that's generalising a bit too much. There are plenty of viewers who don't necessarily have favourites but still love watching. Just because certain people's preferred couple is eliminated doesn't mean to say they don't care anymore. I'm sure there are lots of people who just transfer their vote elsewhere, or don't vote any more but still watch and enjoy the show. And as I said before, the forums aren't always representative of the viewing public's attitude as a whole - thank goodness. I can't understand those who become so bitter about eliminations, and continue to post threads about making sure certain people don't win. Chill out, switch off and go and do some charity work or something else useful!

I agree. The judges have definitely lowered the bar in this series. The over-marking has become absurd. Even Len said last night that he wished there was an 11 paddle ( for another dull routine )..no wonder, he has been giving 10's for mediocre performances for weeks !
I guess the judges are just mirroring the rest of society..over praising the second rate has become a British trait.

Normally, yes. The thing is, Lisa and Rachel have proven to be rather unpopular as shown by how often they've ended up in the dance off from good leader board positions.

Every series so far, there has been someone who the public really liked in the final even when some of the less popular ones have got through. If we ended up with a final between Lisa and Rachel it would be the first time that two people who haven't had public support would be battling it out and, quite, frankly, that would just seem incredibly odd. I think it will be very sad for the show that so many people will end up going 'I don't like either of them so who cares who wins'.

It's not a matter of people hating them but it would be sad to see a final which so many people would be completely apathetic about, far more so than any other year.

He says that a lot both over here and DWTS its not particular to this series its just Len repeating himself

....you`v just saved me 5 minutes of my life.....could`t have put it better myself.

I can see your point, but on the other hand, a final between two couples that haven't necessarily had public support makes the outcome less certain and for me makes it very interesting. Ultimately, if the couples are not generally thought of as popular with the public, and people really don't care, all that means is the voting and viewing figures may be down on previous years, which won't have any bearing on mine and many others' enjoyment of the show. Plus, with the risk of repeating myself, no-one really knows whether public support for certain couples has been maintained as an antidote to the perceived bias of the judges. I would like to see Tom and Rachel in the final, but if they're not then I'll still find it compulsive viewing and will be glued to the tv until the death.

I no longer watch ITT and don't watch the results show as it is inferior to Top Gear.
So my interest is definitely waning.

It needs a big shake-up.

What concerns me slightly is the fact that they may introduce a rule that says that if a couple is in the bottom two for more than 3 weeks they have to leave, which is ridiculous and another example of how this show is turning into more of a serious dance competition rather than an entertainment show, which is why so many people are losing interest. I can only hope they don't introduce that next year. If there is a next year, of course.

[quote=claire2281;29309152]Normally, yes. The thing is, Lisa and Rachel have proven to be rather unpopular as shown by how often they've ended up in the dance off from good leader board positions.

Every series so far, there has been someone who the public really liked in the final even when some of the less popular ones have got through. If we ended up with a final between Lisa and Rachel it would be the first time that two people who haven't had public support would be battling it out and, quite, frankly, that would just seem incredibly odd. I think it will be very sad for the show that so many people will end up going 'I don't like either of them so who cares who wins'.

It's not a matter of people hating them but it would be sad to see a final which so many people would be completely apathetic about, far more so than any other year.[/QUOTE]

I think you make a fair point. In previous series there has always been someone who has captured the public's imagination. Try as they might ( and they have certainly tried ) the judges cannot "sell" Rachel or Lisa. If they are the final two, it will be a "judges final"..I dont dislike either of them, but neither has yet produced a jaw-dropping performance, in my humble opinion of course.

So what you really saying is that because YOUR fav celeb or pro has gone you're in a massive sulk

Grow up. get over it, move on and stop posting bitter tosh on here

[quote=RichmondBlue;29309848]

that is just your opinion I have never taken to Austin and it's only been in the last couple of weeks that I've warmed to Tom, Rachel can leave the comp at any time as far as I'm concerned but I've loved Lisa since the first show so the Judges haven't had to sell her to me at all - it's all down to personal opinion and what the GBP like could (and is likely to be) way off the mqrk compared to what people think on this forum

But this could make it less of a dance competition if, as can be witnessed by the JS example, a large portion of the public vote for entertainment value rather than dance value.

Personally I love it!

The BBC could improve the programme by introducing some real dance content.
Have proper master-classes.

Then we could have more interesting personalities AND see some good dancing.

But the format is tired now and I'm sick of seeing the same training footage and hearing the old clichés.

Not sulking at all...actually I'm enjoying a very pleasant Sunday with some friends and a cut of beef.

And my favourite didn't go last night, so please don't make assumptions and get personal.

I was merely drawing attention to the ludicrious / farcical over-marking / dance off.

I agree with the above and the OP. For me, this series has been a damp squib, mostly because I just haven't warmed to any of the celebs, apart from Christine, who much as I loved really couldn't dance that well (sorry, lovely girl).

In previous years, I think the best dancers have also had engaging personalites which made it much easier to get involved and get behind them.

If Lisa and Rachel are in the final, then I don't feel it will be representative of the public vote (not just my vote!). The panellist on ITT who said that pair were "too earnest" and it showed the importance of not being earnest (gotta love a Wilde quip) was bang on the money for me.

I think the bit I've bolded sums it up for me, and also for all my family and friends who watch the show. I was out with some friends after last night's show, most of whom are huge Strictly fans, and not one of us could care less who wins at the end of all of this, we're all just bored of the whole thing now. As someone said earlier in the thread, I find it sad that we have the potential to have two couples in the final that the majority of people obviously don't give two hoots about. It won't stop me watching Strictly next year, and if I'm in I'll watch this year's too, but I'm not that fussed if I miss the next couple of weeks either.

I think some of the serious dance fans on here , as well as the producers and judges of SCD, forget that the majority of people watching the show are watching it for entertainment value and that entertainment value has been seriously lacking in this series, especially in the latter stages. Come Dancing failed to gain viewers for a reason - people want to be entertained on a Saturday night, not watch a serious dance show.

I really do think that one of the big problems with the show is having the dance-off still existing in the latter stages. The judges are very blatant about who they want in and who they want off and without doubt they manipulate the leader board accordingly. I actually think the dance-off's fine for the first few weeks as it can stop a very good dancer getting voted off early on because people don't know who they are etc, but should be dropped by the time we're down to the last five or six couples. That way the public can be entertained by the couples who entertain them most, not the ones who the judges tell them should be entertaining them most. Rachel and Lisa have been in the bottom 2 several times for a reason. Lisa has actually been one of my faves this year but clearly a lot of voters don't share that view, and clearly a lot of people are not entertained by Rachel either. If they end up as the final two I agree that a lot of viewers won't give a damn who wins, which is rather sad really.

[quote=welwynrose;29309963]
Well, I did say it was only my opinion. However, Lisa has been in the dance-off three times which does indicate that she is not particularly popular with the GBP.
Whatever "floats your boat" as they say, but there has just been no "wow" factor for me with any of Lisa or Rachel's dances.

If the judges genuinely believed that the standard was so high then they'd leave it just to public vote for the last few weeks.

No way should it just be the judges decision at this point what an underwhelming result that would be. No matter who would win in the end.

I've watched and enjoyed SCD from the first series, and will continue to do so.

Totally agree with those saying there are far too many 10s flying about this year. I remember when I first watched the US version and was laughing at how lenient the judges were, giving out 10s willy nilly. But now they're doing it over here.

At least they don't have the dance-off in the US, possibly because they actually believe in democracy over there. Imagine if we applied the same concept to general elections: the public would vote, but then four know-it-all judges would get to decide whether to overturn their decision. There'd probably be a riot!

The most popular celebs clearly wouldn't be in the bottom 2