Your post is the first I've read saying that. Surely you have to be realistic and realise she would not have been in the dance off 3 times if she was 2nd or 3rd in the public vote.

That said, her public vote has probably increased. Her dancing has improved as you would expect from someone learning to dance about 20 hours every week.

its an entertainment show, otherwise Joe public would not get to vote on who THEY think is good and entertaining.

But then even Len stated he couldnt see Rachels feet because the dress was too long so he will just assume her foot work was perfect... gave her a ten.

You trust that.

or, I know it wasnt perfect, (said to Tom) but gave a ten

makes a pigs ear out the whole show...

who's worked up.......your assuming

I didn't say she was second or third in the public vote. I said she might be people's second or third favourites - you know, one of a few they like but not the fave that they'd vote for.

I've always liked her, but she's not my favourite, so I wouldn't vote for her. But anyway, this is not the point, I was just trying to sensibly counter the insinuation that the public have "put" her in the dance off when this is not the case.

I meant on the board in general - it's a very het up place seemingly

On some threads yes your right...not on here........we like to talk about reality and fact.....

No, what I'm saying is that without listening to the judges' critiques I have had the leaderboard in practically the same order as them.

Viewers vote from other platforms other than 'dance' ability but, at the moment, the format of the Show gives the final say during the dance off to the judges.

Viewers need to accept the current format, or lobby for a change, instead of endeavouring to have their viewpoint take an uppermost position.

It doesn't at the moment because of the format of the Show.

I want Lisa. She's great, lovely personality and a fabulous dancer.

Sorry it confused you, but life's too short to keep explaining.

So who do think benefited from the selective marking on Saturday Casp - and who suffered?

So the judges should always vote for the contestant with the most public votes in the dance off?

You're free to argue why they should have saved Austin on dancing ability, but popularity should have nothing to do with their decision.

A very sensible post if I might say.

There is no point - it's just way to bolster the coffers of the BBC. Telephone voting is mainly a scam. It is not unknown for the media to rig the vote. They have done it before so I would never be surprised if they try it on again. Remember Richard and Judy?

I'd doubt there's any vote rigging. All of these types of programmes are probably thoroughly scrutinized after all the previous scams.

As for the BBC raking in the money from the votes, they don't. They cover the costs for the company they use but that's all. Pretty sure they're not allowed to.

How does that make sense? The judges don't know what the votes are when they give their marks, because the public vote hasn't yet begun.

Indeed, they may never normally be told the vote numbers, and it would be dishonourable and unprofessional for them to follow the votes rather than judge the dances.

Exactly. There's often an unjustified assumption that the celebs who get fewer votes are disliked or unpopular.

Very sensible. This is exactly what I do.

Well I can't see it. I don't always see things quite the same as the judges but on the whole with the judges' voting the cream has floated to the top. The order has changed a bit too, reflecting the varying performances of the couples over the weeks. That seems good to me.

On the other hand, the public vote as far as it can be determined, and reflected to a certain extent in this forum, is certainly not based just on ability and doesn't seem to change much based on the performance of the couples each week. That doesn't seem good.

Those are the rules, 50% judges, 50% public, plus the judges can save one of the bottom two. Do not vote if you do not like it. And BTW it's not like the public is not overmarking, too, so maybe judges are just restoring the order.

Spot on. Probably futile, but spot on.

I have posted this several times before in this forum, complete with links. The BBC does NOT make any money at all out of phone voting

Good post diddygirl. I like being entertained by the finesse and thrill of some quality dancing. That alone is what keeps me watching.

I really do not understand all this excitement about the public vote. May be they should just get in some old-time clapometer or something for those who are excited about that aspect of the show.

It is a bit of a cheek for the BBC to keep telling us to 'vote for your favourite, or they will be going home', when even when the public have their say the judges have an ever bigger say. The viewers are the middle man, their votes don't swing the result especially in the latter stages of the competition, a pawn to ciphon money from.

It's an entertainment programme, broadcast predominently to attract viewers and their participation, although it seems it may be more of an ego trip for the judges .... they may be passionate about their art but the scoring this year has been edging on the ridiculous. Len wanted to give an 11 last week.

If they keep taking away the viewers opinion the programme becomes flawed and will lose credibility. If they really have moved to wanting a dance competition, then perhaps the days of John Sargeant, Chris Parker and Quentin Wilson are long gone, and only trained dancers need apply next year.

In the end it's just a show which we will all have forgotten come January.. Intead of having memories of SCD 2008 being a great show with a great winner perhaps the 'star' of the series after all was John Sargeant!....... hey judges, you lot and your daaancing the char char char.

The BBC does NOT make any money from phone voting

The Len comment made me laugh it reminded me of the Spinal Tap amps - of course if he marked lower to being with.

I vote once usually for one person and sometimes for two - I don't think you can complain if it doesn't go your way as other people vote too but I'm a bit miffed that the system as it was meant my vote meant nothing because the system was set up to make near impossible to save the person I wanted to. The dance-off in the two dance stage needs modification it should either be scrapped at that stage or it should be on the weakest rather than the strongest dance.