Strictly Come Dancing 2011 (4) Save the Last Dance for Me

[ScatterChasse]

All new glitterball-y thread just in time for the semis

Ooh - papers this morning reporting that the Jordans are likely to be axed not just from the tour but from Strictly itself!

Here, for example but reported in other papers too...

I will miss Ola - love her performances. Shame she's married to the mouthy James really!

I've heard that about the Jordan's. Think James' outbursts might have upset the powers that be one time too many!

I shall definitely be having SCD withdrawal but I shall be compensating a little in January. Our teacher has invited us to the Universal Dinner & Dance in London, which is a big black tie do two days before a massive dance comp with all the world's best dancers in town. She said some of the SCD dancers sometimes go so she'll introduce us to any she sees

They need to be careful about obsessing over keeping it "fresh". Viewers, especially as it nears Christmas, like to have a little bit of continuity and axing popular dancers is a mistake. See how people are still missing Ian and Darren and Lilia, who was my favourite female dancer. New dancers usually take a while to settle into the show.

That said, I would be happy for Bruce to leave, and Claudia or Zoe doing Tess's job would be a marked improvement.

Funny in that article they say the bbc are aware that changing a panel can ruin a show a la x factor. Why did they ever replace arlene with aleesha? She contributes bugger all

Yes - I don't understand why Tess has the primetime job and Zoe and Claudia don't when they are so much better at presenting! Zoe would be fantastic.

I think people have warmed to Pasha quite quickly () - he's new, isn't he? I think Anton might be past his best now though = maybe he could take over from Bruce?

I think they've been prepping Anton to take over from Bruce for a whole, he's already had a crack at presenting with Hole In The Wall.

From what I hear there is some disquiet in the dance world about the show. They've moved so far away from the original purpose of regenerating interest in ballroom and latin dance. What they do on the show is not what you would learn in a dance lesson. It is over embellished cabaret style dancing.

Harry was the smoothe operator and sex on legs last night and deserved to win it - with the lovely Aliona.

Loved Chelsee's first dance - in green - the way she kicks her legs - think that's her greatest dance with Pasha!!

Great TV!!!

I thought that with Anton & Zoe or Claudia. Much better than Bruce & Tess.

The bbc thought Arlene ( & other presenters ) were too old. They got in trouble for it.

Actually I'd quite like Brendan to present ...

Great semi and final , think Harry pipped Chelsee so the right result for me

Pleeeease can Bruce go hes awful normally but yes agree his northern accent impersonations were very insulting lets hope hes shot himself in the foot

It's definitely time for Sir Brucie to go getting. But if he's replaced by Vernon Kay I will shoot myself in the foot

My guess with regards Tess who is SO much worse then Claudia and Zoe is that when the show first started, they clearly didn't think it was ever going to be as big as it is and not many female presenters were interested...hence why Tess got the gig. And now they probably feel some kind of loyalty to her/don't want to change it if it ain't broken etc so they continue with Tess and Bruce.

Doesn't bother me much as I always Sky+ it and fast forward through all of Tess's bits

I love Claudia and Zoe. Tess is just too 'nothing' really. But I still miss Arlene so I'm probably quite sad.

Oh god no! Please not Anton! Anyone but Anton!

I'd rather stick with Bruce, who I agree really does need to be put out to pasture, but Anton totally does my head in.

Would love it if Claudia took over Tess' position though - think most of the contestants and professionals would prefer it too

Agree with you Aries that axing popular dancers is a mistake, but I personally would be glad to see the back of James Jordan. I've been shouting at the screen at him a lot this series.

April - and yet I thought he was really sweet towards Alex, and protective.

Brendan is actually a judge on the New Zealand version of the show. Along with Craig, which must make for interesting times.

what was up with chelsee then? she looked somewhere between upset and royally pissed off.

Len for the Bruce role, I think. Karen Hardy on the panel. Zoe and claudia and no tess.

Couldn't Darren and Lilia come back? It would depend how acrimonious the split was I suppose.

I don't think James and Ola were "sacked" from the tour. They were never invited to go on it. James and Ola both tweeted that they'd received an email saying they wouldn't be needed this year. Interestingly though, Robbie Savage IS going on the tour, dancing with Natalie (I think).
Although I love the show, James Jordan and Brendan have been doing their pantomime crap for too long and with Artem and Pasha showing great choreography, they don't look edgy and fresh any more.

I like Bruce but agree he was a bit annoying last night - and think they should cut down the length of his jokes.

No, I wouldn't want Anton either.

...or Karen on the panel - she's a bit too much for me.

The thought of no Bruce and Tess - what a great show that could be! I've only been watching for the last three or four series (think Tom Wotsit was the first winner I saw), but it's always struck me that the awkward moments, apart from James's ridiculous, carping outbursts, seem to occur when Bruce and/or Tess is on screen.

Tess really doesn't have the skill of talking to people to bring out the best in them, or the wit to amuse/charm us when on her own.
Claudia and Zoe do - the contrast is embarrassing.

Bruce is just embarrassing end of. He's got his knighthood now - surely he can just shuffle off quietly and stop inflicting himself on the rest of us?

The tall camp guy - orange-skinned usually. Presents BBC things often, like the Lottery programme. He'd be a good replacement for Brucie. {if anyone can remember his name}. And yes La Winkleman should be upgraded to the main show.

So next year we want no Tess /Bruce preferably not replaced with Anton
Line up to include
David Tennant ( in eye liner)
Colin Farrell
Ewan McGregor
Johnny Willkinson
Susanna Reid
Gareth Malone
And Pan dancing with Aliona

Right whos telling the bbc?

Reckon Tess is going to announce she's pregnant in next weeks (perfectly timed to fit in with Strictly schedule - no way she's letting Kaplinski cover for her again!!). I quite like Tess but have you ever watched the way she gurns at Bruce and the camera while Bruce is doing her bit? Watch the Christmas special and you will see what I mean

Dale Winton!! Urbane, sensitive, spray tanned-ready! Poifekt.

Miranda
Isabelle Adjani
Mariella Frostrup
Jenny Agutter
Claire Danes ( just seen some of Stardust).

Yes, Zoe presenting and Claudia backstage would work for me. Actually I think Tess is fine doing the bland presenting bit, it's just the backstage chat she's so awful at - she just has no natural rapport with other human beings.

Wonder what'll happen with Zoe next year? She was widely seen as playing a blinder this year on ITT, even by some very skeptical Claudia fans, but the BBC presumably can't ditch Claudia while she's on maternity leave - they'd face all the lawyers in the world.