SCD '21 #20: Who will lift the [glitterball]?

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Previous thread here

@awaynboilyurheid

Talking of changes , hope they get rid of Craig? His panto villan role has worn thin and it’s time for him to go. He thinks he is bigger than the show now. All the withholding 10 marks is like look how important I am rather than a critique of the dance. Loving Anton as a judge and although Motsi wasn't that constructive everything was either wow! or great energy! Now she has now got much better in the role.

Craig is literally the only one who can mark anything close to accurately. If it weren’t for Craig that final would have been full marks for both couples - all of the other three give out 9s and 10s like smarties which just makes the whole judging panel utterly pointless. Keep Craig, keep Anton (if he can put a lid on his Bruno tendencies), get rid of Motsi and Shirley and replace them with people fit for purpose.

I think we probably do need some new presenters, but it's difficult to start them off —when they paired Alex Scott with Claire Balding for the Olympics it made Alex look like she shouldn't have been there! She was ok (and in fairness to her it must have been really weird doing everything in greenscreen) but you just saw the contrast between somebody who can deal naturally with interviews and live tv and somebody who is very new to it. But then solo presenting for your first break is a big ask too.

Having said that, the man who was the martial arts expert was fantastic, and (even though I'd bring back Sue, Matt and Phil in a heartbeat) I really like Sam Quek on AQoS.

So there are good new people out there, it's just finding a way to develop their safe hands so you can trust them!

I don't mean for Strictly, I'm talking in general there.

I'm not sure Strictly would be the same without Tess Dress Watch!

I'd stop watching if Craig left, I think. He's the best judge by a county mile.

@Clawdy

I certainly don't want Tess to go, I love the familiarity each year of seeing her and Claudia opening that first show. The judges I'm less bothered about, although I would be upset if Craig left.

I feel the same.

Perhaps they could promote Rylan from ITT?

I don’t mind Tess though, agree with others that Strictly would be odd without her. And I love Claudia so definitely don’t want her replaced. And I would be really annoyed if they got rid of Craig, I agree with LivingBoy that he’s the most constructive and honest judge. I like Anton but Shirley and Motsi could be replaced and I wouldn’t mind.

Not Rylan! I'm sure he's lovely but I don't want to watch him presenting anything.

I could really do without Motsi (love Oti though!). I don't think she adds anything valuable at all. Just random OTT emotion. Wouldn't watch it without Craig, I don't think. I've enjoyed Anton as judge.

They replaced Tom Bergeron on DWTS after almost 20 years (& more than 20 seasons) and it's just not the same. Tyra Banks, who I love and is fabulous, just doesn't do a great job for me. Not sure why as she has a wealth of presenting experience but it's just nowhere near as good without him doing it.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

"She doesn’t “feel the vibrations” of the music, as has been claimed, but instead commits each step to muscle memory and counts them out in her head.

I think Rose is brilliant, and I'm not knocking her, but I think that's how most people learn routines — I certainly do. We never use music until the sequence is secure (obviously social dancing is different).

The difference is that I then match the "one two and three, one two three, one and two three" in my head to the tempo of the "one two three, one two three" of the music, which she'll rely on Gio for.

Her 'internal click track' must be really good, because most people will naturally speed up if they're not dancing to music.

Thanks, it totally makes sense.
I quoted the article mostly in response to pp saying Rose can hear the beat which doesn't seem exactly right. As I understand it she can hear some aspects of music in the rehearsals if she streams it to her hearing aid but not on the night she has to perform when the music is live.

SCD would be odd without Tess for a minute but everyone would get used to it. Like when a very longstanding soap character retires everyone's 'oh no it won't be the same' give it a month and everyone's forgotten about them.

It's difficult with the sport presenting. You want someone knowledgeable who has taken part in the sport but they aren't natural presenters or commentators. There's a lot of retired drivers presenting F1 but some are a lot better than others.

Davina presented Big Brother for years and when it came back it was presented by Emma Willis and she was great. But they both have quite obvious personalities and Tess just doesn't.

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

I'd stop watching if Craig left, I think. He's the best judge by a county mile.

I agree, get rid of him and the scores don't mean anything at all. I love that he never stands up at the end too.

I hope to be here bluffin. I’m not touching anything fuzzy till strictly starts. I might have a cheeky bucks one when I’m cooking - might 🙂

They can’t get rid of Craig. And they mustn’t get rid of Anton. I’ve liked him.

I would love Zoe Ball to step in but like others, I think Tess is going nowhere.

I would love Zoe Ball. I think I said on this thread maybe, or one of the others, on the SCD tour she presented she would come in dancing as part of the group dance. Brilliant. Full of personality and charisma. Plus she knows what it's like to take part.

Kai has posted on Instagram to show off his new #gifted smile, looks like he's had his teeth all sorted in time for Christmas.

@Sparklingbrook

I would love Zoe Ball. I think I said on this thread maybe, or one of the others, on the SCD tour she presented she would come in dancing as part of the group dance. Brilliant. Full of personality and charisma. Plus she knows what it's like to take part.

Zoe ball and Claudia would make a good presenting duo I think on the main show.

I'd also be happy for Rylan to be promoted up the ranks though too.

I don't mind Tess, tbh. I don't want Craig going anywhere. He gives proper feedback, not gushing over the participants. I love Anton.

I read somewhere that Oti is going to be a judge on Dancing On Ice. She could replace Motsi, on Strictly, as well/ instead.

Motsi was on the Graham Norton show recently, and was funny and lovely. But as a judge, she seems to often come out with meaningless phrases, rather than feedback. I would like to see Craig as head judge, instead of Shirley. Just to shake things up, darling.
And high scores should be held back a bit, imo. 10s become a bit meaningless when flung out early, and often.

Wow @covetingthepreciousthings - his teeth look fab now!

Zoe Ball and Claudia would be a hideous combination.

@lollipoprainbow

Zoe Ball and Claudia would be a hideous combination.

If Claudia stays upstairs it'll be fine.

I have the impression Shirley was considerably less OTT before Motsi turned up. It now seems to be the case that if one of them stands the other feels she has to, even for relatively mediocre dances. It's just getting silly.

I think that getting rid of Craig would be a terrible mistake. Luckily, he confirmed on Claudia’s radio show on Saturday that he’ll be back next Sept.

Anton should stay. Motsi was better than last year, more focused. Shirley needs to ditch the platitudes but as a non-dancer I appreciate her technical feedback.

I think that Tess and Claudia have good chemistry. Tess is rather patronising though and I wish someone would have a word with her about it. But I wouldn’t want her replaced.

The only shakeup I’d like to see is the results show broadcast live on Saturday nights. There could be a 20 minute break for the news (or maybe some dances from prior series could be broadcast). The “pretend it’s Sunday” thing is tedious and condescending, and there are too many opportunities for spoilers.

I feel with Shirley and Motsi it was all getting a bit 'Masked Singer' panel.

@lollipoprainbow

Zoe Ball and Claudia would be a hideous combination.

I agree.

Would they be together that much though?

Zoe stood in for Claudia, not Tess, when her daughter had that burns accident at hallowe’en. She was good IMO.
Tess seems old-fashioned, from another era of TV presenting. She doesn’t seem to have any spontaneity or warmth and her attempts at engaging are stilted, repetitious and cringe-making.
Claudia and AJ would be great, or Claudia and Zoe.
As an aside, I was quite impressed by Alex Scott at the Olympics. Sure, she doesn’t have Balding’s years of experience, but she got better with every show, and was warm and enthusiastic. She was robust in her response to whoever the idiot was who criticised her for dropping her aitches too. I’ve nothing but respect for her.