Strictly Come Dancing
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Should the dance off be brought back?

by Alex - 64 comments

Filed under: 2010

Following Jimi and Flavia’s early departure there has been a lot of heated debate about whether the dance-off should be brought back to Strictly.

To be fair to the BBC I remember the initial backlash when they first intriduced the dance-off so it seems a case of damned if you do damned if you don’t!

However, it does seem wrong that both Tina and Jimi were voted off before the likes of Ann, Michelle and Felicity.

So who is in the right?

The problem is you can’t blame the public for voting for their favourite and that often means personality over dancing skills – but this is a dance competition.

What are your thoughts?

  • Linda

    It is supposed to be a Dance Competition therefore the dance-off should be brought back – it is the only fair way, otherwise we may end up with a non dancer winning.

    • Becky

      I totally agree Linda!! BRING BACK DANCE OFF! Justice must be done!

      • http://www.harmonylincs.org Derek Wood

        It is just a joke and spoils the competition to put in people like widdicome just to laugh at she really is pathetic if you want to be a dance programme then get back to the dance off , and stop keeping her in the programe there is no way she gets enough votes to stay in

  • http://tiscali Felicity

    I totally agree. Bring back the dance-off and let the judges have the final say. It is a dance competition after all, not a comedy show.

  • Geoffers

    Rules are rules, I’m afraid. Everyone should have recalled what happened with John Sergeant and nobody should be surprised that an untalented hoofer is staying deep in the competition. It could have been Paul Daniels or Peter Shilton, but it’s turned out to be Anne Widdecombe.

    The bed’s been made; there’s no excuse to go and change things now..

  • Drew

    100% Absolutely, even aside from the fact it’s a dance competition it actually produces a really interesting tv spectacle on a Sunday night so it’s better entertainment value as well as better for the competition. Saying it’s the viewers fault isn’t entirely fair as if I wanted to support a Tina over the lesser dancers am I supposed to vote for her (as well as Pamela, Tara, Scott and Matt) and then vote for all of the mid ranking people so that an Ann or Gavin goes? It’s not feasible so bring the dance off back NOW!! Please… Pretty please?! :)

  • Mary Rotton

    As a strictly fan of which I enjoy i feel the dance off should return it is most unfair and unjust particularly after Saturdays show when the good and better dancers are voted off the programme.And the judges who are the professionals to have the last say.

    • Becky

      I should think that non-dancers, the like of Ann Widdecombe, Michelle Williams & Gavin Henson should not proceed more than 1 week further. The public should only vote on the merit of the dancers, not who is most popular. Some people have the wrong idea of voting on this show! Keep voting wisely to ensure the right people progress further – the ones who can dance!

      • http://SCD Jogaila

        Since people feel Ann and Anton provide good entertainment, she should continue to perform ( note, I don’t say dance) but not be voted for. That way everyone would be happy, but I fully agree with all that the dance-off should return. I cannot see any reason foir its removal ( though it would not get rid of A2 as long as they are not in the botto, 2)

  • jan

    This is a dance competition NOT a comedy show, I think the danceoff was added pressure and a great part of the programme, it now seems that the Sunday programme is flat, like many programmes the producers have brought in new changes just for the sake of change, the gimmics and new set do little to enhance the show….bring back the danceoff please.

    • Becky

      Absolutely, Jan. Hear hear!

  • Karen

    By changing the voting the producers have made the programme an entertainment programme and not a dance competion. They probably did this so that they get more votes and therefore more money.

  • Christine Godfrey

    Yes I and my family (my husband Alastair and my Mum Win)do think the dance off should be brought back. It is really ridiculous that Jimi & Flavia have been voted out while Ann Widecombe is still in the competition. It is a dancing competition NOT a comedy programme!! Ann Widecombe should have been the first person to leave and if the judges had their way she would have been! I really feel sorry for Anton hauling that enormous woman about you can’t say that they are dancing & when she gets to the judges she is so rude. Craig is one of the judges not a dancer so of course he is sitting down you couldn’t have the judges dancing in between the contestants.If M/S Widdecombe wins the competition it will make a complete mockery of the whole programme & no-one decent will ever want to enter again. She should have the good grace like John Sargeant & retire. PLEASE next year let’s have decent people not comedy figures! Despite being really incensed with what is going on we will still continue to watch the programme hoping that sense will prevail & M/S Widdecombe is voted off before any more good dancers leave!

    • Ann from Hove

      Ann Widdacombe was invited, several times apparently, and I agree with Christine her day will come.

      Please, please bring back the dance-off next year – just having the public vote does not make it a competition, just an entertainment programme. Such beautiful dancing should be judged by professionals.

      I also think Craig should be respected, he knows what he is saying.

      • Becky

        Ann

        I agree – the judges are there to give their points of view – they should be respected, not heckled by idiots who don’t know what they’re talking about! Don’t boo them – listen. They are the professionals – with great knowledge of dance & choreography. I believe Craig has mellowed somewhat from earlier episodes, shows even, and tries hard to be more tactful with the amateurs. Bravo to him!

    • Becky

      Christine, I agree wholeheartedly with what you say. Dance off should definitely be brought back. It does make a mockery of the competition if folks like Tina & Jared & Jimi & Flavia get knocked out in favour of keeping weaklings like Ann & Gavin, not to mention Michelle, in the competition.

  • Jean Guest

    The dancing is of such a high standard this year. Therefore from now on someone will be dissapointed every week.
    As far as Ann Widdacombe is concerned, she was invited to compete, which she is doing. The only thing is it is rather unfair for people to keep voting for her at the expense of others. Even so when she finally is voted off someone still good will depart every week from then on.
    At the moment a dance off would not be making too much difference.

  • Emma

    I totally agree – the dance-off needs to be brought back. It is a DANCE competition and the professionals have very little control over the outcome. They should have more of an input as they can judge better whats good and whats not. The public vote adds to the entertainment value but is unfair in the long run. Ann Widdacombe maybe entertaining and make me giggle but she’s not exactly dancing is she!!! If she was to win what kind of message is she setting? Think of all the other contestants who spend hrs upon hrs practicing and stressing with amazing results and dance moves – and she just flys on in, and gets dragged along the dance floor on her bottom. Its unfair on those who are really trying. Its crazy!!!

    • Becky

      Absolutely, Emma. People should think twice about voting for someone just because they are amused by them – where’s the skill in their performance?! Judge on merit rather than popularity – that’s the way forward. I think that the programme should tally all the public votes – this would be an ideal thing to do, rather than just the judges’ marks – this would give a better indication of just who to kick off the show. What do you think?

  • Pamela

    I think that the dance off should NOT be reinstated.

    The current scoring system provides an equal, fair balance between the scores from the judges and the popular vote from the public. The judges have their say when they mark a dance.

    The only exception to this is what happens when there is a tie in the judges scores: for instance, below Jimi this week the scores were: 30, 29, 29, 29, 28 – and Anne and Anton were below this. The rating given to these was: 6, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3. Normally in a ranking system, where there is a tie the people below the tie would receive the same ranking as they would have without the tie. i.e. 6, 5, 5, 5, 2, 1. Anne should have received a 1 from the judges, not a 3, as she was bottom of the leader board. This may not have changed the final result this week though. I’m not saying this should be changed retrospectively, but I’d prefer a change to this system for next series, rather than reinstating the dance off.

    I’m not a fan of Anne’s but I do object to constant references to her weight and age. The only thing that matters is her performance and skill.

    The dance off did not prevent John Sergeant progressing last year, and it wouldn’t prevent Anne from doing well this year. The dance off wouldn’t prevent Anton from giving Anne as few dance steps as possible, any more than it failed to prevent John Sergeant dragging Kristina across the floor. It may have saved Jimi for a week (assuming his and Michelle’s performances would be similar to their Saturday dance) but Jimi would have faced a similar problem the next week with the middle of the table being so close.

  • Pamela

    Eep.. forgot to say:

    If you want a pure dance competition then there shouldn’t be a public vote (or celebrity contestants…), there should be no illegal lifts or show pieces. I’d imagine such a show would attract a much smaller audience as the public would be less engaged in the result.

    As there is a public vote, we have to accept that other members of the public will have other criteria for their vote, and they have as much right to vote for the celebrity they find most attractive, the one they know from their favourite soap or the one they find funniest as we do to vote for the most improved celebrity, the one dancing with our favourite professional or the one whose dancing is the most technically accurate.

    Regardless of how we vote, the technical aspects of the dancing are already taken into account in the judges’ scores and the COMBINED result is what decides who goes out.

    • MollyC

      Agree with you entirely Pamela.

  • salbe

    Definately bring back the dance off – I don’t understand why they got rid of it. What’s the point of having the experienced judges if they don’t get a say in the result!

    • MollyC

      They do get a say in the result, they score them after the dance.

  • Baxter

    Bring back the dance off! And please broadcast it on the Saturday night and stop the Sunday night farce. None of the public are fooled!
    I only hope I will not have to watch Anne Widdacombe being dragged around the floor many more weeks! I do NOT find her entertaining!!

    • Becky

      There’s no real need for a Sunday show is there? All they seem to do on it rather than say who’s in or out eke out the deed over the half hour programme, which is totally unfair to the participants and making them dangle for the result. No need for that at all. The other thing is they have a so called ‘music act’ on the results show – usually totally wrong – so I just go online for the result of who’s been knocked out. Can’t be bothered to watch for 30 mins.

  • Jayne

    Yes, please bring back the dance off Sunday night does feel flat without it. If there is a tie in judge’s votes then the public’s votes could be considered instead of putting the burden onto Len. And I agree with Baxter above – I do not find Ann entertaining either, just irritating!

  • Mary

    I don’t mind either way whether there’s a dance-off or not, but the pretence of a “separate” Sunday episode when we all know it is filmed on the Saturday, is a bit tedious.

  • Jane

    I miss the dance off but the reasons disussed to change the format this year is doing my head in! It is a dance competition and an entertainment show. The judges make their comments and give their scores. We vote and the scores are combined. The dance off gave the judges another oportunity to choose who they want to stay in. with or without it someone goes. Anne was asked to join the show and has been putting in the hours. if someone feels they danced well or made them laugh they vote. how rude of everyone who says she shouldn’t be in it! I don’t vote for Anne I vote for who impressess me with their dancing (and of course James who I want to see every week). people vote for all sorts of reasons.

  • charlotte

    YES!!

  • lilianB

    I feel the dance-off is needed, its ridiculous to have Ann still in the competition, she cannot dance and seems of the opinion that she is doing a good job. The trouble is, is that she’s never been in the bottom two so the dance-off would’nt make a difference anyway. She does not entertain me in any way, she’s irritating and annoying – a perfect mp I’d say.

    • Becky

      What really irritates me is that Ann is so bigheaded. She expects to stay into the competition to the final it seems. Hope that somebody, namely Craig, bursts that bubble at some point. The woman CANNOT DANCE! I feel so sorry for Anton – he deserves better!

  • Louisa

    The dance off needs to come back – its only fair that the judges have more of a say – they are the professionals after all. And a note refering to Pamela’s post – Ann DOES NOT HAVE ANY TALENT!!!!! I think thats everyones point not that she is slightly older than the rest – Pamela and Felicity are older as well but they are good dancers and work hard on their routines.

    BRING THE DANCE OFF BACK!!!!

  • Alie

    Yes, bring back the dance off.
    Favorite good dancers are going away and bad dancers are staying. I don t enjoy watching anymore this way.

  • Lizzie B

    Yes as when improving dancers go out leaving people there who simply entertain us is wrong. We have to remember that not only is the public voting but the individual’s friends and family. Also the people who dislike these shows vote to keep the non dancers in to spoil denuine enjoyment so if the judges had the last vote like x factor then it would make it a fairer dance show

  • mikewilliams

    AW shows her true colours,typically of politions no respect or honesty, program now rubbish.

    • http://facebook Jeanknott

      Ok, this is a dance competition but as Len Goodman said, it’s also an entertainment show. Ann & Anton give some of us a good laugh, ok they aren’t going to win, so what.Ann was asked to compete by the powers to be and they no doubt had good reason (fun factor & entertainment value)I,for one, look forward to their antics each week. Anton is a true gent,a brilliant dancer and you can see how much the pair are enjoying themselves. The public are voting for them and yes, BBC are making money from it.Are people that daft that they don’t realise that when they pick up the phone to vote??.I fed up with all the negativity surrounding them on this page. Long may team A2 reign.

      • MollyC

        I agree wholeheartedly with your comments Jeanknott. This is not a serious dance competition. If it were, Alesha Dixon would not be on the judging panel!! It is an entertainment programme, and many people are finding Ann and Anton entertaining—-end of!

  • Penelope

    Absolutely yes. And can the public have the choice to vote an extra couple – ie Ann W.This is a dancing competition, NOT a comedy show.

  • Alice Shelley

    Yes bring back the dance off. Its tragic that Jimmy was sent home last week.

    We should be given a vote to get people off!

  • Joy

    The dance off was important – it allowed public opinion and genuine dance ability to co-exist in a fair and fun way. It is hard to see the rationale for removing the dance off. (more income generation?) It insults the intelligence of the viewers and supporters. A serious misjudgment on the part of the BBC. And unfair on those dancers working so hard to improve.

  • Leigh – Kent

    all the time the public find Ann&Anton entertaining (and they are very entertaining) they do not deserve the flack that they get. Strictly IS a prime time entertainment program. When the public stop finding them fun then it must be time for them to go. This would surely be easiest achieved by having a dance off. If A&A fall into the last two it would be down to the judges to vote on the dance content and then they would obviously be gone. But this year without the dance-off she may go all the way!! great fun….she has my vote

    • MollyC

      Even if they brought back the dance off, I cannot see it making a difference re- Ann and Anton, because they don’t get into the bottom 2 because the public are enjoying them and therefore voting for them. this is an entertainment programme and many people are finding them entertaining.The public are entitled to vote for whoever they want for whatever reason they wish.

  • Jenny

    The dance off should definitely be brought back. I know it is entertainment but it is also a competition. If it wasn’t the latter, I for one wouldn’t watch it because then it would just be a popularity contest. Prime example: Jimi- no way he should have left as early as he did. He was awesome!

  • rhonda

    I have never watched this programme once that is until now. Its all about taking part and having fun to me and that is what I have liked. Ann is great no slim young chicken but gives it all her very best Well Done Ann!!!!! You get my vote!!

  • http://stricyly ray

    ann should go now no ifs or buts just go

  • http://strictley ray suffolk

    this show after being very good in past series has now scraped the barrel as far as some contestants are concerened feel sorry for the dancers that try being dropped for the idiots who wont go makes a farce of show ray

  • http://AOL DAVID.C.SMITH

    I could not agree more.Bring back the Dance offs.It has become a joke now.My family watch the programme to see dancing.We are entertained by the dancers and hoqw well they progress.Hard work and dedication should always be rewarded.As on this week 8,Len sits smugly saying we are here for the dancing and then in the next breath he is advocating ”Entertainment vbalue” Get it right Len,because on this your out of line..Dancing first always.

  • Jitterbg

    I love Ballroom dancing, when I watch Saturday night I watch for beautiful dancing not a comedy show. If they want a comedy show they should rename it Comedy Ballroom Dancing NOT Strictly.
    I feel sorry for the dancers that are really putting there all in it it was disgusting that Jimmy went it was his best week,

    I seem to be the only one who agrees with Revell -Hall I know he seems cruel at time but he is right. let the Judges have the final say the public are pathetic. Lets say Good Bye to the bottom of the leader ball you know who.At least the other comedian dancer resigned thank goodness.

  • http://mike.oconnor@tiscali.co.uk Christina

    Yes it should be brought back its not funny any more Ann should be voted off shes had her fun we all laughed but now the good dancers r going and they really work hard!

  • Liz in Lincoln

    I think the clue is in the title of the programme – Strictly Come DANCING. Not strictly lumbering round good dancers are being voted off by people who have no idea of the concept of gthe programme!!

  • PK

    It’s a shame the BBC feel compelled to pander to the ‘public’ and have given them the final say. I think everyone was happy to be able to influence the outcome but leave it up to the judges to decide after the dance-off. After all it is first and foremost a dance competition not merely an entertainment show. And the Sunday results show is now such an anti-climax (and a bit boring). There is no thrill or excitement at the prospect of two couples giving it their all in order to survive in the competition, just a judgement at the end. The Sunday show now lacks any element of competition making it pretty dull. Whereas once I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, now it doesn’t matter if I just hear the result on Monday. I was a die-hard fan, but after seeing good dancers such as Jimi and Tina go without a chance to fight back and stay in the competition I no longer feel engaged. I am SO disappointed Strictly’s gone backwards and I know lots of people who feel the same way. Bring back the Dance-Off!

  • http://SCD Jogaila

    I fully agree that the dance -off should return, and cannot see any reason for its removal. However, it would only get rid of one of the bottom two couples, and if the public still vote in people like A&A they will never be in that position. My suggestion is that she should continue to perform and entertain, but not be voted for. That way she could go on having fun but with no danger of putting out some of the better couples.

    • Eileen

      Absolutely agree

  • http://n/a Anne Hoodak

    Strictly is no longer a dancing competition because the public just vote for the strangest performers and their performances (which really are just utter rubbish) over the high standard set by those who really what to learn to dance. The problem is, that like previous years, we will give up watching as it becomes an utter farce.

  • Eirin Beese

    I think that they should bring back the dance-off and bring back when the judges decide who (out of the bottom two couples) leave and who goes…

  • Chaswick

    A lot of SCD fans appear to want the Dance Off back because they think that it would somehow magically get rid of Ann & Anton. It would not because so far A&A have not been in the last two couples. In my opinion the Dance Off is extra and unnecessary stress for both the competitors and the Judges, in that the celebrities have to dance again and the Judges have to decide which of two good routines should go. This is 21st Century torture amuses a few fans who think that it is fun to watch others suffer mental and physical stress for their “pleasure”. Frankly if that is your mindset you should go and watch X Factor or I’m a Celebrety-Get Me Out Of Here where the whole object of the show is to make celebreties suffer privation and indignation for the amusement of their viewers or should I say Voyeurs!!! Keeeep Dancing, but not Dance Offs!!!

  • Lynden Leigh

    For goodness sake!!! Of course it isn’t torture and is a lot fairer. I’ve just (again) watched the better couple of the bottom two contestants have to leave. Having judges becomes superflous if they don’t get to judge and save the more able dancers. PLEASE bring back the dance off, Sunday nights are just not the same. Is there a petition going anywhere????

  • Eileen

    Please bring back the dance off it is so much better and also show some more dancing nby the professionals.

  • Eileen

    Please bring back the dance off and more of the professionals please.

  • Gilliwolfe

    Without the dance off, the Sunday programme is just a load of fluff and not worth watching – I just turn on for the final results. If Ann wins, I’ll never watch again!

  • Joanna Santinon

    I havent watched any of the results programmes this year having been an avid fan every previous competition. The official BBC response that there is more tension is rubbish – its also really annoying when Tess keeps saying the two couples in danger are…. Only ONE couple is in danger – the bottom one – it woudl only be true that they wee both in danger if there was actually a dance off – and that wwoudl be what created the tension!

  • Long350

    YES! bring back the dance off.  Why OH Why is Nancy still in? How and why was she ever allowed in? What has she ever done to deserve a place on Strictly?  Well Yes   I know.  But please oh please let her go.Anton how do you cope with her? Upside down was a good position for her. Let’s also have results back on Saturday nights. 

  • Diana39

    Yes, bring back the dance off!!!  I know that Strictly is entertainment, but it is also meant to be a dancing competition, and that should take precedence over so-called ‘entertainment’.  The judges may seem unfair at times, but they do know what they are talking about (mostly), and I really feel they should have the final say.  It is a dancing competition, not a popularity contest!  Why should Joe Public have the final say over the professionals?  The dance off also gave those affected the chance to redeem themselves if, for example, they got nervous and fluffed their routine the first time round.  The judges can see when somebody has made a genuine improvement.