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Strictly axes Sunday-night show

Alesha Dixon and partner on Strictly Come Dancing
  • Posted at 12:52pm
  • 12 August 2009
  • by PaulJones-RT
  • 13 comments

When Strictly Come Dancing returns for a seventh series in September, all the action will be packed into one Saturday-night show.

Producers are ditching the Sunday-night results programme, which has proved unpopular with viewers, and are combining the public vote, the dance-off and the judges' final decision into a single extended BBC1 show on Saturday nights, to broadcast simultaneously on BBC HD.

A spokesman said: "We wanted to make Strictly Come Dancing an unmissable TV event this autumn… Audiences will be watching, voting and, crucially, seeing who's in and who's out every week on Saturday nights."

The new series kicks off with two Friday-night launch shows and will then continue on Saturdays.

The scheduling change comes after producers decided to "change the flavour of the panel" by replacing judge Arlene Phillips, 66, with former winner Alesha Dixon, 30. Phillips will now become The One Show's resident Strictly expert.

What do you think of the change of format? Looking forward to the new series? Post a comment below and let us know.

**

And for some great Strictly content, including photo galleries, blogs and Len Goodman's guide to the cha-cha-cha, check out our Strictly page.

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Post a comment | 13 comments

Comments

  • Posted on 06 November 2009
  • at 5:40pm
  • by Ann

In the past the only thing that ruined this show was irritating, boring Bruce Forsyth, now the BBC has made it a joke by getting rid of Arlene Philips who was the most constructive judge on the panel and replaced her with another joke Alesha Dixon, who is equally as irritating, the only way I can stomach this show now is watching it on BBC iplayer so that I can watch the dancers and edit out the rest.

  • Posted on 26 September 2009
  • at 5:50pm
  • by yorkiebar

Why can't the BBC follow the premise 'If it ain't broke don't fix it?' Strictly had huge viewing figures in previous series, so presumably the viewers liked what they were getting, Arlene's acerbic comments included.

  • Posted on 20 September 2009
  • at 1:24pm
  • by Kate

The point of the judging panel is that it's made up of dance professionals with knowledge, experience and expertise. Replacing such a person with a pop singer is nonsensical.Alesha is nice enough but not qualified to give a professional opinion on dance, as she has clearly demonstrated in the first two programmes.

  • Posted on 13 September 2009
  • at 12:45pm
  • by catladyuk06

I think to bring Alesha Dixon as a dancing expert is totally wrong she has no expertise in professional dancing, I loved watching this programme but will not be while they have Alesha on the panel. Bring back Arlene she was fabulous and knew what she was talking about.

  • Posted on 07 September 2009
  • at 5:33pm
  • by Alan

Can we not end this Saturday night silliness on the main channels please give us decent drama instead

  • Posted on 06 September 2009
  • at 2:15pm
  • by Ruth

Alesha for Arlene, Big Mistake!!

  • Posted on 05 September 2009
  • at 1:11pm
  • by l a winstanley

how can Alesha suddenly be an expert on dancing, I think the b.b.c. is losing it. Bring back Arlene.

  • Posted on 30 August 2009
  • at 3:15pm
  • by Denna

As an avid SCD viewer I am sorry to see Arlene go - the show needs the experts. And what's Alesha's experience? Also please, please either get rid of Bruce (and heaven forbid calling him Brucey, or tell him to forget his feeble attempts at humour (I always press the mute button when he is on). Nevertheless looking forward to the show - always a winner.

  • Posted on 15 August 2009
  • at 9:56pm
  • by Jayne

Why are they ditching Arlene? She is part of the original strictly vibe. Without her, it won't be the normal strictly we all love (well most of us anyway!) !

  • Posted on 15 August 2009
  • at 7:38pm
  • by poptastik

strictly in the past has been an absolute pleasure to watc with the exception of bruce forsythe wafling through an attempt at humour not to mention actually re hashing a failed joke from the previouse week while the dancers wait,,now you change arline for alesah i cant understand it so my friends this is one familly who will not be watching unless bruce and alesha are both changed,agreed we may tape it , a shame a popular programme is being spoiled

  • Posted on 12 August 2009
  • at 10:32pm
  • by Joe

Alesha Dixon a judge? Appears like the show is losing its authenticity, sounds more like an ITV maneuver.

  • Posted on 12 August 2009
  • at 9:14pm
  • by lastgang

Just ditch the entire series and put some quality drama on instead.

  • Posted on 12 August 2009
  • at 5:54pm
  • by Sarah

Hooray! About time the BBC scrapped that silly Sunday results show... all the momentum from Saturday used to be lost and the whole thing became rather tedious. Strictly was at it's snappiest in the early series, before it became too drawn-out and overblown. Still think having Alesha Dixon on the judging panel is a mistake, though... she's a nice enough woman, but she has no long-term experience or knowledge of professional dancing.

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