Strictly

Just flicking through the television and came across "Judge Rinder" - is that a real court????!!!!! I can't believe it is.

No and he is not a real judge, but he is a barrister.

I do not think that he should be called "judge" on Strictly- his name is Robert.

DaphneBroon

Ed Balls is 49

What is he going to do for the rest of his life after Bakeoff and Strictly? Become a tv personality? Explore the world with an old guide book in his hand like Michael Portillo?
Whatever he does, and he is still quite young, he won't find a way back into politics after this, nor on the after-dinner serious speech circuit surely?

Perhaps he could present a new BBC Baking programme with Mary Berry, as he does all the cooking at home (and wasn't he on celebrity bakeoff?).

Two things, a) on current showing, Melvyn can't actually dance(never heard of him, btw) so would most likely be out very soon anyway, and b) Anastacia is surely unlikely to be fit enough in the coming several weeks?

I am concerned that Anastacia may now feel obliged to stay in as long as she can, potentially at some cost to her health.

Bit of a dilemma....

Mary and Ed - now there's a thought!

Me too DannieRae. she'd eat him for breakfast

Brilliant idea Ana but

Just caught up with this thread - 8 pages, gosh! I'm so glad others agree with me that Anastacia should have gone, willingly or not, and Melvin given another chance. I don't think he's good and would probably have gone this week but it was so unfair! I've written to the BBC and received a standard letter, explaining that she is back practising for this week! I don't see how she can be fit for all that rehearsal etc, I agree she's just not strong enough.

Perhaps if everyone emailed the BBC, it might make them think again.........

She may now get the sympathy vote

She won't get mine!

I don't think she will get the sympathy vote now. There's been too much negativity about what happened at the weekend, although we've probably not heard all the facts.

The main point for me is that when it was announced that there would be no dance off, Claudia did not say following medical advice, Anastacia would not be dancing, which is what usually happens in circumstances similar to this. It was clear to me she was choosing not to dance (for good reason) and she should have withdrawn from the competition. I don't think Melvin should have been sent home, but the BBC will not change that decision now.

Some years ago Ali Bastian danced in the dance off with an injured foot. The medics had said it was up to her whether or not she danced, but we never knew what the alternative would be i.e. would she have to leave the competition? This weekend's decision has created an interesting precedent because it appears that a injured celebrity no longer needs medical advice not to dance. I can see this being abused, perhaps by the producers even.

Anastacia is now dancing the Viennese Waltz this week, so the dances were swapped around a little bit to help her with the injury. It's unfortunate she was injured, but I don't think there's anything wrong with her taking part in the show. I do admire her, especially all the charity work she does, but I am disappointed in her after the weekend.

I heard somewhere that she ripped her scar from the cancer surgery which she had. In those circumstances, I wouldn't have danced neither, but maybe she should have chose to withdraw gracefully from the comp. I do like her though, she's been through a lot.

It is dragged out though, this programme. Why it needs to be over two hours long on a Saturday is beyond me. I record it and then skip through to the dances or the preview if I like the person, like our Robert Rinder, he's certainly got some moves going on and showing another side to him. Lesley Joseph is a favourite too, as is Tamika, very funny. The Apprentice starts later today too, so the winter is on it's way folks!

Save the Strictly One - latest:

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/strictly-come-dancing-2016-bruno-tonioli-threatened-to-quit-after-anastasia-dance-off-controversy-a7347551.html

She has been passed as fit by doctors, a speedy recovery is it not?

Yup. A miracle!

They should have the dance-off at the beginning of this week's show then.
There would be enough time, all the faffing around they normally do and the daft filming of what they have been up to in the previous week!

They could also cut out the ritual humiliation of making the loser dance too, then there would be plenty of time!

To be fair she's now doing a different dance, so that could make a difference to getting medical permission to dance.

As far as I'm concerned if you can't dance in the dance off, you go home. You don't send the other guy home. You just don't.

What happens if she is in the dance off again this week? Will she decide not to dance?

It shouldn't be a problem unless she injures herself further again during the performance. Goodness knows what will happen. The problem last week was she made the original injury worse during the routine. If that happens again, surely she will have to drop out?

Apparently Bruno threatened to quit the show over Anastasia being excused the dance off. I would love to have been a fly on the wall backstage last Saturday night! It's a shame Ola Jordan's book is out this year and not next - we might have found out!

Well they're all pals again. I thought the judges were very kind to Anastacia with the scores.