Should Strictly voting be taken from the viewers?

[flipnflap]

No doubt about it, Strictly Come Dancing has become a popularity contest or a joke for the voting public, not a dance contest. Yes, you can argue it's up to the public who they vote for, but this is supposed to be a dance competition. I'm sure many people vote just to annoy the judges who make no secret who they like and dislike, and of course the British public like underdogs. At this rate, the final really could end up being between Kate and Kenny. The BBC are of course unable to fix the vote now, much as they may wish to. So should all power in future series of Strictly be given to the 4 judges? I can't see any other way round it.

[Ethel]

I agree - it is very disappointing to see potentially good dancers make an early exit whilst the worst ones stay in.

I think there has to be an element of viewers' voting to keep the interest, but I would prefer the judges to put forward the worst two dancers - and let the public decide which of the two should leave.

[cardi88]

its partly a dance competition and partly saturday night entertainment i dont want to watch people i dont like no matter how good they are
these celebrities are not dancers and should be judged on how much they have improved - i dont judge on how technically well they danced as im not a dancer, but who i enjoyed watching and who i like as people - if the judges gave more constructive criticism instead of the verbal humiliation they dish out, then the public wouldnt be voting for the underdogs.
i like kate and what i support her for is her deterination and perseverence, no matter how vile the judges are to her she still trains and tries her best. gabby was a gymnast so obviously she's going to be better - if its based on the best dancer then there should be celebrities with the same standard of ability from the start not a pop star or an actor from sylvia young's versus a tv presenter

[chazza]

I think the judges should stop being so rude and be more professional, I think this would stop it to an extent.

If the judges were more honest and stopped trying to be entertaining by insulting the contestants, the public would respect them more and be less likely to vote against them.

They will never get rid of the phone voting as it is a money making venture (for charity and for the programme)

[Reverandfunk]

Toilet Tv in my opinion the same as any other programme where the public have to vote. Its just there to generate cash, which I would prefer to see going to make something half decent.

[Ethel]

Nobody HAS to vote. I have never telephoned any television programme and don't intend to.

It is great to see the non-starters improve each week - Kenny, John and Letitia have each come on in leaps and bounds despite having no natural dance ability.

The same cannot be said for Kate. She is never going to be able to dance and is not improving at all after weeks of intensive training.