On yesterday's BBC Breakfast, Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno gave us his usual mix of enthusiasm, banter and half-formed sentences punctuated by extremely loud laughs.

 

He also showed off his chest thanks to an unbuttoned shirt and generally fondled presenter Kate Silverton's arm a lot. Oh, how we've missed him, eh?

 

His main point was in response to the expected questions about the change to the judging panel - Arlene being replaced by Alesha - and the general media furore it has caused.

 

When pressed on the issue he replied: "Give us a chance. Don't dismiss it before you've seen it."

 

And the more I've thought about it the more I agree with that.

 

So far I don't think it's the right decision but I shall suspend final judgment til I see how it goes.

 

A change is as good as a rest.

 

Apparently.

 

Your views
Are you looking forward to seeing Alesha Dixon on the judging panel or you already pining for Arlene? You can share your views by clicking the Comment link below.

MSN TV editor Lorna Cooper and I recorded our launch podcast for Strictly Come Dancing 2009 just after I had come back from yesterday's Strictly press conference.

 

The podcast includes my assessment of the top couples, our views on Strictly's new format and some quick comments from Phil Tufnell and Ian Waite.

 

It's now available for your listening pleasure:

 

Download or listen to the podcast now.

 

Hope you enjoy it.

 

 

NB: most of the reporters using sound equipment yesterday found the acoustics in the room a bit poor which is reflected in the sound quality of our interviews with Tuffers and Ian. You may need to turn the volume up for those bits.

 

The BBC Tickets site is now taking applications for Strictly Come Dancing series seven.

 

The site seemed to be down this morning, presumably due to everyone trying to log on to it but I've just tried it and it worked fine. You name goes into a ballot for the show you apply for and if it's pulled out of the hat (or whatever receptacle the BBC uses) the tickets are yours.

 

Maybe this year I'll get lucky...

 

Go to the BBC Tickets site for Strictly Come Dancing and try your luck.

 

For weeks one and two we have an extra treat this year with an additional Friday night Strictly Come Dancing show.

 

Eight couples will compete in week one - performing a ballroom dance on Friday and a Latin dance on Saturday - with the other eight competing in week two. This year the first two weeks' line-up will not be split by gender to determine who dances when.

 

The contestants' view
At the press conference yesterday, I asked some of the celebs and pro dancers what they thought about the change in format.

 

The celebs were a tad concerned about having to learn so much so soon - doing two dances right at the start is tough.

 

The professional dancers, however, were more upbeat. Brendan Cole said he thought he would be good for the viewers. Overall, most of the pros felt it gave them all a fairer chance. Their point was that in previous series if your celeb partner had been better at, say, ballroom than Latin but you had been given a Latin dance to perform in week one you could have been out of the show before you had a chance to demonstrate your true potential. If you saw BBC Breakfast this morning you'll have heard Darren Bennett reiterate the same point.

 

Here's how it will work, as detailed on the BBC Press Office site:

 

Friday night will be Ballroom night where the first eight of the celebrity contestants and their professional partners will be put through their paces dancing either a waltz or a tango.

And Saturday night will be Latin night as the same couples perform a cha-cha or a rumba.

Dancing in the first week (the show starts on Friday 18 September) are:

• Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna
• Lynda Bellingham and Darren Bennett
• Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff
• Ricky Groves and Erin Boag
• Martina Hingis and Matthew Cutler
• Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan
• Jade Johnson and Ian Waite
• Rav Wilding and Aliona Vilani

At the end of Saturday night the judges' scores from both dances will be combined and viewers will then be able to vote for which couple they want to stay in the competition.

The two couples with lowest scores from a combination of judges' points and audience votes will then face each other in a dance-off.

After both couples have danced again the judges will decide which one couple is safe and who will be waltzing off home.

The following week, rising to the challenge are:

• Natalie Cassidy and Vincent Simone
• Richard Dunwoody and Lilia Kopylova
• Craig Kelly and Flavia Cacace
• Zoe Lucker and James Jordan
• Laila Rouass and Anton Du Beke
• Phil Tufnell and Katya Virshilas
• Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe
• Jo Wood and Brendan Cole

And again one couple will be out of the competition.

On Friday nights viewers will be treated to the 16 professional dancers performing a group medley, while the couples who are not competing will also strut their stuff in a group dance.

From week three the series will move to Saturday nights only where viewers can get their Strictly fix in a bumper show with the dances, voting and the results in one episode.

I've added the photos of the 16 couples for Strictly Come Dancing 2009 to the photo album over on the right.

 

You can scroll through it over there in the right column or you can view larger versions by clicking the images which will you take to a bigger slideshow.

 

You'll notice that they've gone for less of a funky backdrop than in previous years. I suspect this is due to the late signing up of the some celebs to the show this year. Indeed, some of them were leafing through our press pack to see how the photos had turned out - they hadn't had a chance to see them before.

 

Brian Fortuna and Ali Bastian look like a well matched couple. They were both very pleasant to talk to at the press conference yesterday.

 

At the Strictly press conference yesterday a new scoring system - to enure there is no repeat of last year's semi-final debacle - was announced.

Mercifully, they didn't go through the whole thing but below is a summary and then the full explanation.

I'm pleased they have sorted this out though not I'm not sure it was really necessary to get certified accountants to sign it off!

The short version
The minor change to the system will ensure that any one couple can be saved by the audience vote from the dance off, and no one couple is safe.

That's all you really need to know.

The slightly longer version
When couples have the same score and are tied on the leader board the pair of dancers directly below two or more tied couples will receive only one point fewer than those awarded to the tied couples, irrespective of the number of couples tied above them. Previously, the difference in points depended on the number of couples tied above the lower placed couple.

The long version
This is the full text of the BBC announcement from the BBC press office site:

Judges' points + Audience points = Final result.

The overall format remains the same. The scoring methodology has been revised slightly to alter the way judges scores are converted into points in the event of a tie.

The slight revision ensures that, following the round of judges' scores, in any scenario where the audience votes, any one couple can be saved from the dance off, and no one couple is safe.

The revision ensures that the viewers always have the power to decide the final outcome. The audience vote will always have the potential to save or condemn any couple to the dance-off. The following explains the revision to the Strictly Come Dancing scoring methodology. This change will come into effect for the 2009 series.

Note: The numbers used in the examples provided are purely for illustrative purposes and do not represent actual scoring or audience voting levels.

The slight revision

The revision to the scoring system only comes into play when any number of couples are tied following the judges' scores. Specifically, the revision applies to how the judges' scores are converted into points in the event of a tie.

With the revised methodology, the pair of dancers directly below two or more tied couples will receive only one point less than those awarded to the tied couples, irrespective of the number of couples tied above them. Previously, the difference in points depended on the number of couples tied above the lower placed couple(s). Table 1 below illustrates this.

For example, in a scenario with three couples competing where two are tied at the top following the judges' scores, they will both be awarded three points. The remaining couple will now be awarded two points in contrast to previously, where they would have been awarded one point.

This closes the gap between the couples tied at the top and the bottom placed couple so that:

If the audience awards them maximum points, they would be saved from the dance-off; and

No couples are safe from the dance-off following the judges' scores, even the couples tied at the top of the leaderboard.

The detail

In the following example, two couples have both received equal points from the judges and are tied at the top of the leaderboard – as was the case in the 2008 semi-final where the judges' scores translated into 3-3-1 points.

Table 1: a previous scenario

Couple	Judges' scores	Judges' points
A	80	3
B	80	3
C	69	1

 

This was problematic in this particular scenario because the gap created between the couples tied at the top and the bottom placed couple could not be bridged by the audience vote, even if the audience awarded maximum points to the couple in last place. The bottom placed couple are therefore condemned to the dance-off irrespective of the audience vote – they cannot be saved.

Table 2: the condemned couple

Couple	Judges' scores	Judges' points	Audience vote	Audience points	Total	Result
A	80	3	5467	2	5	Saved
B	80	3	4988	1	4	Dance-off
C	69	1	6321	3	4	Dance-off

 

The new approach

The minor revision to the scoring methodology closes the gap between couples tied at the top and the bottom after the judges' scores. See this example:

Table 3: the audience can now save the bottom placed couple

Couple	Judges' scores	New Judges' points	Audience vote	Audience points	Total	Result
A	80	3	5643	2	5	Dance-off
B	80	3	4899	1	4	Dance-off
C	69	2	7564	3	5	Saved

 

Couple C have been saved due to receiving higher audience points than the couple they are tied with overall (couple A).

As shown in table 4 below, this solution works no matter how many couples are competing, eg six couples.

Table 4: six couple example

Couple	Judges' scores	Old Judges' points	New Judges' points
A	78	6	6
B	76	5	5
C	56	4	4
D	56	4	4
E	34	2	3
F	10	1	2

 

It also works where more than one set of couples are tied, eg two sets. (as shown in table 5 below).

Table 5: two sets of couples tied

Couple	Judges' scores	Old Judges' points	New Judges' points
A	78	6	6
B	78	6	6
C	56	4	5
D	56	4	5
E	34	2	4
F	10	1	3

 

In the example below (table 6), after the round of judges scoring, all couples are tied at the top with the exception of one bottom placed couple. This couple can still be saved from the dance-off by scoring three points or more from the audience.

Table 6: top five couples tied

Couple	Judges' scores	Judges' points	Audience points	Total	Result
A	78	6	1	7	Dance-off
B	78	6	2	8	Dance-off
C	78	6	4	10	Saved
D	78	6	5	11	Saved
E	78	6	6	12	Saved
F	10	5	3	8	Saved

 

What if there is a tie in the grand total at the bottom of the table after the judges and audience votes?

In the event that there is no clear result dictating which two couples will go into the dance-off, the couple with the higher audience points will be saved from the dance-off (as shown in table 7).

Table 7: audience points take precedence

Couple	Judges' scores	Judges' points	Audience points	Total	Result
A	78	6	6	12	Saved
B	78	6	5	11	Saved
C	78	6	4	10	Saved
D	68	4	3	7	Saved
E	70	5	2	7	Dance-off
F	60	3	1	84	Dance-off

 

What will happen in the extremely unlikely event that two or more couples at the bottom of the leader board tie in both the judges' scores and the audience vote?

If there is a tie which involves the bottom three couples such that we cannot determine by the audience vote which wo would go into the dance-off, then all three would go into the dance-off and the audience would be given an on-air explanation.

What will happen in the even more unlikely event that there is a tie which involves more than three couples?

In the event that this happens, such that we cannot determine by the audience vote which two would go into the dance-off, then Head Judge Len Goodman would decide which two couples would go into the dance-off.

Will this system work when a guest judge joins the panel?

Yes, irrespective of how many judges there are, this will not affect the process for how the couples will all be ranked following the judges scores.

Background to the revised scoring system

During the semi-final of Strictly Come Dancing series six in 2008, there was a problem highlighted with the scoring system in particular scenarios. It became apparent that, because of the way the scoring had worked, no matter how the audience voted after the judges' scores one couple could not have been saved from the dance-off.

The BBC has carried out its own statistical analysis of the scoring system on Strictly Come Dancing and proposed a slight modification to address any issue which might arise as a result of a tie in the judges' scores.

The slight revision to the previous methodology has been reviewed internally. KPMG LLP, a respected firm of chartered accountants, has also carried out an independent analysis of the revision to the scoring system.

Both have confirmed that the revision means that in any scenario arising from the judges' scoring the audience votes can ensure that any one couple can be saved from the dance-off, and no one couple is safe or, for shows without a dance-off, any couple can win.

Judges' Points

Each of the judges awards a mark of between one and 10 to each performance.

For example with four judges, any single dance can therefore earn up to a maximum score of 40.

Once all judges' scores have been awarded, they are converted into points by ranking the couples. For example, where three couples are competing, the couple with the highest score from the judges (ie, ranked first) are awarded three points, the middle couple two points and the couple with the lowest score (ie, ranked last) get one point. The final judges' leader board is then formed.

Audience Points

Once the final judges' leader board is formed, an audience vote is conducted. The couples are ranked according to the actual number of votes received, with the couple receiving the highest number of votes ranked first and the couple with the lowest number of votes ranked last.

Points from the audience are then awarded based on their ranked position. For example, where three couples are competing, the couple ranked at the top are awarded three points, the couple in the middle two points, and the couple ranked last are awarded one point.

These audience points are then added to the judges' points to determine the final overall result (ie, Judges' points + Audience points = Final result).

In all shows, with the exception of the final, the purpose is to identify the couples placed in the bottom two. These two couples are then put into the dance-off.

In any scenario where any number of couples have equal grand totals (combined judges and audience points) it is the couple(s) awarded the most audience points who are ranked highest. The audience vote takes precedence.

The latest rumours about contestants for Strictly Come Dancing series seven are:

 

1. Former England cricketer Phil Tufnell, according to The Sun

 

2. Veteran war reporter Jeremy Bowen, according to the Sunday Express

Get ready for Tuesday. That's when the line-up of contestants for Strictly Come Dancing will be revealed.

 

The BBC's Strictly Come Dancing page on twitter made the announcement a few minutes ago.

 

As usual we'll be covering the event on MSN. Tune in next week to find out who's in the line-up and to join in the discussion about who the favourites are.

 

MSN has a special Strictly Come Dancing site full of goodies.

 

I've got a page on Twitter where you can follow my updates:

Today's Strictly Come Dancing series seven scoop in the Mirror features La Toya Jackson.

 

The paper says she is "in talks" to join the show as a contestant.

 

The Mirror also reports an interview that Tory MP Anne Widdecombe gave to Total Politics magazine in which she says she turned down the offer of being in Strictly before but has now been encouraged by John Sergeant's performances in series six.

 

Imagine this: Anne Widdecombe dances a rumba with Brendan Cole and then argues with judge Craig Revel-Horwood when he gives the performance a 1. Now if that isn't compelling TV, what is?

 

Full story on the Mirror website.

 

 

Today's Strictly scoop in the Daily Mirror is: former athlete Linford Christie is set to strut his stuff in Strictly Come Dancing series seven.

 

Like yesterday's Fern Britton scoop, the report says Christie is "in talks" which, as I mentioned yesterday, seems odd because by now the celebs should have had their measurements taken for their outfits and should be meeting their professional dance partners.

 

The paper's website also reveals another contestant: actress Ali Bastian, who plays PC Sally Armstrong in The Bill.

 

Full report on the Mirror's website.

Today's Strictly Come Dancing contestant rumour comes from the Daily Mirror (which is starting to eclipse The Sun with its Strictly scoops this year):

 

TV presenter Fern Britton is "in talks" to appear on Strictly Come Dancing series seven.

 

It would be quite a coup for the BBC to lure the former presenter of ITV's This Morning show and would also answer some of the ageism allegations that critics have hurled at Strictly since Arlene Phillips and Karen Hardy were axed.

 

The one thing I find odd is that by now the celebs should have been measured up for their outfits and are meeting their professional dance partners this week. It seems a little late to be in talks about appearing on the show.

 

The Mirror also reveals two other celebs it believes will be in Strictly 2009:

 

EastEnders star Ricky Groves, who plays mechanic Garry Hobbs, and Hollyoaks heart-throb, Ricky Whittle.

 

More on this story
Full story on the Daily Mirror site.

 

The fun Anorak site has, er well, a different take on the story.

 

You can find more Strictly Come Dancing News with Bing's web search.

 

Here, after a bit of web searching of newspaper sites and entertainment sites, are the celebrities featuring in the latest rumours about who's appearing on Strictly Come Dancing series seven:

 

We've hyperlinked each name to a nifty search on Bing where you can find out about each one, get photos etc.

 

We can't tell you which rumours are true or more likely than others; they're just rumours at this stage.
Update August 18: Kara Tointon has denied she will be appearing on Strictly.

 

But we do have an invitation to the launch press conference where the celebs and their partners will be revealed. The BBC hasn't told us the date yet as they're keeping their cards close to their chest this year. Depending on who's available (I do have a day job), either I or MSN TV editor Lorna Cooper will be there to cover it for you. CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

 

You can find more Strictly Come Dancing News with Bing's web news search.

 

MSN has a special Strictly Come Dancing site full of goodies.

 

I've got a page on Twitter where you can follow my updates:

 

And here are some more MSN Twitter pages you might be interested in:

Lorna Cooper, MSN TV editor

Colleen Last, MSN Celebrity editor

MSN Reality TV on Twitter

The lure of Strictly Come Dancing's Saturday night audience has proved irresistible to Amy Winehouse.

 

According to an exclusive in the Sunday Mirror she will perform as a live backing singer and dancer when her 13 year-old goddaughter Dionne Bromfield appears on the show in late September.

 

Get more Strictly Come Dancing news with Bing's web news search.

Fresh from her unseemly exit from Strictly Come Dancing's judging panel, Arlene Phillips has been saved from the ravages of the dole queue.

 

She is joining the government's new campaign to get us all fit. Arlene will be part of a Dance Champions group alongside Strictly series six finalist Lisa Snowdon, Strictly professional Darren Bennett and former newsreader/Come Dancing presenter/host of Master Team/famous guest on the Morecambe & Wise show Angela Rippon.

 

What's prompting this new initiative? Well, Britain is lagging in the league tables of physical activity. So it's time for all of us to get up and do our bit.

 

I'm pleased for Arlene. She has the energy and passion to make a difference. That said, I think Strictly Come Dancing has done plenty to invigorate the nation's appetite for dance already.

 

And it would be cynical to note the faddish nature of this shiny new government initiative to get the nation fit and compare it with the number of school playing fields that have been sold to property developers in the past 10 years, so I won't (but if you're interested in the latter issue, the Fields In Trust website is for you).

 

Press release from the government's News Distribution Service website in full below:

 

In his speech, the Health Secretary called on the NHS to make the promotion of active lifestyles “core business and not a peripheral concern”. Health professionals should see improving activity rates and getting their patients moving as central to their work.

This builds on the Olympic legacy and aims to move Britain up the European league table in terms of physical activity. Britain is in 21^st place in Europe when levels of physical activity are compared.

Andy Burnham said:

“We need an ambition for physical activity commensurate with the ambition we’ve already showed in hosting this decade of sport.

"Just as five years ago, we set ourselves the target of coming fourth in the 2012 Olympic medal tables, now I want us to aspire to fourth place in the physical activity league tables over the next ten years.

"This would be an unprecedented achievement, but I believe it is achievable and vital for dealing with the big challenges of our day."

The Health Secretary’s vision is backed by four pillars of change:

Andy Burnham said:

“We are a sport-loving nation but we are simply nowhere near as active as we should be.

“Promoting active lifestyles is the simple answer to many of the big challenges facing our country today. It can save us money and ease the burden on public services. The NHS has the green light to be bold and creative to help people to be fitter and more healthy.”

With more than two and half million people on incapacity benefit in Britain, if just one per cent of those people adopted healthier lifestyles, significant savings could be made to the economy. Combined, they cost the Exchequer £13 billion and industry £11 billion a year. More than a third of these people are on benefits because of mental health problems or muscular or skeletal disorders – both of which are known to respond well to tailored physical activity programmes.

And the NHS spends £3,000 every minute on combating illness which could be prevented by physical activity. A modest increase in physical activity amongst older people could cut hip fractures by one per cent, saving us more than £200 million a year. A 20 per cent increase in cycling would save the NHS more than £50 million in treatments.

Andy Burnham said:

“In England, if we can get just one per cent of people on incapacity benefit back into the workplace through active lifestyles, this would save the Exchequer £36 million and industry £31 million – that’s a combined cost to the economy of £67 million a year.”

In his speech, the Health Secretary also gave an update on up and coming plans for Change4Life – the lifestyle revolution that is helping families to eat well, move more and live longer. They include:

• In line with Bike4Life, Sky, the entertainment and communications company, working with British Cycling, has organised a summer series of Skyride mass-participation cycling events across five major cities, plus hundreds of local led rides, to encourage all ages and abilities to get back on their bikes. Sky’s target is to inspire a million more people to ride in the next five years.
• A Dance Champions Group featuring stars of Strictly Come Dancing including Arlene Phillips, Lisa Snowdon and Darren Bennett, and Come Dancing star Angela Rippon, will be running a national campaign to boost participation in dance in the run up to 2012. The group will be chaired by Rod Aldridge.
• The new Swim4Life brand. Around 250 councils are already signed up to the Free Swimming programme. More than 20 million young people and senior citizens are eligible to swim for free, and 4.4 million free swims have been made since the scheme began in April. The Department is now reopening the bidding rounds, with another £1 million pounds on offer for councils who didn’t sign up in the first place. In the coming weeks it will also be looking to see how it can support existing free swimming councils to innovate and extend the free swimming offer.
• Fresh efforts to build on Natural England’s Walking for Health campaign to make 200,000 more people active by 2012 through Walking for Health under the Walk4Life brand.  The Walk4Life programme already provides a service for 30,000 people every week.

A health champion for the NHS, Mike Farrar will embed physical activity across the health service. A new cross Government Ministerial summit will also take place, chaired by Andy Burnham.

Today's Daily Mirror carries an exclusive on a change to the format for Strictly Come Dancing 2009.

 

According to the newspaper's website there will be just one show on Saturday that includes performances, public voting, the dance-off and one couple leaving.

 

The report quotes a BBC spokeswoman: “We wanted to make Strictly Come Dancing an unmissable TV event so we are packing all the action into one dramatic show. Audiences will be watching, voting and seeing who is in and who is out on Saturday night.”

 

Its the latest tactic by the BBC to compete with XFactor - the ITV singing talent contest will have a Sunday results show this year.

 

Get more Strictly Come Dancing news with Bing's web news search.

First, 66 year-old judge Arlene Phillips was axed.

 

Now it's the turn of 39 year-old Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hardy.

 

Yes, Karen will not be competing on series seven of the show this autumn.

 

More ageism from the BBC? Certainly that's what some sections of the media (particularly those that don't like competing with the Beeb's franchise) area alleging.

 

Two new professional dancers are joining the show, both much younger than Karen: Lithuanian Katya Virshilas, 25, and Australian Natalie Lowe, 28.

Of course, with head judge Len Goodman and co-host Bruce Forsyth, Strictly is not short of the older generation but I don't want to get into that debate.

 

What interests me is the timing.

 

Whereas Camilla Dallerup announced her departure (which was of her own volition) from Strictly shortly after series six ended, news of Karen's departure has come out just a few weeks before the line-up for series seven is announced. And it follows a month on from the announcement of judge Arlene's untimely exit.

 

It all keeps the PR pot boiling nicely in the run-up to the autumn season, doesn't it?