[robb]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

This is not good whichever way you look at it and I expect Simon Cowell to be very worried. 12.9m for the final is awful. The show needs a shake up next year or the ratings will just keep plummeting. The judging panel has not worked and the talent has been poor this year. SCD has beaten XF on most nights this year, something which would never have happened in previous years.

Agreed...though Strictly DID beat XF a few years ago, pre- Cole.
The problems this year were : 1. The judges. They seemed a breath of fresh air at first, but I SOON BEGAN TO TIRE OF THEM ALL. Tulisa regained some cred with her work with Pick and Mix (who deserved to win the final, btw). But the other three can go for me!
2.The acts. Too many, too many not good enough, too many underachievers, and too many unlikeable. It turned the public (and tv's) off.
3.The saturday/sunday shows. Sunday figures remained high because there were the guest 'stars' and the results in the sing off. Saturday WAS missable because the public didn't care about the acts like in previous years.
4. The show structure. TOO long, TOO contrived, and the formula is getting boring. Getting rid of 4 in the first week was a good idea though.....it cut out some of the crap! (Amelia apart).
5.The absence of Cowell and Cole (and even Dannii). Cowell should return, but I hope the other two don't. Times change......