[D.M.N.]

Thought you guys maybe interested in this on the BBC Complaints website:

Strictly Come Dancing, unfair voting system, BBC One

Publication date: 6 November 2009

Complaint

We've received complaints from some viewers who feel the voting system on Strictly Come Dancing is unfair

The BBC's response

The Strictly Come Dancing scoring system combines judges' and viewers' votes. Viewers' votes can always influence the outcome.

Strictly Come Dancing is an entertainment show and, although a dancing competition, it isn't always the best dancers who capture the hearts of the voting public. Although not everyone may agree with the public's vote, or indeed the judges' votes, the show has always made sure that both have a say in who should continue on in the competition.

After all the couples perform, the judges' scores are aggregated and the dancers are ranked according to the number of points received. The couple ranked the highest are then awarded a number of points equal to the number of couples competing that evening.

After the ranking and scoring based on the judges' points have been announced, the viewers are given the opportunity to vote by calling the numbers given for each couple. In any scenario the revised voting system ensures that when the lines open for the audience to vote no one is safe and anyone can be saved.

When the voting lines close, the viewers' votes are collated and independently verified. The couples are then ranked based on the total number of viewers' votes received. The couple with the highest number of viewers' votes is awarded a number of points equal to the number of couples competing that evening.

The two couples with the lowest ranking once the judges' points and viewers' votes are combined then compete in the dance-off. The judges then decide which couple will remain in the competition. In the event of deadlock in the judges' decision as to which couple to save, head judge Len Goodman has the casting vote.

For more information about how the voting works or how you can cast a vote please visit the Strictly Come Dancing website.

[BuddyBontheNet]

I wonder why people think it is unfair? Which bit?

[Jan2555*GG*]

It will probably be the tied scores that 'raise' the chances of saving a bottom couple.....but that was brought in BECAUSE of complaints last year about it not being fair the other way ....they should introduce point 5 on the scores as they are less likely to get ties.

[claire2281]

Wonder what the complaints were actually about then - the way the judges were scoring? The public having too much power due to the new points system?

Obviously with this system is does mean that the public have much more power - in the past the only way the top couple could go out was if the public voted in the complete opposite order of the judges which, until we're left with only a few couples, was very unlikely. Now, when there's a draw somewhere on the board (and have we had a week where there hasn't been one yet?!), it really is a case of no one being safe.

Of course, the judges still have the dance off so I think personally the balance of power is fairly equal now.

[mossy2103]

Obviously some people have too much time on their hands to submit such a (trivial) complaint.

[thenetworkbabe]

Originally Posted by Jan2555*GG*

It will probably be the tied scores that 'raise' the chances of saving a bottom couple.....but that was brought in BECAUSE of complaints last year about it not being fair the other way ....they should introduce point 5 on the scores as they are less likely to get ties.

As far as we know it was thought up to remove the possibility of another mess in the SF when two people tied in first and there was no point voting for the third. . They seem to have applied it all the way through and not realised it keeps the hopeless dancers in and makes it easier for good ones to go. Havn't thought through if there would be a problem if say 5 out of 6 people tied in first but there may be so they may be covering all the possible ourcomes. Its typical though - a knee jerk reaction to one problem undermines the show by undermining the value of doing well and making it easier for the worst to stay.

After the experience of last year and the year before, you would think the last thing they would want to do is to make it more possible for the public vote to ruin the competition - everything else they have done with the dance off and changes to the judges has been done to stop that.

[thenetworkbabe]

Originally Posted by claire2281

Wonder what the complaints were actually about then - the way the judges were scoring? The public having too much power due to the new points system?

Obviously with this system is does mean that the public have much more power - in the past the only way the top couple could go out was if the public voted in the complete opposite order of the judges which, until we're left with only a few couples, was very unlikely. Now, when there's a draw somewhere on the board (and have we had a week where there hasn't been one yet?!), it really is a case of no one being safe.

Of course, the judges still have the dance off so I think personally the balance of power is fairly equal now.

Not really - the vote can still put 2 of the top 3 dancers into the dance off each week which used to be rarely possible . The only things working against that is that the judges might realise and stop tieing scores and that as the number of dancers falls its less likely two will tie. Thats unless most of the the good and bad ones go and they end up with the also rans all getting 7s and 8s and tieing every week............

[isopap]

Originally Posted by Jan2555*GG*

It will probably be the tied scores that 'raise' the chances of saving a bottom couple.....but that was brought in BECAUSE of complaints last year about it not being fair the other way ....they should introduce point 5 on the scores as they are less likely to get ties.

I'd have thought that splitting the judges leaderboard points between the couples would work better than the current system. Although I've never done any calculations that bear out my thought.

[claire2281]

Originally Posted by thenetworkbabe

Not really - the vote can still put 2 of the top 3 dancers into the dance off each week which used to be rarely possible . The only things working against that is that the judges might realise and stop tieing scores and that as the number of dancers falls its less likely two will tie. Thats unless most of the the good and bad ones go and they end up with the also rans all getting 7s and 8s and tieing every week............

But you're seemingly assuming here that most of the public are upset by the top dancers being in the dance off. I wouldn't say that's the case at all.

In fact, this has been rather an odd year; there are those who are very good dancers and those who are popular and it doesn't seem like the two meet in the middle anywhere. No couple seems to have both lots of talent and lots of likeability.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Jade and Ali from here on. Was their trip to the bottom 2 a one off because people thought they didn't need the votes, or do they not have consistent support? Zoe seemed to reflect a fairly typical pattern in Strictly - good couple in the dance off one week, everyone shocked and throws a few extra votes their way the next week, keeping the safe. They haven't really picked up any extra popularity though and the following week people don't vote again and down they go...

[Robert Romarin]

Much as usually I have little or no time for complainers, IF they're on about the bonkers new system for dealing with ties on the judges' leader board then at least they have a point in this case.

I don't mind the voters having more power - although personally I'd rather they didn't - just not in this nonsensical way. There are more than enough random factors already.

[BuddyBontheNet]

I like the 5,4,3,2,1 idea - nice and simple.