Half-term report with Mr Revel Horwood

Pretty fair all in all. Just surprised Craig hasn't picked up on a certain celebrities poor hand shaping? Those who he has commented on have at least tried to improve.

Don't think it's the students that are the problem this year! Try something beginning with L that's old and grumpy and jet-lagged.

Well , that was interesting! Someone had lots of time on their hands to set that up :) Yes, a very fair assessment I would say.

I strongly disagree that Chelsee should be better than Harry - he takes it seriously and works like a horse to learn and improve (which he does every week) while she texts/tweets/talks on her phone and ignores Pasha. In that team it's so obvious that she has talent but it's wasted as he is the one pulling all the weight. In team Hali they both work hard and do their level best to make the routines work and turn out as brilliantly as they do.

Craig for head judge, people you know it makes sense!

Very fair assessment. Keep up the good work Craig!

See Mr. Goodman is claiming jet lag caused his rudeness. Well, you know what to do Len, don't you? Also, could the BBC please explain to him that as a judge he is there to judge the dancing, not to judge the other judges.

Morning mattzings, yep totally agree, even though last year I threatened to put him at the top of my Christmas Tree (think about it) , he is the only judge now with any credibility. ojtocs for you....♥ ☺ from the old armchair!

I rate Len very highly as he clearly knows his stuff on the footwork and technical details for Ballroom and Latin. But the problem is that in the last few years he has had his favourites and overmarked them, whilst undermarking others who were frankly more deserving.



He seems to have it in for at least one dancer every year recently. Last year it was Matt and this year it's Harry.



Len - it's time you stopped being so biased and judged everyone on the same criteria, not what you think they should be doing!

@9, I have always been a great fan of Len too and find it interesting when he comments on the technical details; I liked his 'dances' with Claudia last year for that reason. He does seem to have a very short fuse this year though. Is he overtired from all his travelling? I have to say I would be extremely grumpy with his schedule and I am half his age...well perhaps half and a bit. It has been suggested it may be better to sit Aleysha between he and Craig? I would have thought her complete lack of technical knowledge would drive him nuts. I wonder if its 'of those to whom much is given (ie talent) much is expected ? Re: Matt last year and Harry this? Agree this hardly makes for a level playing (dancing) field/floor.

@10 I don't think he could cope with Bruno...

@11 hadnt thought of that, very true !

Think he has enough of Bruno in DWTS. One problem may be the audience being encouraged to boo and insufficient time to comment properly. All the judges seem to be up against this at the moment. Perhaps less time on the puerile VTs and more time for the judges to comment (props etc can be started rearranging during this moment) might avoid off the cuff sound bites and short tempered retorts.

Yes, it's time Len went. He likes to think he is a cut above the other judges and takes delight in disagreeing with them, even if this means offending a hard-working and talented celebrity (Matt last year, Harry this). His offensive remarks to Craig last week should cause him to be given a reprimand - it was hardly the sort of outburst we want our children to be witnessing.

Yes, it is time for Len to retire. He is focusing on a male celebrity winner this year if I am not mistaken?

He said Holly did not get emotionally involved in her Rumba with Brendan. I watched that video again on Youtube and when the dance was over I heard Holly saying to Brendan that 'she got caught up emotionally' with the dancing. So what is Len talking about. Not a fair comment.

I like Len when he adopts some humility, and he should certainly take lessons in professionalism from Craig. But my main beef, apart from his 'neediness' in being top dog as opposed to Head Judge, is that he is inconsistent. Anyone who has watched previous series knows how hot he has been on illegal lifts. Yet this series, suddenly he has changed his own rules, and they are ok. Come on Len, if you don't start being a little more professional you will lose all remaining credibility. And I certainly agree that from the next series Craig should be made Head Judge. If that means we lose Len, well so be it. I'd rather have Karen Hardy as judge instead of him, and then we can lose Alesha and bring back Arlene. And while we're at it, the bottom 2 couples should be made to dance again and the judges decide who goes forward and who glides out of the competition.

Mrs A @13, doesnt it just drive you nuts ? Its like being at a panto ! Did you notice there were fewer standing ovations this week though, relief all round.

Fair comments from Craig. Loved the (man) heels on Monday's ITT.

Mrs A @13 All the judges operate under the same conditions... but Len is the only one who is rude. Armchair ☺♥☺

Watched ITT today - Artem will only know tomorrow whether he will be dancing this Saturday. Holly seem to be more relaxed and happy, may be because of Brendan. I hope they both get to dance again this Saturday as they are more suited to each other.

Bored with this now Artem. If you weren't able to dance at the very beginning of the week, then you should have stood down. We want proper couples, not this all change change stuff. Brendan and Holly please. This is not the ARTEM show.

I suspect that Artem's off-screen relationship has impacted negatively on his on-screen one with Holly, if the media reports are to be believed, and so I agree with post 21 - if Holly agrees, they should decide that she will dance with Brendan for the remainder of her time on Strictly.

@21 - That's a bit harsh! Artem has a spinal injury that could threaten his career! But he also made a commitment to do Strictly - i'm sure he's not doing it all just to bore you.



I'm obviously going against the popular belief here but I think Holly danced better with Artem. He always does exciting and daring routines and he pushes the celebrity to be their best. As for it being the Artem show, well last year and this year, his routine's are generally the ones to watch.

Totally agree with Post 21 and 22 - why keep Holly hanging, is it going to be Artem or Brendan, which was fine for a week but got to get real now as the competition is hotting up. Watching Holly recently she seemed to be more relaxed with Brendan.



A spinal injury takes more than a weeks to recover, so Artem I would like to see Holly dancing with Brendan.

Allowing the continually nasty, rude and arrogant CRH to do this is totally inappropriate and insulting!

My internet explorer refuses to download files from the CRH site! Perhaps they have broken the House Rules and have therefore been removed!



Can't be bothered to go through the technicalities to find out why.



Suffice to say IE insists it is protecting my security!



Must have Moderators too.

@ lincolnduncan You need a better browser then ;-)

Understand your point 23, but dancers do get injured and have to accept that sometimes they will have to retire for a little while. I have no admiration for somebody dancing with a major injury - silly would be the world that springs to mind. As regards Artem, have always liked him but his injury, his relationship, his choreography is beginning to overwhelm the show and I do not think his intensity has suited Holly at all, and physically they were clearly not well matched. He does have form here - remember Kara's over-athletic routine in the final last year which didn't suit her and caused an injury. Artem is a real star but not THE star. He should have had to work with a less talented dancer this year as it was his turn and I think the BBC played games for the so-called publicity value. Now I would like the dance contest back with Holly dancing with Brendan.

@ teddyandgypsy



Artem has received the all clear and will be dancing with Holly on Saturday, just as it should be.



The way the partnerships were done at the start of the series is all water under the bridge now. No going back. I am just glad Holly could dance with Brendan for a while, imagine how things would have been for the Rumba if Anton had been the stand in!!!

Thought this blog was about CRH half term report...



Which i think is very fair and accurate assessment of the dancers current situation.

I'd agree with all the comments about Len and his irritation with the comments of other judges, which appear to be personal and petty. It's a shame as I have always seen him as the technician and the least emotional. Now, I'd have to say, I'd support Craig as the jude to trust - he says what he sees, is unemotional about it and is able to defend his views without any name calling. Can't understand why he doesn't rank Harry higher in his report though - Harry appears to be a very very technical and able dancer, although would agree that he needs to let go more emotionally. The choreography is decied by the partner and it seems a shame that Harry is occasionally penalised for ill received routines.

Yes it is unusual for Len, he has not been his lovely self, he does a lot of travelling back & forwards to the States, our dancers shouldn't suffer for it. I get very disappointed every year, when we get ONE person who is kept in the show BECAUSE he is funny, it is about being ABLE to dance, now when we are getting nearer if we aren't careful we will get the good ones going look at At Saturday with ANITA SHE HAS BEEN HIGH MARKS MOST OF THE TIME. I think the Judges should have the final vote as it was at first they know what they talking about

Tango to Go wrote;



I'm so pleased that Craig has recognised Chelsee's potential and talent. I think she is astonishing - I never expected her to dance like this and I'm delighted that Craig, whom I respect very much for his straight talking, is also impressed.



Please can I also add that it would be great if the audience could stop booing every critical comment by Craig. He knows what he is talking about and, after delivering the constructive criticism, usually finishes off with praise for the bits he did like. How else are the celebrities to learn?

I loved that, and think it's a pretty good assessment of them.

I'm glad Chelsee's potential is coming good but wish that Len wasn't so patronising. He intends to be kind but it seems as if he's patting her on the head for being good in spite of his low opinion of her.

Agree with comments from TeddyandGypsy re someone beginning with L. Same old grumpy person we see every year - for at least the last three years!! UK or USA - not both I think.

Craig's report seems pretty fair and unbiased,don't know who will go this week,but really excited about the show.

Pat



I think this is a very fair Report and I agree with Craig. He has no axe to grind and shows no favouritism. I think it is a pity that he is so disregarded by the audience as I feel he is now the one genuine judge. I always thought that Len was the most unbiased judge but he has been so grumpy this year and I thought he was really patronising to Chelsee after her foxtrot. It was interesting that Craig pointed out on ITT the mistake made by Chelsee was Pasha's fault I did not know much about Chelsee before this competition but she has been consistently good each week in everyone's eyes except Len. Well done Chelsee keep it up.

MrsArcanum@27



Ouch! Touche! Point taken! Any suggestions then?

Wembley: was it absolutely necessary to continually show us so many sights of the audience and flashing lights while the couples were dancing ? At times the cameras were so far away from the couples it was difficult to see what they were doing. Please camera men, concentrate on the dancers and let us see more of the footwork.

E- in English to Craig and other comentees. In the Half Term Report, he got the first pupils surname wrong . She is Alex JONES not Alex James. Go back to school CRH!!

Alex.. you were BRILLIANT at Wembley!!!

Was surprised that Chelsee received an A for her footwork - obviously Len doesn't agree as he commented she would get more ticks in his boxes if she would only improved her footwork. Pasha has promised he will work on her footwork after they have managed to learn each dance completely. Chelsee will have much more time to rehearse now as Waterloo Road has finished, so hoping to see a big improvement in her footwork which should please Len hopefully!

Hey, Len is a FANTASTIC judge, great on technical and sooo entertaining. Keep up the good work Len! (loving you on Dancing with the Stars too).