Ö÷²¥´óÐã

Loving the website, its a pretty cool idea, especially the newsletter

Hello!!!! Stictly fans. Hi Natasha!! Lonely Threaders are back!! Can't wait for start of show. Hope new style website still allows us to have some fab discussions!

but I will say that getting rid of the boards was a big mistake because it was a massive community! We are never going to keep up with these blogs, like I ran a few games threads that we all had fun on, we all had mansions to support our pros and now we can't....

Is there going to be a messageboard this year?

what about the messageboards?

Really looking forward to the start of SCD

but on the boards we had threads for every pro and celeb and couple and dance and week and even dress at times and on here we are never going to be able to keep up and do that :(

Really looking forward to the new show, first impressions of the new site is good, I am holding comment about no messageboards this year. They really contributed to the SCD experience for me last year, but it is early days yet so lets see how it goes

Loving the new website, but ... MESSAGEBOARDS. Where are they? They were the best bit last year!!

Looking good
Looking good

Pleased about the messageboards. Hope Blogs work well.

There's a weekly quiz!! In the words of mcdonalds 'Im lovin' it'!!

Will miss the message boards and the friends made on them. It was a major part of the fun. If Strictly Sue, Lindyhop, Bruno. Frank and several other regulars look at this 'Hi from Granannieflo'. Not particularly interested in the dumbed down blog as with Eastenders. But then I can't stand Eastenders!
Will wait and see as to the show itself.

The writer of #14 was granannieflo. This seems to have been left off.

Hi there granannieflo (tempted to respond in limerick...) - glad you've got on the blog 8-)
I too will miss the message boards this year - especially the song parodies and limericks...such fun for the last three years....hey-ho!
Anyone seen brunoforpresident and tangolero??? Liliatopplesover and Lindyhop?? Dorothy and Toto and Jingle??
Love to you all - Sue xxx

Hello there Sue, hello Granannieflo! Not sure about this blog business - like you, I enjoyed the fun and social side of the MBs - the lounges, poems, songs, coconuts game, social threads, smileys etc etc. However, will reserve judgement on the new format, hopefully it won't be as restrictive as it seems. Look forward to chatting with you. Jingle xx

JINGLE....my 'old' rhyming buddy! Wonderful to have a response - I am a first-time blogger, so look forward to seeing how it all goes - and hoping to keep in touch throughout the new series. On late hols 8th-25th September again - so can't blog - but WILL get to watch the programmes 8-)
I stayed in contact with Dorothy & Toto through facebook - also Dfer Polar Bear. He has now opened some 'chat' on the fb SCD fan site - so if you're on fb do join up....has the advantage of you being notified if anyone replys to your messages/comments etc.

ps It's my opinion that some of the users of the MB's helped to cause the decision to close them - I can remember some nightmare scenarios last year...rumours/slanging matches etc ....quite spoilt it for me at times anyway!

Stay in touch! Sue xx

Hi Sue - am signing off for now until the show starts...will see how this site works out, if too limited then will join FB. Have a great holiday Jingle xx

I'm missing my chums from the message board last year, I was really looking forward to a good old tug of words - is anybody there?

Will the newsletter be every week and will the video footage work outside of the UK. It would be cool if it did, because I feel that Fans outside of the UK are missing something

Thank you for leaving me know Ö÷²¥´óÐãStrictlyEmily. Please do try and stick stuffon You Tube and Facebook,etc , I just feel that we are missing stuff. But I know ye do their best. great the newsletter is weekly.

Thank you again.

Hi Sue, and others from the old MBs. I'm Liliatoppleover. I shortened the Toppleover bit cos I post on other Ö÷²¥´óÐã MBs. Poor old Lilia has been toppled over, which seems a real shame.
Maybe we could set up a song/limmerick thread on the POV MB or in The Bull at the Archers.
Poor decision to get rid of the MBs, nobody seems to be in favour of it!
Boo to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã

I like the weekly Quiz, had a go at it , Score a 10. It's was only by chance that I got 10 because Brucie's height was only a guess.:)

I've noticed fairly quickly on the new look site that navigating between blogs is mnessy and involves lots of scrolling. A seperate list of all current blog headings needs to be somewhere on it's own!

Mind you I'd remind Len that it is easy to sell sausage, but it is a real art to sell sizzle. It also leads me to wonder if Len reads The Discworld books since that is where the quote comes from :)

I tried posting some comments last week,but I do not think that they went through.I am sorry the message boards have gone,so I do hope I will be able to use this system instead.My best wishes to any one who remembers me from the message boards.

Any chance of reviving the "Music on the Night" feature on the website? On Friday afternoon the website team would post details of the music each couple would be dancing to on the next day's show. It was great fun because it provoked discussion of what the dance and costumes might be and added to the anticipation.

Hi there LiliaT - I'm also sad that Lilia won't be dancing - but am hopeful we'll see her on ITT. I've a facebook account so have already had an initial limerick fix on the discussion tab that dfer has opened (on the SCD fan page there)....are you able to join in???

Msg 27 re navigating these blogs.....yes I've already got 'scrollitus' and the series hasn't started yet
8-(

Any hope of some fine tuning before the 'rush' Strictly Emily???

Sue xx

Ermmmmm with the old boards any comment I made was recorded on my Ö÷²¥´óÐã ID member page, with all the comments I made and importantly the number of any comments made after mine so I could see if the discussion was still active and indeed click straight to it. I've notice the SCD blog comments I make do not appear on my member page. All the other Ö÷²¥´óÐã post board sites still do. Is this something broken that needs fixing or is this blog thing just out of kilter with the rest of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã ID scheme?

really going to miss the boards

ditto missing the message boards already! No posts from our Claudia!! *sob*

Okay, melodrama over - or is it just beginning?? Would be nice to catch up with everyone again - Dfer?? Where are you? On the other hand - NO THREE MINUTE RULE! Will just have to keep track on Facebook, ho hum!

Can't believe it's just a few weeks to go (proper - not counting Saturday, as not part of contest!)

Yours fingers crossed

Dru (aka Anton's Angel)

You may want to sort out your quiz. It has several errors. In the answers it lists each question as answer to question 10 (rather than 1-10). And the answer given for question 6 is obviously not right (it's not one of the 3 options given).

Website looks good & the celebs look interesting but I'm sad to find out that there are no message boards and I will really miss some of my favourite dancers this year...

Can anyone tell me if Claudia is going to have her ITT spot on the website as in previous series?

Hi Pasopamela. Spotted this from one of the beeb bloggers on the messageboards discussion. Looks promising.

Claudia will be reading out comments and messages left on HERE. In fact, there'll be a lot more interaction between the It Takes Two team and the website, so there'll be LOTS of chances for your views and opinions to appear on-air this year!

I have Claudia's Box of Frog's at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã strictly board at facebook opened already. I will incept an ITT thread soon. I don't want to flood the discussion board there, I want to get a few threads established, which appears to be gathering momentum.

hi all it's Fergal here again from last year love the site like the celebs for this year and will especially be cheering on Felcity Kendall and Gavin Henson this year.

And getting to see the celebs and pro dancers in action will make it easier for me to judge who's good and who's not so good.

Dear Strictly Webteam,

I’ve been giving the blogs a try for a couple of weeks, and thought I’d send you some feedback. From a user perspective, there are some issues about the range of blog topics and navigation.

Range of blog topics for post-show discussion
Inevitably, there is an element of protest-posting on the Strictly site. However, it does make post-show discussion difficult to follow when a single blog attracts all the protest posts.
Please could we have a wider range of blog topics for discussion each week once the competition starts? I feel if there were a wider range, it would give a better chance for discussion of specific aspects of the show to get going on the blogs. I would suggest something along the lines of:
(a) Dance Review – Wk 1,... for comments re the competitive and pro dances and elimination predictions (no spoilers).
(b) Judging Review – Wk 1,... re the judges’ comments and scores. A probably futile attempt to divert Alesha-bashing from the dance discussion!
(c) Music Review – Wk1,... re the musical guest acts, and music choices for the dances. There was frequent discussion of music choices on the boards last year.
(d) Style & Presentation Review – Wk1,... re Bruce’s jokes, Tess’ dresses, frock horrors, fake tan and other important issues of the day :-/
(e) This Week’s Elimination – Wk2,... did the right couple go?

Other blog suggestions
Like many posters, I’m missing the more social and fun aspects of the messageboards. Such discussions rarely require moderation, but add greatly to fans’ enjoyment of the site and Strictly. A couple of suggestions I would like to add to my above list are:
(f) Get Strictly Creative (title?) There were some great poems, song parodies and creative writing (eg on the romance of Anton&Laila’s rumba) on the boards last year. I also remember some dress design pictures sent in by junior viewers on ITT. Could we have a blog that invites fans to post their Strictly-inspired writing and links to art? It might produce some fun material for ITT.
(g) The Strictly Lounge Some other bbc blogs have a space for fans to meet for general discussion that doesn’t fit under the news blog headings (eg The Beach at PM). Please could we have a meeting place (maybe Tess’ new room) for off-topic chats?

Navigating the blogs
I’m finding it more difficult to find the relevant blog for a particular issue than it was on the boards! Using the ‘Topical posts on this blog’ list at the bottom of the page seems to be the easiest way around, but this means that your choice of blog title is critical to users being able to locate the relevant blog. For example, if ‘Fun Boys Three!’ had instead been called ‘Pro Dancer line-up 2010’ it would be a much more obvious place to direct posters who want to comment on the pro line-up changes. I realise it’s not such a snappy news headline, but it would make the blogs more user-friendly.

Sorry for the long post. Hope these comments are helpful.
Chocs

Excellent suggestions chocokate. I've already got repetitive strain injuries on my scrolling hand and the shows haven't started yet!
Hello to all my old friends from the message boards. I'm B4p and was usually found on the Ode Abode and Song Parody threads.
I'm not sure about using facebook, because of privacy isues. I don't want all and sundry knowing what I had for breakfast thank you. I just want to talk to like minded fans on one Strictly site.
I'm waiting to see if the ROFL new exiles website have a corner for an out of work scribbler.
Re new website. I prefer the greys and blues. I never liked the tart's boudiour pink. It looks professional but I only used the message boards. I got video-ed and photo-ed out by the end of last season, particularly when the same clips were repeated before each celebs performance then again on ITT. I don't mind seeing a few more training clips, but I don't really want to see the poor celebs stressed out just before their live shows. I think they're under enough stress without being under a continual microscope. I shall still lurk and read other peoples comments on the bloggs. I shall still enjoy watching the show. B4p

Why have you got a section for "The Team", full of pictures and info on the judges and presenters, and another section, called "Dancers", but which only gives information on the celebrity contestants?
Where is the section for information and pictures of the real stars of SCD, the professional dancers? Why have you left them out? Do you think that they are not important?

Can we have a thread on this blog thingy for songs and limericks, please?
Or can we post them on here?

Agree with you there, B4P. Nice to 'see' you again. You and fellow songwriters/poets might remember me as SCDfanJan from two series ago - I couldn't join you last year, unfortunately.
I too have joined the ROFL new exiles site but not having used a blog site before am finding it a bit confusing how to get about. I totally agree about repetitive strain blogwrist - it would be much better if the latest comments showed first, not last. Howewer, I'm hoping we can get some good discussions going and - more importantly - have some fun given the present miserable weather (it's pouring,up in north east) and pretty miserable news situation every day. Let's hope SCD (and the new website) brings some much needed sparkle to our lives!

so sad not to be able to post to a support group for our pro/celeb couples, meeting places that became our 'homes' over the past 3 years...the blog is ok, but trawling through things 'off topic' is exhausting...lol

What people are saying is they want their old threads back and if they can not create them any more they want the blog team to.

msg 47 - Yaaaaaayyyyyy
MissingLilia - it great to hear from you. They let you out at last.
*sings* StrictlyfanJans in rehab but she said no, no, no.......
Happy days. Hope to get a base set up soon that you can come and crash in. Any sign of Greeky?

Mssg 50 - thanks for the welcome back B4P... it's great to be 'home' again - had a bummer of a year last year (apart from watching SCD) but nuff said!
Had a look yesterday for Greeky but no sign yet, though have seen a few other familiar 'faces'.
Have you sussed whether we can have a limericks/songs thread going in this new set up? This is my first venture on to a blog site (just as SCD was my first venture in 2008 on to message boards) - I hate technology but love SCD too much not to give it a go.
Here's to happy times ahead, both here and on ROFL. (virtual smiley attached!)

I made a comment about how with the old SCD board my comments appeared on my Ö÷²¥´óÐã 606 member page (/dna/606/U191295%29, but these blog ones do not register there, yet it is the same name and ID I've used for years. The page shows all my recent comments and how long ago the last reply was.

How can I revisit my old comments from these new blogs to see if there has been replied to without having to bookmark every blog and then scroll through dozens more messages?

There are 4 hosts on here and very few posts, yet no-one has bothered to answer,my, and others question: Can we have a song / limerick thread. Please.

As to the new website being a "shimmering masterpiece", I have to say I Profoundly Disagree. There is the lack of message boards which is unanimously deplored. (Is that so you can control what is written on the site more carefully? I can think of no reason for spoiling so many people's fun.) Plus the site is a complete mess. It is not at all easy to navigate. I saw something yesterday that took my eye, had to go and do something else and when I returned to the site, I completely failed to find it. I consider myself adept with a computer, by no means a beginner but here I was completely flummoxed. Get a site map up - a good one - please!

msg 51 & 53
Hi Lil. I think the thundering silence says it all don't you?. I don't think a song or ode thread would suit the new vision. Talking of which - I'm having trouble with my main computer at the moment and cannot download my emails. When I can, I shall ask the ROFL crew if we can set up a song parody thread and ode abode on their board. Why not start without me and I'll catch up as soon as I can? Meanwhile, my pencil's twitching, especially after the light (launch) show...
*disappears singing the theme tune from Flash gordon*
FLASH - ah-AH - they've just fried my retina's......

I've just counted the posts on the new ROFL messageboard which thanks to the sterling work of Innana and Chris82 is starting to buzz. In less than a week the posts on that forum are already over 1000 despite having a small but steadily growing community. In comparison, the new bloggs here are much quieter. I'm not a statistician but I would say that those figures might be significant to those in charge?

You would think so B4p!
However, I'm beginning to suspect that's the point. A discussion I spotted on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Internet Blog suggests that an analysis of relative costs of moderating blogs compared to boards is behind a shift in Ö÷²¥´óÐã Online policy. Personally, I think it's a false economy to push eager posters off the Ö÷²¥´óÐã site. There's a risk they'll be left with only the 'protest posters' (who feel they are talking to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã on here), and people hoping for a mention on ITT. The costs of moderation per post probably won't be much different to last year because of the number of users going through pre-mod to post only a few comments, and the good discussion will be lost.
I'm still hoping the Strictly webteam will structure the blog topics along the lines of the issues fans want to discuss, so there can be some focused discussion of elements of the show on here. However, I fear if they continue to pursue 'news-driven' blogging, there won't be a navigable structure or any on-topic discussions. Seriously considering ROFL.

msg 56
Hi brunoforpresident, do you have a link to the ROLF messageboard, please. Thanks.

Hi Chocs and Twirlie. Are you related (said with a snicker)?
Go to the 'Why are there no Strictly messageboards' blog, then scroll down to message 105. If you decide to join them mention my name, I might need some Brownie points later. B4p

Rolos about laughing! Better sign off now before I Flake out - all this scrolling is no Picnic ;-)

I love strictly and am a huge fan of the pro dancers. However I am a little disappointed that you have no information the website this year about them, I love reading about them and also looking at the pro dance couples.

Messages 54,55 and 57

Hi Chocokate, Twirlie and B4P - please stop all these sweetie related posts.. they are giving me the Munchies!
B4P - I think I'll wait to see whether the Ö÷²¥´óÐã responds to the many requests on this blog and others, to give us a 'song/ode' theme.. If not, then I'll await your debut on ROFL. Shame about your PC - same thing happened to me last season which is one of reasons I bowed out as SCDfanJan. Hope you get fixed up soon. In meantime, I'll start composing... something along the tune of 'Sweet Dreams are made of this' for starters, perhaps? (virtual smiley attached)

*waves paws to old poster friends*

Hoping to see many of you here and the Ö÷²¥´óÐã sponsored facebook page.

Sorry... couldn't wait any longer... here's an ode to the new SCD website,loosely along the line of 'Oh, what a tangled web we weave':

" Oh, what a sparkly web(site)has been weaved
To launch Series 10 of our much loved SCD
Shimmering colours match the elegant new Strictly Set
New features(the quiz, newsletter, behind the scenes) we can now get
News blogs,run by 'real' people, whose photos we see
Have also been commissioned by the Ö÷²¥´óÐã
They invite our comments ' What do you think of the new site?'
"Please tell us dear readers, about your delight"
But, 'oh dear!', users have, instead, in their hoards
Take up the cry: " How dare the Beeb take away our beloved message boards!"