The format
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.
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.
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.
