IT has been a few weeks so it is surely time to discuss all things Strictly Come Dancing.

I have spent the series so far, which now heads into its quarter final stage, with a niggling concern which is growing by the day - it has reached the point where it is very much the Pachyderm in the room.

Newly installed head judge Shirley Ballas.

It was going to take a seriously special character to step in to the dance shoes of Len Goodman - he had that gravitas and kindliness whilst taking no prisoners, down to a fine art so she had a tough act to follow.

But I am just not sold on Shirley.

There is no doubt she is a professional dancer of some repute who absolutely has the experience and ability to judge others.

She just doesn’t have the charisma of the others and even a good way into her debut series we are not clear if she is strict or kindly. There have been a few cringey moments - I put forward the passing of her “ballroom crown” to Debbie McGee in something like week two or three and also her recent appearance on the Graham Norton show.

This must have been an attempt to get audiences to warm to her - but she basically came across as a bit egotistical.

I turned off when she started to critique the four other guests, who included comedian Will Ferrell on their dance performances in some of their film roles. She criticised him for falling over at one point - which he quickly pointed out was because he was in a comedy film and playing a role. Shirley had the good grace to laugh at herself but if I were her I wouldn’t want to be re-watching that clip on You Tube.

Head judge quibbles aside, it has been a top notch series so far, largely because of the contestants. While it was so sad to see Susan Calman and her professional dance partner Kevin Clifton leave the dancefloor for good last weekend, their reaction to being pitted against Alexandra in the dance-off was priceless.

They dared to actually address the yawning chasm in their abilities - irritating as I find Alexandra, she absolutely did not deserve to be in the bottom two this week and is probably the best dancer in it - and soak up the moment. I do admit to having a small tear in my eye when Kevin and Susan schmaltzily paid tribute to each other having been voted off and then skipped Morecambe & Wise style off the dance floor for the last time.

Strictly still wears the Saturday night crown for me, with or without Shirley.