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Starts this weekend

Fantastic news, I am sure we all agree

from

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/77174000/jpg/_77174249_frankie.jpg)

and

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/77176000/jpg/_77176352_thom.jpg)

to

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/77272000/jpg/_77272443_wonnacott.jpg)

and

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/77258000/jpg/_77258588_wallace.jpg)


favourites are pixie lott, simon webbe, frankie bridge and thom evans....


this thread for critiques, barely disguised perving and sequin news

Fab.

U.

Lous.

Thom + Iveta.

If he can walk straight, he's guaranteed to go through the first six weeks.

Can't wait to see the the betting, the wildlife dude will popular with the public!

Kristina always is, too :)

Am on Thom Evans already. Am waiting to see everyone dance both disciplines before embarking further.

Kristina and Webbe are going to go far, a very hot couple. she's gorgeous and the other half loves webbe.

big sample size that, but i see him as the main threat to Thom from a male persepctive

Mrs Murray shows more joy in less than a minute than Sideshow Bob has done in a career!

That Webbe chap looks like he has less moves in the locker than me. 16s on my boy. Ledoooo.

wayne bridge's mrs and kevin from grimsby

got to be up there?

Hard to tell in that little jig but Jake Wood looked very good. Needs to bring his weight forward but that's easily taught. My concern with him would be the height difference. It won't look as good in ballroom.

Ah good, that time of year when Tal can be as camp as he likes and it passes everyone by.

Only caught last ten min, defo thought from the dance bit my dosh would be on Webbe and yet another Brooke ex.

How that Alison Hammond get on all these shows as a celeb is truely beyond me.

lol I reckon Tal is sat there watching it with his sequin shirt on  ;D

I hope his weight isn't too far forward or he maybe showing a little nipple

Best show on TV, chaps. Have interrupted a 6 hour NFL Redzone marathon for that.

I'm actually watching in a Buffalo Bills shirt, but it's definitely Strictly first. :D

Jake looked as if he had previous and showed form, Frankie and Kevin are going to go far, the rugby playing model with everything going for him had a tick in the hips but I kept an eye on my boy Steve Irvin or whatever he's called and he has some skills. Enough dead wood for the audience to get to know the cheeky chappy, by which stage his price is 5s and we have made green.

Feck if i'm watching it and mrs hasn't realised its on yet thank fk, but seen plenty of Steve Backshall on deadly 60 and he a very likable guy

As for Tal preferring it to red zone, would we expect anything less ;)

Posted this on Tips for Tikay:

Quick word on Jake (am working my way through)

The tango is probably the worst ballroom to be drawn first. It has a completely different set of basics to the other ballroom dances, with a flexed knee throughout and a different frame. This means that, when he dances ballroom again in two weeks' time, he will be starting from scratch and have only a week to prepare.

This was rough around the edges and he doesn't show much musicality. Clearly very nervous.

Against that, he has done a lot of work and is receptive to his teacher.

But here's the reason why he won't win (bump this in due course): the difference in height between him and Janae is too much. It is so difficult to get the posture right, without either hunching over or the partner looking like she's dancing with a giant. Won't happen.

Caroline Flack has plenty of potential and Pascha is good as a teacher on this show.

Favourite quote of the year on anything was from Natalie: "I was praying I would get Tim". Tremendous.

Will cover the other significant ones on due course. Not really much point discussing Scott, Tim, Judy & co. We know they're enjoying themselves but aren't going to win

I've had a punt on Judy leaving first - danced like a plank of wood, completely overawed by things, little personality coming through and who on earth is going to pick up the phone for her? And that was her ballroom - what kind of disaster awaits her latin?

SCD is the yearly reminder that many people who have built up my respect don't deserve it after all.

Good to have you back, sir :D

I agree with this, except for the presence of the utterly horrific Gregg with two gg's Wallace, who performed like he thought he was fantastic with all the humility and self-awareness of a Tory Minister on Tindr.

Quite horrific performance and pretty sure he's not very popular either

Gregg Wallace dances like he runs businesses. 

Got some money on Alison Hammond at an average of about 48/1.  Managed to get some big old prices on Sunnetra too.  Can't see her been much worse than Thom for instance.   Not sure why I didn't immediately lay Thom after his dance, was sleeping there.

Bah Camel, Love Strictly.

Lows....

Gregg Wallace - dances like Professor Yaffle the wooden woodpecker from Bagpuss.

Scott Miles - Proper dad at wedding stuff, appeared to be dancing to a different song

Alison Hammond - In that blue dress it was like you were standing on the beach looking out at the Atlantic Ocean on a windy day

Highs...

Caroline Flack and Pixie Lott both super sexy, swivel hips, moves like jagger etc

Incidentally, Frankie was down at my place last week with hubby Wayne Bridge, very nice people, asked Frankie for tickets as my mrs would give me brownie points for life!! They have started to come in a fair bit along with the blonde one Molly? She was on a date with that model who plops in the sea with his D&G kegs on, Ghandi?? Not long after they left John Terry comes in as he is kinda regular as well. Expecting fireworks sometime soon.

David Gandy? You sure?

100% sure, she introduced me to him. Insanely good looking fella, jaw chiseled from granite.

Don't worry Mantis, I didn't respect you anyway.

2
When I saw your name in the posters on this list I must admit I thought "oh ffs not Keith as well".  Quite happy you're not a fan....

As Tal said, good to have you back Camel

Hey guys. If any Strictly lovers fancy having a fun punt on Week 2, we are running a pool at www.stakesandladders.com.

Will Pixie and Trent score higher than Simon and Kristina?

Will any couple get a total score of 31 or more?

Which couple will get the best score?

Will Len be required to give his casting vote for the elimination?

How many 7s in total will be awarded?

If you think you know your Strictly then get in the pools and maybe your predictions will make you a few quid....

Already in, Mr Badger.

Nice one :) I've only managed to watch a little bit of it thus far, so my answers are just guesses. However, we always watch it with the kids each year (they love it!) so from next week onwards I'll be winning the pools every week. This is your best chance to scoop, before I get my eye in...

Fair point. I was useless at the chess one. :D

*waves at Keith*

Well, my girl didn't disappoint tonight - Judy Murray performed one the most disastrous 'dances' seen on this programme - if it comes down to a dance off between her and the greengrocer I think they'll save him, as at least he threw himself into his dance a bit.

It was worth a lot of dross for 90 seconds of Aliona in a maid's dress


Judy inert, Gregg unlikeable or Scott Yewtree in 2020, any of them could go

At the top, very difficult to see anyone apart from Pixie or Frankie winning, even at this early stage

Frankie really is astonishingly pretty - it's difficult for a girl to pull off that haircut. I'd have thought she'd be able to bag herself a more impressive footballer than a full back.

Had my first proper big bet on Pixie at 4/1 with Koral.  Think they were a bit slow reacting, thought she was very good tonight.   

couldn't disagree. Frankie has more personality for me, as Andrew says cute as a button and good already but if Pixie isn't top 3 i'd be amazed

front runners

Frankie
Pixie
Webbe

top 5 potential

Max Branning
Flack

mid table

Wildlife
Casualty
Thom
Hammond
Wright

No hope

Gibney
Antiques
D J Mills
Greengrocer
Inertia


is my ranking

Can't take to Simon at all.  Think he comes across badly, think Jake must be top man.  Steve was disastrous tonight and Thom just isn't nearly good enough.  Caroline Flack looked good tonight to me, so think it might be an all girl top 3, with Jake last man standing. 

IS JT sniffing around yet?

I think there's something about Caroline Flack that women just won't warm to, and they're the ones that vote.

First sub-par dance she does I'll be all over her for bottom 2.

Interesting poll.  I am surprised Pixie is so low, though people hate a ringer, Caroline seems popular enough. 

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2015153 (http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2015153)

Thom and Simon don't appear to be on the way to winning anything.  Only Ladbrokes are offering top man betting, dammit.  Really very surprised Sunetra scored so well, didn't think she had much of a week, but got her at massive prices week1.

@ Tal

Ha! You won the Strictly pools :)

Jake is 7/4 best with BMU and the ex bookmakers.  Think that must be a go unless you are too attached to your Thom bet. 

Also backed Fleur on X factor, stumbled across her for 5 minutes this afternoon.  My missus reckons she spends more time out of tune than in it.  Sounds like a ringing endorsement to me.  Betfair 47/1.  Only worry is that I might have to watch that shite if she reaches the final.  Anyone else got a view?

(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02664/strictly_come_danc_2664283b.jpg)

Full review this evening (depending on what time I get home), but I'd say, using your categories:

Front runners
Pixie
Frankie
Jake

Top 5 potential
Flack
Webbe

Midtable
Thom
Steve
Sunetra
Mark
Hammond

No hope
Judy
Scott
Gibney
Tim

Fairly apparent in the majority of cases. I do have some rants to have later if time permits.

Didn't watch the show, but found THE highlight  ;)

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv9G4Mv1z40

For Tal, and anyone else interested... We have put double guarantees on this week's Strictly Come Dancing pools at www.stakesandladders.com. The £1 pool is guaranteed at £100 for example. I'd guess we will be lucky to get 50 entrants, so there's going to be quite some overlay to snap up. Free money, right?

Jake now best 11/8 best man with BFSB and 3/1 favourite overall.  Think that priuce probably makes even 11/8 a bet.  Some move during the week with no dancing.  Sure Ladbrokes were 2/1 last Saturday when they were the only one offering a price, but can't get on there.  The best man bet definitely feels like a 2 horse race with Steve and Thom kept only going in the onedirection.  No big move for Fleur yet.   

Jake's waltz training looks very good. I've aired concerns about the height difference but this will be a key test for that. The tango on flexed knees masked it a little IMO, but if it isn't as bad as I thought, he's the best dancer right now. No question.

Frankie won't be strorming ahead for her Paso, unless the judges go all gooey for a balletic, artistic one. Going to take some choreography that, methinks. I'm not convinced by Pixie's stiff back, as yet. Needs to extend her neck when in hold to look more graceful. That will come with time, I'm sure.

Usual thing with this show is picking the winner isn't as easy as picking the best dancer in week three.

Entered all the pools. Even more value now.

No idea why we've got Donny Osmond in as a guest judge. My main concern is he'll overmark everything and be another one of those judges who focus more on performance than technique.

I remember when Michael Flatley did Dancing With the Stars and pretty much gave everything 9 or 10. It was hilarious/cringeworthy.

Donny confirmed cringeworthy. 1.01 landed.  Simon stood very well there whilst Kristina danced.  Nobody offering top male prices anymore...

A 10 Donny? It's week 3 - didn't even think they handed the 10 paddles out till week 6.

Piled in a bit more at 80/1 and 100/1 on Sunetra tonight.

Think she is as good as the likes of Steve, and better than the other complete rags. 

Just think your average viewer is going to have more time for her than Pixie or Frankie even if they are better dancers.  Think she has definitely got the potential to be this year's journey story. 

Kids loved Mark Wright FWIW. 

Tonight Frankie very good. Thom had his best week.  Simon just comes across badly, doesn't take the poor marks well at all. 

Could be on to one with Sunetra, but I do think it helps to have a proper song to dance to. First time this series I think that there's been an actual ballroom dance song in strict tempo being danced to. She's certainly a performer and enjoys the occasion.

Shows the importance of good choreography: Brendan knows how to get the most out of his partner. Kevin the same; he knew Frankie couldn't do the powerful bull stuff, but could do the flamenco side and had good timing. Voila.

Tristan was worse than half the male celebs. Goodness only knows what's happening there.

Simon didn't seem to like the scores, I agree. Mark was woeful but funny. Scott was twice as woeful and hilarious. I was in tears by the end.

Delighted to see Thom finding his feet. Needed to keep half an eye on Iveta, though, as he got a bit ahead of her towards the end. He's very light on his feet and that bodes well. He's still second tier, but looking up rather than down.

tbf, we are all right to be concerned

Having Osmond as a guest judge was a complete disgrace

Giving out actual marks, that affects peoples lives?

Furthermore giving out marks on a non-specialist whim?

Utterly terrible, and I have written to the BBC in complaint.

It completely ruins the integrity of the competition. This isn't X-Factor, this is the BBC

Please, never let us see this travesty again

An outrage.

Think it warants a letter to The Times, too.

Disgusted,
Tunbridge Wells

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/watch-ed-sheeran-go-strictly-4400411

Reportedly trained 5 hours a day for a couple of months. Is he any good?

No.

Right decision obviously. No brainer, really.

Tim's paso. What could possibly go wrong?

(https://strictlysupportgroup.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/image19.jpg)

Looks like you've won lots of money in the pools Tal! :)

Wahey!

the full list of routines and the music that will be performed live by Dave Arch and his band, on Saturday 18th October from 6.30pm.

Here are the celebrities with their dances and songs, in alphabetical order:

    Alison and Aljaz will be performing the Samba to ‘Bootylicious’ by Destiny’s Child.
    Caroline and Pasha will be performing the Quickstep to ‘We Go Together’ from the musical Grease.
    Frankie and Kevin will be performing the Cha Cha to ‘Call Me Maybe’ by Carly Rae Jepsen.
    Jake and Janette will be performing the Jive to ‘All Shook Up’ by Elvis Presley.
    Judy and Anton will be performing the Tango to ‘Jealousy’ by Billy Fury.
    Mark and Karen will be performing the Quickstep to ‘Tiger Feet’ by Mud.
    Pixie and Trent will be performing the Rumba to ‘Stay With Me’ by Sam Smith.
    Scott and Joanne will be performing the American Smooth to ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ by Bonnie Tyler.
    Simon and Kristina will be performing the Charleston to ‘My Old Man (Said Follow The Van)’.
    Steve and Ola will be performing the Salsa to ‘Jump in the Line’ by Harry Belafonte.
    Sunetra and Brendan will be performing the Salsa to ‘Turn the Beat Around’ by Vicki Sue Robinson.
    Thom and Iveta will be performing the Foxtrot to ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ by The Foundations.
    Tim and Natalie will be performing the Paso Doble to ‘The Best’ by Tina Turner.

It's getting ridiculous now.

Why can't we have music for ballroom and latin dances? Why must all the songs be pop songs? There used to be a mixture and, whilst I didn't always agree with some of the choices, there was at least some context for the viewer.

It's also far easier for a student to follow a beat, when the song was written and arranged with strict tempo in mind. Picking out a beat is something some people find difficult, so traditional music helps.

Is this because Sir Brucie had a little sway when he was there?

Seriously, total eclipse of the heart? An American Smooth? How is he going to count a foxtrot beat to that? Joanne has obviously given up any hope of him learning to dance.

Build Me up Buttercup has a good foxtrot beat and a nice sway to it. Call Me Baby should be a decent cha cha (though not the best by any means). Really is some rubbish there tho.

on the same theme

Simon and Kristina will be performing the Charleston to ‘My Old Man (Said Follow The Van)’.

really?

horrendous song choice. Charleston?


Strictly Come Osmond is in danger of jumping the shark

Yes. Ridonkulous. He will have fun, though, and Charlestons tend to be safe for next week (Jimi Mistry and Peter Shilton aside IIRC)

Pixie will set hearts racing I suspect, but looks well short of hips in training.

Steve won't score well. Bottom two possibility.

Judy rigor mortis has to go this week

Mrs Murray and a Tango?

not a hope of being out of the bottom two

Hopefully grumpy Simon will think the same as you. The sooner I collect on Jake Top Man bet the better.  Producers clearly followed me in.

If you want to see what the basic steps look like in each of the main dances, this is a very good investment of 20 minutes:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0Q_gYbgFz4

Donnie Burns and Gaynor Fairweather make the Strictly professionals look like Harold and Edna at a tea dance.

Jake top man this weekend should be buying money. Long series, though.

Dear oh dear oh dear oh dear.

Note to self:

Stop looking at this thread.

More tilting than having £50 on a 20/1 shot which 5 length clear 10 yards from the post when the jockey falls off.

Back under your bridge, you little troll

:D

The only suprising thing is you didn't rollock Tighty for telling you in advance what this weeks music is.

Absolutely ruined it for me.

Not worth watching now.

Ha!

Jealousy is a song that was actually a ballroom tango. Not the Billy Fury version, mind.

Just playing it through, Build Me Up Buttercup will be too quick for a proper foxtrot, so they'll have to slow it down.



Methinks the camel doth protest too much...

Are they picking the scores out of a hat tonight? Maybe this is what they do with Merlin and set of balls number 3 when they're not in use?

If Pixie were walking down the road the Michael Jackson did in Billie Jean, she wouldn't have set a light off. Yet she gets four eights.

Farce.

The Pixie-Trent Lanister twins Rumba was creepy.

Scott Mills has to go. Looks like he is hating every minute of it

Not sure I've ever shouted at the television more than I have tonight.

I do get annoyed at what I perceive to be judges' bias. Every series, some people get picked up on everything, while others seem to escape comment for the same faults.

Caroline's top line was awful and she seemed to be clinging on for dear life to Pascha. It was too quick for her and that meant she couldn't close her feet on the chassés, making it look skippy, rather than fluid. I was surprised it broke 30 tbh.

Sunetra had better weight distribution than Frankie on the Cuban breaks and Pixie escaped the serious censure some of the "lesser" dancers certainly would have received. Simon was hideously undermarked for an excellent Charleston in which my initial reaction was Kristina lost timing a few times. Alison was woeful. Simon travelled more than her in his first go at the rumba last week.

Thom's top line is an absolute revelation. He is firm enough to maintain hold but he's also relaxed enough to move without losing the natural shape of the dance. The most improved dancer in the competition by a distance.

Overall, a poor standard tonight. I'm not entirely surprised, given my rant about the music on Wednesday, but there were some bizarre paddles on show this evening.

Tal If you keep this up I might have to marry you

ok own up, who is voting to keep Scott Mills out of the bottom two each week?

the public scare and surprise me

Have just about recovered from Sunday (the NFL last night helped!).

Here are this weekend's dances and songs: http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s104/strictly-come-dancing/news/a606592/strictly-come-dancing-halloween-week-songs-and-dances-revealed.html

Reckon I have a pick for next out. Will watch the training videos and report.

Halloween week throws up some funny results every year and the boring dances are worth keeping an eye out for with a view to getting the boot. Anton and Judie will be beyond ridiculous and that's got the potential to eat up a lot of people's comedy votes.

I've had some anecdotal info about someone not doing much training this week (you can probably guess) which might mean they don't deliver much. I suspect the public will get a bit fed up of them soon. It's not Scott Mills.

Problem with the elimination market is, as soon as either Scott or Judie end up in the bottom two, they're gone, and we know they won't BOTH end up there.

Me.

His crab dance to "under the sea" was simply sublime.

he is both unlikeable and terrible

he does though have a daily outlet on radio 1 to impressionable people to vote for him


the problem with any bet to go next is the moment alison, scott, judy get in the bottom two against any other couple they are gone, just on ability

One of my very favourite soul records, this. Absolutely love it. Sunetra is very flat on her feet, sadly. Impossible to keep up if your weight isn't right forward.

It's always a fun night, though, this Halloween week. Amazing makeup and costumes.

1.01 This raises eyebrows...



...I've got bigger heels than Alison's wearing tonight. Barely a Cuban/chunky-stack.

Really think this is her week to go.

7/1 taken.

If Steve ends up in the dance off, he will be much better, which spells danger for the others.

It's all well and good having fast music and busy routines, but you end up with frenetic dances, where an amateur is going to struggle to maintain her posture. The frame was all over the place and giving it 9 is ridiculous.

Clearly right at the very top of the class, but we're not getting to see Pixie at her best.  We're also not getting to see the dance showed off, although that's not really the point of Halloween week, I suppose. Duly bites tongue.

FYP

Jiggaman, thoughts on Judy?

(http://media2.giphy.com/media/aBooMpl2faiHK/200_s.gif)

It's a brief interval from sport Saturday, Guv

Does Andy Murray sit in the audience with tv cameras panning over to him every time his mother fucks up?

Completely agree with Craig on Jake's shaping, but they've been harder on him than they have with lots of others in the past. Will never get that.

Don't pretend you're not watching.

At the risk of a stupid question, why is Morticia dancing with Uncle Fester?

if i had one vote on who i wanted to leave i would be struggling to choose between Judy, Alison (who has at least kept dunelm soft furnishings in business for another week with her costume) and scott, who i find both crap and charmless

in general i have been disappointed with the standard this week

all the make up and costume being OTT detracts from the quality of the dance product imo

Yes, but that's almost been the point of this week each series. It's a bit of fun and early enough in the series not to matter too much.

yes, but hasn't the standard been dreadful this week?

pick a bottom two?

Frankie the best dancer imo, but I guess that is not all that's required in this show?

a certainty for the final three

but as the winner is 100% public vote for the final its down to who is liked compared to the other two

thaty could be jake wood, compared to any of caroline/pixie/frankie...due to his constant prime time exposure via eastenders/bbc to people who vote

It's been poor, yes.

Simon and Alison bottom two. Alison goes.

Whereas if it had been in the last week we might have to write a new Geneva Convention to deal with the issue.

Exactly.

Come on, the Mills!

This show does my nut in sometimes.

As much as I'm glad one of the bottom two went this week, the wrong one went from the dance off.

On Saturday after the show, Betfair is suspended until Sunday so the bookies have to do some bookmaking.  Anyway think 4 had put up Mark Wright prices.  3 were 12/1, Shy were 16/1.  I thought I'd have some of that.  They let me have precisely £1.50 each way.  So I thought I'll try and put him in a double with something to try and get some more on. 

Took me about a minute to realise they were 1/8 on Rory for SPOTY and I thought that was about bang on Betfair, so thought that will do.  Got the Mark Wright price up and they had already chopped it to 12/1.

So Shy will only lay £1.50 on a 16/1 shot and if they take the max will chop 25% off the price.  You wonder why they bother sending anyone in on a Saturday night to set the prices.

FWIW they would let me have another 40p at the new price...

Zoë will be presenting the weekend shows again. It has been revealed that Claudia's daughter has been badly burned in an accident and is in hospital.

It isn't yet known whether Claudia will be back

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11208408/Claudia-Winkleman-forced-to-pull-out-of-Strictly-Come-Dancing-after-daughter-has-Halloween-accident.html

who wins this series?

one of pixie, frankie and jake, or is anyone else realistic?

http://www.oddschecker.com/tv/strictly-come-dancing/winner

I assume the final will be four people. And it's just a popularity contest as the judges don't score in the final.

Do we think there's any chance that Pixie, Frankie or Jake lose in a dance-off to any of the other 4? If not, then it needs two of those three to be in the dance-off for any of them not to make the final. None of those three have been in the dance-off so far. Jake avoided it when he was join second bottom on the leaderboard two weeks ago. Pixie and Frankie have been so good each week that their popularity with the public has not really been tested.

Both Simon and Mark have had shock weeks when they were in the dance-off. Caroline was in the dance-off the week she was level on points with Sunetra and Mark (so less popular than them that week). Sunetra is probably going to be bottom of the leaderboard each week now and would lose a dance-off to any of the others so she is toast.

So, it looks like the top three are unstoppable to the final. Jake is certainly not unpopular with the public - Frankie and Pixie we just don't know. Given that, doesn't it make Jake the bet? If either of the girls does have a soft votebase then it could reveal itself in the next couple of weeks as the number of dancers drops, at which point Jake's price crashes.

Only watched parts of this series, & gather winner has to good (but not the best), & have a wide enough profile to earn public votes.

Agree with Andrew, Jake looks favourite to me & taken some 3.8 on betty.

Where has Tal gone?

Has he seen the light and realised SCD is pile of tosh?

Counting all his money no doubt.

Not sure I'd put Jake above Frankie and that is what you have to do to back Jake at 3.8.  Of course Frankie and Pixie are similar, pop star, some experience pre comp, both very good, both female, and Jake brings something different.  But I would counter that by saying Jake hasn't been as consistent as the two girls.  Think the prices look about right for the 3, but would pick Frankie as she is biggest price of the 3. 

Isn't Mark some value again at close to 20/1 on Betfair, though market is really flimsy right now?

Think he has a very busy week at work.

He gave us a nice 9/2 shot for SCD on Saturday, which dead-heated, so he's not lost his SCD touch!

De kameel! Hoe is Amsterdam?

I think Jake is a little specialist in his dances (does the mean/moody and the crazy, party guy and not a lot inbetween), although in the final you get to pick your best dances.

Pixie is the best dancer and would be my favourite. I find her and Trent a bit saccharine and I'm probably not alone there. I wouldn't want to back her but she is the front runner.

Frankie has all the talent and seems to have the "dad vote", if our unscientific TfT is anything to go by. My concern would be whether Kevin gives her too much to do and we lose the chance to see her at her best.

Outside those three, I'm struggling to support any of the others. Mark loves his nan. And his other nan. And his mum. And his fiancée. And Essex. He's getting on my wick now.

Caroline is somehow even more annoying and it's farcical how brazenly the judges are overmarking her ("she fell over but I'm going to give her a nine"). That's not going to end well, I'm sure.

Sunetra doesn't seem to be training as much as the others, I assume due to casualty commitments. She isn't going to close the gap, so she's a no-channer unless that changes.

Simon is the only one I could see cracking that top three. He is an emerging talent and has found some confidence to go with it. Biggest problems are perception: people don't like Kristina (see gossip press) and Simon can look a bit grumpy on camera.

How's that?

Pixie Lott wins.

Not SCD.

She just wins.

Pixie and Trent are the Lannister twins

one i do not want to win is Pixie.

far prefer Frankie of the two coached/stage school/semi-dancer contestants

I'll take that as a no.

Tal has single handedly been smashing up the hills "compilers" every week so much they are not offering certain markets anymore

No wonder he likes it!

Missed saturday's show, shocked to hear Pixie was booted. How's it shaping up? How is my dosh on Jake on at around 4.00 looking?

This amused me......


pixie and trent just went out of strictly an I've never been more raging

From this......

http://metro.co.uk/2014/12/07/strictly-come-dancing-2014-viewers-raging-as-pixie-lott-sent-home-4977825/


Fumming!

 ;D

have you joined the sequin side tikay?

The public decided she was in the bottom two. Nothing to do with the judges - Len even said he was allowing them some grace despite the illegal lifts. I reckon the public didn't like the way Pixie and Trent behaved at the end of the dance: they didn't seem to take the comments seriously.

When it got to the dance off, the right result was reached and credit to Darcey and Len for judging the performance before them.

Having considered and discussed the possibility that Simon ended up in the dance off and won through having a very good routine, I'm slightly kicking myself that I didn't advocate/bet on the big priced outsiders to go, other than Frankie. Pixie must have been 50/1+

That would have been nice!

There's a real dichotomy this year, where some are popular and some are very good dancers. As a group, they're better at ballroom than Latin. The only exception is Jake, who has a slight edge in Latin.

Picking a winner is primarily remembering it's just a popularity contest. I'd probably lean towards Frankie, given she's dodged the dance off this week.

4 possible winners (not Mark)

I am leaning Caroline myself. Good all rounder, popular, clearly means a lot to her. Not a ringer and has clearly improved masses

very popular professional, judges tend to over-mark her too

who exactly is most popular with the public is an interesting oen this year

I won't have a word said against it.

To be fair, a 33/1 voucher in my pocket for Fleur definitely helped.

I thought it was interesting in the response of the crowd to the judge's decisions in the dance-off - a vote for Simon got a massive cheer, whereas a Pixie vote got a meh. The first time Pixie really needed the votes from the public and she didn't get them - she did have a soft votebase after all. She was probably screwed by three couples ending with the same points - ties always make it easier for those at the bottom to lift themselves out of the dance-off

Purely in terms of the dancing, Frankie does seem to have plateaued, whereas the others are still improving. I wonder if she'll be hurt by not having done the 'journey' that the others clearly have. I think Jake has probably got a boost in votes due to the harsh treatment last week (getting slammed by Craig for causing a collision when it was actually the other dancer that clattered into him).

All fair points.

Hideous cliché alert...Frankie's biggest strength is also her biggest weakness: Kevin. He's consistently giving her routines that are too complicated and he won't "dance down" when next to her, so she is struggling to get and look better.

Jake has had the ups and downs for sure. He's now favourite to win. He's probably fourth best at classical ballroom dances, but clever choreography and the ability to choose your own favourite routines will suit him.

5 left
Simon can't win, polls badly every week, in and out the bottom two.  Doesn't matter if he is the best male dancer ever, he isn't ever winning a public vote.
Mark is the worst dancer and isn't really polling well.  I think he is just in there because the Pixie voters assumed she was safe.  I don't buy the Pixie wasn't that popular business, she certainly did ok some weeks in the polls.  But she is gone.   
I managed to get bigger prices on both of these two each way, but can't see them getting anything above 3rd, and even that seems a push for Simon. 

That leaves 3.  I don't see Kevin as a positive at all.  I think he was last series, but my views are the same as Tal's.   He is far too interested in making himself look good.  Add this to the ringer factor and I think she should be the outsider of 3.

 Jake has certainly been popular in the past.  He just seems a bit erratic.  I am pretty crap at spotting errors, but even I spotted a couple this week. 

That leaves Tal's favourite, the perennially over marked Caroline.   It might be tough to see why she scores higher than Frankie and Pixie, but she just does.  She is also peaking at the right time.  She hasn't just won the last two digital spy polls, she has got 50% of the vote.  Just seems so obvious.  Ladbrokes are their usual slovenly selves and have her a best 11/4.  I'd happily take 2/1, so I'd be more than happy with the general 5/2 and have got 13/5 with bet every day.

Just feels like a two horse race now, and Caroline has the momentum and is biggest price.  Can't be this easy though?

great stuff Doobs, thanks for the info.

Assuming Frankie gets booted, where does her public votes go to? Caroline? any opinions.

Really have no idea, I guess Caroline is more likely, but that is just because she is a girl too.  I don't think Caroline was very popular early on, but she has definitely changed that.  She topped the Mirror/digital spy and tellymix polls the last 2 weeks.  Even Tal is coming round. 

Hope some got on with Ladbrokes.

Behave!

I think arsenal will finish above spurs. That doesn't mean I'll be heading off to Woolwich any time soon...

pixie still wins.

https://uk.celebrity.yahoo.com/gossip/omg/strictly-come-dancing-2014--caroline-flack--devastated--after-splitting-with-boyfriend-jack-street-075240988.html

Guess you can factor in some sympathy votes, too?

To be honest, I was devestated when I heard.

Typical.... poker presenters sticking together.

This week each of our competing pairs will be performing TWO new routines for your enjoyment, and hoping that both dances will be good enough to earn them a coveted spot in the grand Strictly final!

Without further ado here are the routines each pair will be performing, and the music that will be played live by the Dave Arch band…

Caroline and Pasha will be performing:

    The Salsa to ‘Maria’ by Ricky Martin.
    The Foxtrot to Josef Salvat’s version of ‘Diamonds’

Frankie and Kevin will be performing:

    The Argentine Tango to ‘The 5th’ by David Garrett.
    The Rumba to Lily Allen’s version of ‘Somewhere Only We Know’

Jake and Janette will be performing:

    The Viennese Waltz to ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ by Percy Sledge.
    The Cha Cha to ‘Boogie Shoes’ by KC and the Sunshine Band.

Mark and Karen will be performing:

    The Rumba to Eva Cassidy’s version of ‘Fields of Gold’.
    The Viennese Waltz to ‘I Got You Babe’ by Sonny and Cher.

Simon and Kristina will be performing:

    The Foxtrot to ‘My Guy’ by Mary Wells.
    The Samba to ‘I Like To Move It’ by Reel 2 Real.

The Samba to ‘I Like To Move It’ by Reel 2 Real.

What an utter farce.

+1

Relatives round to exchange Xmas presents.

Being forced to watch a entire episode of this drivel





Can only hope they've bought me a decent pressie.

Glad to have you on board!

Bet it's socks.

The same as 5 of the last 6 years.

One bottle of wine, 5 pairs of socks.

Might be an SCD Annual.

Don't tempt them.

Almost as daft as Darcey's mark for Simon.

Was just wondering the other day what had happened to railtard.

He's smartened himself up a bit, wonder if he's paid Lewis in full yet.

He loves his nan, and his other nan, and his mum, and his fiancee...

He could easily make your list of people you really dislike

The Daniel Negreanu of SCD

Yeah. That.

Dear Karen Hauer

you draw a rumba in the semi. tough draw that as you have the worst celeb left

so play it safe, nice traditional rumba

if you want to take a risk and do a shoeless contemporary dance in nothing more than a wafty leotard, don't then cry if you get criticised for not doing a rumba

ridiculous choreography

Strange isn't it? She's from New York, but would fit in perfectly as an offensive coordinator in Dallas.

You made her cry you big bully (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/boxing/boxing-punch-smiley-emoticon.gif) (http://www.sherv.net/)

Today, we can confirm two of the three dances. The Judges pick will be revealed on Saturday’s show.

Showdance

    Caroline and Pasha will be performing their Showdance to Beverly Knight’s version of ‘Angels’.
    Frankie and Kevin will be performing their Showdance to ‘Get Happy’ by Judy Garland.
    Mark and Karen will be performing their Showdance to ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen.
    Simon and Kristina will be performing their Showdance to ‘A Little Less Conversation’ by Elvis Presley.

All four finalists will perform the Judges' pick first and later their showdance. After this the finalist with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated at the beginning of the results show. Then the three remaining finalists will perform their favourite routine of the series.

Favourite dance

    Caroline and Pasha will be reliving their bazaar Charleston to 'Istanbul (Not Constantinople)' that they performed in Around the World Week.
    Frankie and Kevin will be reviving their West Side Story inspired Paso Doble that they first performed in Movie Week.
    Mark and Karen will be performing their Samba to ‘That’s The Way I Like It’ for a second time, they first performed this in Week Five.
    Simon and Kristina have chosen to perform their Argentine Tango to ‘Roxanne’ that they first performed in Blackpool.

Caroline's choice is a surprise. She had no swivel in that (one of those where Craig commented on it in passing IIRC).

Frankie's choice implies the judges will choose a ballroom, which will surely be that incredible tango from Halloween week.

Simon is also a surprise: why choose a ballroom that isn't a traditional one, when his footwork is his strength? Spectacular dance, for sure, but why not go for his pleasing American Smooth?

Mark is never winning with the samba.

Mark was on the Chrs Evans Show this morning, & he came across as extremely likeable, & with great humility.

I think it was Mark. It may have been Jake, or Not-Mark. He was nice, though.

Don't the judges pick a dance that was not one of their best, one they had a bit of a problem with, to see if they've made it better?

No.

They might pick one where it was going to be really good but something went wrong on the night. It's a dance the judges would like to see again, rather than necessarily their view on what the best dance was.

Thinking about this, Kristina is gambling that she can wow the public and that's probably the dance to do it. I love a gamble.

Just piled in Caroline at 6/4 guaranteeing a lopsided book.  Gl all

Edit, easy game, Frankie hits 39, get to reverse at 2.12.

Darcey looking like she's sporting a couple of black eyes!

Amazing from Caroline, show winner for me

Judges directing the public in her direction.

Tal round yours tonight?

Detecting the studio audience are funking for Mark tho

Shock outsider?

(http://thefashiontag.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/audrey-hepburn-style-3.jpg)

Frankie Bridge

(http://i3.cdnds.net/14/40/618x597/frankie-bridge-backstage-makeup.png)

Audrey Hepburn

I'm not being picky but Frankies mouth is off centre, or something is.  Maybe it's just that picture, can't say I've noticed it before.  She is stunning though.

Graham, I would posit that you are, in fact, being picky.

The lad Simon has done well.  Had to do a late cover, would be a good winner I think. Am indifferent between him and Caroline betting wise now.

Just watching it all now. Alan Bennett monologue follows...

A general comment to begin. This is a dance competition, despite all the additional bits, so the final should see a roughly even split between latin and ballroom disciplines. Frankie chose to do a latin, so she should have been invited by the judges to do a ballroom dance...

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/01/1414874779455_wps_46_Ruckas_Videograbs_01322_8.jpg)

Someone will need to tell me why the judges chose a poor dance for the couples. If Caroline gets an easy one, there could be flouncing.

First off, then. Frankie. A marked improvement of course. I don't consider her to be a natural latin dancer but the samba is very difficult and it was quick. She coped very well and the mark was on the generous side of fair.

Mark doing a cha-cha has surely basically killed his chances of winning. He doesn't close his feet properly when walking forwards and it's got to be one of his weaker disciplines. It was clearly much better than last time, but I don't get why we couldn't see him in tails doing his waltz.

Caroline.

Ok. Here goes. Her best dance of the competition. Outstanding cha-cha. One of the very best I've seen on Strictly. If it doesn't get forty, it's an outrage.

Her weight - which has been one of my biggest bugbears - was forward and she generated excellent hip action. It really was fantastic.

Four latin dances chosen by the Producers judges, then. Risible.

Simon's Charleston wasn't as good as I remember it from last time. A little behind at times and a little ahead. The transitions weren't as smooth either. The swivel action was excellent, though.

Generously marked, IMO.

Showdances, then.

Frankie up first. She looked like she had an absolute ball. I loved the Sound of Music reference with the walk across the benches.

Didn't close her feet properly once at the start but otherwise I thought her feet were perfect.

Not an inspiring showdance though. Sorry.


Edit: love that I was right on the Sound of Music reference :D

Frankie chose to do a latin, so she

I only flit in & out of the SCD Posts, but today is the first time I realised that "Frankie" was Female.

I bet Camel knew.

Mark immediately reverts to Dad Dancing in his showdance. No channer. not even close.

Elbows far too pointy too.

(http://honda-tech.com/attachments/general-discussion-debate-40/204053d1303148159-c-lo-green-transgenders-snl-pointy.jpg)

(http://i.qkme.me/35cv8w.jpg)

I have to take my hat off. Caroline's showdance was absolutely sensational. The whole thing was hugely risky, it was just about perfect as a story and she worked fantastically hard on getting it finished.

Not to my normal taste, but far and away the best of the three showdances so far.

;hattip;

She still does my nut in, mind.

Simon's showdance was much more what I want to see in a showdance: a combination of all the dances, stupendously choreographed and wildly entertaining.

I really enjoyed that.

Well done, public. Right one went in fourth.

Frankie's paso was much better than her last one (which I seem to recall criticising). Craig seems to have had it in for Frankie and Kevin's face said it all when the nine appeared.

Caroline was also much better. Still some timing issues but an improvement for sure. 40 was inevitable. She's the first person to score 120. Better than Ramprakash then. My eye.

Simon's Argentine Tango is the dances of the series. End of discussion.

I think I've been misrepresented, that second Camel photo clearly looks nothing like me.

"You could have done no more than you've done tonight"

I completely agree, Len. On another night, I think Simon could have won this, but it seems destined to be Caroline. This is going to be rather weird for everyone else reading this!

Caroline it is, then. A deserving winner on the night. In my opinion, she shouldn't have been in the final, but I can't begrudge her winning last night.

An interesting series, full of tears and tantrums (most of them mine). I hope Kevin reflects on his choices and his choreography, as it's his only weakness in this competition.

Right then...back to sport!

can we expect a Xmas day review of the special, starring the wonderful Rachel Stevens?

Errrr...

FYP

Welcome to Team Caroline.  We sure bashed them bookies this series. 

Ps Simon just got going too late, another week or two maybe...

Not something I'd normally watch, but have enjoyed reading on here and t4t. Got on when you tipped Caroline at 11/4 a couple of weeks ago for a nice little bonus too. Look forward to the next series already!

Glad you've enjoyed it.