Strictly 2018.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Sway said:

I think it's now fairly clear Ashley has the least public support - so next week whoever is against her is gone, and she'll be the first out in the final...

Indeed.

MrsMiggins said:

Joe deserved to be in the dance off with that performance. If he makes the final his social media presence makes him a likely winner.

Possibly. You might be right there.

I do have to chuckle when I think back to the beginning of the series and how many people were scoffing at the idea of a YouTuber being a "celebrity" and questioning his eligibility to be on the show. They clearly need to update their definition of "celebrity" in the light of how the Public Vote works and the ability of someone with a vast Social Media network being able to galvanise followers to vote for them.

[rdjohn]

MrsMiggins said:

Joe deserved to be in the dance off with that performance. If he makes the final his social media presence makes him a likely winner.

I think anyone who comes with 3 million followers would stand a very good chance of winning, but he does have a very amiable personality as well and on the whole is what the show should be about - a non-dancer getting to be quite good. Similarly Stacey and Lauren, who possibly is the biggest overall improver.

The BBC choosing two accomplished dancers has been a mistake, just as Debbie McGee was last year. It is clearly not what the public want to see.

As other have said, Ashley knocks out Lauren next week and is first off in the final.

[MXRod]

Abbott said:

Not sure about the costume departments job on Charles's trousers. I thought it looked like he had a beam on.

And Bruno,s shorts , think he might have borrowed David Beckham.s socks

[The Surveyor]

rdjohn said:

MrsMiggins said:

Joe deserved to be in the dance off with that performance. If he makes the final his social media presence makes him a likely winner.

I think anyone who comes with 3 million followers would stand a very good chance of winning, but he does have a very amiable personality as well and on the whole is what the show should be about - a non-dancer getting to be quite good. Similarly Stacey and Lauren, who possibly is the biggest overall improver.

The BBC choosing two accomplished dancers has been a mistake, just as Debbie McGee was last year. It is clearly not what the public want to see.

As other have said, Ashley knocks out Lauren next week and is first off in the final.

I disagree, I want to see a combination of dancers at different levels, showing different levels of improvement combined with some watchable routines.

The show would be a flop if everybody was a ponderous as Lauren and Charles, showing small improvements each week to get to a decent standard at the end. I want to see some exceptional dancers like Faye and Ashley mixed in with those non-dancers who have massively improved like Stacey and Joe.

The accomplished dancers have an equally big challenge as they have less potential to improve.

[Nom de ploom]

Charles fell foul of the male latin curse in the latter stages - he did a really good job of leading with his body and placing his partner but he did a few heel leads and that is a big no no in rumba - you have to feel like you are almost wading through mud to get that footwork resistance and whilst he made a really good stab at it it wasn't enough. I think the voting public prefer quicker more showy dances and a rumba just doesn't fit that - be interesting to see if there is one in the semi final...

ashleys quickstep was too quick, there was no light and shade, but that is down to the choreagraphy not the celeb - she danced it brilliantly nonetheless but it was a bit much.

Faye WAS off time a little bit at the beginning and for me it wasn't the best charlseton we've ever seen although it was very very good it was slightly over marked for me

Stacey was under marked even with 38 - that was one of the best interpretational dances i've ever seen on strictly - and she carried it off.

Joe - I thought did a decent job, in salsa as well as the hips moving forward and backward as well as side to side you have to get grounded or into the ground and he did that quite well and looked good dancing with the other male pros which must have been quite a challenge. he could have been B2 but obviously has a following

Lauren had her best week by a mile and looked really relaxed and her footwork was excellent -

I just wish they could shut up about "quarter final, next weeks semi final, its quarter final week....yes we heard you FFS"

PS Tess, disingenuous overrated badly dressed wooden presenting of the highest order.

[Escort3500]

The Surveyor said:

rdjohn said:

MrsMiggins said:

Joe deserved to be in the dance off with that performance. If he makes the final his social media presence makes him a likely winner.

I think anyone who comes with 3 million followers would stand a very good chance of winning, but he does have a very amiable personality as well and on the whole is what the show should be about - a non-dancer getting to be quite good. Similarly Stacey and Lauren, who possibly is the biggest overall improver.

The BBC choosing two accomplished dancers has been a mistake, just as Debbie McGee was last year. It is clearly not what the public want to see.

As other have said, Ashley knocks out Lauren next week and is first off in the final.

I disagree, I want to see a combination of dancers at different levels, showing different levels of improvement combined with some watchable routines.

The show would be a flop if everybody was a ponderous as Lauren and Charles, showing small improvements each week to get to a decent standard at the end. I want to see some exceptional dancers like Faye and Ashley mixed in with those non-dancers who have massively improved like Stacey and Joe.

The accomplished dancers have an equally big challenge as they have less potential to improve.

Spot-on, Surveyor

[anonymous-user]

Nom de ploom said:

PS Tess, disingenuous overrated badly dressed wooden presenting of the highest order.

Every week I have to battle my innate dislike for her with my love for the program, quite often now I'll start late and skip everything but dances and judges comments and even thats too much Tess

Interestingly when they visit them training (normally towards the end) she comes across well and very natural, so I guess she's just st at reading an autocue, which is fine, if it wasn't the key part of the job

[Nom de ploom]

alot of TV presenting is essentially reading out loud.

she has to react in the moment but just ends up repeating what has already been said or endorsing what the judges say...

you don't need a lot of talent for that

[Clockwork Cupcake]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I came fairly late to Strictly, and I felt that way about Brucie (yes, yes, I know, I'm getting into my flame proof sequinned overall as we speak). He made me cringe, especially in the final year where the doddering old fool looked like he didn't even know where he was let alone what to read off the autocue. Sorry, but it's the truth.

I can tolerate Tess. She's vapid and wooden, but she doesn't make me cringe like Brucie did.

Apologies for disrespecting the National Treasure that was Brucie.

[Escort3500]

Nom de ploom said:

alot of TV presenting is essentially reading out loud.

she has to react in the moment but just ends up repeating what has already been said or endorsing what the judges say...

you don't need a lot of talent for that

In fairness, Claudia does the same. It’s just that she has some personality that, occasionally, slips out when she ad libs.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Escort3500 said:

In fairness, Claudia does the same. It’s just that she has some personality that, occasionally, slips out when she ad libs.

You mean when she is allowed to ad lib. The BBC have her on such a tight leash it's insane. She's wickedly funny and irreverent when she's allowed to be. When she was first promoted she did a lot of it, but you could imagine the BBC execs having kittens every time she said something even mildly controversial and they have effectively gagged her and forced her to read awful "jokes" (sic) off the autocue. She probably hates it as much as we do.

[Mr Pointy]

Escort3500 said:

Nom de ploom said:

alot of TV presenting is essentially reading out loud.

she has to react in the moment but just ends up repeating what has already been said or endorsing what the judges say...

you don't need a lot of talent for that

In fairness, Claudia does the same. It’s just that she has some personality that, occasionally, slips out when she ad libs.

While I agree that Claudia does come across better than Tess don't forget that she is trying to steer a very complex live show & keep it to time, which is a difficult thing to so. While everyone remembers Bruce F as being brilliant one of the reasons he was dropped was that he couldn't cope with the directions from the gallery in his ear. They have to come off air on time or the BBC1 programme timings for the rest of the evening fall apart & it's not an option to end up a minute short. Very few presenters have the ability to do this so it's not surprising that she ends up not having a lot of spare mental capacity for witty banter. That's why Caludia is there.

The scripted jokes are ste though.

[Cobnapint]

Just watched both shows. Totally agree with the comments on the over scoring - well OTT.

I'm getting a bit tired of Ashley's reactions when she gets a 10 too, they're coming across as a bit fake.

[marksx]

Cobnapint said:

Just watched both shows. Totally agree with the comments on the over scoring - well OTT.

I'm getting a bit tired of Ashley's reactions when she gets a 10 too, they're coming across as a bit fake.

She's American. It's just how they are.


*Annoys new owners*

Edited by marksx on Tuesday 4th December 20:31

[g3org3y]

Nom de ploom said:

PS Tess, disingenuous overrated badly dressed wooden presenting of the highest order.

And yet, she's got no excuse. Presumably limitless selection of outfits and pro stylists.

WTF is this st:

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Escort3500 said:

In fairness, Claudia does the same. It’s just that she has some personality that, occasionally, slips out when she ad libs.

You mean when she is allowed to ad lib. The BBC have her on such a tight leash it's insane. She's wickedly funny and irreverent when she's allowed to be. When she was first promoted she did a lot of it, but you could imagine the BBC execs having kittens every time she said something even mildly controversial and they have effectively gagged her and forced her to read awful "jokes" (sic) off the autocue. She probably hates it as much as we do.

I think you're right. Great for her that she's got the opportunity to host the BBC's halo show, but shame she's stifled by autocue duty.

[Nom de ploom]

based on the following

Ashley - Paso Doble & American smooth

Lauren - Samba & Tango

Stacey - Charleston & Vienneze Waltz

Faye - Samba & Argentine Tango

Joe - Argentine Tango and VW

I'm going to say Joe and Lauren in the DO with joe to go through. Based on the AT being unique and I don't think it will suit Joe at all and Samba fo rLauren I think she will struggle with that.

I expect Stacey, Ashley and Faye to do well although Paso for the female is sometimes a bit passive and again Faye in the Samba could be a tricky one.

I'd like to see Stacey win it if I'm honest.

[PositronicRay]

Nom de ploom said:

based on the following

Ashley - Paso Doble & American smooth

Lauren - Samba & Tango

Stacey - Charleston & Vienneze Waltz

Faye - Samba & Argentine Tango

Joe - Argentine Tango and VW

I'm going to say Joe and Lauren in the DO with joe to go through. Based on the AT being unique and I don't think it will suit Joe at all and Samba fo rLauren I think she will struggle with that.

I expect Stacey, Ashley and Faye to do well although Paso for the female is sometimes a bit passive and again Faye in the Samba could be a tricky one.

I'd like to see Stacey win it if I'm honest.

I think you'll see Ashley in the DO again.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

PositronicRay said:

I think you'll see Ashley in the DO again.

I'd imagine it is a major confidence-knock for her. She's probably thinking "Why do I keep getting voted into the dance off? I'm a brilliant dancer, and I've got loads of dance experience and training and everything."

[Mr Pointy]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

PositronicRay said:

I think you'll see Ashley in the DO again.

I'd imagine it is a major confidence-knock for her. She's probably thinking "Why do I keep getting voted into the dance off? I'm a brilliant dancer, and I've got loads of dance experience and training and everything."

I think it's possibly even worse than that. She knows she's the best dancer & the only reason she's in the dance off is that the public don't vote for her. It must be very difficult not to take that level of rejection personally, especially when you are putting in 8 hours a day of hard work. She must be getting to the point of thinking no matter how hard she rehearses & how much better she is that the others (and she is) she is never going to win.

The same happened with Alexandra Burke: fantastic performer, but once the Daily Mail started to campaign against her (as they have against Ashley) she was never going to win. There's no logical reason why Ashley has been in two dance-offs so they only reason left is the public don't like you & that must be very hard to take on a personal level.

[Escort3500]

Mr Pointy said:

Clockwork Cupcake said:

PositronicRay said:

I think you'll see Ashley in the DO again.

I'd imagine it is a major confidence-knock for her. She's probably thinking "Why do I keep getting voted into the dance off? I'm a brilliant dancer, and I've got loads of dance experience and training and everything."

I think it's possibly even worse than that. She knows she's the best dancer & the only reason she's in the dance off is that the public don't vote for her. It must be very difficult not to take that level of rejection personally, especially when you are putting in 8 hours a day of hard work. She must be getting to the point of thinking no matter how hard she rehearses & how much better she is that the others (and she is) she is never going to win.

The same happened with Alexandra Burke: fantastic performer, but once the Daily Mail started to campaign against her (as they have against Ashley) she was never going to win. There's no logical reason why Ashley has been in two dance-offs so they only reason left is the public don't like you & that must be very hard to take on a personal level.

Quite. The level of animosity towards her on here and in the wider public arena is pathetic. She meets the BBC’s criteria for competing, and whilst her background gives her an advantage over most of the others (who should be praised for the improvements they’re making), she’s singled out for unfair treatment simply for being better. The power of the DM over the easily influenced public is amazing.

Edited by Escort3500 on Thursday 6th December 20:18