Strictly

For pure entertainment value, and his dancing, it's Judge Rinder for me, I think he is brilliant. What a wonderful attitude he has, the polar opposite of Ed with his smug demeanour. When it comes to who will win it's anyone's guess. It won't be down to me anyway, never voted for Strictly.

Ed Balls is way better than John Sargent (and Ann Widdecombe) though.

I prefer to watch excellent dancing and for me that is Danny and Oti. I love their partnership and the hard work they put in to reach that standard - 11 hours one day last week.

I think it's really unfair to say Danny shouldn't be in it. yes he went to Performing Arts College - but so did Louise and most of the other actors who appear. He'd never done Latin or Ballroom before though. Ed was in the Ballroom dance group at University by the way!

I don't think he's smug at all, although I thought he looked it when he was a cabinet minister!

I'm surprised he hasn't lost more weight though.

and he looks so professional . I go to a lot of shows and I've yet to see a professional with a pot belly.
Everyone says he works so hard? And he's still that shape
And smug is the word that sums him up. I hope he does make it to the last 3 because I think he's believing all the hype that he can win, and then I hope he looses.

I haven't voted for anyone so I can't complain

And I agree Swanny

I agree Swanny!

To my mind Ed's routines are entertaining and, as several Gners have already said, Strictly is an entertainment show. All the 'Slebs' are performing routines choreographed for each show. I think it would be interesting to see them have to swap partners without notice, perhaps as part of the final show, and see how they get on then!

IMO Danny should not be in the competition. He has acting ability, dancing and stage craft far beyond that of an amateur.

I don't vote for Ed because he makes me laugh. I vote for him because he has improved so much and has a great attitude.

People are obviously voting for Ed because he makes them laugh. The others are all boringly and similarly fantastic now and hard to choose between them.

Well I think John Sargeant did the graceful thing when he left when he did and I think Ed Balls should do the same he is not on par with the other dancers and I don't think better dancers should be sent home so he can stay in, he's so SMUG!

I think even the judges are surprised he's still in although they seem to like him I want ore to win he asnt had any previous experience and he now looks so professional

I read somewhere that Anne Widdecombe and John Sergeant both survived until week 10 when John Sergeant gracefully retired and Anne must have got voted off.

Week 10 next week

felice my DsisIL says that none of it on Strictly is proper dancing!
All showbiz dancing

Sorry Anya don't understand the party political thing I suppose if you d said a documentary I would have... I was wondering why him being a politician made any difference

That Gangnam style salsa was so funny and brilliantly choreographed it reminded us of acts you used to see on Sunday Night at the London Palladium back in the sixties when talented dancers like Norman Wisdom would fool around and pretend to be useless.

Ed's talent is in his timing. It's always spot on.

That was my point Jalima, they seem to be giving him routines rather than dances.
How could anyone make anything other than a comic routine out of Gangman.

Good point Anno - Katya is a great choreographer. Unlike others with clod-footed Slebs in the past she has actually taught him to dance and created routines that he can manage and yet are comedic. Too often in the past the professional dancer made themselves the focus of attention to draw eyes away from their partners lack of ability.

Katya very cleverly has done the opposite.

I wonder if they gave ED a 'proper' dance how he would get on. he has obviously improved?
felice my DB and DSisIL were 'proper dancers', winning medals when they were young, and DSisIl doesn't call this 'proper dancing' - more show dancing and showbizzy!!

I think Ed Balls was brought into the show to fill the same role as Ann Widdecombe and John Sergeant did, but he has risen above this and has really learnt to dance. He seems to have become something of a cult with viewers and if he is voted as winner, it wouldn't surprise me. It's good to see someone who has no dance experience taking on quite complicated routines and not making an absolute fool of himself - except in that daft 'Gangnam' number. Great credit too to Katya who manages to bring out the best in him. I am going to miss Gregg Rutherford, another non-dancer, who has been so successful in mastering the footwork that must be completely alien to him as an athlete.

My point Bluebelle was that this show is entertainment and a party political broadcast is not (well not deliberately!)

Hope you are feeling a bit better today.

I think the judges scores should be taken as a percentage of the marks in voting as this would be more accurate so if a contestant gets 40 that is 100% and a contestant getting 16 would get 40%. This means that the person at the bottom of the leader board needs a significant percentage of the public vote in order not to be in the bottom two.
The professionals have help with their choreography which is not mentioned. One year a contestant thanked the outside choreographers and the judges were flustered and said they didn't know what he was talking about.
I think Ed Balls provides great entertainment and I love watching him. I hope Louise wins.

I love Judge Rinder and have enjoyed watching Ed Balls, but probably Louise, Ore or Danny should win.
I have never watched this much of a Strictly season before!

Me too Anniebach. No fun without either of those two. We'll have to keep voting to keep them in!