Strictly

Pride cometh before a fall.

The problem w with Ed Balls being in the dance off is the reinaction of that lift. Not sure I could face it again.

Sadly(IMO) this could be the end for ED, unless the public vote saves him from the dance off. If he is in the dance off, only a perfect lift could save him, but as they already did 3 lifts, they could just leave it out, but little time to practise a work around.

Judging by the twittersphere Ed has a lot of votes. He could easily make it to Blackpool. Whatever happens he has resurrected himself as a TV 'personality'. Win win for him and good luck to him.
Judge Rinder looks like getting a lot of personality based votes. Maybe less popular people may be in the dance off. Greg?

My money is on Ore being overall winner with Danny and Daisy in the top three. I do think it's time for Ed to go now, I have warmed to him a lot, but that lift last night was awful. At the end of Sunday Politics today, Andrew Neil, after showing the clip, commented that Ed Balls could no longer be considered a safe pair of hands

Oh yes please, Ore!

Ed and partner were only allowed 3 lifts, the last, nearly disastrous one, was one too many - his partner should have known that.
It looked a bit like King Kong's attempt to carry off Fay Wray

I hope to goodness Ed thingy goes he s really the only one left who can't dance and looks silly

That's exactly why I like him. I'd far rather he won the whole thing than one of the slicker ones with years of previous dance experience behind them.

I heard Claudia and her partner being critisized for their music being too fast, surely the critisism should go to the producers as they choose the music.
It seems a shame if they are marked down for something which is out of their control.

So true felice- I personally think that as the professional works out the choreography, he/she should choose the music also, checking early in the week that the same music is not to be played twice.

What a shame Lesley is out, she was absolutely amazing. Wonder how many more good ones will have to go before Ed rightly goes.

Quite disappointed, no make that very disappointed. Sad for Lesley. Not the worst dancer on Saturday.

I have enjoyed watching Lesley. She is six months older than I and amazing for her age.

Big shame she wasn't the worst dancer Ed should have gone silly if I was him I d be mortified to watch myself knocking good dancers out because people felt sorry for me

I don't think people are voting for Ed because they feel sorry for him, but because he tries so hard and comes across as a nice bloke!

I think people vote for Ed for the amusement factor, certainly not for the dance ability.

Ed Balls didn't look one bit surprised? He had that smug look as if to say " not surprised" I think he's started to believe all the hype.

I thought there was something which didn't quite gel between Lesley and Anton this week. Not a well planned dance and very little "spark" between them which I think you need for the tango. Perhaps they'd had a falling out? Anton looked a bit pissed off too so I wasn't too surprised they have gone.
So Ed is doing the Cha cha next week? The mind boggles

Lesley didn't seem too upset. Maybe enoughs enough. She's done well. James Jordan tweeted that he's not surprised Eds still in as it's an entertainment programme not a straight dance competition as its not a level playing field as they are not all beginners. Go Ed!

Well the only time he entertained me was his face when he nearly dropped his partner

Very surprising that Daisy was in the dance-off. I think she was surprised, too, but her timing was definitely off on occasion.

I think Lesley expected to go but she looked quite tearful at the end. Makes you wonder if Anton will ever be given a partner who might win. Perhaps he prefers it that way as he seems to be involved in other telly things.

Anastacia is becoming very annoying and I would like her to go although her dancing is actually improving, so she probably won't. I wonder if Brendan will be back next week?

As for Ed, of course he should really have gone last week, never mind this week, but he has a lot of fans it seems. I hope he gets some suitable choreography next week.

I'm glad Greg is still in, he seems like a nice person and he's had no dance training unlike some of the others. Has Louise had dance training, does anyone know? If not, she's very good for a beginner.

Good old Strictly, it does cheer us up at this gloomy time of year, doesn't it?

Louise attended the Italia Conti Academy for several years before she joined a girl band and would of course have had further coaching for her stage performances.

Certainly not a level playing field!

Daisy was in the dance off because people didn't vote for her as they took it as a given that she would get through.
One of the best dancers on the show, Ore, has never danced in his life.

Ed should have been in the dance off but is obviously being kept in for the comedy value. Taking him out of the equation, I agree that LJ was the right one to go.

Does anyone do online voting? You get 3 votes- I wonder if that skews the result?