Strictly

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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 agree Swanny!

And I agree Swanny

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

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 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.

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!

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

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.

pigglywiggly. You forgot Judy Murray. I don't like watching bad anything: singing/dancing/acting.
At least there has been some improvement to his hair: he's ditched the " my mum cut my hair" look. And as for him having a second career like Potilo, are we talking about the same person

petra never let laid back fun and entertainment get in the way of a good prejudice.

Each to their own opinion Petra, personally I have never knowingly judged a person by his haircut.

Ooh I have Wb. Remember Louis Smith, used to look like he had a rat on his head.

There are plenty of politicians with bad haircuts. A couple of prominent ones spring to mind.

As I don't have any hair, does that make me a non entity ?

His hair will be totally in the hands of the Strictly hairandmakeup team. Bet it's in the contract!