Strictly

Women as their own worst enemies here. LJ dissected on her looks and all "at her age". Would you be doing the same over a chap of the same age?

She can move, but I think the camera man might be kinder and avoid the close ups! Is it me or does Anastasia have very short legs for the length of her body?

Her hair and makeup are not a good look but her stamina and flexibility are amazing she puts me to shame .

well said Eloethan!
Just read through this thread after a week away and have never read so many jugdgemental comments from people who are the same age as Lesley Joseph or around the same age and feel they can be cruel about - her looks, her body, her dancing and some say I could not do what she has done.!! Just listen to yourselves . . . .

Well done Lesley !!! - who cares if you look your age and you dye your hair -- at least you try and don't sit on your bottom grumbling.!

LullyDully I agree Ed Balls could've made more effort to lose weight before the programme started. He's known for months (and so have we - sigh) that it'll be physically demanding. There's been unavoidable media attention on him for all that time and as the start drew nearer, I couldn't help thinking he still looked a bit stout. It's commendable to hold your head up and defy 'fat shaming' when you're in politics but if he's likely to very disappointed if he's voted off, he's shot himself in the foot rather.

Ed has surprised me, seems a nice guy, many people in politics are not what they seem in their professional roles. Hope he goes on for a while, he shows that the average man can excel. Wish I could dance as well as he is, in fact ATM, I just wish I could dance.

Maybe he wanted a complete change? Understandable. Good effort I thought. He's a nice change from all the showbiz types. Good luck to him. I suppose he'll be in the jungle next?!

Ed Balls was the surprise of the evening for me. Much better than I thought he'd be.

It often takes me by surprise when MPs become ex-MPs to find that, after all their political posturing and apparent arrogance, there's a really a nice person underneath. I think Ed Balls may turn out to be one of those people. I do wonder though how he got talked into something so far outside his comfort zone. The money must be good!

Ed Balls will live in the memory of teachers., as I remember. Nothing to do with dancing of course, so will judge him on that.

I thought Ed Balls was good which takes a lot for me to say as I hate the man. He is an ex MP, let's hope it stays that way. Think Rinder is brilliant. With regard to the faces, some of the professional dancers do that all the time, BCole for one. Kim from Enders is wonderful to watch.

Ed Balls is a joke ( but he did have balls to do that ) still don't like him and think politicians doing this reality stuff is pretty crass
I thought Naga was better than the harsh comments she got, she looks so much better with her normal hair I thought
Love Judge Rinder ( agree the face pulling is awful) but what a little mover
I think Lesley Joseph looks awful but admire her stamina same age as me I thought she was nearer 80 whoops, but I couldn't dance like that when I was 30 I think the cougar business is a bit sleezy, definitely needs softer hair
The rest sort of fade into obscurity except the gymnast who I d never heard of but is good

Much as I dislike him, I think Ed Balls did well doing the Charleston, I am always impressed by those contestants who have absolutely zero experience of performance and how much they can learn. I also like The tiny gymnast girl and hope she goes far.

I have some admiration for anyone doing Strictly, and particularly older people. It takes some nerve - and a lot of determination - to compete against much younger and more lithe contestants and to expose yourself to all sorts of comments about your figure and general appearance.

I was a bit perplexed by Craig's comments tonight. I realise it is his role to be the counter-balance to the other, more encouraging, judges and to give an unvarnished expert's opinion, but I didn't think Ed Balls or Naga Munchetty deserved the very harsh comments he made about them.

I liked Ed's Charleston and thought Craig was particularly mean. Also MaggieMay I thought it was Len who brought up the politics, Ed just made a riposte.

You're quite right Ketty. That will teach me to rely on doctor Google.

Maggiemay60 he was smiling. That's as good as it gets. In the news this morning his son was appealing for people not to reject him as he had caught his father crying after he lost his seat. How pathetic.

I think Matt Smith is going out with Lily James who was in Downton and War and Peace.

I found Judge Rinder very off putting with the face he was pulling, a shame really as he is quite a good dancer. Did not like Ed Balls Charleston. He needs to learn to smile and why did he have to bring politics into it when he was being marked by the judges!!

Still, at least she can do the moves.

I thought she was much older than that, late seventies at least! (Leslie Joseph) I mean she looked old in Birds Of A Feather and how long ago was that?

Daisy is also girlfriend of Matt Smith - former Doctor Who.

The sooner Ed Balls goes, the better. Dislike the man intensely and cringe making to watch.

Sooo, Leslie Joseph is two years and one month older than me. Humph! I would love to be able to dance like that. Or walk let alone dance in heels. Was she on painkillers?

Sorry - too many 'thoughs'.

Jalima - Daisy is a model, I think.

I agree about Lesley Joseph - loads of energy but too much black hair. She's got guts though to go on Strictly at her age though.

What happened to Anastacia? Did someone say she had been injured? I noticed she was holding her stomach after the dance.

You have to admire Ed Balls, don't you? I never liked him as a politician but he actually seems like a nice man. He should lose some weight with all that training.