Strictly's Back

So let’s analyse the categories of the remainder-older person, person with a disability (not that you’d know it) etc etc Which category will it be least offensive to get rid of next? -I hope Debbie wins because she can dance AND she’s older.

I know that Debbie is an amazing dancer, but to be honest I can't get over the fact that she trained and worked as professional dancer and choreographer, not only ballet, but also with Second Generation.

That does seem really unfair though, given her training/background; it's not surprising that she's so much better, she started with a big advantage...

So, it's ok for a couple to fall over,at the end of their dance, and then flail around on the floor, without being disqualified for, "diving" ; yet two pairs of excellent young dancers
are then made to face the dreaded dance-off for minor technical faults.
"Could there be a reason for this travesty?" I ask myself.
Yes! Whoe the viewer's are being punished! We didn't vote for those we thought were fairly safe in large enough numbers!

Votes mean money to the Beeb.
I understand that, "The X Factor" gains eight million pounds from viewers votes.
Heaven only knows how much Strictly makes.
How to teach us a lesson? Why not see to it that a couple of young hopefuls get their last dance. That will get us all phoning in to protect our personal favourites.
In my opinion the whole thing was a blatant stitch-up to squeeze fans until their pips squeak.

I enjoy the show, but thinking on, I tend to agree with Leonora47. We the viewing public are being manipulated to some degree.

For instance, look how every competitor, early leaver or long stayer, never, ever says anything against the show. Everyone trots out the same treacle week after week that it's all absolutely wonderful one big, happy family, the best experience of their lives so far, blah, blah, etc.

Call me cynical, but I bet there's a clause in the contract that ensures they all toe the party line, even after the show's over.

On another tack, I'm also surprised that they don't all lose weight. The regime seems very demanding week after week. Does it mean that exercise isn't everything?

Exercise will tone you and combined with healthy eating will aid weight loss to a small extent. Maybe after all the dance training you’d want a big meal !
Jonnie and Ruth for the dance off I think. But, who knows. Of course it depends on who votes and those who don’t can’t really complain. Bit like a political election.

I'm still pissed off Aston went because he was so much better than Molly, Ruth and a couple of others that escape my mind, just too good to be sent home that early. I agree with the poster who said that Alexandra seems too intent on winning, although I did like her Argentine Tango, my favourite dance having seen it in Buenos Aires where it's so amazing. I thought Davood was ever so good last night he has really come on. Joe also turns out a good performance week on week. Susan is very endearing I hadn't heard of her before but like her personality, clearly she won't win. I think Debbie will, I don't dislike her at all, but it seems that she's had loads of dance experience, some of it professional, which kind of defeats the spirit of the show.

I think that we will be saying goodbye to Ruth- she has had a very good innings and she would be the first to agree.

I thought that the judges were hard on Johnnie last night- would they be able to walk never mind dance at that level having had a below knee amputation? I think not. I also do not think that he has ever danced before.

blinko I'm sure some of the Strictly competitors DO lose weight during the series. We thought that Pamela
Stevenson looked quite well- covered on the tele. but when we saw one of her costumes on display at the BBC studios in Birmingham we realised that she was actually tiny!! I think Ed. Balls shed a few pounds too.

Ruth should definitely go. She's done well to get this far but it wouldn't be fair for a better dancer to be knocked out just because she and Anton are good entertainment value.

People seem to forget that "Strictly" is an ENTERTAINMENT programme and Ruth and Anton always entertain me. That's why I voted for her last night!!

People also tend to overlook the two most important words in the show's title, which are, "Strictly" and, "Dancing."
I am a great fan of Anton but, as a professional dancer, he should be aware that to fall over is no part of any dance. He also said that he entered from the wrong side of the staircase! and that was why Ruth became confused. Really?
We have moved a long way from the program's title.
Maybe they should call it Entertaining Dancing For All.

OK. Own up! How many among us suffer from Irreversible Bum Syndrome!

Not sure what that is merlot
Are you refering to Jonnie's bum problem ? I keep wondering whether it's caused by him counter balancing his prosthetic which they are not making allowances for.

Yes it is nina ,they've discussed it before. Seems a shame but I don't know what they can do about it.

I agree Lona it is his prosthesis which is causing the problem. I think that the judges forget that he has a prosthesis and certainly never make allowances. I would hate to see him go out this week. To be honest, I do not know who should because nobody stood out as being ready for the chop in my humble opinion.

Well, perhaps he doesn't want the judges to make allowances. I like him though.

It was Bruno - Don't blame me.

I`m probably the only one on here, but my daughter and I didn`t think that Molly and AJ`s dance looked like a Charleston at all.

Completely agree with you callgirl1 didn't think that Blackpool was all that great this year, I didn't "get" the music to the dances, Alexandra's dance was more like a mini west end production than a slot on strictly, oh dear, just not feeling the love this year

Yes, damned if they do, damned if they don't.

I did agree about who went this week though.

Me too, callgirl, out of those two it was the right choice. I actually enjoyed the Blackpool show, although I did have one eye on the newspaper all the way through .

Does anyone know who actually chooses the music for the dances? Not sure that anyone could have made Debbie’s dance look any better, the music did not seem right for it at all.

Debbie was absolutely 'gob smacked' that she was in the 'dance off' wasn't she? However the right one went I think. I also think that they build up the show coming from Blackpool so much that it can never live up to expectations.