Return of Strictly.

Mike is out, but I have to say that he is a marvellous loser .... magnanimous, good fun .... and seems a genuinely really nice guy.

There's something about Michelle that's slightly irritating. I'm not sure what it is but I wonder if that's why she's not getting the votes. Happy that Anton is still in.

Michelle is very good, but she looks really competitive. She really meant it when she said she would fight for her place in the dance off. They all want to win, but it probably looks quite British to seem as though they don’t mind really. Whereas Michelle is determined to lift that glitter ball.

I don’t somehow think she will win, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her as a finalist.

Whereas Michelle is determined to lift that glitter ball.

She comes across as quite hard and tough.

At least we didn’t have the audience screeching and cheering throughout the professionals dance this evening.
What a difference.

Fair result tonight, I thought the group dance by the pro"s was extremely touching, brought a tear to my eye.

I had to stop watching the professionals dance yesterday - it was too close to home. Just caught up with it now and sobbed my through both the dance and 'Bring Him Home'.

grannyactivist - it was so moving, always love that song, it is so beautiful.

From now on the dance-off will be between couples all of whom have been at or near the top of the leader-board. However, the ultimate winner will be determined by the public vote and even if Michelle is in the last two or three, the voters are unlikely to choose her. At the moment my money would be on Karim.

Just a thought what will they do will they do with extra week now Will has dropped out? Do you remember what happened when Will Young left?

Also am I the only one who gets fed up with the repeated phrases like " THE JUDGES" in the same drawn out tone every week. Tess's patronising faces when someone is leaving. I also feel Claudia is trying to fight out of her predictable set script. So much of their dialogue is the same every week and unconvincing imo.

Everyone upped their game and I thought it was an excellent show.
Very impressed by Alex and Neil - that's how to make a point without tedious and maudlin videos!
Anton finally achieved his tens although I found his reaction ott!
Gio seemed just a bit uncomfortable while Michelle demonstrated lots of armography but very little 'footography'! Was an homage to a Madonna video really suitable as a dance on SCD despite Michelle's intense video?

I so agree with you mcem about Michelle's dance. I struggle to understand how this 'voguing' could be considered dancing. It's nothing but theatre; take the elaborate costumes away and what have you got? Whereas all the other dances could be executed in practice leotards and tights and still wow us.

I too loved Alex and Neil's dance, also Karim and Amy were just stunning!

I am sorry, but as I turned the sound off during Alex's dance because of all the yelling and shouting I focused much more on her performance, which I thought was poor; mainly her stomping about displaying her knickers.
I wish it was possible to mute the lighting effects as well; they take over and diminish the performance, instead of enhancing it.
They were quite unnecessary in that beautiful ballroom.

I think Michelle might well be in the bottom two again. It didn’t show her dancing skills to best effect, it was a bit of an acquired taste I felt. She looked disappointed at the judges’ reactions and the scores.

I think any American is unlikely to win Strictly unless they are quite humble ( which is not a quality usually associated with that species!); voters seem to prefer home grown talent. Ashley, last year, seemed quite smug as she was already a good dancer before the show so, I think, expected to win. My children spent some time in a American school; they are bred and educated to think they are special and can be good at everything.

I understood why Michelle wanted to do the vogueing, however I don't think it will be popular with the public.
Also felt she was too emotional on the intro.I don't know why but I felt uncomfortable. I like Michelle though.
I liked Alex and Neil also. I think Neil is a lovely dancer and show cases Alex perfectly.

I think there is a resentment against anyone who is a trained dancer; the voters appear to go for the most popular, not the best dancer. Michelle Visage is an acquired taste, one which I have acquired, but I agree that last night's dance was odd and she probably will be voted off.
I wish the voting figures were revealed; this year, more than ever, I feel that the BBC producers and/or the judges have an agenda; too many potentially good dancers, (Catherine, Dev, Emma W,) removed early before they had time to develop and some mediocre ones praised to the skies.

Michelle's choice of performance (I won't call it dance) was not suitable for SCD. The other contestants all had complicated footwork to execute. I think Michelle has cooked her own goose this week.

There was something in the press this week about disagreements between Michelle and Giovanni which may go against her as well. I wonder if she bulldozed her choice through against Giovanni’s advice?

rafichagran

I too felt a bit uncomfortable with Michelle’s intro. I didn’t feel it was to gain sympathy, as often seems the case. It made her appear vulnerable, and she has looked so tough up till then. If she’s in the dance off, depends who she is up against.

I agree many promising dancers who didn't have the opportunity to dance on the coveted Blackpool dance floor.
I was not keen on Michelle (at the beginning) as I felt the lines were very thin between professional dancer and celebrity pupil - but I have noticed it a tiny bit with comments other celebrities have made over the weeks. However i have loved some of her performances and i think it was really helped by her professional dancer's music choice and choreography. Ast night it was not right for strictly and showed that the professional dancer had had to step back. Strictly is two dancers showing team work and when solo moments occur it adds to the story being told.
I think Anton was OTT but understandable!

Poor Anton he must be beside himself to have a competent dancer at last. 17 series and last night were his only 10’s ! No wonder he was excited!

I like Michelle but last night there was no dancing , it was armography! I think she’s just shot her self in the foot!

I like Michelle and, whilst there was little dancing, I thought that what she actually did was excellent. I hope that she stays in but somehow I doubt it.

On It Takes Two it was announced that Oti and Kelvin had the highest number of points this series and after last night I think they will still be in that position.