Strictly Come Dancing 2023

So difficult to vote tonight.
Ellie, Nigel and L-L-La-yt-on.
Not fair really amd don't think Layton will get my vote again. But his routine tonight I just loved.

Ellie, Bobby and Leyton for me.

Leyton danced better than his Pro. partner tonight IMO.

Angela Rippon did a great job tonight. Bobby was delightful. He glided around the dance floor lost in the beauty of the dance.

Great show tonight.

Sorry Leyton!!

Ellie and Vito best dance of the night.

I think Ellie will go far because she can do all styles of dance. Vito looks like he is on a mission!

Ellie, Krishnan & Nigel. I like to see the dancers progress and improve over the weeks of the competition and I am not prepared to give a vote to Layton, he has had such an unfair advantage.

Ellie for me, Angela Rippon was fantastic. Not interested in Leyton. Doesn’t appeal to me. What a night.

I really liked Ellie's Paso. I thought it was excellent. Layton is an excellent dancer but this week didn't do it for me. I was surprised at his marks.

OK, I have had a rethink about my "guilty pleasure", and voting for Layton. I have decided to NOT vote for him from the semi-final onwards, even if he performs the best dance. That sort of makes sense, because I have been listening to what many of you have been saying about progress week on week!!

(By way of justification, Layton happens to perform the type of showbiz dance style I was brought up on, and I am biased towards Conti training! For me also, he is incredible even beyond his training - or I would have been in Chicago or Chorus Line. )

In a similar way, I sort of got what Craig was saying about Angela and Carlos' American Smooth coming straight out of a film. I hope they continue for quite a while in the competition.

toscalily

Ellie, Krishnan & Nigel. I like to see the dancers progress and improve over the weeks of the competition and I am not prepared to give a vote to Layton, he has had such an unfair advantage.

Exactly my thoughts (and also my votes )

In a minority, I know, but not impressed with Layton’s salsa.

Thought the lifts or whatever were a bit ‘clunky’, didn’t think he deserved such high marks.

Calendargirl I agree.
I think he is good but he's not really a "team player"

I think he was more jerky and noticeably less fluid than Nikita in some parts. Nikita was stunning when leaning backwards/at an angle/into a curve (like a ballet dancer?) with feet together early on - and then later, getting up in one silky movement from kneeling).

Also, was it the choreography or did he realy need pushing up with Nikita's foot after the lift near the end?

Obviously he is fantastic at some things and very performative.

I loved Layton and Nikita's dance and felt I'd been harsh excluding him because of his dance experience.
DH was amazed at my vote for him as we both agreed he has unfair advantage. Just as many others have had previously.
Ive been dwelling on it since and I don't intend voting him again (I think.. 🤔)
He already has a career in theatre anyway.

Really difficult voting last night and it would have been even more difficult if Amanda had been in the running. Do hope she's ok.





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I loved Ellie and Vito’s dance last night - they were fast, furious, almost perfect and clearly relished dancing it. Ellie is very versatile in the dances she has performed so far. I think she’ll go far. I loved Angela and Kai’s Argentine Tango (always my favourite dance, if it’s done well). She does seem more flexible in her legs and feet than her shoulders and neck area, but when I think she’s 79 (not intending to sound patronising), she’s astonishingly good. And her stamina!!! It was also lovely to hear proper Argentine Tango music to go with it - I’m not keen when someone sings to an AT number - distracting, unnecessary and not authentic. I think that Craig prefers the proper music too, judging by his comments. Layton is brilliant - but I certainly won’t vote for him as, has others have said, he has an unfair advantage. Does anyone else sometimes find themselves watching the professional dancer rather than the celeb? The professionals are all so good! Also, I don’t like the faffing around at the start of each dance. Rather corny, but I suppose it does take up a bit of time so that the actual dance is that much shorter.

honeyrose I too loved Ellie and Vito's paso. At present I would like Ellie to win and not expectimg that to change. Absolutely agree about the music-makes such a difference. I went on UTube and found some beautiful arrangements of the Libertango music with excellent dancers.
Yes, cut too much 'faffing' at beginning of dance. A little introduction of dance is expected but
I'm sure dear Len Goodwin would be the first to mention it.

honey rose I'll have to disagree with you about Angela Rippon. Yes, she's marvellous for her age. And dancing in those heels! However there wasn't enough intricate footwork from her to suit me. Kai is very good at making her look good, but he basically dragged her around, she did the splits (again amazing at her age) and he dragged her around again. I just don't think she deserves the marks. But I know many of you will disagree

There was a degree of that with Angela last night Grandmabatty however she had the music in her favour and she looked fabulous so I think she will pick up plenty of votes to add to the Judges’ marks.
To me she seems to hold her head a bit oddly when dancing, but that could just be me.

Grandmabatty - I see where you’re coming from. Maybe Kai was making Angela look good?! Perhaps it was a case of me looking at Kai’s dancing skills rather too much and not paying sufficient interest in Angela’s. I also agree with TillyTrotter when she says that Angela R seems to hold her head rather oddly. It’ll be interesting to see who gets voted off this evening - I don’t think it’ll be Angela R.

I liked the youngsters last night, Ellie and Bobby

Absolutely Tillytrotter. She looked amazing. I think she'll be in the show until Blackpool. To be fair, Zara and Eddie were weaker than she was. And I loathe the couple's choice dance. I don't think Adam did it justice.

I felt the same about Adam's couple choice dance Grandmabatty. I think Adam's ballroom dances are better.

Not only does Layton have dance experience but two male or female physiques produce a different type of dance compared to a mixed couple IMO.
It makes it more difficult to compare like with like.
Last night I did hear two of the professionals mention that their celebrity had never danced before, I wonder if they are a bit put out?

I haven't warmed to him at all and I think it is because he comes across as dancing for himself when dancing in this context is a two person/joint effort. I don't know if Iam being unfair though