General Chat

I was disappointed, but not surprised that it was Zoe and Ali in the dance off. I was watching Ola's face while the "saved couples" were named,. She looked very down, especially as Phil and Craig's names were called. I am sure that she really thought that she and Chris would be in the danc off, and therefore probably go this week.

I cast a vote for the first time this week, voted for Jade as she was not top of the leader board and therefore at risk. I think that she is turning into a good dancer and love watching her.

I don't know if Ali was in even more pain from her injury in the dance off, or if her feet had swollen. She was dancing in soft flat shoes, which made her posture different from the main dance when she was in heels.


Zoe had seemed uncomfortable in training when she had to dance with a lot of hip movement. I felt for her and wanted her to be able to get back to ball-room. As she is so good doing it.

I had to phone a few times before I got through to vote for Jade, (lines engaged). I wonder how many Zoe voters had the same problem.

Looking forward to seeing her and James on Monday on Take Two. But agree, that Claudia should stop talking about Craig and encouraging people to vote for him.
Come on Claudia, play fair!

Tess

Really annoyed with the way Tess kept saying how awful it was that two of the best couples were in the dance off when she has kept on reminding us at every opportunity that it was Craig's birthday and that all he wanted was to get to Blackpool. Claudia has similarly pushed for Craig all week on ITT. The BBC really can't expect to keep trying to make the public vote for Craig like this and then be surprised when people actually do. I thought Zoe and James were better in the dance off and think the judges saved Ali and Brian on potential, which they aren't supposed to do, they are supposed to decide just on the dance off.

Morning folks,
been on the computer for 2 & half hours now but resisted the urge to come on to Genes as I was watching our programme on demand. very surprised at the result last night, I thought that Jade should of been top of the leader board. her dance was just amazing. Didn't like Ricky Whittle performance. I liked Phil's and Erins performance, I thought he had improved and was taking it seriously. I also perferred Zoe's dance off performance to Ali's and was gutted that Zoe went.

Had a lovely meal last night and enjoyed the evening.

Yes getting a bit tiring Margaret..........but still think Craig's performance tonight was better than Tuffers & Groves..

Margaret you forgot 'but it is his birthday'!

Another one here absolutely shell-shocke at the dance-off participants. No way should it have been Zoe and Ali. In my book two of the bottom three on the leader board was what I was expecting with Chris possibly being saved over either of the other two. I will be glad when Blackpool is over and Craig can stop whinging about Blackpool, his parents and his 'dream' and compete with the others on a level playing field. I'm feeling really niggled, can't you tell ? !!

Agree Ann, Phil Tufnel doesn't appear to want to put much effort into it, and he's always acted a bit of a clown on tv.

Ricky Whittle was fantastic though,if he keeps his standard up he must be a contender for the final,he looks a natural dancer.

I thought Phil should definitely be in the dance off and probably Ricky Groves although i felt he was trying tonight.

I'm afraid Zoe was never going to stay the course, don't know why but the public just don't seem to like her, or maybe it is her partner.

Ricky groves has obviously got a large Eastenders following and Craig has a following from Corrie but I don't know what the public see in Phil, to me he doesn't put the effort in and gives the impression he'd rather not be there.

Result of tonight's show is unbelievable!! two of the best dancers in the dance off?? grrr! .. must have been hard for the judges this week.

I thought Craig did well tonight and deserved to be kept in,but felt sure Phil Tufnel and Ricky Groves would be the two to be in dance off,they just weren't good enough imo

It's a farce again just like the John Sargent 'saga'

Need a drink to calm down lol

*hoping Helen doesn't read this thread till after she watches on IPlayer, but hope your dad had a smashing 82nd birthday Helen x

Will miss the show live tonight as going out for dinner with the family to celebrate Dad's 82nd birthday so will catch up on iPlayer later.

Happy Halloween everyone.

Margaret were you doing some mind reading last night? everything you put on your post was everything that I was thinking last night. I honestly thought that Jade's dance was the best of the Samba's and was shocked to see her in the dance off. Reading in the News of the world today Phil and Katya have been having some disagreements at the beginning of each week, where Phil is saying he can't do the dances. Well he needs to pull his finger out and start taking it seriously now otherwise he's gonna end up going.

Helen

I might cast a vote next week, (just one as I am mean!),

I wonder how much difference having only 15 minutes to vote makes to the result.

Maybe people are voting for the people they feel sorry for first (i.e. those at or near the bottom of the score board) and run out of time to vote for the good dancers.

If I do cast a vote it will be for someone who has impressed me with their dancing.

Tess

P.S. Unless of course I think that someone has been unfairly marked

I quite agree that it should have been Jo and Craig in the dance off. For a moment I was worried that it was going to be Jade and Ricky W.!
I wouldn't have envied the judges if that had happened.

I think that the right person went too, Jo must feel quite releved that she doesn't have to dance in front of millions anymore.

Was a little disappointed in Tuffers this week, and hope that he can raise his game next week.
Perhaps Chris will be able to put his nerves behind him, now that he has danced the whole routine without forgetting the steps.
Looking forward to next week.

It's good to see you back, Helen. I hope that your headaches have gone for good and you are able to enjoy Strictly, with an occassional visit to the computer,

Tess

To me it should have been Jo and Craig in the dance off and I think it was probably right that Jo should go.

Once again my strictly verdict. I was pleased for Chris that he got through his dance without mistakes as the last couple of weeks have really demoralised him. I thoroughly enjoyed Ali and Jade and was astounded when Jade was in the dance-off. As far as my untutored eye is concerned the main contenders for the dance-off were Jo, Laila and Craig but the general public obviously thought differently. The whole of Blackpool must be voting for Craig !! Hey-ho, it all adds to the interest !

Hiya Folks,
Sorry I've not been on lately, was having some bad headaches so decided to take a break away from the computer screen and have some early nights. but I'm back now.

Some of the celebs have shown some good improvement over the last couple of weeks, Well I've been disappointed with Chris's performance over the last couple of weeks, thought he has gone backwards instead of improving. Phil really is enjoying himself. I too thought it was wrong that Zoe was in the dance off last week.

Catch you all later.

Helen

Yes think the right one went, and was sorry for poor Zoe, as she was good. Still it made it a lot easier for the Judges, as it was no competition who was the best out of the two couples.

I just could not stand Kristina, with her botox pout, trying to look like Marilyn Monroe.

I thought that this was the first time that Joe C looked as if he was dancing and enjoying it. Would love to know what he whispered in Kristina's ear, just before the dance off! Are there any lip readers out there?

I agree that Zoe shouldn't have been in the dance off. I trhink that it is partly because the public seem to vote for the underdog and those that haven't danced well. I suppose that most people thought that Zoe didn't need their vote. perhaps they would have voted for her if she had made a mess of it!!

I can't complain as so far I haven't voted for anyone, far to busy counting my pennies.

Now that the numbers have gone down I think that it will be better viewing.
I agree that Alisha was over generous in giving Ricky a 10.

I'm lookin forward to next week especially as I love the American Smooth

The besst dane of the night was Vinvent and Flavia's Tango Waltz.

I had never seen one before.

I too,hope that Brummie Helen is okay,.

We are thinking of you Helen.

Tess

Watched again last night as usual but in all honesty overall I thought the dancing was not as good as previous weeks - this was mainly those doing the jive. I was disappointed that when Chris 'lost it' he panicked and was not able to cover his mistake. Worst jive of the night was Laila and Anton - and not just Laila. I thought Anton was poor. Whether he realised that Laila had messed it up and just saw the dance through or what, or whether he himself is not a very brilliant Latin dancer, I do not know, but their performance was an embarrassment. Joe was the right person to go but I did not think Zoe warranted being in the dance-off - that should have been Laila and Anton. Still it all adds to the fascination of the show. See you all next week.

By the way, does anyone know what has happened to Brummie Helen. She was such an avid contributor to this strictly thread but she seems to have disappeared. I know she wasn't feeling too well, is she alright ?