Strictly, 2017

[cooksalot]

I get your point Suffs but I can’t help being more impressed by people like Susan and Johnny who are learning and performing “from scratch”!

[suffolk]

Oh yes, I'm impressed by them too ... love watching all of them ... think they all have their own journey ... the destinations may not be the same but the achievements are all huge

I'm amazed at Susan's stamina ... not so amazed at Johnny's stamina, that's a given, but his balance is incredible.

[PatsyMFagan]

Whilst Aston is undoubtedly a good dancer, and I did think he would make the final, I don’t think he would have won.

At Monday's Zumba class, someone (who appeared to be in the 'know') said that it was fixed for Aston to be voted out as he has a lucrative booking for a very rich Arab person ... ... Gossip ? Moi ?

[MagicMarmite]

This year I'm supporting a dancer, rather than a Sleb which has never happened before!
My inappropriate crush on AJ.
Honestly my friends think it's hilarious, between him and Harry Styles, I'm blaming it on the fact that I'm about to turn 40 and having a crisis.
As for the Slebs, it would be lovely to see Debbie win, or Jonnie but I think Alexandra is more likely, though the fans seem to not like her soooooooo who knows really?
I'm loving watching though

[StokeySue]

I agree with Suffolk but there's something rather nice about the "story" (sorry ) when a complete beginner wins as Ore did last year

[WWordsworth]

Just caught the end of it whilst waiting for Blue Planet.
The only person I recognise is Debbie McGee

[StokeySue]

No surprises this time
Phew

[cyprusmoira]

Personally I am waiting until next week when Kevin gets to do his paso double, he says that he has been trying to get it on Strictly for five years,

Moira

[suffolk]

I'm a bit worried about Johnny having difficulty with the Blackpool sprung floor, but an ex competition dancer on GW forum assures me that the 'bounce' I've experienced when dancing on a sprung ballroom floor will have been much more than that felt by a single couple.

I do think it's a bit mean that he keeps getting pulled up for sticking his bum out, when he has no real ankle flexion so leg movements have to come from the hip.

[cyprusmoira]

I think that you could hear the collective gasp here in Cyprus when it was announced that Debbie McGee was in the elimination round.

Moira

[Pepper Pig]

I went right off Debbie McGee at that point (not that I care very much for her anyway). I don't think pouting is very attractive.

[cooksalot]

It’s pretty clear the judges will never vote against Debbie McGee in the dance-off. Johnny and Oti were better and made less mistakes imho.

[Ratatouille]

We both thought that neither her music or her outfit did her any favours . there were mutterings next to me about mutton and lamb.

[StokeySue]

I didn't think Jonnie Peacock danced well, Craig was right to say it was stompy (but then I didn't like the routine)

Being positive, I thought Gemma was the stand out, the dress, the music and the performance all came together, it was lovely.

[aero280]

Someone on the car club forum has posted a YouTube video that he claims is more interesting than Strictly. It's a splodge of paint that is videoed drying...

I disagreed with him. But I don't stay in to watch it, but I don't mind it if it's on when I'm home.

[Pepper Pig]

I don't have a clue about dancing. I watch it purely for the wonderful band and singers. Such fab musicians. I used to play for Dave Arch's dad many years ago.

[StokeySue]

Oh dear
I was hoping it would be Mollie, so very dull, I'm with Craig, however much her technique improves she always seems to be dancing by numbers
To be fair, Gemma was the weakest, but she's still more interesting than Mollie
Alexandra should nit have been in the dance off

[Busybee]

No she shouldn’t on dance ability, but she seems to be a divisive personality.

Either Mollie or Gemma should have gone, find it hard to believe that one of them will be in the final.......

I hope either Debbie or Joe wins.

BB

[cyprusmoira]

Either Mollie or Gemma should have gone

Sometimes I wonder about the great British public, most of them seem to be voting for someone that they like, instead of the best dancer

[suffolk]

That's how the GBP seem to vote for everything nowadays ...

[StokeySue]

I think that's always the way with votes, I think only in the last two weeks do people move to voting more for the dances
There was likely a bit of tactical voting too, Gemma vs. Mollie that probably just ended up giving them both high scores

Joe has grown on me, at the start the judges were quite keen but he also seemed to me a bit dull, probably because he was concentrating so hard on technique it was a little robotic, but that Cabaret routine was great, definitely Showtime!

[Ratatouille]

That's how the GBP seem to vote for everything nowadays ...

[Busybee]

So, Alex, Debbie, Gemma and Joe...........who do we think will lift the glitterball?

In my opinion it’s Joe’s to loose, but I’d still be happy to see Debbie lifting the trophy.

BB

[aero280]

There's a bit of an issue with Alexandra. Apparently she's been booked to play in a musical after Strictly. Craig is the shows choreographer. The booking pre-dates this series of Strictly.

[StokeySue]

Just glad Mollie and AJ went out, though I doubt Gemma will survive the first half, but they were really getting on my nerves (and if she's fallen for AJ after David Gandy.... well words fail me)

The final is onthe vote, and whatevere Craig's professional realtionship with Alexandra, it's hard to argue she is not one of the three best dancers in the series

[PatsyMFagan]

Yes, along with Debbie I think Alex is one of the best dancers ... however her over exuberance/screaming and jumping up and down really annoys me .. I would like Joe to get the glitter ball as he has come from no dance training to where he is now... unlike the previous two.

[Ratatouille]

I'm rooting for Joe too. There is something about Alex which just doesn't ring true. I think Debbie will e in there fighting until the last but I thought she was looking somewhat weary last night.

[cyprusmoira]

Joe MacFadden won, that was ridiculous. Alexandra Burke was much better

[TeresaFoodie]

My poor Mum has been watching this avidly (I have not) and five minutes in, her TV signal packed up! Anyone know if it is on repeat? I tried to do a running commentary over the phone for her but I didn't know their names or actually what I was talking about!

[StokeySue]

They don't repeat it, just on iPlayer

I agree Alexandra was best, didn't specially like her show dance as a dance, too much of a medley of different styles, but of course that was the point, to show off her ability to do them all but it may not have attracted people to vote for her, whereas Debbie's girly ballet probably did. So the votes went to Joe, great emphasis laid on him being the one with zero dance experience, which always attracts the punters
Just as expected really

[PatsyMFagan]

Joe got my vote too (only figuratively speaking) ... whilst Alexandra was by far the best dancer, it was the public vote that counted and Joe has been a regular on various tv series -Heartbeat and currently Holby City (or Casualty ) ..I also liked Gemma's calm, almost modest demeanour, while Alexandra's continuous shrieking and jumping up and down must have irritated more then just me

[Ratatouille]

I was pleased that Joe won, for all of the reasons mentioned above but also for the sheer joy dancing has obviously brought him.