I'd contend that Joe and Mark are in different categories of chest.

I also think that John Sergeant tops the SCD charmometer and was - and will probably remain - a slightly special case.

Anyway, I'm not saying the female vote will de definitive in saving Joe - I just reckon it's a factor, that's all.

Kenny Logan was in the bottom two in the leaderboard (not last), and he was in the dance off. In fact, I think the lowest two men in the leaderboard (along with Brian Capon) were in the dance-off and Brian was voted off.

It's true, Kenny, strangely enough, progressed quite far in the competition in the end, though he remained rubbish-y, dance-wise.

Letitia was in the bottom two of the leaderboard in week 2, and she was also in the dance-off (Kate wasn't though she was last). She was saved in week two and progressed till the quarter finals. She became very good, dance-wise.

If Joe is at the rock bottom tonight BUT if he didn't have that life-less expression about him during his cha-cha and is seen to enjoy himself, he'll probably be saved by the public for at least another week or so.

I think the one who should worry is being the second from the bottom of the leaderboard. Almost always end up in the dance-off.

So Rav, pull your socks up, or it may be you going home tonight...

I think Rav is in big trouble at the moment, although it's a shame as I thought he did show some flashes of decent dancing.

I'm still shocked at how badly Joe did, I really thought he was going to be good, and on paper him and Kristina looked a dynamite pairing with loads of potential chemistry. It wasn't just the fact the dance was so wooden, it was the weird 'thousand yard stare' Joe adopted during the dance, a dance that should have played to his strengths of agression and power. Strange the couple with the best chemistry on the night turned out to be Ola and Chris, don't think anyone predicted that.

Hmmmm
I think that I have been guilty by assuming that as a boxer is light on his feet it will transfer well to Strictly

When Willie Thorne came on Strictly he leaned over Erin like she was a snooker table. He said he did that for 14(?) years. When John Barnes came on Strictly he hunched his shoulders like he was dribbling a football forward. He said he could not switch off the autopilot of 20 years.

I wonder if Joe is carrying the baggage of boxing into ballroom. In the ring he needed to be wary of his opponent and keep a safe distance, with his defensive shield up at all times.

In ballroom he needs close body contact with a partner not an enemy, and needs to open up inviting an audience into his intimate dance experience. The man undeated in war now faced with an opposite role in peace.

I knew Joe wasn't a proper dancer but as a boxer I expected him to be much lighter on his feet - I mean, at least John Sargeant kept moving, while after maybe 10 seconds into their routine last night it looked like Kristina had to pull him along without much luck, I might add.

I thought it looked like they had real chemistry in their practise footage but there was no sight of it in the performance.

One thing for sure, with an undefeated boxing record, Joe is definitely not a loser. Hopefully last night will inspire him to do better though, considering he basically boiled the tango down to walking stiffly beside his dance partner, I'm kind of frightened to see him do a cha-cha. Kristina has her work cut out for her.

I also think the media focus on their relationship might have freaked him out under the glare of the lights. Just a thought.

how poetic

I think that's been quite significant as an extra pressure and he may feel worried about showing the chemistry in the dances whereas he needs to use it. (Does that make sense??)

No excuse for the poor dancing though!!

I didn't think a boxer would necessarily make a good dancer, but I thought Joe would be great. Disappointed, but the slow music didn't help. Will be suprised if he's not a bit better at latin.

If he's so wooden in tango, I would cringe if he puts in the same energy in his cha-cha. It would be di-SARS-trous!

I think the faster pace will help him. Still think it will be bad, but better than last night

Methinks after his dismal performance last night, his confidence might take a good beating (he never lost so being last is a very humiliating thing for a mans-man like him), he'll struggle with his performance tonight.

Can you imagine him doing a cheeky, springy, sexy cha-cha?

I sure hope I am wrong, and he comes out and 'fly' with it. That'll make SCD even more exciting to watch no less!!!

I think his Cha Cha will be much better than his tango anything's got to be better than it Even if he's dreadful I still don't think he'll be in bottom two.

His posts on twitter suggest he's quite determined to do better tonight!

Only if Kristina forces a couple of large alcoholic drinks down his throat beforehand - and seriously Kristina, I'd consider it

Ooooo, I like the fighting talk! Then again, how can anyone dance worse than that tango really?

Then you'll see him doing a drunken wedding dance!

Plying him with drink sounds like a plan!
He was diabolically bad.
At least Foster had a bit more excuse - his ridiculous height.
Poor Kristina. Such expectation. Such a let-down.....

Poor Kristina?

She said Joe had lots of stamina, and never stopped. And then that kind of performance on Friday night.

Is she blind or something, or being too positive with Joe because she thought she could get by with Joe being the early favourite?

If they don't do something about their cha-cha tonight, Joe would be the biggest letdown (not to mention a laughing stock) of this series.

And I'll blame Kristina entirely. Because she didn't let Joe's natural aggression show in this very dance that requires some aggression.

I'd blame his lack of aggression on nerves and concentration as much as anything, although I don't think the music allowed much either.

Did you see the 'leaked' clip of Joe and Kristina in youtube? Joe looked just as wooden.

I guess in Joe's field, he's trained not to show his feelings/nerves in the competition, which may explain why he had that 'blank' look about him. It's probably true that he's petrified and being the last one to dance likely made the matter worse.

Let's not forget that Kristina let us believe that Joe trained non-stop and he's progressing famously. Joe didn't seem too humble of his chances when interviewed, so I presume he must be made to live in a bubble by Kristina.

Still, I am hoping Joe will surprise us (in a nice way) with his cha-cha tonight...

Joe has boxed in front of goodness knows how many tens of thousands, and won without exception, so I cannot believe a First Night would have fazed him. After all boxing fans have been known to shout obscene abuse and throw beer cans and coins and chairs and kitchen sinks into the ring with careful aim.

I wonder if assets in disciplined boxing can become liabilities in dance. Last night was he mentally watching out for an upper cut from Kristina?

Yes, let him have a few brandies, let it all hang out like for a street brawler. Boxing purists will be apalled.

I definitely see the point in bold, but I still think that showing natural aggression in a boxing ring is completely different to performing with an aggressive persona in a tango. Not surprised at all that he struggled to show the aggression of the dance, despite him being a boxer.

When Joe is boxing he is completely in his comfort zone. He's been doing it for over twenty years. Strictly is completely different and he looked terrified to me last night. Not just when dancing, but also backstage before he danced. He even said somewhere he was very nervous in rehearsals as well.

He would have been wooden anyway, I'm not excusing the dancing, but he definitely had a mammoth freeze due to nerves as well. He looked so busy trying to get through the dance that performing a role was never close to happening. That's why I wouldn't really blame Kristina for his lack of aggression, but as I said, the music really didn't help.

Boxing is his world though. Last night he stepped into a completely different one, far from his comfort zone, in front of millions of viewers.

His twitter:

"I've had big fights on both sides of the Atlantic, but can't believe how nervous I was tonight."

As I said above - I'm not making excuses for the poor dancing. It was bad. Very bad. I'm just saying I think he was definitely very nervous, which made him even worse.

do you mean to quote my comment?

no problem if you did (although if it was on purpose, why do you assume i'm not knowledgable about boxing? )

i just can't find a connection between what i said and what you've said.

He comes across as quite arrogant but i do think thats partly the editing.
I hope he improves but first dance was dissapointing.