The screeching sounded like a cat's tail had been stood on and I just ended up laughing uncontrollably at the singing which distracted me from the dance.

Though the (new?) singer was apparently screaming in the song (required in a soulful number as such), she did it 'in tune', so my classically trained ear managed to tune-out her singing somewhat and really enjoyed the dance. Second watching in iplayer made me enjoy the dance even more. Brian didn't make life easy for Ali at all in the dance.

I am more affected by someone singing off pitch or out of tune. That always gets me, but not this time. The singers are fine by and large last night.

To be fair, I thought the singing overall was much better last night than previous series.

I honestly didn't notice the singing during Ali's dance so it can't have been so dreadful that you couldn't tune out.

Tbh i didn't even notice the singing on first viewing i was concerntration so hard on the dancing hoping that Brian and Ali would do well.
However when i watched it again, i laughed so hard, that girl was screaming.

I think the music they pick can make or break them dancing well, I know it sounds silly, but some music does nothing for you mentally, or am I talking rubbish as never been ballroom dancer.

Really glad someone else picked up on this.

It was an impressive dancing debut for Ali but why on earth the crazy Aretha-esque vocals on a Diana Ross song?

Distracting and really unnecessary.

Was she new? She sounded just like the wail-y one from series past to me!

She was in tune, I'll give her that. But she's really not got a pleasant voice... and I'd argue that that's half the battle, really! I imagine there are people all around the country who could have performed that song equally as in tune without sounding like a strangled pet.

Mind you, she probably sounded far better than I would have done...

i agree with all the above - it was terrible and i can't stand the lead singer bloke's voice at the best of times.

It was truely awful during Alis dance , and it put me right off .
I have just watched a recording and turned the sound right down and enjoyed Alis dance so much better .She was fantastic but that screeching will live in my memory forever
I had to cover the cats ears he thougth his friends were being tortured

it was only certain bits though you can tell that woman is quite a good singer but it was those high screetching notes that were required

She was new. The other three singers were the same from last series. The 'screechy' one was slimmer than the previous series.

I still think their singing would be miles better than those Z-Factor wannabe would ever dreamt of, and overall our singers are much better than the American counterparts. Those were truly atrocious!

Touché

I wonder if she sounds any better in the studio? She does sing in tune, but it's just the... tone when she's up in her head voice makes me lunge for the mute button.

Yeah, watching the dance again her singing, though in tune, does make me laugh.

I thought most of the vocals last night were overpowering and drew attention away from the dancing - and not in a good way. The vocals were mood killers, not enhancers.

The new singer sounded American? it was distracting and I thought it was like a solo performance tailored for a concert then a dance routinue.

I thought the same, it overtook the whole performance.

I also noticed towards the end of the dance it sounded like the singer was screaming haha.

It certainly took away from the dancing for me. I watched it again today without sound and it was so much better.