I just can't see Ali winning, from my point of view she doesn't seem to have much of a personality, although her 'showmance' with Brian might help win her support from the public.
I reckon either Chris, Tuffers or Ricky G are going to be in the final, seeing as they fit into the likeable entertaining category and they are all fairly good dancers.
I think either Zoe or Jade will also be in the final, because while they may lack public support they are popular with the judges- like Rachel and Lisa last year.
Ricky W is almost certain to get to the final and will probably win it. Here's hoping

I think the 2 dance stage will sort the pack out. Last year Austin was a hot favourite until 2 dance week produced a weak American Smooth and a reasonable Samba which landed him in the dance off doing the Samba against a waltz and saying goodbye to the final.

I have 3 favourites! I'd love to see Ricky G & Erin, Chris & 'Yeah Baby!' Ola or Jade and Ian win Can't make my mind up between the 3 of them and was gutted Jade was in the dance off

Ali is a lovely dancer but alot of the time seems to leave her personality in the dressing room IMO, but she DID look beautiful in the American Smooth on Saturday Ricky W is undoubtedly a great dancer but there's just something about him I find annoying! Natalie and Vincent have a great partnership but I can't see them getting to the final.

I'd love for Jade and Ian to win - they make me sit up every week and Jade has improved so much under Ian's tutelage that they are now putting in performances that are very, very good (if not the best) technically and truly evoking the spirit of any given dance (ballroom or latin) which is something I don't think others, who may be technically better, do to the same extent. There are those who do capture the spirit of the dance, also - Ricky G and Natalie however, their technique is not up the level of Jade's.

I like Ali and Brian but just feel there is something lacking in Ali's ability to intepret and bring something of herself to a dance so I always feel slightly at one remove watching her... there is a kind of isolation to Ali and Brian that doesn't invite the viewer to participate. She reminds me of some old Hollywood dancers who were technically very good but never a patch on Fred and Ginger because Fred and Ginger were approachable and they were aloof. Great to watch but not satisfying.

Oooh - what a cool post.

You've summed up everything I feel very nicely indeed.

Thanks mate!

I think it will be:

Ricky W, Alli and either Jade or Zoe - probably Jade.

Not that I dont love Tuffers and Chris.

My head says Ali, Ricky W and maybe Chris , my heart says Zoe, Jade and Ricky G .

Don't think Ali and Ricky W have the popular vote

I reckon Tuffers, Chris and Ricky G

I'd be very happy if any of those 3 guys winms

I think this is very perceptive - Ali definitely doesn't bring enough of herself to the dancefloor. That, for me, is precisely why Alesha, Gethin and Austin were such great contestants. However, I think Ali has been hampered by some very ambitious choreography from Brian. I also get the impression she has confidence issues - which, curiously (for me at least), make her more attractive as a character. She's certainly no Rach-bot.

But she definitely have to work harder at selling herself on and off the dancefloor if she wants to make the final. The judges may love her technical abilities but the audience won't care if there's someone more entertaining around ...

This is a very interesting point. She does have time to make the transition and I hope she does as it will mean some really good dancing.

Didn't Gethin have to go to an Acting Coach for his Journey of Learning To Let Go In The Latin?

It would be hilarious if someone said to send Ali to an acting coach.

Ali is doing Paso this week and has also not danced the Tango yet so I will be interested to see how she manages with a dance that needs more attitude.

Laila and Anton.

I second that!

I wanna see just how popular they are, cause I love them. <3

At the moment, it is Jade and Ian. I would love Chris and Ola to win, but they would need to improve quite a lot. I am a very fickle fan, I can change my mind every week, but Jade and Ian are consistently up there for me. I love Ian too, and his crazy clothing.

I'd love to see either of the Jordans do well this year. They've both put so much work in over the last few seasons but neither of them have much to show for it. They really seem to have found their feet this year though and really feel part of the show in a way they haven't before. Not sure either of them can win this year though, Zoe doesn't look to have the public vote and Chris doesn't have the judges backing.

Although I'm rooting for Jade and Ian, I suspect Ali and Brian are the most likely winners right now.

I really don't know yet!

I think Ricky and Natalie might just clinch it, although I hope they don't, as they both come across as overconfident and too competitive. I would like to see Ali and Brian win.

Ali and Brian. Lots of personality I thought from last 2 week's ITT interviews. I think she's really starting to relax a lot more and take the competition in her stride. Looking forward to the Paso, she looked great in the training clip tonight.

In the unfortunate event that Ali and Brian don't win, my next favourite are Jade and Ian.

Not sure who my 3rd placed couple will be at the moment, probably a toss up between Phil and Natalie Cassidy.

She can do beautiful if Brian can choreograph it. Wow factor we will have to see if she can do error free. You have to look at the opposition though. None of the males are journeying anywhere. Ricky W is probably too aggressive and his journey has been from very good to very good. Craig hasn't left the station even if he wants a trip to Blackpool. Chris has been jumping up and down on the rails and he's not going far. Ricky G isn't very good and is alternating between serious and joker Ricky which may confuse everyone including himself. Phil is on a ride we have been on before and he's not going that far or fast along on it. All of the other girls have any problems Ali has but worse. Jade is hardly a big personality, lacks musicality and can't act. Zoe can act but isn't at all exciting. Laila has Anton but she also has latin dancer Anton.

Laila may get the Latin right. Zoe might do something less dull. Ricky W might develop more dimensions or Ali might do something that wows everyone. Or Phil could win for being a bloke or Ricky W for looking good topless........

You are being unfair on Ricky G and Chris- don't forget they along with Tuffers have the popular vote

Chris can dance
TRicky G is improving quickly
Tuffers is good at ballroom

One of those three will win

Where is this fact from? Has voting been published so you can say with your conviction that they have the public vote?

What changed Tuffers, Chris and Ricky G's popularity from an "I reckon" to being a definite, "don't forget" fact?

I think Ricky G stopped substantially improving weeks ago, btw.

Whether it was intentional or not, Ricky G switching from "comedy" to "serious" was the smartest thing he's done thus far. Doing a comedy paso then saying, mildly affronted, that he never knew it was a comedy paso, and he didn't know why everyone was laughing at him, and now he wants to be taken seriously was an epic guilt-trip to be laying on people, and he seems to have got away with it.

The general tone of the show this year suggests they want to show the public that they've changed, and the judges are going to be nicer and more empathetic and represent the "voice of the public", and they're going to have winners that have the "entertainment factor" (ie, can't really dance brilliant, but they pull lots of funny faces and call it acting the dance or enjoying themselves). If that's the case they might take it to its logical conclusion and have one of the mid-table boys win.

In which case Ricky G is the best bet because he's getting the best scores out of all of them (along with Natalie), he's with a popular and experienced pro who is "due a win" and who knows what she's doing (although her choreo tends to start to decline towards the end of the competition judging from past form), and the show clearly favours him above the rest of them, because it never stops telling us how funny he is, and how he is "what the show is all about".

The last person they said that about was Lisa, and look how hard they tried to get her the win.