I dont see another thread so wanted to say I adored their VW .It was wonderfull and the four tens were the icing on the cake
I thought the dance was super and the whole atmosphere tonight was simply fab
I really enjoyed every single minute of the whole evening
From Alis dance to Flavia almost whooping with relief

It was good but I find it hard to get excited about a VW unless the music really lifts it...which didn't happen in this case.

Actually I enjoyed Cola more tonight if I'm honest.

Lovely dance, well performed but not a 40. This overmarking won't help them in the end.

It was good, but didnt derserve 40. I prefered Ricky's Quick step last week.

i agree op it was truly magical i felt goosebumbs watching it .My favouite ballroom dance ever on strictly it has been a long time since i felt goosebumps watching scd i did tonight.They were enchanting

I loved Ali & Brians performance tonight, and well done to them for getting 40. A beautiful dance and I very much enjoyed it.

Sorry Abba - I was left unmoved by Ali & Brain's performance.

It was clearly very good, but nothing special.

I loved the dance. Didn't like the music but it was a beautiful dance.

Not sure about the 10's but they didn't make any mistakes (to my eyes). The judges had left themselves nowhere else to go after Ricky's marks (when he had made mistakes).

They were indeed magical - and deservedly topped the leader board.

I just wish I could warm to them more.

I agree with you. Ali is really good at ballroom, it's a shame her Latin lets her down.

But tonight she really nailed it, like Craig said there was nothing you could fault.

I agree ,, straight away when they gave him 9s after saying he went wrong it was obvious they had overmarked him /

Me too Sid, and I preferred Ricky and Natalie's quickstep last week.

*twirls into the thread on a high from the VW and twirls out again to twinkling music and some sparkles*

Twirls with Starpuss and twirls around again , swirl swirl , swirl .

They could fall over in a dance from now on and probably still get 8s from the judges. So meh, doubt it much matters how they dance from here on. The judges have them down as one of their two picks for the final whatever they do.

Pleasant, but honestly, just nothing very much really. Music didn't help, nor camera work, but I found it a bit of a non-event. And I normally love the VW.

Call me an old traditionalist, but I'd love to hear a snatch of the Blue Danube or tales from the Vienna Woods one of these days...

I think those of you criticising the 40 need to bear a few things in mind:

1) what we see on the TV screen isn't what the judges see. Its what the camera lets us see. We are denied sight of some things that happen that might be critical to the judges decision making.

2) TV audiences are naturally going to get more excited by something as exuberant as a quickstep. It is very difficult to make a dance with only 3 steps (viennese waltz) exciting to a TV audience. That doesn't mean it isn't very demanding to perform well and just as deserving of a 10 from the judges when it is so performed.

I voted for everyone apart from Craig and Flavia, Cola and Ricky and Natalie. I don't like any of them, though Cola did a good foxtrot.

I thought Anton's choice of music for the VW was inspired. I'm still waiting for someone to do a VW to Golden Brown, which is one of my faves, and must be suitable for a VW. I believe its got to be in 6/8 time???

Anton's dance was a Paso (I didn't like the music choice).

I think someone has used Golden Brown but my memory isn't the best.

I just watched it back and it gets better on each viewing. Their VT was very emotional. I voted for them tonight. First time ive voted for anyone this season.

They did indeed (I forget which couple though!) and it worked very well.

Delilah was an inspired choice by Brendan for his VW with Kelly Brook as well (wasn't keen on theim as a couple though).

And of course Alesha and Matt dancing to Memories by Elaine Page was beautiful.

Totally agree OP...it was MAGICAL Really beautiful, and totally deserving of the 40 score

Best ballroom dance on Strictly ever. I absolutely loved it, first dance in a couple of series to give me goosebumps. Everything, the music, Ali's dress, Brian in tails (I'm with Brucie on that one) and in the Tower Ballroom, just majical.

I thought they were VERY good but, I wouldn't have said it was perfect. In fact I was surprised Len gave it a 10, only because there was so much "faffing" around at the beginning of the routine. Once they got into hold it was lovely and showed off Ali's natural elegance and was nice to watch.

My favourite VW ever was Ray Fearon's and Camilla's it actually moved me to tears. It wasn't given a perfect score but there was something so magical about their performance, even Len said at the time they looked like a couple of characters on top of a music box. Ali's was good but, I wasn't enchanted by it like I was Ray and Camilla's.

I've just watched it back too and i agree.

I adored it. The first dance in a long while that i've been totally enthralled and swept away by. Just gorgeous.