Alesha & Matthew's VW was much better than Ali & Brian's. Good use of steps & fantastic changes in tempo. IIRC they were awarded 38/40.

This is me ... I thought it was a beautiful dance and I see more every time I watch it. I couldn't dial fast enough!

I've loved them from the start but not voted, to my shame last week - that's changing from now on. Ali's incredibly graceful and she and Brian make a great partnership.

It's impossible to compare the marking from one series to another. The judges have gone mad handing out 10s in the last couple of years to the point that it's not even exciting for me anymore when people get them.

I agree, which is such a shame, even Craig's 10 was a bit of an anti-climax.

Call me cynical, but I had a hunch there might be a 40 to coincide with Blackpool - to make it extra special and memorable.

I preferred Ali's AS to be honest. Now that did move me.

And I preferred Ricky W's Quickstep last week, even though I can't say I'm all that keen on him!

The scoring is silly now, in the earlier series most couples had to wait to the semi-finals/final to get a ten now it's "who will get the first 40 before week 3".

How could you even suggest such a thing?

I'm even more cynical about the 40 coming so soon after her being in the DO. I feel awful saying this because it was a lovely routine but, I just knew after last week she was going to head the leader board this week.

My biggest surprise wasn't that Ricky was a tad over-marked but, that he avoided the DO. I was almost certain he was not going to get through because of going first, so it was a lovely surprise for me when he didn't.

She didn't need 4 10s to top the leaderboard tonight!

I have favourite dances from other series but none of them have been perfect.

I loved that VW - i honestly couldn't find one thing to criticise about it.

I know, nawtee aren't I


I must admit, I had a bad feeling for Ricky W tonight when he and Natalie were under the spotlight.

I'm glad he was put through for your sake Laura as I know you're a big fan

But after scoring Ricky W so highly the judges had nowhere left to go with Ali's dance. Certainly Alesha, Len and Bruno had no choice but to give her 10s.

I thought it was worth 40 myself but I am an old romantic Having said that the high scoring is silly now. Seeing Jill Halfpenny reminded me of the days when scoring was more realistic.

Ricky was way over-marked, so when he got three 9's the judges had to give 10's for Ali's dance which had no (obvious) mistakes. Craig is the only judge who could have given less than 10.

Ali & Brian's VW didn't thrill me and I think that is because they are not one of my favourite couples, but I can see why the judges gave them a 40 and I don't begrudge them. I have enjoyed other VWs much more, but it was beautifully danced and the choreography was wonderful. They deserved to be at the top of the leader board and that's all that matters to me. Breaking records won't change which dances I like the best.

I agree, no Goosebumps this end. It was OK, but it didn't move me. I find Ali lacking in emotion and Brian very self obsessed.

I did notice tonight that the Judges (especially in Ricky W's case and all the errors that happened) made sure that they marked their favourite highly tonight, almost to make sure of the outcome of the public vote, i.e. top marks for Ali & Brian etc, ensuring their safe passage this week.

Honesty obviously is not the best policy whence judging I fear, unfortunately.

I agree, I thought Alli and Brian were wonderful.

it was nice but a tad overmarked

Magical? Not for me, more a case of the judges making sure their favourite wasn't in the dance off!

I'm pretty sure it was used for Bill & Karen's VW.

I totally agree, and believe that the judges back themselves into a corner when they give out high marks for first dances which have glaring errors. However, in saying that the "content" was fantastic.

I agree, I thought it was truly, truly magical. It was a powerful performance. I really felt like I was pulled into a fairytale. Everything was perfect - from not just the main dance, but the bows and the courtesies, and the way Ali dipped her head, and the dress, and the Cinderella look, the music, and the lighting... ahhh. I was nearly in tears.

It was totally mistake-free dance which is presumably why they scored tens, but wasn't it rather a simple and a relatively slow VW ? Surely that make it easier to perform.

Yes! I just checked it on Youtube. Thank you!

As for those who thought they were marking her UP to save her - rubbish! They didn't need to. What did Ricky get, 35? They could've given her four 9s and she still would've been as safe as she was with 4 10s.

I don't think she got 40 because she was in the dance off. I think she got 40 because she was doing the dance that is so incredibly HER. The moment I saw her dance in the first week I thought "My god, she needs to get to VW week".

C'Ola and Natalie were more enjoyable for me tonight.


I'd never class myself as a hater, but Ive not been won over by Ricky W at all. However his QS last week blew me away and nothing I saw tonight came even a shade close to his and Natalie's routine.

I agree too and I think normally the judges tend to under mark the first couple so they have plenty if wiggle room for what has to come - and we are used to seeing that happening too.

Tonight despite mistakes even I could see in Ricky & Natalie's routine, their scores were so high there was no wiggle room. The judges obviously marked them thinking they were going to be the best or second best of the night - despite those glaring errors.