From what I can work out, we have 5 weeks til the final, but the couples only have 2 dances left each that they haven't attempted.

So how are they going to compensate for this? Anyone have any idea at all?

Not quite true, they have 4 dances left, plus the Argentine Tango.

For some reason I thought there were only 10 dances to do, and there's actually 12...still, I wonder how they're going to keep it as interesting as it's been in previous years.

The 'two dances in later weeks' thing is obviously out the window after doing 2 dances in the first weeks. And even with 4 dances left to do each, that still leaves them a week short for the semi-final. They normally do a new one as well as the AT in that week, don't they?

I am befuddled

I dont think any of us actually know how its going to be worked out. I hope they do go to 2 dances as it makes it more pressured and therefore more exciting.

My gosh....this series has flown by!

If it's the same as last year, there are 2 more weeks left (week 10) with one dance which brings them up to 10 dances done.
Week 11 is the start of 2 dances which should be all 12 attempted.

My guess is that week 12 (QF) will be lowest scored ballroom and latin for each couple, week 13 (SF) best scored dance and Argentine Tango, then FINAL - a bit of faffing about (last year it was the V Waltz) and the Showdance.

It isn't quite the same as last year though, because by the end of the first 2 weeks everyone had done 2 dances, not one. So we're a week short on where we were in the last series.

I was hoping they'd throw in some different dances like they do on DWTS.

I agree! And I really like the team things they do - the relay dances and the knockout last-couple-standing thing and the formation dances were awesome.

Last year in the SF they had a dance they had done previously but with different choreography, so perhaps they'll do that?

I think to make Strictly more interesting they might have to do the same. I can certainly see them doing things like this next series.

That's what I meant basically but I was n/shift again last night and my grasp of my native language has deserted me

I'm not a fan of two dances per week. They tend to concentrate on one, in case they need it in the dance off, which often gives one fairly good dance and one which is half rehearsed.

If they were doing two dances that they had done before, but with different choreography, that would be better, especially if they were dances they had done early, before they had got much skill (a few celebs excepted).