Did anyone else notice how Leila was dragged across the dancefloor by Anton last night? Did anyone else feel she was overmarked? (Vincent looked surprised). Did anyone notice how Craig commented on how she'd miraculously recovered from last week's injury?

I noticed Craig's comment about the miraculous recovery and thought it a bit snide.... as a dancer himself he is more aware than most of what you can and can't do with sprains and twists. With rest, icepacks (to reduce swelling), compression bandage (for support) and elevation combined with strong painkillers, it isn't inconceivable that Laila was able to dance this week

Given that Anton said they only had 6 hours training this week due to Laila having to rest her ankle, I though she did very well - and was it Alesha who commented on the fact that Laila had actually remembered the whole routine.

I noticed all of that! Although will have to look for Vincents reaction again. I think the dance was slightly overmarked. As for Craig's comment it was pretty obvious to me what he was implying. I think a lot of people weren't fooled by the injury. Not saying she wasn't injured, but IMO there was more to the whole thing than met the eye.

I also think Laila's had enough of the whole competition and would be quite relieved to go now. And I don't think Anton would be too bothered either. He's had a good run this year but this partnership has been fraught with problems and neither look particularly happy.

OK (sorry to Anton fans) I think Laila is not giving this her all. I think she came into this competition thinking she was likely to be very good and her first weeks were promising and then boom she hit the latin wall and she is now bored with it all. I think the writing is on the wall for them after their first appearance in the dance off.

I hate to say it, but it's true. It's quite upsetting for me really because I find Laila by far the most interesting person on the program. I think Laila could have been very very good, but she's just not giving 100%. She's got it in her somewhere, I just hope the dance off had a positive effect on her like it did with Ali.

I thought Laila struggled on her first attempt - but she deserved those marks. Her dance wasn't terrible.

I absolutely loved her Waltz in the the dance-off though. It was much improved.

I agree I think she is very exotic and had high hopes for them as a couple....The is probably terribly unfair but I get the impression she is the sort of girl who was daddy's little girl and if she found something too hard it was sorted for her. She actually needs a hit with the reality stick that some wit said Flavia needed for Craig.

Actually I think Laila has got by on her looks and is one of those women that has failed to develop a personality as a result. I really don't get that people find her interesting, she's incredibly dull IMO.

I have to say I don't think those marks were undeserved. It wasn't polished, but IMO the routine was better than both Ricky G's and Natalies, so I thought the marks were fair. As an aside regarding Craig's comment (I don't like to get into this, as no one can fairly comment on someone else's injury) I have played hockey on a broken ankle before - painful, ill-advised, but manageable, whereas just over a week before when I'd done it, I couldn't walk due to the pain and swelling. So not inconceivable, though as I say, different injuries, different people. I'm not ruling out that there isn't something suspicious but I personally believe that it was genuine.

Much as I am a fan of Anton's, I think it is nearly their time; unless they can produce a dance that meets its potential soon (ie Viennese Waltz, which was so nearly there, Paso, which would have been very high scoring if not for the ilegal lift), they will be gone. And next weeks dances don't look like the type of dance they can do well in. Though I live in hope!!
Last edited by KHC22 : 22-11-2009 at 14:14

I personally have always felt that Laila is guided (sometimes dragged yes) around by Anton in the ballroom dances. He rarely takes the opportunity to have her out of hold. Even their best latin dance (their paso) is mostly in hold IIRC. It makes me think she'll wobble all over the shop if he let go of her.

There's nothing wrong with that of course its Anton doing the best with her, but she has been one of the lesser dancers for a while IMO, and I think at least 3 contestants that have already gone were arguably better allrounders than her. I don't mind her still being in though, I quite like her and her ballroom when successful is lovely to watch. Her dance off last night was much better and quite lovely.

That seems to be the impression a lot of people have of Laila.

But I read (and posted) an interesting interview she gave in the Mail where she revealed she'd been brought up in the East End, in a large family, with quite strict parents. And currently she's a single mother which can't be easy.

She's a glamorous lady but I don't believe she's some sort of princess who has had an easy ride in life.

I thought the marks were fair enough from what we could see (ie not much of her footwork). He wasn't 'dragging' her but I agree he was leading quite forcefully, and probably necessarily given their lack of practice. It was a pleasant routine but none of the artistry came from her and I agree with those who think she has pretty much given up trying now for whatever reason. She's actually still a better dancer than Ms Cassidy - yes, even in the much-maligned Latin - because she's actually more graceful and precise with good natural timing, but Natalie is still giving it some welly and that, along with the judges' blessings, will probably mean Laila and Anton go next week.

I thought it was a nice route that lacked polish due to her missing training time. I think her natural talent with the ballroom meant it was better than many could manage on such little training. Therefore the marks were fair imo.

I think people should be very careful about chucking around half-baked, cod psychology in an attempt to explain Laila's apparent failure to to reach her potential. I remember some trying it with Kelly and how stupid they ended up looking.

For me the injury and lack of training are quite plausible explanations for the sub-standard ballroom LailAnton delivered last night. I don't pretend to know how debilitating the injury is so I'm happy to leave it at that. Arguably they got an extra mark or two for the less than ideal preparation but, as is invariably the case, they weren't obviously out of position on the judges' leader board.

I dont know about anyone else, but Im getting the feeling this will be antons last year, as hes never got very far in previous seasons I get the feeling Lalia is being coasted through on bad performances so that Anton gets a decent postion for his last year.

It comes across to me (at least) that she doesnt put the effort required in, and really doesnt want to be there since being in the bottom 2 a few a few weeks ago, each performance is lead footed or shes being dragged around, she seams to do nothing but complain and moan, in comparason to someone like natalie & vincent you can see that natalies enthusiastic, putting the effort in and enjoying it even though shes not going to win & not good technically, lalia on the other hand appears like shes there under sufference.

It's this kind of comment that makes me suspicious that people see what they want to see far more than they would care to admit.

I too believe Laila is pulled around the floor by Anton, she always seems just a fraction behind him instead of with him. But because she has some dance ability and is in the hold of the Ballroom Master, it's not as noticeable like the dancing disasters Fiona Phillips or Kate Garroway. Once she's out of hold it all goes to pieces.

Laila was a little disappointing last night. I know they only trained for six hours, but still, her top half was too stiff and upright -- a total contrast to her foxtrot from a few weeks back.

If Laila's hating it that much, surely the ankle injury would've been the perfect excuse to pull out of the show.

not at all, what i see is that shes not been comfortable since before zoe went and when zoe did go lalias shoulders seamed to droop and shes been carrying that kind of po faced attitude around with her ever since. She ahd the potential to be a very good contestant, her current demeanor appears to me like shes given up. Her dances are no where near as good as they should be, i think she should have gone out 2 weeks ago but is still being dragged around by anton and coasting through to the next round when i think both tuffers and ricky are better. Shes certainly not being coasted through on good dances thats for sure so theres got to be another reason.

After that fiery Paso?

With Craig and Ricky still in the contest?

Really?

possibly but how would it affect the whole thing looseing both jade & lalia at the same time. I dont know, Im just saying how she comes across to me, im not asking anyone to agree with me.

Well, I for one agree with you. I also think that the general theme this year where Anton's concerned is to get him as far as possible in the competition. IMO Laila has been completely overrated in her ballroom dances. I honestly think that the main problem with Laila is her partnership with Anton. I just don't think it works and had she been partnered with somebody else she might have enjoyed it more. Having said that, I'm not sure she'd have got as far as Anton's fanbase is still quite large and its probably for that reason they have lasted as long as they have.

I don't know why everybody thinks people are just voting for Anton. I honestly didn't care about Anton whatsoever until I liked Laila. Laila is my favourite purely because I enjoy her dancing and personality. Anton doesn't have much to do with it.

I noticed all of OP's points but sure, she can't have had much rehearsal time.
I think she was slucky that Ricky G. had reached/passed way over his competence, and although I like him better than I like her, I think it was right to keep her from the dance off. Just.