I'd like to think it was still open. At one point last week it did look as though Chris was going to win this because the competition was falling away by the day with injury and other none dancing events. Since then Laila has upped her game and Ali has answered the critics who say she's bland and boring by performing a quirky routine. Ricky's had an off week but he came back fighting in the dance off. Chris is probably the weakest dancer left in the competition so he depends on his personality continuing to amuse. We have four good semi-finalists.

We now have a contest.

The Charleston has probably increased his lead with the public but that means little yet. The next two weeks are the worrying ones for Chris/Ola supporters (assuming we are getting a two couple final and I can't see anything else happening now). Chris and Ola could top the public vote next week but still go and the same thing could happen the week after if they survive next week. Unless he pulls his dancing socks up (and remember - he still has the dreaded samba left) he's far from won this yet even if he is the most popular by a street.

the only chance he has is if he escapes the dance off until the final... if he is in there I think he will go.

Ali should and hopefully WILL win this!!

I hope so, I stand to win 170 quid

I found their dance hilarious - such a good laugh - best dance of the series for us!!!!

We all thought their Charleston very overmarked.

Eh no.

He hasn't been all that good at the proper dances. Team Cola just got lucky with their choice of dance. I imagine his rock'n'roll would have been awful.

I agree. If it wasn't for the Dance Off I'd say Chris was almost a certain winner. But the Dance Off screwed Austin over (and would've done the same to Tom if the BBC had been more alert) last year, and the public favourite could go this time because of it this season too.

I absolutely loved Chris and Ola's Charleston - it suited Chris' personality and was extremely entertaining and full of joie de vivre - the happiest dance of the series. I don't know if it was technically perfect but quite honestly that didn't worry me in the least as they captured the fun and spirit of the dance. Well done Team Cola - I hope to see you in the final.

Did Chris and Ola just win SCD with that Charleston?

I hope not because I thought it was really overmarked.

Yes, I never said only such people would vote for him.


I don't think theres any need to get defensive. It was an off-the-cuff comment. I do believe it has some truth, that most viewers are women and that theres a clear history of handsome men benefiting from that but yes, it's something of a generalisation I admit. I'm sure some of his fans are not housewives


Well good for you but I really don't think it's that sweeping.
Look at him and Natalie. Both are medium level performers (although yes, he is slightly better) both try to play the clown/fun card. One is loved one isn't even liked.

Behave - or I might think you are Bhoy in techno's clothing.

And who the hell is "we all"?? It's pretty bloody obvious to anyone with half a brain cell a lot of people thought it was brilliant so don't try and give an opinion on behalf of everyone!

Excuse me for not reading the thread properly but - no.

Of course he hasn't 'won it'.

I adore Chris and Ola, and that dance was a stand out performance that I shall never forget. Me and child laughed our heads off, it was wonderfully funny.

It wasn't great though.

Dear Chris was flat footed, had little ankle and knee bounce and that was very obvious next to Ola. He's not the greatest dancer.

He's going to have to step it up - he's not as good as Tom Chambers, yet, at all.

When push comes to shove 'entertainment' isn't really enough. Tom got through on the weird failure of last year and then redeemed it all by his showdance.

Chris is going to have to improve a lot to be credible as a winner, and although it's not beyond imagining, I don't think he's a hope for the title at the moment.

That wonderful, wild and silly and hilarious Charleston guaranteed his place in the next round though.

And I'm glad.

Fair enough - he isn't up to the standard of Tom yet. But I don't think there's much difference between him and Darren Gough - and Darren won the trophy.

Darren was really rubbish at the start of the series though and could claim a "journey" (even though he got 30 in week 2 and 33 in week 3). He looked like he was going to be absolutely dire due to his background and physique but then surprised everyone. Not saying it's fair because I actually think Darren's "journey" was less of one than it appeared but that's the perception of many.

Loved it, loved it, LOVED IT,

Chris n Ola chops to WIN!!!

Yeah Baby!!

I LOVED it.....but they don't deserve to win IMHO

But Chris' background is presenting and his physique isn't exactly a dancers.

Dammit, if only Chris hadn't had a good Rumba in week 1 - he might have been able to claim a journey then.

I really hope a really great dancer wins this year.

I wasn't gutted exactly, because I knew how popular Tom was, but Rachel and Vincent were out and out the best dancers last series, and I do want the best dancers to win.

Ha next I'll be saying I originally wanted Craig to win

There's no doubt Chris and Ola's Charleston scored high for entertainment value and performance. And they have a genuinely endearing partnership. If they get to the final, they look strong contenders. But it's a big 'if' while the judges vote still comes in to play.

In terms of actual dance content I thought the 'Cola' Charleston was a bit lightweight. Ali and Brian's effort was just as entertaining, certainly more technically sophisticated.

Everybody upped their game tonight, even if Ricky left it until the dance-off to do so. It's still up for grabs.

It was brilliant. The best dance of the series so far. It was what Strictly is all about - bringing your personality on to the dancefloor.

Ali is technically good but can't translate enough of her personality into her dancing. Her acting skills worked tonight - but we rarely see who she is. And Ricky's arrogance is overwhelming - interesting to see that when the judges don't back him up sufficiently, he lands up in the dance-off.

And no, Team Cola's Charleston wasn't overmarked - it was undermarked! Len and Craig should have given them nines. But then it is becoming increasingly apparent that the judges' two favourites are marked differently to the other three.

I would love Chris and Ola to make the final - but I am guessing that, if they are indeed the public's favourites, they will survive to the semi's then end up in the dance-off with one of the judges' darlings and will lose to them.

Chris is not as technically as good as the others, not as good as Tom or Austin, but, frankly, I don't care. Strictly isn't all about technical excellence, however much the judges might want us to view it that way ...

YEAH, BABY!

I'm not a stickler for that but I don't like seeing celebs who are obviously significantly inferior win through mainly because people like them. I didn't mind Tom winning last year because, even though he was certainly not as good as Rachel, he was always well scored and was definitely a decent all round dancer (despite what his detractors might say ). Chris is a different story. I love his partnership with Ola, he comes across as a good guy and his dances usually make me smile but they're not technically that great. However, I do think that quite a lot of people are still voting for his dancing as well as his personality because although he isn't a particularly good technician, he does entertain.

So, what to do?

Is it so bad to have someone win the show mainly because their dances have appealed to the most people even though they're significantly inferior to at least two others in the competition?

Would so many people be voting for Chris if they just saw him dance and hadn't seen any "behind the scenes" stuff?

Problem for me is that there isn't a stand out front runner.

Ali is very good at a lot of dances but she's still to put in a "wow" performance" (her VW was gorgeous but it didn't make me sit up and take notice) and I'm still to be convinced by her Latin. She's got the tango and samba still to do so who knows?

Ricky is obviously a great natural talent but he seems to be getting worse not better. I can't remember a the last clean routine he did.

There's still time though - not much of it but still...

I certainly think it's given them a bit more credibility.

Up til now, they'd only nailed two dances (Rumba and Foxtrot).

Now they have three decent routines under their belt, along with oodles of personality, and that's good enough for me