I thought his performance in the dance off was pretty clean, no?

I think so to. His performance was brilliant tonight. Well done Chris. I think we are looking a potential winner there. He is up there with Ali.

Chris really reminded me of Tom Chambers tonight. It almost felt like the final.

For me Rickkie Whittle wasn't good tonight, and while I am biased towards Natalie C, I think Rickie should have gone.

YES
YES
YES
YES

Don't get carried away by one dance. Chris and Ola got a dance that suited their cheeky personality and won over the crowd, that is all.
For the remaining weeks its back to the usual dances where Ali and Ricky should excel.

I can't really remember the last time Ricky did a good performance. Tonight, Ricky's partner did all the work. Look back on the iPlayer and just watch him. In comparison with all the others, he did very little. For me, Ricky is on a downward path.

After tonights performances, I would rank the last four as follows...

1. Ali
2. Chris
3. Laila
4. Ricky

If Ricky doesn't pull his socks up, he could be gone next week.

Yes I agree.Ricky you have got too big for your boots.Bye Bye

If its down to the public Chris and Ola will win this.

Just don't think Laila, Ricky or Ali have the support.

I will concede that in the first performance Ricky wasn't there but, on the second one he out-danced his partner! You watch the DO on iplayer and you will see what Craig meant when he said it was his best performance of the series. When I watched it again, I was amazed and thought he's dancing like someone from the WestEnd. Not only was he foot perfect, he totally sold the dance.

I also thought his performance in the VW was head and shoulders above the other celebs, he was leading Natalie around like a pro.

Given the week he's had I'm surprised he put in two out of three top notch performances. I would rank him thus:
[list]1st Dance - 8[/list][list]2nd Dance - 9[/list][list]3rd Dance - 10 and one I would actually pay to see again![/list]

After all he's been through yesterday I was amazed he danced so well, especially in the DO. I doubt he even had time to do a rehersal on Fri.

You know I nearly added "in the main show" (just to exclude the dance off performance because a clean first dance might have meant a second one wasn't needed so I don't count it) but I thought that nobody on here is going to be as much of a pedant as I am. Seems I was wrong .

I thought Chris and Ola's Charleston was fabulous and totally in the spirit of the dance However, I knew that as they went first, even if they were perfect, there would be no 10's for them As it is I thought it deserved all 9's and that Craig and Len under marked them.

Has anyone who's gone first EVER scored a 10?

[quote=miles19740;36976122]I think so to. His performance was brilliant tonight. Well done Chris. I think we are looking a potential winner there. He is up there with Ali.

Chris really reminded me of Tom Chambers tonight. It almost felt like the final.

Goes to show that most know nothing about the Charleston. Go to you tube to see some real stuff. He never did the Charleston basic step . It's not , step tap or step touch. There must be an active twisting of the foot on each backrock, and foreward step. Only Ali and in some instances Lialer had the proper footwork, and therefore the proper technique. Chris looked a little stiff dancer with flat arms no technique. True it was entertaining, but so is a poodle jumping through hoops. That's not Charleston either.

The fact is that Chris has a clear advantage, by having both Ola and James as coaches. I'm sure Ola and James work out all the material at home and then Chris has a third eye to coach, and even do his part. He is not even close to Ali in standard, and not close to Ricky in Latin. Lialer out next week Chris the week after. Then he sould get a good nipple tweek

They were FAB-U- LOUS tonight and nearly every other Saturday Nightl

Yes they seemed reluctant to give a 10

[quote=afterthoughts;36977134]
Sorry, I know I'm being pedantic but I've read several of your posts now (and have nothing against the content of any of them!) but you do persist in spelling Laila's name so oddly. Could you please note the correct spelling (Laila) and use it? I just think it's polite to spell someone's name correctly if you can. Thank you.

Rather large hole in your argument: neither James nor Ola choreographed Chris' Charleston. Outside choreographers were brought in. So you (and Len ) can't hold them responsible for whatever moves you think should be in there.

And sorry, but Strictly is not all about technique - much as the judges would like us to believe it is. It's a reality show as well as a dance competition, which is why, whether you like it or not, personality counts for a lot with the viewing public. Chris and Ola brilliantly translated the fun they have onto the dancefloor - and that's what so many people have responded to.

I'm sure he won't make the final as the judges will ensure that their favourites get through. Which will leave us with an end of series that is the equivalent of watching paint dry ... :yawn:

Chris will be out in the semi final as it will not yet be all-public voting IIRC. He must come up against either Ricky or Ali in the dance-off then, and no prizes for guessing who at least 3 of the judges will want to go through there.

This can only be avoided by a Ricky-Ali dance off next week, and that will only happen if the judges mark down Ali's (probable) Samba. But they seem to be intent on keeping her safe in 1st place (which suits me fine as she's my favourite).

I'm afraid he's right - Chris can't possibly win, as the judges now hold ALL the power (yet again) since it became a 2 person final. It doesn't matter if 50 million people vote for Chris in the semi-final, and nobody votes for Ali or Ricky - the judges can STILL condemn him to a dance off, if they want to. Total scandal that the BBC can allow this...

Are we totally sure it's going to be a 2 person final or do you think they will do like last year and let them all through in the semi?
I mean next week as much as it pains me I reckon Laila will go but I think they'll do something after that to make it a 3 person final unless they really, really want either Ali or Ricky to win.

(I say 'they' not knowing who the hell 'they' are mind! )

Sorry can't agree. There is no way Ricky should have been in the dance off let alone be eliminated.

Ricky should definitely have gone last night.

An Ali v Ricky final would be a complete snorefest.

I expect the BBC really want an Ali v Chris final, which would be very close.

Ali v Ricky = Ali would destroy Ricky in the public vote
Chris v Ricky = ditto Chris
Ali v Chris = who knows!? but will be FUN
Laila = who!?

A Ricky/Chris final is my idea of Hell on Earth.

Ali/Ricky is the only one I think I'd watch... or at least care about...

That's the biggest problem with the two way final imo - it leaves less room for the public favourite to be in there.

Last year we nearly ended up with a final between two people who weren't all that popular. This year it appears as if we actually will. I don't think that's good for the show.

When it's down to 4 couples, the judges get a lot power over who goes through. They get nearly all of it when it's down to 3. If, for example, Chris is in the semi and comes bottom of the leader board but top with the public, the only way he can avoid the dance off is if Ali and Ricky are opposite in the public score than they were in the judges. You could end up with the ridiculous situation where people are tactically voting for Chris and the person in 2nd place to try and get him through.

Whilst the DO is a nice idea in the earlier rounds to prevent a good dancer making a shock exit, it becomes silly at the semi final stage. I think it should particularly be dropped if there are only 3 couples remaining.

I don't always agree with the public but I don't think it should be the case that the public favourite has barely got a chance of staying in.

Why? I accept that he deserved to be in the DO but, I can't accept he should have gone after the DO performance. Whichever criteria you use for him he would have to be saved in the DO on both counts:
[list]Better performances overall - as much as I liked Natalie, I can't think of one dance where she's performed it better than Ricky.[/list][list]Better performance in the DO - well that's a no-brainer. Both couples were enthusiastic, but even his most ardent detractors will have to admit his DO performance was in a league of it's own. Natalie did well, but there was no comparison.[/list]
Sorry OP but, if Natalie had stayed over Ricky because "she is a huge fan of the show" then the beeb would have lost this faithful viewer forever!

I'm a middle aged housewife who'd rather poke out her own eyes with her knitting needles than vote for that gurning munchkin