Chris is not going to be able to get as good as Ali or Ricky.

He should at least try to get up to the level of Darren Gough. In his Rumba, Chris didn't use his hips at all last time and his hands were gruesome, so if he can get those right, he will gain a lot.

I'm wearing a tin hat and ready to duck, but I don't think Ali is a good dancer.

Her stiff, shaky left arm bothers me, her balance isn't good, her interpretation of latin mood isn't good. In the tango you could see that she knew what she should be doing and she almost snapped in two like a twig trying to do it but it was all a bit rickety. Her ballroom - on the back of her ballet training and in hold - is very pretty but I don't think that makes her a good dancer. I'm always on edge watching her.

For the record, my dream semi-final would have been Jade, Ricky, an improved Phil and . . . either Zoe, Chris or Ali.

And if he doesn't he will gain a lot too - of laughs from the dance fans. Sorry, I am looking forward to his rumba, but possibly like Laila's salsa for the wrong reasons.

A lot of newbies will watch the final so hopefully they'll vote for the best dancer. However I;m sur ethe BBC will give Hollins video clips that make him look like he;s walking on water

For sure.

Couldn't agree more. Everyone vote for Ali then Ricky will be sure to go through if he wins the judges vote. Finally we will be finished with the Olachops on ITT

Oh he did (I've rewatched it today to remind myself what it was like to see what to expect). He did put some of the hip action in there but needed to make more of it. He's had no problems moving his hips since so I think he can do better there.

His AT looks better than I expected at the moment and his and Ola's chemistry will clearly help.

[quote=claire2281;37204540
and his and Ola's chemistry will clearly help.[/QUOTE]

As long as James doesn't step in and stop it!

Nope! We saw that the judges vote isn't enough so I'll be voting for Ricky regardless, after last week he's needs every vote he can get.

I saw Ola teaching him to move his hips, when she said "I love my job.", so I know he can do it.

I think Chris has had so much difficulty learning and remembering the steps that they have had to skip curing his technical faults a bit. I think he would be dancing a lot better if he wasn't working as well. Got to give him full marks for having the right attitude and giving everything 100%.

Ricky by contrast, seems to pick things up easily and very quickly, but can have difficulty remembering it all.

A farce if Hollins wins? No I do not think so. Lets be honest here Strictly is NOT just a dance competitin. If it was the old show Come Dancing only with professional dancers etc., I, for one, would not watch the show each week. It is the celebs who make it interesting and it is pure ENTERTAIMENT!!! That is why we get inundated with stories of romances, injuries and the "journey videos". The fact is Olga and Chris are FUN and entertaining and the public love them. Ali and Brian, in my opinion, who may be technically better dancers, are dull and boring. Ali has no personality and although I am sure she is a lovely person, cannot connect or perform like Chris and Ola. Chris is also working full time and trying to cope with rehearsals etc unlike Ali for example who seems to be out of work as an actress at the moment!! Ricky, to be fair, has the same problem of trying to fit everything in, work and Strictly! Unfortunaely for Ricky he has been brilliant the whole way through Strictly whereas Chris has struggled and fought his way though and the public admire that. I think Chris and Ola will win Strictly this year.

I recently saw a video of Darren Cough and now, looking back, he was not that good of a dancer ! I think, in the passing years, the standard has improved greatly of the celebs. The best for me was Karen and Mark the Ramp!! Brilliant especially their Tango!! They sizzled thru that dance. It is hard to believe, when watching the dance video, that they are not BOTH professional dancers.

Just posted on the ITT thread to this effect, but last night's ITT really brought it home to me that 'Hollins' would actually be a very worthy winner. He is working really hard to be the best he can, they will need to deliver of course but if they do that, then the show as an entertainment spectacle with someone having learnt to dance will imho actually regain some of the credibility it may have lost this series

Yes he does forget a few steps. However, Im pretty sure Chris forgot his entire Jive.

Totally agree but he had the momentum going with the `blokes can learn to dance` thing...

Sorry but I also think in years to come some will be saying the same thing about Chris.

Usually the celebrity who entertained the public the most wins, sometimes this is the best dancer but not always.

I recently watched DWTS and Donny Osmond won, he was not the best dancer but I was so please he won. He was so enthusiastic every show and trying desperately to improve then his show dance was amazing.

Since Jade and Ian went out, both my OH and I have championed Chris and Ola. While Chris is not the best dancer, he and Ola are just so cute and full of life that they make you smile whenever they dance. I definitely enjoy watching the other two couples but Team Cola to win!

I did say if he WINS the judges vote. eg
Ricky & Nat 3
Ali & Brian 2
Chris & Ola 1

Phone Vote
Ali & Brian 3 Total 5
Chris & Ola 2 Total 3
Ricky & Nat 1 Total 4

So as I say only if Ricky wins Judges vote, otherwise I'll be voting for him myself.

Looks like Chris is topping the phone vote .. so it seems Rickys only chance is by beating Ali in both the phone and judges vote.

Think the implication is that if Ricky comes top of the leaderboard, if enough Ricky fans vote for Ali instead (or as well), it may boost her support enough to get her above Chris with the public. This would also send Ricky through as well.

I don't think it's likely to work and anything like that's a risk. What if the vote between Ali and Ricky is actually pretty close and this week comes out in Ricky's favour? The switch to Ali might merely boost her support above Ricky's but not get near Chris. Then Ricky goes out because of tactical voting rather than through.

As I say, risky.

I havent voted this year but will definitely be putting in a couple for RW this weekend. It would serious be blimming ridiculous if Chris goes through instead of Ricky.


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Sick bucket please someone

Behave Vincy - eveyone is entitled to an opinion - whatever they look for: dance ability, entertainment or the 'j' word.

To some 'cute' will be just as appealing as Ali, elegant but soulless and/or Ricky; undoubtedly talented, but for some reason unable to engage public affection.

At the end of the day the public, those prepared to pick up the phone and vote for the couple who have best captured their imagination, will decide the eventual winners.