I do feel a bit for Ricky. It's so strange that a good looking guy who can clearly dance incredibly well is not getting the votes. Has it ever happened before?

Credit where it's due. He owned everyone on that dance floor tonight and next week should be a good week for him.

Dancing does have something to do with it. It just doesn't have everything to do with it.

Oo, soapy tit wank, do calm down, dear!

That's my point - the joy that the couples derive from dancing is wondrous to see. Except some couples seem less joyous than others. I like Cola for their delight and Chris' improvement.

Thank you drbolognaise

Some sense at last

I totally agree with your post.

I don't know Ricky personally, but from from an avid Strictly fan's perspective ( I have not missed a series and I have been to live shows in London) - I am truly perplexed by the lack of support towards one of the best dancers of the series and/or maybe even programme overall?!?

What is going on?

For goodness sake, forget the professional partner (established Strictly professional or not), forget the media coverage (or lack of; lack of ITT - work commitments; pap incident etc) he has proved tonight he is by far the best best dancer in the competition.

Disagree if you want - you are not going to get much support!

Yes I am a real DR. are Doctors not allowed irrationally angry human emotions? I'm an angry Dr at the moment writing on my iPhone which makes it harder. I can't always be fair and reasonable on here and wholeheartedly agreewith the OP, the GBP are mad. I feel really sorry for Ricky and Ali tonight.

Agree whole heartedly!

I can appreciate how good a dancer he is. But it's still not enough for me, sorry. If you pull all the good bits of the last three together: Ali's grace, Ricky's ability and Chris' personality and showmanship - you'd have the clear winner. None of the remaining three has it all. And so I have to choose the one that brings the most enjoyment and makes me smile.

Simply, that couple is Chris and Ola.

So drBolognaise, I'm off to specsavers to collect my Cola-tinted glasses.

Loved the foxtrot.

But these Carl Zeiss lenses (and how expensive were THEY?) are only letting me see the delight and enthusiasm and effort of Cola. Should've gone to a different optician!

It's amazing how well the celebs can dance when the pressure is off.

Laila & Anton left on a high - and I was prepared for it. Their parting words to each other were very sweet

In fairness this week people may have assumed he was safe as he got 95/100, and as it was an average-bad performance last week as against a car crash he didn't pull in the votes. I still think he could win, but is clearly up against it.

In a weird way he'd be better off coming second next week - Chris is only safe if the public are the reverse order to the judges so you never know.

With Chris so much worse technically, if he does make the final its not a foregone conclusion. Though Tom Chambers was the most popular last year, I don't think he'd have won the final were it not for the Showdance. You have to give at least one amazing performance to win the final imo.

as opposed to Mr Cheese you mean

Chris could easily give a great showdance. Their Charleston was my favourite dance of the series.

Mine too , even without the cola tinted glasses .

The guy is working 14 hour days then training into the wee hours, unlike Laila who has all the time in the world to give interviews and ensure she's liked. Same with Ali (who I love) and Chris who is never off our tv. Perhaps if the playing field for a popularity contest was the same for all then popularity could be factored in. A pity that some get swayed but gossip and pictures in the paper rather than what happens on a Saturday night.

Oh dear my heart bleeds for him

He's bloody lucky to have two well paid jobs at the moment.

She was second on the leaderboard behind the higher-scored couple Ricky and Natalie If the judges had overmarked Ali into first place and Ricky was in the dance off, you would have a point. I'm a Cola supporter but can see why Ali was above Chris and Ola. Ali's samba was much better than Chris's, imo.

To answer the ops question : Yes.

That said so were the judges, 9's for Ali's shocking dances was ridiculous.

Ricky is by far the best dancer and I want him to win. He's genuine. Cola were pigeonholed and are now just living up to the stupid funness to prove 'yeah, were so fun'.

Chris, you're the worst out of the 3 left, and I for one will start voting next week for Ricky as he's the best, simple.

I would say part of his problem is that he doesn't let go in his Latin. His Cha Cha was far too serious. OK, maybe one might do a more sexy/serious cha cha, but I'm not sure the music suited that kind of a cha cha.

And it looks incongruous when Natalie is beaming all the way through, although I'm not sure she can control The Gurn anyhow.

Ricky can dance but he has zero charm.

The result tonight confirms the unpopularity of this couple that has been seen in polls on DS. I like Ricky but I can't warm to his partnership with Natalie. Chris is the people's favourite and Ali appeals to us romantics. All Ricky has is an over competitive partner.

Is that his his fault though?

The celebrities do not choose their partners - he has to go with what they tell him and he is always gracious to her - even when she has performed badly.

Why is/ and should he be criticised for that?

You are BANG on. My perception of him, before he even went on Strictly was "god, he loves himself. Does he ever keep his top on?".

He is the the least convincing partnership. Chris and Ola are adorable. Brian and Ali are lovely together - and all four are likeable. Ricky and Natalie, sadly, are not.

and on this show, likeability is everything. Dancing ability comes second.

Although there is more focus on the celebrity than the professional dancer, they win or lose as a couple, so the personality of the professional dancer is every bit as much of a valid reason for choosing who to support as the personality of the celebrity is.

I'm not criticising him. I felt sorry for him being in the DO after he'd danced so well. It is unfair but it's about more than the dancing. We probably get a wrong impression of Natalie through the clips on ITT and when they are talking to Tess but we can't help being influenced by them. I like Chris & Ola better despite them not being such good dancers but Ricky, Ali and Chris is the outcome I wanted tonight

I think he comes across as very charming