.... because the judges know that if he makes it to the finals, against Ali (lets face it Ricky would lose a Ricky/ali d/o) thenhe will win hands down, and the judges dont want him to win...

so I expect him to trail by some way in the leaders board next week (not helped by the AT- a bloody difficult dance!!)

you sure about that? Dont underestimate the power behind Team Cola - lol

Ricky was top by miles in this week's judges votes and he ended up in the dance off.

I don't agree that the Judges don't want him to win. He is the favourite at the moment anyway.

The only thing that can save Chris is a rollover i.e. all 3 go through to the final in 2 weeks with all their scores carried forward from next Saturday.

They did that last year to avoid a controversy - so they may do so again.

Let's face it an Ali vs Ricky final will be boring - cos Ali will win by a landslide and everyone knows that!

If it goes to form and the leaderboard is R-A-C but the public is C-A-R, Chris will be straight through. And tonight's result seems to confirm Ali being more popular than Ricky.

So the only way Chris won't go straight through is if Ali tops the table.

Personally, they're my favourite three so the only thing that could make me happier would be a two week final with all three

Chris will be there .. because he can sell a dance (without doing any of the steps that would be required of anybody else) .. and we will lose Ali because she will be against Ricky who is usually scored higher.

Ali has the most difficult job in the argentine tango .. the men have it more easy .. Chris has only got to come out looking the part and that will be enough for the judges.

Of course he's going to be last on the leaderboard next week. But it doesn't matter whether that's by one point or fifty.

Assuming from tonight's DO that Ricky is the least popular dancer, Chris will go through if Ricky scores higher than Ali next week.

Do they have any dances left to do, or is it favourite dance rechoreographed plus AT next week?

and Chris will win by a landslide if he is in the final .. how come that's not boring!!??

If I believed in conspiracies I'd bet on a tie next week at the top of the leaderboard between Ali and Ricky.

I thought Team Cola were woefully undermarked yet again by the judges. Week after week this happens, and I suspect it's one of the reasons why they do so well in the public vote.

Besides, what sane hetrosexual male wants Ola voted off?

Why would they do that? Under this year's system, that would result in Ali and Ricky getting 3 points from the judges, and Chris getting 2. It would make Chris more likely to reach the final.

Unless you were implying there's a conspiracy on the part of the judges to get Chris to the final

How on earth can you say they were undermarked when nearly every judge said that Chris hardly did ANY Samba steps !!?? .. the marks were for the fact that he sold the dance .. great, but it was't a Samba . If only the others had known they didn't have to bother doing the correct steps for the Samba they wouldn't be sitting at home twiddling their sequins.

Trust me as long as he comes out for the AT looking like a gaucho .. he'll get an 8 at least without doing any steps.

[QUOTE=Scattyjan;37110397]If it goes to form and the leaderboard is R-A-C but the public is C-A-R, Chris will be straight through. And tonight's result seems to confirm Ali being more popular than Ricky.

So the only way Chris won't go straight through is if Ali tops the table.Personally, they're my favourite three so the only thing that could make me happier would be a two week final with all three [/quote]

I was just going to type exactly that, i'm not writing Chris off at all, after seeing Ricky in two dance-offs he must be coming bottom with the public and we already know he's top with the judges, we just need a repeat of this week and Chris is through.

Or the judges could score Ali 1st Ricky 2nd and Chris 3rd ...

Ricky and Chris in the DO - this forum will go nuts

Oh yes, sorry I forgot the new points system.

Will be an interesting semi to watch next week ... Chris/Ola fans will have to be cheering for Ricky to top the judges leaderboard. Pretty clear now that Ricky is bottom of public voting. So looks sure Chris will go through next week so long as Ricky comes first with judges (will be a 4-point tie for everyone then, and Chris topping the public vote would see him through).

With two dances per week, ballroom and latin, Ricky seems to have the edge over Ali with the judges when the two scores are combined now. So she'll have to step up her game next week, or Ricky will need to make mistakes.

If Ali ends up top of the judges' leaderboard next week but doesn't perform in a lot of people's eyes better than Ricky ... then it's gonna be 'grassy knoll' time.

Yes - and bottom with the public! I don't see your point on this.

The public voted - gave Ricky the lowest votes - and he is still in the competition!

Watch out for Len handing round notes next week - and then see Ali miraculously topping the judges vote!

I don't think there is anything "definite" about it. Chris is obviously pulling in a lot of votes. He seems nice (I had never heard of him before Strictly but I don't watch breakfast telly), and sometimes he dances well. He certainly entertains. Yet I can't see how he compares to Ali or Ricky. Still, it's the votes that count.

Right. That's why I said:

Len was hideous to Ali tonight .. calling her a 'one trick pony' when Chris shows us the same routine every week.

It's in the programme's interest .. and therefore Len's, to keep in the big bankers ... and that according to reports is cutesy couple Chris and Ola.

I can't see Ali topping the leader board next week unless Ricky actually forgets the routines.

I was referring to Team Cola's ballroom dance.

The Salsa was a decent effort considering the reputation it has. But I agree it lacked content.

You'll need a more convincing argument than that if you want to be taken seriously.

How on earth is Chris' foxtrot, for instance, the same as his salsa?