It will come down to those who like to watch car crash humiliation approximating dancing and those who want entertaining dancing.

Despite the obvious difference in ability last years winner Chris was at least entertaining and really did try to dance. Allowing Anton to use you as a floor polisher is not dancing and last weeks effort was not even entertaining IMHO.

There again I never was a fan of the Norman Wisdom (RIP) style of humour.

Won't happen. However entertaining this woman still appears to be, common sense will prevail in the coming weeks. I have faith in the GBP.
She'll stay in a couple more weeks; so we can first get rid of Michelle, Gavin and Felicity [in no particular order, mind] because besides being left totally unaffected by the dancing bug (as is Ann) these three could tank the dreariest of dullfests ****Get the coats please....we're leaving***:sleep:

We are closer together than I thought then!

I would see myself as someone who prefers dance over les bien amusants, but I don't really mind the joke contestants or the manipulative storylines to be honest. I wouldn't even mind if one of them - Ann this year - ended up winning. The bits of the show I like are there regardless - the professional dancers, the better-dancing celebrities getting even better. So I'm happy.

I think this year's upgrades are by and large positive in the sense that the show needed freshening up - if the BBC keep interest going, I still get to see the dancing, y'see? I don't mind the props. I don't mind the lifts being allowed. But I do mind it when I don't recognise the dance - Matt Baker doing lifts to Bat out of Hell and everyone calling it an AT - and that's the point where I'm danger of losing my zen. So I hope there aren't any more themed nights, or, if there are, I recognise the dance underneath the theme!

I doubt you'll find that with AW, too thick skinned and arrogant.

I think there's a very good chance Ann could make the final. I actually think that's been the plan all along. With the contingency plan put in place to make sure there will definitely be 3 couples in the final, I can see a scenario where there are two very good couples and Ann and Anton. It would also satisfy Anton (and his fans) for him to finally make the final, although ironic he does it with his worst ever partner! He might possibly then not do next years series as he has always said he would like to make the final before bowing out.

The thing is that if Ann and Anton made the final it would generate a massive viewing audience, which is all the BBC care about. Ann has had the most column inches devoted to her this series and if she were in the final it would produce so much publicity for the show that the BBC would be happy.

I don't think she'd win but I think two good couples and a comedy act is what the producers want for this years final. Personally speaking I wouldn't be happy with Ann in the final but unfortunately I think it could very well be what happens.

^^ This.

Perfect post (but I would say that, because you've read my mind!)

I haven't seen a lot of press coverage of Strictly, because I don't read the sort of newspaper that bothers (sniff), but if the media is picking up on it, isn't that similar to the Jedward nonsense last year? And we know what happened there.

The only thing that does worry me is that her appearance on the show coincides with the production decision to do away with the judges' final vote. If she is as popular as is suspected, then she could very well make the final and, heaven forfend, win the bloody thing. At which point, I will try to find my inner zen and reflect on the importance of people power in a democracy.

If Ann wins, it surely would be the end of the show, no pro would want to do a show that isn't based around learning to dance.

I don't find her entertaining in the slightest, I find her uncomfortable to watch.

But I highlighted that bit because if she did win, I wouldn't watch Strictly next year, but I wouldn't watch anything with that dreadful w@n*** involved, I can't bear him.

What an embarrassment she is and I'm sure Anton ridicules and laughs at her behind her back. I bet he's praying for it all to come to an end.

I dont think she will win it but I think she can make the final especally as it is 3 in the final this year but a better dancer will win

Of course, she could win it. What could be sure to stop her?

The judges are already putting her at the bottom of the leader-board, and there's no dance off. What more can they do? If they criticise her more harshly, it gets her more votes. If they give her higher marks to lull supporters into a non-voting sense of security, that's as good as good as votes. If they are nice to her, with similar lulling aims, but still give low marks, the votes will still come in.

The producers clearly want her to stay. They gave her a flying routine. She's bigged up on ITT in "don't you live Ann" fashion. The show has almost completely caved in to the "it's entertainment", dance-hostile noise that became so prominent when John Sergeant was there. Besides, they don't dare be mean to a Tory when the Tory government is so keen to cut and when the anti-BBC Tory press is looking for targets of opportunity.

I almost hope she does win, just to crush the smug, complacent belief that there's nothing wrong because a good dancer always wins in the end, regardless of what happens along the way.

It would even feel a bit like revenge for Chris Hollins.

I don't reckon he does actually.

She could win it, but I hope she doesn't.

However, she can take out Michelle, Gavin, Felicity, and Patsy before I start to get really annoyed by her persistence.

But there's less of it. Every time one of the better celebs goes out, we see at least one or two fewer of their dances.

I don't especially mind Ann, because her presence makes only one week's difference. If she goes out, that saves better dancers for one week only.

The problem is that whole show is being skewed away from dance.


I mind the props and the extra lifts and the dances, such as the Charleston, that are marked as if the dance part is optional, because I want the entertainment to come from dancing, and the more the show offers ways for celebs to hide their lack of dance content behind other things, the more the show is about ham acting or rubbish circus acts rather than dancing.

Like a snowball rolling down a hill, it may pull in new viewers who might keep it rolling.

Faith in the British public? our dictator invaded a non-threat country and was re-elected.

Anything is possible.

I'm still keen for more votes in the poll! Have you voted yet?

http://twtpoll.com/kkk8jp

If we think some of the changes on SCD are bad, it will be nothing to what will happen to the show if AW was to win.

It will make a complete farce is she does win it.

I completely agree with you, what a buffoon she looks.

No she won't win. A couple more weeks maybe. She has been good entertainment but can't compete with the serious contenders.

I think she'll get quite boring and repetitive soon and flying so early could end up being a mistake, as where can she really go from there? Especially as there are quite a few very strong dancers to get behind this year.

Hmmm.

RubyT, I can't help noticing that all your posts seem to be about promoting your polls.

Do you have an opinion you'd like to share with us?

Not evil friend, thick maybe
Face it the Anne votes contain very many anti the majority "we will show you" malcontents who find fun in being against the majority in a spiteful way

Many others of course can overcome that embarrassing feeling when watching a no hoper and genuinely gain entertainment from frantic efforts to match those with some semblance of natural talent which improves weekly
I have no problem with the second group but feel very sorry for the malcontents and their sad existence

No, I think the vox populae will come to its belated senses and kick her out at the semifinals - but the longer the contestant stays in, the more he/she will earn.

Would be infuriating for a youngster to learn that Mad Ann will be donating her bit to charity.

John was much better entertainment.
What I can't figure is why people moan about so called better dancers having to go. LISTEN UP if they are not popular then they were not going to win. The whole program is a farce from a dance perspective. Any serious competition would have everybody doing the same dance and a panel of professional judges.

She won't win, but she'll go a while longer. I'll be mad if she claims the scalps of, say, Jimmi and Pamela, and sadly that could happen.

The Beeb and Widdecombe are making hay while the sun shines, but dark clouds are coming. She'll go well before the final.