I'm not a dance expert, but, I really didn't think Scott's rumba was that bad! I'm wondering if the stiltedness people are pointing too was down to the pulled hamstring, which has not had a mention since ITT midweek.

I wondered about that too.

It wasn't his best dance, but it wasn't all that bad. The type of dance may not suit him, but what I like about Scott is that when he dances he's very intense, not thinking about how he looks, but just being there in the moment of the dance. And despite his stiffness he did that again in the rumba.

As for Gavin: it was wonderful seeing him come out of his shell, it looked like this was the first time he actually had real fun dancing it with Katya. I wonder if something is growing between them that makes him so relaxed. And it was certainly his best dance.

Nah - I think it's the fact that that he's back training for rugby again. That's got his pecker up (so to speak) and he can now start enjoying himself. He's had a hard time of it lately (Mrs kicking him out, getting a new bloke etc), also injury problems and career issues. I thought it was funny when they started all the 'ball stuff'. As props go, it's a bit less obvious than that swing/trellis thing that Ali/Matt had.

... perhaps hext week he could floor Kat with a full on body tackle half-way through the routine...!

Oh? Would this be the same Chris Hollins who produced one of the best male rumbas Strictly has seen? On week 1 no less

If Gavin got to the final, imagine the Show Dance! He's so strong, he'll be throwing Katya around - left, right and centre! Could be a good'un!!

This is so compleatly rediculous, the 4 from Craig was an insult and the 9 was too high, it was a 7/8. why Alesha had to make that comment ill never know. There is simply no comparison, I thought Gavin was awful again but give him a rugby ball and it seems to get you more marks
Jeez Scott has one bad week which to be fair after last week was bound to happen and all of a sudden Gavin is a better dancer, give me a break.

Scott has troubles with his hamstring this week during training!

There was not a lot to chose between them...as others have said...good dancer doing hardest Latin for a non pro...worst male celeb doing the easiest...along with a silly stunt

It was a relief to see Gavin being a little less cringeworthy...maybe he's happier having secured his rugby future

Even with his worst dance, Scott was better, just not by much.

We saw Scott dancing in training chewing gum while dancing. I was left with the feeling that if he had been chewing gum during that Rumba, it wouldn't have made much difference to the dance.

The pictures of the night look great. Must say, the costume department are amazing and do a great job each week.

Best dress was Kara's, mind you she would look great in anything, her dance too was so so good.

Gavin did look all the more confident once he got hold of that rugby ball and looked happier this week.

Ann seems to be developing into a very good actress out there who would have thought it! See, she does have an acting talent, something that perhaps has been lost when we have been concentrating on the dancing!

Gavin did outdance him. And the excuses are ridiculous - a pulled hamstring doesn't mean that you fail to finish all your arm movements and can't move your hips! Scott danced the rumba very poorly (but it clearly was not his dance and he is overall the better dancer), whilst Gavin who is a poor but improving dancer clearly felt more comfortable with the cha cha cha.

In that training VT, I noted that his arm work was poor if not non-existent. He didn't look interested in what he was doing at all. I'm surprised Natalie didn't pick up on it.


Even to a dance neophyte (me), Scott didn't look too good and Gavin looked better in parts than we've seen him. Still some wooden moments (the New Yorkers?) where he appeared to be walking but on the whole, he looked like he could be getting it. And it may help that his criticism from Craig was constructive - he can work on 'flat-footed', can't he?

No way, will Gavin ever outdance Scott.

thanks Stunty. The photographers do a great job of getting the images ready for the press very quickly. And of course, the images look so great because of the work that goes into the whole Strictly experience. I think that comes through with the images and it's useful to freeze-frame some of the moments, to see what really went on ! Thumb-gate, in particular !!

OMG, what a gorgeous couple Katia and Gavin make!!!

In case of doubt, I'm male and got the hots for Katia, especially in her hot pants. But mention Gavin to be pc.

Scott's performance was poor and Gavins' was much improved. Overall Gavin was a bit better that Scott.

I agree - Gavin's rhumba also sucked and it's a fair bet Scott's ccc will be reasonable. A lot of male celebs struggle with the rhumba including Ramps who was one of the best celebrity males on the latin side Strictly's ever seen.

As good as Matt Baker?

Ditto.

It really wasn't that bad, the 4 was way too low. It was just an understated, slightly dull routine. He did have good hip action, good arms, good feet and leg lines, and he was acting it really well.

It was a 7/8 from me, but then that would have put him in the dodgey mid-leaderboard area with Jimi!

I think it was Karen on ITT who said having the Rumba on a night of lots of different dances put him at a disadvantage because rumba choreography doesn't move around the floor or have the potential for lots of Wow moves. If he'd had it in a week when half the celebs had it, he would have looked better for being compared like with like.

Natalie is a Ballroom specialist, and I think her choreography was somewhat uninspired for this dance. Also the performance wasn't helped by dull music and outfits.

Lol

I quite agree

Yes, Gavin did outdance Scott. It was the first time, and quite likely the last time he'll ever manage to do that, but last week he did, fair and square. And I consider Scott one of the best dancers to ever appear on SCD.
Leave Gavin to enjoy his moment, he's deserved it.

I wouldn't know how close Gavin came to outdancing Scott as I don't have the qualifications to say if he did or not. What I do know is that the watching pleasure scored highly for Gavin this week as at long last he'd dropped his inhibitions and genuinely looked to be enjoying it.

It added to the pleasure of watching whatever Strictly is dance, entertainment or dance and entertainment show when Gav scored a well done from me.

That's no way to refer to the sainted Widders - a brick, really - she has fans and everything.

I think Alesha said what she said to help keep Gavin motivated. During some of the training clips his dances have looked a lot better then what he's done on the night and I think most people can see his nerves really hold him back, and whether techincally brilliant or not this was really the first week Gavin came out and looked happy to dance.

For me I prefered to watch Gavins dance to Scotts, yes that probably is a lot to do with how the Rumba usually looks very uncomfortable and the Chacha is a fun dance, but for me Gavin was better. Maybe not on the technical side but he came out and performed better than he has done so far and maybe Alesha just wanted to boost his confidence. Gavin isn't going to win this, Scott might.

Kaos I think you are right. And let's face it, most people respond better to encouragement. You can see Gavin positively bloom when someone says something good about his dancing. You can be critical in a positive way - isn't that what constructive criticism is ?? Katya must be really working very hard with Gavin and they are both results driven so this must be incredibly hard on both of them. I think they should be encouraged as well as given corrections in a positive way. Same with all the couples !