Also, if the unthinkable happens, it would be a hollow victory for Anton. I think he would be embarrassed to accept that glitter ball knowing that others who have won it have deserved it and knowing he had the worst partner in the competition. Also, as he has been in it from the beginning he would not want to be part of the demise of Strictly. I can't see other celebs or professionals being willing to put in the hard work in the future if people can win with comedy routines. It wouldn't bother Ann, but I think it would bother Anton.

This may never happen but I would just like the Ann voters to stop and think what damage it could cause to the show and the careers of the pros if their votes helped her to win.

I just can't imagine the embarrassment if she wins. I mean the Beeb didn't invite Chris and Ola to do their winner's dance this year, IMO as a non-Cola supporter through embarrassment knowing he wasn't the best dancer. Can you imagine Ann being invited along next year to appear and show the new batch what they have to do to win? No, neither can I.

If she does win, that'll be the last time I'll be watching it. It's pathetic.

I admit I wasn't a team Cola supporter either, but their charleston hugely entertaining, thanks to some inspired choreography, and Chris did work hard & had personality, unlike Ricky who was (technically) the better dancer, but lacked personality, and people found him less likable. So I can fully understand why people voted for him.

Whereas Ann doesn't work hard, hasn't got personality, and I fail to understand what anyone can see in her as being entertainment. She appears to think the whole "dance thingy" as being totally beneath her, but worse, treats the show with utter disrespect.

Which is why I question what the bleep she's doing appearing on Strictly. "Get a life" to dance fans? "I'm not doing that" with Anton stood behind her demonstrating the Samba roll conveniently on camera? She's savvy or she wouldn't have lasted in the bear-pit of politics.

I can't see that anyone who has been voting for Felicity, Patsy etc would transfer to She Who Must Not Be Named. If they found She Who Must Not Be Named entertaining surely they would already be voting for her.

Yes, I do grant you that. Chris was certainly a more deserving champion than Ann could ever be but that doesn't mean I think he deserved to win I think a rabid dog being electrocuted would be more rhythmical than Ann and would probably try harder too and therefore be more deserving of winning than Ann.

The whole "dance thing" is the most baffling bit of it. She only gives the slightest semblence of bothering to the ballroom dances. Why sign up to the show at all if you think at least half of the dances are distasteful? (And if you think the moves are distasteful, how do you justify to yourself being lifted by one leg and being flung around like , well, that?)

For publicity, pure and simple. It obviously plays a huge part in why all of them sign up but with the rest of them they're willing to give it all they've got and really try and I think usually around one third of the way into the comp, it becomes really serious for them and they don't want to go til they've learned all they can learn. With Ann, it seems like she just wants to stay because she's got nothing else to do and she enjoys the popularity this show has inexplicably given her.

Oh, I agree entirely (my post being somewhat rhetorical!)! Many are just coming out of things, or have been out of the limelight for a while. It's part of what I like about Gavin, incidentally: he's been injured and so out of focus in his sport. But it's rare to have sportspeople on this when still competing - Jade was one, and I was told Mark was still competing in cricket when he appeared.

I suspect Ann really likes Lens comments about her being a "game old bird". I think that was exactly what she was aiming for. I can't call her "game" when she's not really trying, though.

Can she actually win this series? Unfortunately.

"...the runaway train came down the track and she blew..."

I wonder if she'll join the tour?

BTW I noticed despite her protestations to the contrary, I'm afraid we WERE treated to a glimpse of her knickers on Saturday. It quite put me off my tea!

Anton should be told on his website that if he has any ambitions at all of succeeding Bruce, he may not have a show to compere if the Beeb repeat this folly for one more year. You see more and more posts now about how the joke has worn off, and if the line-up next year includes another well-known spherical shape with attitude, people just won't bother watching a foregone conclusion.

Serves 'em right for letting her dictate the ground rules for her dances. There should be a disqualification clause for not trying.

"she just wants to stay because she's got nothing else to do and she enjoys the popularity this show has inexplicably given her"
Could the mounting weekly pay cheques have more to do with it?

Agreed. And it's not only the money, it's also the fact that Strictly has raised her profile. No doubt she'll be invited onto loads of BBC shows like Have I got News For You, Question Time, and other panel shows, while poor Anton could see his TV career in tatters.

I blame the producers.

Ramps is still playing first class cricket now but then it is a summer sport and if you're not p[alying for engalnd you get the winter off whereas rugby is a winter sport so you only get retired/recouperating players

agreed - if she were reallyu going for it, I would applaud her effort, but she's not so I don't

Ann for the Glitter ball.

Why shouldn't we have a champ that can't dance we have three judges that aren't qualified to judge the Ballroom & Latin dances.

Len is the only qualified judge.

Not for one minute do I think Ann will win. As the better dancers depart I cannot see their supporters transferring their allegiance to her.

If Patsy and Gavin go before her, coupled with Felicity last Saturday I hope and believe their votes will be distributed between the top 3 so she might go sooner than we think. In any event should the nightmare become a reality and she makes the final 2 I can imagine the support of every dancer who took part will swing to Ann's opponent to ensure a dancer wins the competition.

I don't think Ann will (or should) win but if she did then Anton would have deserved the victory. He is working incredibly hard and it is Anton who makes their performances funny.

I don't think she will win. As I've said elsewhere it's possible that Gavin will go first - he's not exactly a contender so from that point of view he shouldn't be in the final 4. For that matter unless Patsy improves dramatically she's not up there with the others either.

So the weakest three in my mind are obviously Ann, followed by Gavin and Patsy. They could go over the next three weeks in any order.

And it's best that everyone stays in the competition because if Ann pulls out now they won't give a stay of execution for one week and that means that the competition is likelier to lose one of the top dancers in the next couple of weeks leaving an unsatisfactory final say between either Patsy and Gavin and one of the top four.

I think we will lose Patsy, Gavin and Pamela over the next three weeks. I think we will probably lose one of the top three in the semi-final. Then the world (well, viewers and the red tops) will have a week of hysteria, culminating in Ann coming third in the final.

I notice no one is worrying that Gavin may/could win.

I think he has an outside chance - I think he will make the final three.

he's not great but at least he tries to do the dances properly

Even as a fan of Anton and Ann I don't think they will win, and in fairness nor should they, as there are not only better, but more popular dancers.

I appreciate that the genral public (myself included) are a little perverse - but that would be a stage too far.

But, if they DO win then it will teach the BBC not to include no hopers in the first place.

why cant he have a little accident in training and break her toes or something nothing to painful for her but enough to put her out of the competition. I quite like ann as a person but I watch this show for the dancing I love to watch gavin but appriciate hes not the best matt is my favorite and has been from the start ann staying in could put him out

That is not a prospect I would welcome, but if he or Ann do win I won't lose any sleep over an entertainment show. SCD will return next year eh Mr Bond?