I don't think Matt had a tantrum , he simply didn't know what to say to Tess's daft questions. .He has learned a routine , it seemed to go well , at least Aliona seemed to think it did and then after a week's hard work , he gets a thorough telling off and doesn't knwo why .

We have seen many celebrities close to or even in tears, after the judge's comments, over the years .

reckon it's tactical marking which will backfire on the judges sensationally. Alesha has been very nasty tonight and seems to not be neutral sort of thing. The bosses need to know now that theinfluence of Len needs to diminish. I'd like to actually personally speak to Moira Ross and grill her of why she is doing this?

I think you would have to be inhuman NOT to react at times to criticism - but Matt has been a bit narky a few times. turning his nose up at an 8 early on - prompting the judges in the VT on the results show to state that an "8" is a good score (that early). He wasn't happy with Alesha's criticism of his facial expressions but then also (was it their modern AS?) Aliona had to actually explain what the dance was trying to achieve - and I agree with Len - if you have to explain - then you've missed something,

That being said - I can't see Matt doing a Jan Raven. I am no real fan of his - but boy started with rhythm. He can move - there is no doubt about that. But when you start good - where else is there for you to go?

FWIW - I don't think he will go - I suspect it will be Gav, and maybe Scott because he has a bit of an uphill climb after a few scatty weeks.

But as I've said before - I now get the comments re: Aliona's choreo - although I have found her (and her custard) mor4e endearing this time around. But she needs to bring out the DANCING and not the tricks. Compare to Katya - who now repeats the same steps for Gav because we know he's improving but not enough - and I LOVE him!!! I think he's hilarious - but I certainly wouldn't vote for him to WIN the whole thing!

And Matt needs to remember it's EVERYONE giving their all - not JUST him.

But he's through - or I'll chew my socks off.
(as I do with his presenting!!!)

Pammie, Matty and Kara for the Final.

Dunno

ITT took over 24 hours the other night.

Can't people see thats exactly what the BBC want for their golden boy, the sympathy vote to get him to the final and by the look of the response on this thread they have may well have succeeded. Their mission will be rewarded !!

Enjoyed the show tonight, Kara imo was streets ahead and deserved her top of the leaderboard. Roll on tomorrow.

So the BBC will be very happy with tonight's performance.

"Ratings rule!"

Okay, let me try again:

Gavin is a bad dancer. He's become an okay dancer. His samba is bad, really bad. So no expectations.

Matt is a good dancer. He's still a good dancer. His salsa is not good, but not bad either. So those slating is wholly OTT. Thus his deflated reactions.

You mean Tall Paul, or Paul Tall?

Absolutely agree with that. People are missing the point tis is not the first he had problem with then judges comments and it's not even justified because his Salas was not great. Look how well the others take it when criticised. You have to take the good with the bad.

I dont think theres much difference between Scott and Gavin - with the exception that Scott did a great jive but otherwise i think they are very similar - i think Gavin however has greater public support than Scott

Ahh I just quite like Paul, even though he is obsessed with Matt.

Paul, you need to calm down hun, it's just a tv show and I know because I've been there with Austin, I had no sense of perspective.

But it's the judges' opinions, your's differs, that's all. When you support someone so passionately, you feel they're being got at, but there is just something about Matt's dancing that does not engage the judges, or me either and a lot of it is that they are getting fed up of Aliona's choreography and are losing patience so weeks of it all come out in one verbal vomit.

We all have felt that our favourites have been treated unfairly and that's how you know it's generally fair if we're all feeling that way on different weeks.

Look, Scott messed up his AS. The judges praised him to the sky, try to find excuses for him, and scored him 9s (!!!). Scott has never seemed to recover from that awful week and his AT was boring me to tears. Still got a nine.

Matt was slated, and perhaps the judges were rightfully expecting Matt to really shine but the choreography sucks and he's trying 'too hard'. They judge him for what it is, then they should be fair about Scott too. I would say they should score about the same score tonight, the criticisms notwithstanding. Can you imagine how Matt would feel in this context?

But why then does Len address all his comments to Matt? Why does he not take Aliona to task the way he does with Brendan (the doughnut)? It was as much how Len spoke than anything else. If he didn't like the routine then fair enough, but he should be able to speak to Matt and Aliona in the same way he does to other couples. He told Gavin that the Samba wasn't his dance in a nice way. Why doesn't Matt deserve the same approach?


I do not get this conspiracy theory at all.

Not sure if I enjoyed tonights show....

Loved Pam's Paso and Kara's VW.

Could give or take the other three....spent the duration of them on the phone.

As for the swingathon Never again. Please.

I didn't really enjoy the show very much tbh. Kara's VW was fantastic, but then it was spoiled by 3 of the judges giving her a 10, even though we all know she had a foot off the ground.

I hope tomorrow night is a vast improvement.

I think Scott may well have the mot entertaining dance tomorrow, Charleston is always a crowd pleaser so he may well pull back some public support !! ( If he dances it well )

kara all the way, she looks like a pro dancer. Lovin Artem, best newbie by a mile.
Gavin has the personality of a wet tea towel, maybe he'd dance better if the studio was covered wall to floor with mirrors?
Love Pamela but James gets on my nerves.
Thought judges were correct with Matt but didn't have to be so blunt.
Scott couldn't care either way.

I suspect the idea of Ann in the Swingathon is what killed her votes last week. One dance as a joke is a joke, three dances as a joke (including a swingathon) is unusual and unnatural cruelty - to the audience

It used to be quite hard to get a '10' on Strictly - they are being devalued as even if you make a mistake it seems you can still get one

Love Kara she is the best
Cannot take to Pamela at all
like Matt but does lack something, not sure what it is !!
Like Scott but has been a bit below par these last few weeks
Gavin is a trier I will give him that but sadly the worst of the bunch.

Come on Kara you could well do this and win that gliiterball !!!

That is bit of over statement, The judges have acknowledged Scott's mistakes in their comments, it was the scoring in which they over marked him. The week of Scott's rumba they were very harsh to him, but he took it so well and even agreed with them.

Alesha even made point of saying Gavin danced better than Scott. Imagine if she said that about Matt, he would still be talking about it. Its not just tonight in which Matt reacted badly to the judges comments, almost every time they criticise him, he does not take it well. Remember his ridiculous comment about Alesha on the VT and him constantly going on about not getting a 10. It’s not like he was insulted or anything.

Even celebs who received insulting or harsh comments acted more gracefully than Matt. Look at how Kara takes the constant underscoring she has been getting.

Yep but unfortunately you cannot ignore the J word. This has always been to a certain extent a popularity contest. Gavin has tried hard and improved immeasurably without having an ounce of musical talent or rythym,

Matt is a great dancer but Aliona just cannot showcase or choreograph a dance. And unfortunately for him, she decided early on with a strategy of 'it's not what the judges think, it's what the public that matters'. That's fine for a someone who doesn't dance well but for a good dancer, that's suicide. The only way to win is at least adequate judges' marks.

Matt would have won with either Katya or Flavia or indeed almost any other female professional. With Aliona, he will be very lucky indeed to even make the final. The judges were harsh but they expressed what I thought. And BTW I thought they were way too soft on Scott who only did one leg ornament.

Can any kind person help me figure out if you are top of the leader board could you be bottom two after the public vote .??