I thought the judging was fair tonight.

I have not been much of a Matt fan this series (apart from his Austin Powers, which was brilliant!) but I really didn't like the way the judges spoke to him tonight. I thought they were unduly harsh and his poor face. He was crushed. If I am honest, I think they may have guaranteed he stays in behaving like that.

It will be a gymnastic display as opposed to a showdance really, wont it? I feel really bad saying this but I want to see dancing not acrobatics.

He's the BBC's "blue-eyed boy" at the moment so will be unused to criticism.

I think even the judges are tired of being reminded of his back-flip, then there was the unicycle. It's supposed to be dance.
He's not really improved much beyond the basic dancing ability with which he came into the competition. The others have.
I kept my eyes off Aliona who was "running interference" for him and he wasn't doing a lot. Blame who you like for the choreography, but it's "manner of presentation" more than "contents of programme" that gets the notice.

No I can't agree I don't think Alesha was rude and the other judges were just saying how they saw it. It was ok but as a salsa it wasn't great. Whether four 7s was justified I'm not entirely sure but Scott's Argentine Tango overall was a better dance than Matt's salsa so 28 was probably about right.

I like Matt, but that was shite. Partly because he didn't do the execution, but mostly I think because the choreography was very very poor and made the whole thing very bitty and messy and broken up. He couldn't do the armography if it wasn't there, and there were far too many lifts and gimmicks.

Aliona is just shockingly selfish. I hope he goes through, because i keep hoping she'll allow him to do a lovely classic dance. But I'm constantly disappointed by him, because of her.

This is a salsa. What Matt and Aliona did was more like a samba!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=430Lw...eature=related

I did feel for him tonight, when he wore his heart on his sleeve with disappointment. But, he lacked some serious control with his dance. It was too frenetic, which was perhaps down to both his dancing and his choreography.

He's a great, limber little mover. He just needs some self control with his hips and upper body. In the nicest way possible, he reminds me of a tightly wound spring, he just kind of goes for it and follows the momentum. But, it is obvious he has natural grace and a natural light touch – I just wish he could bring the two together.

I think he would have been perfect with Lilia.

agreed they have been awful tonight and I may e-mail a complaint for their rudeness. It is uncalled for, even Alesha who I have had more respect for was a right cow towards him tonight. She should know better.

I'm not anti-matt or anything but I honestly do think that was his worst dance of the series. Also, I think you may have got confused by the statement in your post. That Salsa was Matt's worst dance of the series. When it said HIS worst dance of the series, it meant his Salsa out of all HIS (matt) dances. I also don't think Scott's are relevant to this statement. If the comment had been THE worst dance of the series then fair enough, compare his Salsa to others.

I don't think that was disappointment he was wearing on his shoulder. I think that was outrage, that's how it came off in my house. My brother thought he looked like he was going to knock Len out lol. It came off as more of a strop to me than deep disappointment But I do think the judges, while correct in their assessment and scoring, went on a bit too much - just like Len did in Blackpool to Kara & Artem. If you're going to be critical, say it quickly. Don't have them out there for a good 5 minutes shouting at them that they suck

Exactly!

I've seen enough of Matt's "floor exercise"

Time for the pommel horse, parallel bars, vault, still rings, or high bar?

Surely as has been mentioned before, Matt has the least time/opportunity to practice.

He darts about all over the country filming for Countryfile, not just for the that weeks ep but also for future eps.

Granted Aliona goes with him to some places, but not being able rehearse in a studio must make it difficult to get into.

Plus he does the One Show and possibly other TV/radio/paper commitments.

I'm not saying the others don't have other things on their schedule, Scott after Matt probably has the least time.

Gavin, well not sure if he has rugby training at the moment, so he may have plenty of spare time and it hasn't done him much good.

The way I see it is, usually if someone is taught Chess for only 1 hour, they won't be as good as someone who has spent 100 hours playing it.

Didnt he use them on Blue Peter? Would be an unfair advantage


Sorry....it's just I really worry what Aliona will come up with in the final

Actually, I thought his score was rather generous seeing as the routine was rubbish. He wasn't undermarked particularly - he was overmarked...as was Gavin.

I think he'll certainly get a sympathy vote, and I think the judges are well aware of it.

Yes it was extremely rude of them...almost as if they were picking holes in him on purpose. ~Hes not arrogant like Gavin, nor Im So Handsome Scott or little miss perfect Kara.
Matts a lovely guy and he dosent deserve that level of criticism.

Yes... and just WHY do these guys prefer Gavin.... maybe he appeals to the two judges either end of the table!!!!

I think it is grossly unfair to imply that all Matt does is gymnastics or acrobatics! Aliona gives him elements of that to show up what he can do in much the same way that Vincent had Felicity showing her flexibility. But his ballroom dances have been full of beautiful lines and footwork. I do worry what Aliona may come up with for a show dance, but (sorry Erin - I love your work normally!!!) it can not be the worst show dance ever seen on the show!!!

He was one of my latter Blue Peter presenters, meaning that I was growing out of it after he'd been on a couple of years.

Back then I thought he'd make it as a prime time presenter, he has manners, charm, good looks, a sort of geeky quality that appeals to people. He seems to me to be a people person, and he's good on The One Show and Countryfile.

I thought that his gymnastic abilities would prevent him from being able to take in SCD, I was under the impression that it would give him an unfair advantage. But alas even with this ability he seems to be falling by the way side.

I felt so sorry for Matt tonight! He's got the potential to be fantastic (look at his Samba, and his Cha Cha!) but Aliona's choreography was awful.

The routine had a gazillion of lifts which I am sure were physically exhausting for Matt, and added nothing to the dance, if anything they ruined it!

I really really want to see them in the final, but if Aliona didn't get the balance of the routine right in the tango, I don't think they'll survive it.

Having said that, despite the rubbish choreography, it was still better than Scott and Natalie's AT,

And you think the judges are rude?

i like Matt - however, for me the dance really didn't have the salsa feel, and as for the bit on the floor, even my oh mentioned what was that !!

He's in a dance competition where he performed not to his usual standard. The judges are there to judge and criticise. It doesn't matter if he is a nice person or not, it's the nature of the beast of reality TV - you don't deliver the goods, you don't get a gold star and a lollipop.