Sorry if this has been addressed before, i haven't been on the forums for a while, but matt is too desperate to win and i feel he is ruining his own chances. It's like winning this show has become the most important thing in his life, when that's just so silly. This is a dance competition but it should also be enjoyable. Matt's expectations for that salsa were too high which is why he was so upset when he got those comments and scores. This is the only thing that puts me off him. He needs to just relax.

I don't think he expects anything much where the judges are concerned given his past maulings. But it must be hard to get a good audience reaction and the judges pull you to pieces.

He has a natural competitive spirit anyway being a former gymnast. He isn't overbearing with it though in my opinion.

I don't think he's desperate for anything, I think he's committed and trying to do his absolute best.

Jeeesh if he was mucking about and doing the absolute minimum efforts would that be better

I like matt alot, and i do think he is a very good dancer, his tango was very good. It's just this desperation which is only think i don't like. You might see it in a different way and that's fine.

I don't think he is either (taking it too seriously). He was gutted about the comments of the judges, which is understandable.

I also agree with the above posts, I'm pleased he puts in effort.

I'm far from being a Matt fan but I do admire the effort & commitment he puts into everything he does.

Plz don't take this post as trying to take a jibe at matt, i am just trying to express how i feel, i know alot of people feel differently. I just feel if he lets go a bit he can do so much better, which is what he showed with his tango, i hope for a matt and kara final two because he is a very hard working and strong dancer.

Well, it is only a TV show, but look how seriously we all take it! Matt's only human and it's natural to be left feeling hurt by criticism, no matter how much one tries to take it on the chin. I'd be bawling if I had those comments directed at me!

I think why Matt's reactions provoke reactions in some others are because he seems quite a laid back, happy guy, and when he displays disappointment, frustration etc. it seems out of character, when it probably isn't, he just isn't usually seen in situations where it shows.

He seems very honest with his emotions and I'm fine with someone being involved in a programme like this wanting to win ... seems natural to me.
I think their are others who have been less honest and tried to hide their competitiveness with a 'such fun' cover. I prefer the upfront element and I also don't like the comments from the judges/vts making cuts that affect our views. Interesting that the judges used the phrase desperate last night! I feel the cutting probably take out the 'fun/love of dance' comments and visuals that they could use with him and take out the overly competitive comments of others.
My concern for Matt is that next week they will cut his run [to change as under time pressure] like last night to imply storming off and may get a few snippets where he is being upset to actually make him sound grumpy.

Maulings? I am genuinely confused by that remark, since he's had relatively few negative comments, and those have all been constructive suggestions as to how he can improve, and are therefore not 'maulings' in my book. I agree that, like the no 68 bus, he got four negative comments in a row on Friday night, which must have felt like a slap in the face, but he got a standing ovation for a very average salsa; he and Aliona are getting perilously close to believing the audience reaction and not listening to the judges.

If you recall, we had another contestant who did that, and trusted in the public to save her, week after week. Matt is a good dancer and he could be a great one, but not if he believes the hype.

Why not aim to win??? this is competition in the first place.

They should all aim to win, i didn't say he shouldn't want to, i just feel he needs to relax a bit more, that's all, or maybe it's aliona's choreography which i am getting frustrated with, anyway i think he is going to win because his fanbase is the largest.

I think he has received a lot of negative comments from the judges. Although to be fair, I think they were directed at Aliona but he is the one receiving the critique so has to take it on the chin. I think it must be hard for him to see Gavin receiving praise and encouragement for very average performances with terrible timing issues yet they praise him and say well done etc etc so as not to deflate his confidence. They same is not applied to Matt. It is like he is fair game where they are concerned. No consistency in their attitude to the contestants.

There's no harm in entering a competition and wanting to win, I mean otherwise why enter, and don't think Matt is particuarly desperate compared to others, but I do think he has issues when it comes to accepting criticism from the judges. His attitude appears to be one of thinking that they don't know what they're talking about, rather than ok well they didn't like that so what can I do to make it better.

He's a good dancer but I'm not sure that he's shown particular improvement through the course of the series because of this attitude. One could of course say that his pro-partner should bear some of the responsibility for this.

Totally agree. And actually, you forget that all the VT stuff is part scripted and highly edited to show us what the producers want us to see. They did it last year with certain couples on the night of the semi final too. It's called the power of suggestion. I suspect the producers don't like the fact he is a nice guy and want us to form a different opinion of him. For some, the editing and persuasion is obviously working

i dont think he is taking it too seriously, he has done so well and is clearly so passionate about what he is doing and why not say you want to win, Pammie clearly is more desperate to win than any of them!

They praised Gavin as he had shown real improvement and also because they most likely assume it was his last dance - although Craig definitely didn't stick to the script in this regards.

Matt hasn't improved as much as Gavin and they expect he'll make it to the final so he'll receive a critique that they hope will help him when preparing for next week. And besides that salsa was awful.

Everyone's taking it seriously (apart from Ann), it wouldn't be so much fun to watch if they didn't.

You can't take bashings like Matt does, without it affecting you. And instead of giving up he puts even more effort in it.

I wasn't a Matt fan to begin with, but I sure hope he makes it to the final now.

I think Scott and Gavin should go. I'd rather see Pamela go, but it won't happen.

I'll tell you what Matt takes seriously; it's the dancing. When he said last night on a VT that he wants to dance his heart out in the final, that's the whole story.
Fortunately, his inexperience is as great as his talent, otherwise he'd have fallen out with Aliona ages ago about her choreography.

To be honest (and don't hate me for it!), I thought Matts reaction was similar to Jimi Mistry's when he had his rumba slated.

... just thought I'd mention it. Running away now!

No need to run Shrew, in fact when Matt was said to be on the verge of tears by some on Friday night, it called to my mind Jimi having cried when he was eliminated.

... (phew).

Ta muchly

Absolutely, Matt is so desperate to win the show that any negatively or getting less scores than others makes him an angry man.

I think they all want to win, otherwise they would not be there but Matt is taking it to another level. He can't take any criticism. It's very strange to see a grown man act like that.

I would imagine if Pamela or Kara showed half as much desperation to win, they would be slaughtered, like gabby Logan was

But Matt has always been a "winner" according to the BBC...... Blue Peter, Countryfile and soon the big prize, host on "The One Show!"

Strictly is a BBC programme, so, "why isn't he a winner on that?"

Unfortunately, it isn't the BBC "suits" making the decisions.

Yes Gabby Logan did herself no favours, when things don't go their own way the "true nature" of some people often comes out (a bit like golf). Did you see the bit in the clips where he stormed out into the corridor after his performance completely ignoring Aliona? They cut that short.