Does anyone know who the previous favourites were or what odds the winners were at the start?

Denise 3/1
Louis 7/2
Kimberley 4/1
Nicky 13/2
Victoria 9/1
Dani 14/1
Colin 16/1
Michael 18/1
Richard 25/1
Lisa 28/1
Fern 35/1
Sid 35/1
Jerry 45/1
Johnny 50/1

From what I have seen so far I expect Dani to drop and Jerry to rise

I got on at Kimberley at 6/1 yesterday, not surprised to see her come in. She's done stage shows like Denise, and while she might not be as polished, I think she'll be more popular with the voters. Lewis Smith is an interesting one. Got all the attributes to be a contender - young, male, good-looking, popular (on the back of Team GB), good physical attributes through his gymnastic. Will all depend on whether he has the rhythm to go with it all.

What have you seen?

Victoria's a good bet currently. Really want her to do well.

This clip of Dani
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYQWZo0wOXE
Looks like teeth been pulled to me
From the beeb clips Jerry came over as more likable and ready to get stuck in than I expected . In contrast Dani seems unsure of herself and a little underfit for somebody taking it seriously.

Oh dear, pretty girl - but can't hear music. Who is the total idiot in the hat? He's dire.

I thought she looked ok

I'm going for Louis.

Me too. His fitness and core strength are way ahead of anyone else. Just need to see if he has technique, nerve and rhythm. I expect he has!

Too early to tell. Louis may have no musicality or acting ability and the charisma of a brick- and/ or he (or the boyband bloke) may hoover up the female vote and do the most dramatic moves seen yet. Kimberley wasn't great in Shrek - she's not a Denise Van outen, let alone a Carley Stenson (who replaced her in Shrek) - but she has a big fanbase. Victoria could be strong, has some modelling experience and is a national heroine - but pretty, fit, females have problems getting votes more often than not. Its going to look old if Dani doesn't stay till the final stages. Cricketers sem to do well and stay beyond their ability and Eastender males may have support but the male cast looks weak below Louis and possibly Nicky. Its a girl's turn to win - although thats not a big predictor.

Lay year somebody suggested Harry's music fans were so numerous that his win was a foregone conclusion.

What are the respective sizes of Girls Aloud and Westlife fanbase?

I have had a little value bet on Dani

Denise & Vctoria will not win - want it too much

If that was the case, Danny from McFly would have won Popstar to Operastar. McFly are not as huge as they used to be. Dougie from McFly was a shock winner of I'm a Celeb just before Harry won, and I presume that part of the reason was that people didn't want Mark Wright to win and voted for Dougie instead after he made it that far and Fatima left. We don't get statistics released for Strictly, but Dougie was never on top of the vote for IAC until the very end.

I would say the size of Westlife's fanbase is similar, but not completely as they're Irish. McFly have been around for almost 10 years now, and unbelievably both Girls Aloud and Westlife have passed that mark. I don't think Kimberly will have a Cheryl Cole type following though, so we can't conclude that she'll make it to the end if shes an OK enough dancer.

Its also different with Westlife and Girls Aloud because they've both split up where as McFly haven't. Well, I think Girls Aloud went on a 'break' for a year that has just kept extending. Neither have released anything as a group for a while I don't think, when as McFly did have a hit with 'Shine A Light' within a year of the show.

At the end of the day nobody is going to win this show without being a talented enough dancer. We shall see.

Team Pasherley for me!!

Team Pasherley for me as well.

BBC does not release voting figures ever but a poster in here credibly claiming to be a BBC Worldwide employee said after the Final that the McFly vote was of the proportion of a tidal wave. That thread is still stored.

Whereas this Forum was strongly pro Chelsee above Harry, the betting markets went inexplicably overboard for Harry. Evidently the big money knew about the reality of voting figures.

Think that Chelsee wasn't portrayed in the best light sometimes especially on It Takes Two with the celebrity guests angle. It isn't anything like BBBOTS where audience members just brainwash ya, but there does seem to be a bit of influence. Also Twitter and Facebook have more of an influence anyway these days rather than forum sites especially if a celeb has more mentions than the other.

Was that all the way through the show or just for the final? Because the number of people phoning in can account for 50% of the total phone votes for a whole series. And even though Chelsee was possibly the DS favourite, it was generally acknowledged that Harry trumped her on the (final) night where nerves got the better of her.

Add that fair-play vote to all the final-only voters and I do believe the best person on the night wins at these type of shows, not necessarily the person who has been the strong favourite all the way through. Chris Fountain being beaten at the last hurdle of DoI a few years ago is a great example of that.

Me too.

Denise has a great chance, dancing ability already, and a good work ethic.

Victoria, too self absorbed. That sort never do well, ie most of the GMTV lot.

Jerry is better than 45-1. She is no dumb blonde, it depends how seriously she takes it.

Nicky & Karen to triumph - just feel it in me waters!!!

I think she will take it very seriously. Her biggest disavantage in my opinion is whether Anton takes it seriously enough and gives her proper choreography.

No idea and it depends how the base relates to the SCD voting audience - and how active the base still is. Not allowing for age factors (fewer older users) though, Harry (on about 500,00) had about twice Nicky's Twitter followers. He's still got more than Kimberley and Victoria (200k+) - but just not such a big 2 to one lead as Harry did.

He's better off than say Sid who has half as many followers as Ola (she has 100k) but Sid may have lots of older fans.