He obviously has a lot of support here on DS. But how much support he has out in the "real world" we don't know. Asking around among the ladies I know, most seem fairly indifferent towards them as a couple. A lot of SCD fans appear to like the whole "partnership" thing, something Louis and Flavia have so far failed to show us.
I don't think they are the certainties some people appear to think.

Weren't they second from bottom on the leaderboard on Saturday? (well with the ties) I like to think that's a pretty good indicator that they have plently of support.

He got one of the biggest cheers at Wembley and a standing ovation for a fairly uninspiring dance and he had to follow 10s which is usually the anticlimax dance, he's top with the bookies, he's popular on twitter, lots of stories on here of friends and family supporting Louis, so I'd say he's pretty popular. Top? Who can tell, but he's up there, I think.

He's quite popular and NOT massively UNpopular. Most of the peeps who seem not to favour him come over as unconvinced/disappointed rather than 'hatahs'.

I think he could win people over. Could but may not. We'll see.

He is still one of my favourites and I don't much care if he and Flavia don't look as though they're about to run off into the sunset together; all I want to see is how well they dance together and every week I think they have done really well. I love watching them.

I am very uninformed about techniques in dancing (I just tend to go by if I think 'wish I could do that' ) but I think Michael is worse, so is Nicky and as much as Lisa really makes me smile - she isn't that good at dancing.

The thing that has surprised me is that Louis is good at both ballroom and LA - especially given that he is not a dancer.

Another point: won't all of his previous training have been all about composure and keeping emotions down? If it is, that would be hard to overcome as it will be instinct to him.

Agree with you, especially the bit about him coming from a non theatrical/musical background. To date I think he has danced beautifully. I hope he wins, I really do!

That's certainly my impression. And in view of that, plus his age and lack of familiarity with both the dances and often the music on Strictly, I think he's doing really well. I don't know any 23 year old sportsmen who would do better

No! I believe Louis will win.

Although he has never been a fave of mine, I have warmed to him this week after seeing his reaction to being left late to have his name called during last nights results show. He seemed genuinely relieved when he went through, if he can just introduce some of that emotion into his dancing I will be sold. That's all that is lacking from Louis for me at the moment.

Michael is emerging as a very good ballroom and his latin is improving - but with him it's still a game of two halves - I don't think he'll ever quite get there with a latin but he's surprised us before.

No Ailona made that mistake with Matt Baker - I want to see a dance but a series of arobatics.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Louis will call on every ounce of grit and determination acquired from his years as an athlete - watch him bounce back!

Unfotunately when they show the Professional Showdance couple the week before the final, they always have a couple doing what I would describe as gymnastics not dancing (I never like watching the pro Showdance because of this) So some of the couples think they have to do the same as in the awful Lisa Snowdon dance that time, let's hope Flavia doesn't fall into that trap.

Has Louis peaked? You best ask Flavia. . .OOOOOOOOH MATRON!

Flavia's a risk-taker when it comes to choreography and I think sometimes you just have to accept that your risk hasn't paid off, dust yourself down and move on.

She tried something different, the judges couldn't understand it and so 95% of their complaints were about the choreography, with hardly any attention paid to the respectable way Louis handled it.

I did think he was a bit flat on Saturday but I put that down to not really being able to get a handle on the character of the dance, and possibly to a touch of Wembley nerves.

There's no way he's peaked yet - I've always believed his dances would be the ones requiring drama like the paso and AT, and his jive and Charleston should also be pretty good, to say nothing of being able to deliver the kind of lines required for a really lovely rumba.

And that's just the content of the dances I'm focusing on there - if he DOES manage to show a bit more facial expression and deliver a touch more outward emotion, then there'll be no stopping him.

Louis was my pre-season favourite and I still think he has what it takes to make the final. In a straight fight, I think Louis would edge out Denise and Kimberley in a final decided by public vote - but I don't know whether he could beat out Dani if it all came down to a final dance. There's an awful lot to like about Dani and she could pick up votes from all those who want emotion and performance in their dancers rather than simply elegance and style.

EDIT: Forgot to mention how much I hated the flares being chucked in at the end of the routine. Two words - No. Need.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to discover they didn't want to do those. I think they had the robotics/hip hop that we saw in the results' show VT and they were ordered to take that out and put the gymnastics in.

No proof, of course, but they were very out of sorts about something.

That's definitely my impression too Alli-F

They were definitely unhappy about something, and Louis didn't look proud of his gymnastics, just a bit "I do all this work learning to dance, and then they take me back to a cliche". It would explain Jimi Mistry's rather ambiguous tweet also, that Flavia did well "all things considered"

Anyway I'm hoping for better things next week - if the Paso doesn't come across well, I'll really start to worry - but I have every confidence in it

he doesnt seem to be enjoying himself IMO, I was at Wembley and I really was looking forward to this dance - I was expecting to be wowed with all the Hollywood glamour that you expect with an AS and I wasnt, thoroughly disappointed with what I watched and I agreed with what Len said - is wasnt an AS it was a QS with lifts

I dont know what it is with Louis, I am sure he IS enjoying himself but it doesnt come across in the dances - I really want to enjoy him and Flavia but sadly Im not

Flippin' eck, no wonder it all seemed a bit contrived. I think we can safely add that to the list of reasons why Louis didn't exactly look convinced by the routine then.

What are the producers smoking that they think it's a good idea to take out something that's actually dance - albeit not ballroom - and replace it with a gimmick? (And did they get it out of Craig's dressing room - I swear his marks for Louis over the last couple of weeks have been drug-induced)

I think it showed more last night how much he wanted to be there- he was clearly worried/upset at the thought of leaving.
I think he finds letting his emotions show very hard- and I think there are a few reasons for that. His ADHD, the training he's had for the past 15 years where showing emotion is showing weakness, him just being at that age where he finds it difficult to show how he feels.
The only time I've ever seen him really let go was when he cried at the Olympics- that was some really intense pressure he was under before he 'broke' as it were.
He does need to learn to show it- or at least act like he's showing it... Then, there's the worry that he might get accused of being fake. That is one thing I find about Louis- he is genuine. There's no faking it, or anything OTT about him. I quite like that.

dont know but the producers were obviously smoking the same stuff when they forced the bicycle on Brendan!

Don't get me started...although if 'Bicycle Race' was genuinely Brendan's choice for a paso I think he might've accepted a cheeky 'cigarette' from the producers as well

it was bizarre!

Louis has not been amongst the top 3 names on the LB for 3 consecutive weeks now.

IIRC only one male celeb has gone on to win despite being outside the top 3 for 3 consecutive weeks or more - Chris Hollins.


So did I, until I discovered that Flavia's highest scoring Paso to date (31) was this one with Matt DA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdgW-MEFGdY

I find him technically good but totally emotionless. Someone said earlier he needs to go to an acting coach or something to put a bit more personality into his dancing. I'm afraid he's not blowing me away like I thought he would.

Yes I noticed that too and Louis was reassuring her that they were through. Who knows what goes on behind the scenes but they were both quite flat on Saturday I thought.
I know a lot of people say that Louis has had good remarks from the other judges but human nature being what it is, we often focus on the negative things rather than the positive things and I wonder if Craig constantly mentioning Louis faults while letting others who are much worse dancers off with many faults, is having an effect on him.
Flavia took a chance on Saturday and for the most part they did'nt pull it off but I won't fault her for trying and what better arena than Wembley to give it a go.
Hopefully next week they will be back on form. They're my favourites and I love the connection they have.