I think I may be an 'all or nothing' Strictlodyte!

Series 6 - was championing Austin and Tom from the first dance with Jodie as my also ran.

Series 7 - took till halfway to decide on Jade then after she withdrew, I just sat back and enjoyed the entertainment (Very therapeutic)

Series 8 - Scott from that first 'raunchy' Waltz.

Series 9 - Jason from that first amazing ChaCha

This series I'm enjoying most of the couples and really disliking only 1.
Dani and Michael have a slight lead on the pack for me and I want Nicky to do well so I'll just sit back and enjoy the show

That's a better description!


It's hard to put into words Pet. They obviously included different steps and moves in each dance, but both dances had a very similar feel to them. I didn't really get a saucy Salsa or a carnival feel from their Samba. Both dances had more of a sexy/raunchy vibe. I think it's a combination of the music choices, choreography and Kim's natural inclination to perform like a member of a Girl Band that made the two performances quite samey (for me).

Nope, they smell. Think they're cute and adorable from across a park but ewww, that wet dog smell - hate it.

Is that the end of a brief but beautiful friendship?

Usually in a series I pick a couple who I know aren't going to win but will enjoy for their improvement and effort. In the past I've gone for Jodie Kidd & Ian and Letitia Dean & Darren. This season Michael & Natalie are my favourite outsiders.

I always know who I don't want to win - whether they be good dancers or not. This year Nicky and Kimberley are on my list, last time it was Harry.

Changes week by week...I must be fickle
However this year I think I'm backing Dani all the way, love the way she's improving every week, adored her Tango and QS
I didn't watch the Tom final.....moral outrage at changing the system at semifinal stage to keep viewers happy and wanted Rachel and Vincent to win (knew they couldn't once Tom shoehorned into final)
Last year I backed Matt in the final.......local lad

I felt that way about Rachel Stevens too, Sid's favourite ever contestant.

I wasn't an Alesha lover either, she was just a thin Lisa, very messy indeed but could sell a dance.

I'm leaving before I offend everyone.

I usually pick out one or two in the first couple of weeks.

This series I've picked Dani & Vincent and Louis & Flavia.

Don't like poor acting being used to cover up for bad dancing. Previous dance experience gives an advantage but it appears to be being applauded over the technical elements required in International Ballroom and Latin dances.

I prefer to choose on technique, overall presentation and the ability to cope with difficult choreography.

Normally after the first few shows I have a mental shortlist of contestants who deserve to win in my estimation. This can (and often does) change if someone improves markedly or goes off the boil. Dancing aside, If there's someone I'm really not keen on (relatively rare) I cross them off the list even if they deserve to win purely on dancing merit. Conversely, I may add someone who's just below 'deserving' status if I particularly like them.

By the time the final comes round, usually I have a preference order for any surviving members of my shortlist and that determines who I root for.

Currently my shortlist for series 10 is (in no particular order): Denise | Louis | Kimberley | Dani

Both felt like Girls Aloud routines to me, loads of arse wiggling and hair tossing. I preferred the samba though because it didn't have a glaring huge error in the mddle.

Alesha i never liked as well, and Kimberley just has no personality, shes a bit bland and this comes across in her dances, thought at the start of the series she would walk it

Love cricket and dogs (ah, the mud, slobber, hair; the long walks, the wet dog smell... ); grew wearied with Ramps as cricketer = under-achieving batsman. Never saw him dance so agnostic on that.

I think she felt comfortable with how the dance was supposed to 'feel'... 'Sexy' is pretty much what GA aim for with their dance routines isn't it? So I think they were dances that came pretty easy for her- at least when it came to selling the routine.

Oh, and to answer the question (sorry )- the first week I try to look at them all and decide who has potential (there are usually one or two that I've liked pre-Strictly who I keep my eye on). By week 3-4 I've usually settled on a favourite though. It doesn't stop me from having weeks where another couple may do my favourite dance that week- but I don't tend to waver once I've picked someone.

The hair is a distraction for which I blame wardrobe, but the ass is here to stay. No hiding it! I'm a complete novice but I thought the foot-stuff () was quite different in the two dances. But I agree they've had some terrible music, and some inappropriate to the dance (Duran Duran paso!!)

Oops, sorry, I'm going on about hair and ass and it was Alli who mentioned those things. No, I see what you mean about the vibe. Though I thought the samba was really quite carnivally, with the long train and those isolation thingumies. Dunno.

Love cricket but I like the bad boy fast bowlers rather than the elegant batsmen. Kevin Pietersen is the only batsman I like and that's because he's so controversial. If he's getting Andrew Strauss' back up he's doing something right.

I don't really like the Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan, Ramps, David Gower sort of middle class honourable man cricketer, I'd prefer to go on a pedalo with Freddie.

Agree. Can't be doing with the svelte and the smooth. Too Bullingdon for me, though decent chaps, no doubt. Loved Nasser for my batsman. Made a little go a long-way. A bloody-minded fighter and an intelligent guy. I like Trott too, his ability not to notice anything around him. Love seeing the old video of Viv and Michael Holding. That film of the Windies!

I tend to have a couple of 'favourites' from within the first couple of weeks - doesn't always have to be about the best dancing, but there will be something about them I just like. This can change as the series progresses as I get to know them more.

Lisa Riley springs to mind immediately here - started off being Wowed by her dancing and personality - now I just want to throw something at the TV everytime I see her.

I like Pasha, Artem, Flavia and Natalie out of the pros so tend to start off 'liking' their partners. As other PPs have said I just can't get Kimberley - she should be great, and I do like her, but.......she doesn't move me.

Fern - just no, too pervy mum dancing for me.

So that leaves Louis & Flavia who I didn't expect to like, I thought he'd be full of himself, but my impression of him is a fairly shy, serious, focused young man who could be superb.

Michael has grown on me, though I don't see him getting too much further.

The surprise one for me is Dani this year. I've been really impressed by her progress - but something about her still falls a wee bit short for me (sorry, absolutely no pun intended there).

I tend to stay as a reasonably neutral viewer.

I'd be okay with most of the people left winning, but I'd probably prefer it be someone who has wow dances. Or memorable ones in a good way.

I think Dani or Louis might be the best candidates for these. But we'll see - if Louis stays too cool for school when dancing he'll be too cool for me, and Dani may just peak below a 'wow' standard.

I think it'd help them all if the producers let the pros do exactly what they want with song choice, choreo, props though. Or meet them halfway some more. It's harder to get good dances with these impositions.

I normally have favourites before the show starts then a couple more but I never dump them half way through & switch horses, I'm very loyal with my fanage.

Yay we finally agree on something.

My favourites aren't necessarily who I want to win, well not this series.

My favourites this series are Victoria and Colin. However neither deserve to win and I think at the moment I'd like to see Dani or Michael win though be quite happy is Louis got the glitterball too.

Michael I like because of his transformation and sheer effort and I like his and Nat's partnership
Victoria fascinates me, she is a complex character and the least 'practiced' of the celebs and I am willing her to do well
Lisa l liked a lot but now find the partnership and gurning irritating
Warming slowly to Louis
Never liked Nicky, not really sure why, him and Karen's dancing leaves me cold
Dani has surprised me in how well she has done and transformed and turning into a remarkably good dancer
Kimberley - just a bit blah for me. I think Chelsee spoilt Pasha for me, poor K just doesn't measure up the same
Denise. A great dancer but I found her irritating before the show started and although she comes over better than I thought there is no real journey or progression because she could dance already.

I usually have a favourite, someone who's good-ish but I wouldn't necessary want them to win just get as far as possible, and then pick who I want to win near the end, usually someone who I've liked from the start but less for their personality and more for their dancing. I don't plan to do it, it just pans out this way, it's only this year I noticed the pattern.

In the past three years it's been Scott, Holly and Michael (I'm hoping I can say they all made it to the semi final, but we'll have to wait and see), before moving on to Kara, Chelsee and Denise(?).

James Anderson would be my favourite!

Sorry , completely OT

I generally get a jolt around the mid-point. Suddenly fell in love with Colin in series 3. Have just fallen in love with Michael.

Ramps is the only one I've adored from the first second.

I'd love to see Jimmy do strictly

anyway

series 3 - adored Colin all the way through

series 4 - Ramps all the way

series 5 - I never got the massive Alesha is a goddess in human form love but she danced beautifully. I liked Matt - their show dance is still one of the best for me

series 6 *twitches and mutters Austin woz robbed*. Once he went I stopped watching really and didn't care who won as long as it wasn't Tom...damn! NB Looking back I see how much better Rachbot was than I gave her credit for.

series 7 - again didn't care really who won. Rickey should have won but sadly Nat hadn't read the "journey" script when she announced she wanted a 10 first week. How she must look back on her naive former self and laugh

series 8 - I wanted Matt to win for a long time but towards the end when he started to get a bit mental about the whole thing I stopped caring. Plus it was obvious that St kara was going to win by miles

series 9 - loved chelsee almost from the beginning and really wanted her to win.

this series - I genuinely don't have a favourite. I don't care that much who wins. There's no-one I'm desperate to see every week.

When the line up is announced in my mind I put them in groups of roughly :-

A Unlikely I will like - Richard, Lisa, Michael,Sid

B Like as a person but not expecting much from the dancing - Fern, Jerry, Johnny,

C Expect they will be good dancers but don't know much else about them - Kim, Nicky, Victoria

D Looking forward to seeing them dance and on ITT - Louis, Danni, Colin

So guess I am more likely initially to support Colin, Dani and Louis.
But in spite of expectations I was prepared to admit disappointment with Colin and relegate him to B after a couple of weeks, relegated Nicky to A , and Victoria to B. Richard, Lisa and Michael are now B/As.

Oh, and I haven't forgotten DVO so much as confined her to the China/USA position - they are going to win of course but what's really interesting is who's next.


ETA - and having said all that, now really really want Louis to win!