In my opinion he nailed it!

Ashley had too much make up on his boobs to make them look bigger, which would lose points in my books!!

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What underscored despite showing off his moobs! IMO the score was just right.

Me too, watching it back it was fantastic.

As an overall total, I'd say their 31 was about right. But in comparison to others on the night, yes it was underscored. I'd have put it even with Susanna (although neither deserved 9s IMO).

He doesn't have moobs!

No point in getting mad at me. I think he has moobs. You dont think so! you're entitled to your opinion.

I found it to be really rather good, content and entertainment-wise, so thought Len in particular was a bit mean with the scoring, given some of the other scores waved about last night. And I actually enjoyed it, which I rarely say about a samba!

Think early over marking left the judges with nowhere to go.
Thought it was over marked, like most of the dances last night.

This. I think the marks were about right for Ash and Ola but most of the other couples were overmarked - he was better than Sophie for example

I think it was ok, but Ashley didn't smile and looked really uncomfortable so he made me feel really uncomfortable. He was almost grimacing. I can't believe none of the judges mentioned it, especially as Craig had a real go at Ben for the same thing.

But he's a very strong dancer and when he gets a handle on his nerves he'll be really good.

He is easy on the eye, but needs to button up because he can dance and doesnt need gimmicks IMO.

I don't mind his gimmicks

That's how I saw it as well Alli-F. I posted in the live thread that I know I should have liked it but for some reason I didn't. He did say in the Tesspit that he messed up so I think his nerves were something I was picking up on.

I think he looked slightly uncomfortable because he had his chest out. I know he's won Hollyoaks hunk of the year or something so probably doesn't mind posing with his top off etc but performing a dance that's totally new to you in front of a live studio audience and millions at home is totally different! And Ash looked a bit self-conscious I thought. He didn't work the chest-on-display look, I reckon he'd have preferred his shirt done up.

But still a pretty decent Samba. Like you say, he seems to be a strong dancer. And I loved the song.

I didn't like the open shirt either, it made it tacky imo.

They were very overscored in my opinion.

Leaving aside the pecs (which are very nice), actual dancing was so-so.

I think they were scored just right. Others were over scored which was the problem.

I think the open shirt was a tactical move to disguise a bit of lack of movement in the hips - the shirt was long as well and hid more than had it been closed. I agree though that he didn't look entirely comfortable with it. The dance wasn't great - they fair raced round the floor, Ola re-trod some of her greatest hits choreography wise, and in general there was the impression that another theme/another week he would have done much better. Not bad for this stage, though.

I thought it was overscored, personally, as so many of them were yesterday. Odd scoring overall. The judges had drunk too much generosity spirits or something.

I thought the content was excellent and they dance really well together. I did feel like he lost it a bit half way through and it went a bit downhill after that. Sometimes he exaggerates some moves and it looks a bit messy and I think due to nerves he rushes through the steps a by so it looks a bit manic to me. But definitely a lot of talent!

In my opinion I would have split the scores of the two sambas with Ashley scoring a point or two more. (Or alternatively Sophie was over scored in relation to Ashley.

I don't think it made much a difference at this stage but it is obvious that the ladies are getting the preferred judging/scores.

If anything it was overmarked IMO. I wouldn't have given it any more than a 7. Sure he brought lots of energy to it, but I wasn't greatly impressed by his technique.

Not a bad attempt though at a very difficult dance.