Oh I'm a berk, you're not including last night. Just ignore me and go and drink some very strong alcohol to get you through having to watch THAT again.

I've just counted up all the "votes" for people we think will make the final so far and here's how the leaderboard looks:

1. Natalie
2. Abbey
3. Sophie
4. Susanna
5. Ashley
6. Ben
7. Mark

With the other five couples yet to have any votes. Pretty consistent with what we're seeing on the show itself right now though, with the four best girls usually overshadowing the boys.

Taking into account the possibility of surprise evictions of contenders before the final, I think it will be any combination of those contestants who will reach the final. I don't think it will be any of the others. Even Patrick, although he's good, is probably too bland to reach the final and I'm not sure he'd get through a dance off against any of them, except perhaps Mark.

I think it'll definitely be a mix of Natalie, Abbey, Sophie, Susanna, Ashley and Ben. I've been thinking this will be the Top 6 for a few weeks now. If I had to take a guess on the Top 4 right now... I will say Abbey, Ashley, Natalie and Sophie.

Natalie, Abbey, Susanna (pains me to say it, I cant stand the woman, but I know she can dance) and Ashley.

True about Ashley. I would even argue that Ben is more popular than him.

Natalie obviously.
Sophie had a dance that didn't suit her this week but when she has a dance that does suit her, she's got a magic about her, and I think it's better to have some great dances than all good dances, if that makes sense. And Brendan plays this show well usually.
Abby is also a definite unless she comes up against Natalie in the dance off.

I think they are the most likely but - don't shout at me - I don't think they'll be the most exciting final. I think I'd make it a four person final if I was running things, to add a bit of grist to the mill.

Others: I wouldn't write off Suzannah and Kevin, they've got a lot the audience will love about them, but something says to me semi-final, that I can't justify at all. I think Ashley will struggle with exhaustion, Ben with the actual dancing, Mark (<3) with fitness (knees - jive will break him, for one) and Patrick also injured and I don't think he's settled yet - for an actor he's oddly unnatural in his expressions imo, for all his ability, though he could get over that. I think Ben might just get to the final - he's probably the most competitive.

Don't see anyone else getting close personally.

Disagree, Hollyoaks have always done well on these types of shows. Ricky and Ali on Strictly and Jorgie, Chris and Kieron on Dancing On Ice with all 5 of them reaching the finals. It's only been Jennifer who hasn't done so well yet she still managed to reach week 7 on DOI despite been pretty rubbish.

I'm not saying Ashely's definitely going to get the same support but it stands well that the poll on the main DS page asking for favourtie performances each week has had him in the top 5 every week (minus last week when he was 6th) And this poll gets plenty more votes than the forum ones.
Week 1 - 4th
Week 2 - 2nd
Week 3 - 3rd
Week 4 - 6th
And so far this week he's 3rd favourite.

Like most people I expect the final to any combination out of: Abbey, Natalie, Sophie, Susannah, Ashley with maybe Mark sneaking in. I don't think Ben will make it, he's had one good dance and I doubt he's going to improve much more.

I've never watched Dancing on Ice so can only refer to Wiki, but with the exception of Chris Fountain who was never lower on the leaderboard than second and hence never had his public support tested, all of the Hollyoaks people had multiple skate-offs. And Ali and Ricky both fell into the bottom two more than once - they got through because they were the two best dancers in that series and there was nobody they wouldn't have been saved against.

Jorgie only had one skate off in the semi final with Kieron having only two, if I remember correctly when the voting figures were released neither did particularly badly in the public vote. Can't say that for Hollyoaks on Strictly because they don't release figures but Ali only had one dance off and Ricky had two dance offs which weren't really surprising after all the crap about him in the press.

I agree that Natalie, Abbey and possibly Sophie (disregarding last night's dodgy dance), but what about Patrick for the men? He's a great dancer, much stronger than Mark, Ben or Ashley.

Erm, but Ricky and Ali failed to win against the worst dancer ever to lift the glitterball. They both had to be saved by the judges at some point - in Ricky's case, after being top of the leaderboard in the semis, I think. Doesn't sound like great public support to me.

Having said that, I don't think the Hollyoaks connection really comes into it. The voters like to see someone who is really working for it and, if you can only fit ten hours in, you're going to be in trouble. It showed in his dance this week and it's only going to get worse.

Just realised that nobody has mentioned Dave. I believe the general trend is that the comedy act goes as soon as they knock someone who is actually quite good out of the competition but I've had a feeling since day one that Dave might buck that trend.

I hope I'm wrong. I like him and loved his first dance but, at this point, I feel like I've seen it all before. It's getting a bit tedious.

If I had to put money on a bloke in the final, it would be Ben. But I wouldn't rule Dave out - in the highly unlikely event he produces a great dance (it would have to be Charleston), he could even win it.

Natalie, Sophie and Abbey. Would prefer a 3 person final to avoid the risk of Susanna Reid gatecrashing. I loathe the woman!! This is the weakest line-up since I've been watching (2006)......No consistency from Abbey or Sophie and the others mentioned as the 4th finalist are no better than decent dancers. Possibly Ashley to make it as the male representative. Without Natalie this would be very meh for me this year.

I think...Natalie, Sophie and Ashley with either Abbey or Susanna for the 4th spot. Would like Mark to be there, but not sure he will have the support.

It would probably be either Susanna or Sophie to join Abbey and Natalie. Sophie needs to connect more with the dances and the audience, if not, she is at risk.

I'd be there will be at least one guy. Ashley, Ben, Patrick or Mark though? Hmm. This will be interesting.

I'm astounded (yes, astounded) to think that some people think Mark could get to the final. I do like him, but really - a finalist???

1. He's not going to be physically fit enough to do the likes of the Jive properly

2. In the quarter/semi finals, he'd most likely be at the bottom of the leaderboard and almost definitely in the dance off - and the judges wouldn't save him over the remaining contestants at that point.

3. It's okay at the start of the competition to give extra points for personality, performance (his Cha Cha ), but when it starts getting serious he just isn't going to have the same ability as the others. In this respect he reminds me of Lisa Riley, but even then I can't see him getting higher than 7th.

Yeah, it will depend on his dance draw from now on really (pretty clear sailing until now with the draw).

When he gets Samba, Jive, Rumba or Quickstep it might become really difficult (and he is probably due a latin next week).

Just updating the Standing Ovation Count post Week 5 :

Natalie & Artem : 5
Sophie & Brendan : 4
Ashley & Ola : 3
Susanna & Kevin : 3
Dave & Karen : 2.5
Abbey & Aljaz : 2
Ben & Kristina : 2
Mark & Iveta : 2
Fiona & Anton : 1
Patrick & Anya : 1
Rachel & Pasha : 0

Fascinating stuff

If Patrick makes the final it will only be if the judges save him time & time again from the dance off. He's not engaging the public, hence his dumping in the dance off this week

Natalie and Artem have the most standing ovations but they still won't win. I can bet on that . I like them btw but I'm just being realistic.

I still think that Sophie has a good chance to win.

Ashley filming schedule is going to become really problematic towards the end. He reminds me a little of poor Scott who was a shadow of himself self towards the end.

Susannah seeems really popular.

natalie, abbey, ashley and (wild card) mark.

patrick should be in there but he really doesn't seem to care enough. and if can't be bothered, why should I!

I agree about Patrick, sad but true. Ben or Ashley will go far but like I said previously Ashley filming schedule won't work in his favour when we get to 2 dances.

I'd like to see Ashley make the final, but I agree with everyone about his schedule. It seems impossible at this point. He's lost two stone in weight already. He mentioned that he fainted a couple of times in training last week, it's not looking good. Scott Maslen mark 2.

Not surprised that Natalie is topping the leaderboard here, but surprised that Sophie is 2nd.

In week 1 , I went for for Natalie, Susanna and Ashley as definite finalists
now I think Ben might get there as well as most improved.

At the moment, I think Sophie needs to get better in her latin, I'm obviously at odds here with the audience