Non-biased opinion please meaning even if you don't like that contestant.

Women: I would say Abbey. Her ballroom is second best to Natalie (on the women side) imo and she slightly edges out Sophie and Susanna in the Latin imo.

Men: I'm a bit torn between Patrick and Ashley. Overall, I think that Ashley is consistently better. He is equally good in the Latin and the ballroom imo.
Patrick has been a bit inconsistent in both areas imo although he's improving.
So 2nd best on the men side is Ashley imo.

Thoughts ???

There are no outstanding dancers this year so possibly two girls and two men are better than the rest, that's all. This is the worst series so far.

Nobody last night because Susanna was the best!

Abbey and Natalie were about as good as each other last night, and neither deserved a10 IMO.

Sophie, Patrick and Ashley aren't out of this either.

What an exciting series!

Susanna and kevin were the best last night
Sophie, Abbey and Ashley were in joint second place
Natalie and Patrick were joint 3rd place

The battle is still on between Susanna , Sophie, Abbey and Patrick could be any one of these IMO OP.

I would say Patrick with Susanna and Sophie 3rd and 4th. Abbey is ok but I think most of her dancing is kinda posing. I thought her Rumba was rotten and v over marked.

Patrick without a doubt.

I agree . It's really exciting because ( besides Natalie ) , we never really know each week who could join her at the top and who could be 2nd on the leaderboard .
It could be Abbey, Ashley, Sophie, Patrick or Susanna. The leaderboard is a little unpredictable each week imo and I like that

I don't think Natalie was best last night. I thought Abbey and Susannah were best with Natalie third (amongst the girls). I felt that Natalie looked like her confidence has been shaken.

Strangely, Abbey was pushed out to 8-1 from 4-1 by the bookies after her performance last night. Can't quite work out why as she had probably her best night yet.

Abbey is the second best dancer. Patrick is the best male dancer. I prefer Sophie to Susanna but dance wise there's not much in it. However, as a couple Susanna and Kevin work better than Brendan and Sophie. I don't know what has happened to Brendan this year but his demeanour towards Sophie isn't doing her any favours.

I fear Brendan may kidnap Sophie very soon and hold her hostage in Siberia.

Odds change every week. I also think that Abbey had one of her best night at Strictly but those odds are probably more realistic for her . Is she 4th or 5th as favorite to win

Fair and very balanced post

For me Natalie was the best but I hasten to add the music did her no favours ....Music,costume and set all add to the overall performance...take Susanna and Kevin good dance but if it had not been for the music it certainly would not have gained the points it did....

The bookies reflect odds based on advice from professionals. Abbey's dance was over marked, you could drive a bus between them. Her top line is good that's it.

Patrick but Susannah was the best last night IMO.

They have to be careful because professionals could concentrate too much dancing ability rather than the appeal to the public which can count heavily through the public vote.

They tend to watch the way the money is being placed in bets and cover themselves so they are not out of pocket if that person does win.

As someone commented, the odds change from week to week probably as there is a surge in voting for a particular contestant following a popular dance by them.

I think if it comes down to it the public will keep Sophie in over Abbey. She looks so well when she dances and her charlston was better than all Abbey dances to date. She has such a classic beauty look and seems so grounded as opposed to posing Abbeys glamour look and immature personality. This is more what the public will base their votes on. Susannah is next after Natalie to answer your question

Ashley (males) and Susanna (females). Assuming a 4 person final, it will be battle between Abbey and Sophie (will depend on the placing on the judges leaderboard, as Abbey seems a lot less popular then Sophie). For me, Patrick had his moment of glory last week (you can see his numbers going down in tbe popularity polls; while Susanna stays at the top).

I must admit my antenna has only just started to pick up on Ashley, I see him in the final and Susanna too.

Best dancer or best contestant?

If you mean best dancer - Patrick.

If you mean best contestant - between Suzanna and Ashley I would say.

But I withhold the right to change my mind after all tomorrow is another day.

This end of the series the bookies odds reflect the money more than the experts. The money is a better indication of what the voters are doing.

Apart from the Paso from Susanna, Latin dances have not been brilliant from either Abbey or Sophie. Even Susanna is somewhat off in the other Latin dances. So it would be very difficult to choose between them. The first one to do a great non Paso Latin would clinch it.

Patrick is good all round, but Ashley with more training time could pip him.

After Natalie:

Susannah - then Sophie/Abbey on dance performance and ability. Abbey was overmarked, she's a shade better than Soph.

Males - Patrick and Ashley are actually very close, I think. Patrick is a natural dancer, but has some issues.

Ashley is learning very fast, and that flexibility may open the competition wide up.

Both - Natalie, Patrick, Ashley, Susannah, Abbey, Sophie.

But between the four after Nat, it's close.

Do you really think so? I think it's one of the best, with several really good dancers who could all be worthy winners.

Abbey is the best dancer after Natalie. For all her mistakes when she gets it right she is much easier on the eye and able to convey the magic of dance than Susanna and Sophie who make just as many mistakes but are more dependant on their partner's ability to detract from their shortcomings.

The ability of the male dancers this year is being considerably talked up to disguise the reality that the producers have decided its time for a woman to win the competition. Thus far Patrick has been the most consistent, Ashley has shown the most glimpses of promise that fail to deliver, Ben lifts Kristina very well indeed and Mark has been the most fun.