Not sure about Sophie & the Rumba - I think she will struggle

Ben - Charleston
Sophie - Rumba
Ashley - Waltz

God, they're dribbling through this week. We've still got at least 24 hours until blog dances go up.

Ashley will shine, if he further retains his improved posture, but I fear Ben will struggle. Sophie, oh well Brendan does generally do good rumba, except bacofoil...

Well we're definitely going to get 2 more confirmed today I think Abbey might confirm hers soon as her dances are usually revealed early. I think Natalie's won't be revealed until the blog, and I'm not sure Susanna's will be either.

He must have learnt from the foil because he is pulling them out of the bag this series. Even sour face Craig is complimenting him.

I really hope Ben isn't over marked again. Lovely guy, lots to admire personally but not a dancer, although much improved.

I'm starting to feel sorry for Ashley, I think he's pretty good but no one seems to take a great deal of notice. Actually I think he's better than Patrick.

I am very very torn as to what dance I want for Mark. He is a dead man walking so whatever he gets is incidental to the result so I am torn. Obviously 'fairness' says he should get a ballroom which he will perform sweetly BUT his nature is more suited to a completely bonkers Samba which he might enjoy more.

The worst choice for him would be AT or Charlston

It's almost as if they don't care about our thread!

I hope Mark gets ballroom. If he does I hope it's foxtrort.
I think Susanna will have salsa.

However these are completely plucked out the air so...!

This is how I feel too. He seems to pull it out of the bag every week and tackle everything that Ola throws at him and pulls off really good routines. I love watching him but so fed up of hearing how wonderful Patrick is and how he's the best male celeb this, best routine that...yadda yadda. I like the guy but he in no way wows me and Ashley has already. Ok, I'll just kick the soapbox aside and continue reading...

Funnily enough I know just what you mean!

I forget Ashley and Patrick as soon as they've finished dancing :yawn::yawn:
Last edited by Mrs-Mop : 19-11-2013 at 13:18

Brendan is better than his vocal detractors would have us believe to be sure.

As for Ashley, I tend to agree with you. He's almost completely sorted out his chin, posture and flat-footedness, but in terms of musicality (moving naturally with the rhythm), Patrick has the edge there. Patrick dances look more carefree thus give an impression that he's better than he really is. I still can't get over his strange 'footwork', it always look 'off' to me, like one step he's not flat-footed, and the next step is he. Very disconcerting. It's very pronounce when he did that Samba (or the latin dances)...

Yes AT would crucify him. It depends either on technique which takes too long to perfect or crowd pleasing lifts and I am not sure he is up to those either.

I think he could bring something to a Charleston though although another week bouncing on those poor knees won't do him any favours. I flinched in empathetic pain every time we saw him in training last week.

My dream is that he gets a foxtrot and makes a really nice job of it.

I like them both, for different reasons. Ashley's got lots of gusto, and is trying hard, but he's constrained by his commitments. Patrick's got natural groove and rhythm, so his schedule (and I'm not sure how it stacks up to Ashley's, which we know is touch) might be less of a handicap to him.

I'm lucky I guess in that I like pretty much everyone (as people and as performers) that is left, and for different reasons. I think between them they bring a lot to the table. I've got my faves, for sure, but I don't mind too much now what happens, I'm just going to enjoy it.

Anyone getting a waltz or a quickstep at this stage of the competition has a slight advantage IMO. They are the easiest of the dances and all who remain should be able to produce performances that wow the judges and those watching at home.

Waltz and quickstep were the first dances I learnt and even as a rank amateur I think I could do a decent job having had half a series of training.

Just my opinion but I see it as free week for the better dancers at this stage of the competition.

I cannot wait for Natalie's Paso and Tango, they are gonna be great, and I have a feeling they will be left till last.

Such an awful idea, especially for somebody who can and did dance it so well.


Same here, he's so good yet doesn't get the praise that Ben gets. I do think Patrick is good so deserves abit of praise but what he gets is too much, but Ben does not deserve such praise yet he gets bucket loads, what is poor Ashley doing wrong?

Patrick is very natural and expresses the joy of dance tangibly, if he could just do something with his feet...

I believe that if he could do something with them, Anya would have sorted them out by now... So I think it might be his 'handicap', no pun intended here...

He is doing nothing wrong. He is learning his routines, performing them well, hitting his marks, telling the story and wearing the face. He ticks more than enough of the boxes to make him a strong SCD competitor. And he is doing a nice job compared to most male celebs. But compared to Patrick for me its no contest in terms of fundamental aptitude.

It seems the posters on here that dance regularly are the ones that admire Patrick over Ashley. In some ways Patrick does not tick all the boxes as well as Ashley. He is a bit like the brilliantly crafted shot on goal that hits the crossbar. But he has an indefinable something that Ashley just doesn't have - well not yet anyway.

Call it rhythm, musicality, groove etc - Patrick is dancing from the heart or as one of my teachers would say dance from within. Its a really subtle distinction but for many people who dance regularly it screams out at you

I agree.I think that Ashley is a bit underrated . He doesn't get a lot of credit for what he does imo.

This is fast becoming a Tom Chambers senario...

was Tom Chambers popular on YT?

I don't know Patrick's schedule either but given that Casualty is only on once a week while Hollyoaks is five times a week, I'm guessing that Patrick's schedule might be lighter than Ashley's, even before we take into account whether or not either of them are filming big storylines.

I find it a bit ironic that the first contender that Ola really has (Dj Spoony was maybe one but they were eliminated a bit early imo ) isn't standing out as I thought he would not through a fault of his own really. I just think that this is a really competitive serie.

And yes his case is a bit similar to Tom Chambers.

DJ Spoony had potential I was disappointed he went so early. She did have Chris Hollin's as a contender though.

Given that the cowboy theme was foisted on Ashley and Ola I think it was unfair of Len to criticise the 'odd' choice (can't remember his exact words). I thought they made a good job of it though and fitted the dance to the music well. Ashley was very strong and macho - channeling his inner Clint Eastwood - what a shame they didnt carry that through and use a poncho instead of a cape.
Personally I like both Ashley and Patrick, my preference tends to go with the latest dance they've performed and on Sunday I felt Ashley had the edge. I love Patricks 'joy' - his AS was fabulous - but wonder if his lack of discipline might hamper him later on.