Problem with Sophie is she can do the steps and do them fairly cleanly, but her natural disposition means she needs to over-extend to not look as limp as she does, not that she is limp, but she goes a little soft. She's also not using every muscle she should which makes her look a tiny bit uncrisp and awkward.

I don't know if Brendon can see this or not. But Sophie isn't WOWing, and I was willing her today just over extend to make up for her timid movements. As for his attitude, maybe when he looks back and sees the dance he will see it for what it is. I do understand his frustration with the judges, but frankly it's all subjective.

I don't know what it is but I always feel as if the judges and the BBC cameramen seem to be anti-Sophie.

They mark down, whilst giving higher marks to others who don't always deserve it, and she is very rarely shown by the cameramen (apart from when she's dancing) whereas we seem to have goodness knows how shots of most of the others.

Yes, it is just you.

I thought it was the dance of the night and full of emotion - so to criticise her for not having enough emotion felt like they were reading a pre-decided script rather than reacting to what was actually performed in front of them.

My lovely maybe not just me if you go thru the thread . But I understand we all have our faves xxxx

I think this happens a lot on Strictly.

Brendan has been seriously annoying this series but I thought he was right and justified tonight. Sophie lacked hip action and deserved marking down for that but otherwise her lines were very good. Some transitions were hesitant but I thought they added to the feel of a sweet rumba in keeping with her personality as did her natural facial expressions. What really annoys me is that some dancers are allowed to choreograph dances that go against the usual mood and are called creative (yes Artem I'm looking at you!) but if others try it they are pulled up.

Sophie could do to have a few stiff drinks before she goes on, it might loosen her up abit, there is no "connection" between her and brendan. I'm sorry but the rumba should have sexy overtones, it's not the hokey cokey.

I thought the marks were about right. Bruno (I think it was only Bruno?), used the wrong word in taking about raunchy but it certainly lacked the essential feel or emotion of a rumba for me. It is the same with most of her dances, they all come out much of a muchness, sort of vanilla flavoured. Interestingly, that seemed to work for the Charleston, the very cool detached approach was a perfect fit.

I don't think Brendan does himself any favours in protesting. I am quite curious as to why he is so defensive of her. He appears to be projecting his own feelings of persecution onto her.

This! Love it!

Nice banter? i found it rude as well.

What did the judges want Sophie twerking????

Cor! You're easily upset but I apologise if you found me rude. Didn't mean to be honest xxxx

Don't worry Twinkle, some will say Brendan is brilliant if he stood on the spot for 90 seconds, lol

Its good to be unbiased and not glued up to a certain couple and support them whatever.

Sometimes Abbey is good, Sophie's Charleston was fab, Kevin's Paso, usually Natalie hits the spot, so I shift about a bit, but I think some people just LOVE Brendan to the point where he can do nothing wrong.

And frankly sometimes he does.
He should shut up for a start and figure out how to get rid of Sophie's husband for a week or two, so he can get some flipping emotion out of her.

She's quite lovely, but cold on the dancefloor.

Brendan was right on two counts.

Firstly he is right the Rhumba does not have to be something that might be performed in strip club, (Perhaps this is where Bruno and Craig hang out).

Secondly, he is right to stand up for his partner, it is the gentlemanly thing to do.

It is clear that the judges having praised Sophie one week, have now decided that she is no longer worth judging properly, so they don't bother. They have their favourites and it shows unfortunately. They are the ones not being professional.

His rant was annoying because it was the classic Straw man argument. The judges felt there was a lack of chemistry and sensuality.There was. They lack connection, any kind of connection. In a Rumba this cannnot be ignored. Brendan decides to interpret their comments as "the judges expect us to re-enact the Mickey Rourke & Kim Basinger roles in 9 1/2 weeks " so that he can then get on his high horse and imply the judges are perverted deviants who failed to appreciate his beautiful, classy morally righteous Rumba because they are too far down in the gutter to get it. The truth is sensuality needn't be explicit or dirty, or even overt but their Rumba didn't convey much at all, it wasn't sensual in a down 'n' dirty way, nor was it in an understated buttoned up, bubbling and smouldering under the surface kind of way. It was actually quite boring, but then I felt that way about all of tonights dances.

That's like saying..
I'm still hungry and you bring me 20 pizzas.

Spot On.

Thanks my love . That's wot I meant to say but u put it so eloquently xxxx

Good for Brendan sticking u for his partner. They were woefully undermarked in comparison to the others. TBH it was a pretty lacklustre show but Sophie's dance was my favourite. And good on Brendan for reminding everyone that the rhumba is the dance of love, not the dance of lust.....

I agreed with Brendan. Bruno wanted it to be more raunchy and Brendan was trying to explain that a rumba doesn't have to be about sex. I knew Craig wouldn't like it - he likes "filthy" rumbas,

I much prefer a romantic, sensual rumba like this than one that belongs in a pole dancing club. I thought it was very emotional and moving and much more suited to a 6.30 show when a lot of children will be watching, than a raunchy rumba.

He did the same last year with Victoria Pendleton and got all argumentative and angry headed about her comments, remember.

A big vein throbbing on his forehead

Yes Maggie, but the emotion and sensuality wasn't even there.
Pretty yes, definitely, but too careful emotionally.
And rumba is all about emotion.

Remember Kara and Artem's rumba, still makes my spine tingle to think of it.

Yes, and love is not just about sex for some people!

Eh? Wots that got to do with the price of bread? The dance is wot it is honey. Performance. Doesn't matter if you got kids or hubbie. It's not real just should be a lovely dance and performance xxxx