You think being 'huge on the club scene' would appeal to the large portion of over 60s that make up Strictly's audience? And since the vote is restricted to UK-only, the whole European point is, well, pointless.

I would have thought Sophie was in with a chance five weeks ago, but now... nah. Susanna will win.

Dunno where you get the "large portion of over 60s" from. It's a family entertainment program for all the family. Little kids have their free internet votes to play with, makes them feel involved.

As with DWtS, a lot of old people watch the show. Somebody posted a statistic in the ratings thread the other week, which was along the lines of 60% of the audience being over-50. There are definitely fewer ravers and more knitters and bakers watching the show, which is why 'mumsy' Susanna will win over 'I'm big in Europe!' Sophie.

I know!

If it weren't for Natalie's guaranteed place in the final, this would probably be the most exciting series in years, it really is impossible to predict the finalists from week to week.

ETA: I'm starting to think though, that with all the sniping among the females' fans, one of the men could come from behind and steal the Strictly crown. We would only have ourselves to blame for it

I hope she does win. She always is so elegant and really does her best. I would like her or Natalie to win. Abbey is an ok dancer but her self obsessed personality lets her down

Totally agree with this poster.
I am not a fan of the rhumba, to be honest I often find it slightly embarrassing to watch, too "filthy" in fact.
I thought it was more like first love rather than pure sex, and I enjoyed the romance of it.
I think the judges should have seen the beauty of it and I agree with Brendan.

Sophie is easily my favourite. I thought her dance last night was brilliant and the judges should go to specs savers.

My mum is over 60 (over 70 actually) and Sophie is her favourite. I actually think Sophie s the dancer who most appeals to the over 60 brigade. She is just so beautiful and classy but also comes across as a really nice, polite and intelligent person who is obviously devoted to her husband and family.

Her style of dancing is more understated than the other contenders but many find that quite refreshing.

Think that the kiddy vote could be going mainly Sophie's way, but you are probably right about older people watching the show more. Only problem is that they are less likely to vote online and who is to say that Susanna is more popular then Sophie (Deborah and Fiona are rooting for her).

I don't know about her winning, but I do suspect that the judges being notably harsher with her than some others will play in her favour. The worry is that Sophie herself may simply give up in the face of relentless criticism and little encouragement.

Susannah is probably favourite at this stage. Sophie clearly has good support otherwise she'd have likely been in the dance off before now but I'm not sure it's enough to win. I think she may fall at the semi final stage.

Sophie has the most old dear appreciation factor of all the contestants, but Kevin CLEARLY has the most old dear appreciation factor of the pros, no matter how many Knight On A White Charger speeches Brendan wants to give about his little girl.

As a knitting and baking old dear member of the over-60s brigade, can I just say I unappreciate the patronising tone of many of these posts? I don't care who wins this year, I'm not a fan of Brenda or KFG and I'm an old cynic who watches the show and lurks on the forums for a good laugh

I've always said that if Sophie makes the final she could win it on her charleston. That's why I think they'll try to oust her before the final as I think they want Susanna to win. By "they" I mean the producers/BBC.

Talking to members of my family and friends, which includes 3 generations from 8 to 70, they were all unanimous that Sophie's dance was beautiful, they agreed with Brendan's comments and disagreed with the judges coments and marking. Because of this they gave Sophie most of their votes instead of spreading them around as they usually do. The children love being able to vote online and make full use of their votes (and anyone else's if they can - they're all computer savvy).

I also don't like the patronising tone of some posters about older people as if they know exactly how all older people vote. People are different and have different tastes, whatever age.

I'm not sure I qualify as an old dear but I do love Sophie. I love her cool geekiness. Her refusal to be orange. The fact she has children yet we haven't seen them. Her 'I'm 34 Brendan'.

She'll be out in the next couple of weeks.

Me too and I'm over 50, plus I bake, knit, sew, surf and game online when I'm not networking.

(I also remember Sophie's 'Peckham' top! lol)

She's not on the tour so she won't get any preferential treatment from the judges, she'll be out if she's in the dance off in the next couple weeks. Her Charleston, though, is still the best dance from a celeb - ever.

Everybody will!

I don't think she will win (though I would love her to) but I'd love to see her in the final to see her Charleston again

This is Brendan v Kevin really, I suspect.

If Susanna had gotten Brendan, I don't think she's have been nearly so popular.

Well said. I'm over 50, I knit occasionally, don't bake and I don't like either Sophie or Smugsanna, and I don't want either of them to win.

I see lots of comments on here about how wonderful Sophie's charleston was, and I really don't remember much about it other than she wore a yellow dress, so I've just had a look on You Tube. I thought she looked detached all the way through, not part of things, just going through the motions. The lifts were sloppy and at one point Brendan looked like he was having problems lifting her, it looked like she was in the wrong place and he had to make a second go at lifting. She stopped dancing altogether at one point, waiting for the lift. It just doesn't look as wonderful as some people are saying.

Will she win? I hope not. I would love Natalie to win, or if not her then Abbey or Patrick.

I have a horrible feeling that if Brendan gets to do a show dance for Sophie that we will get bacofoil Bambi all over again.

As brilliant as that would be, I'd still rather she wasn't in the final.