Last year after the first week, I posted a thread listing what I though were the Contenders - Dark Horses - No Chance contestants.

Funnily enough most of the people got at least three of the four finalists as contenders, with ThenetworkBabe and Poppysinbloom getting it spot on.

I wonder if we are going to be as accurate this year.

Contenders
Frankie & Kevin - good dancer, popular pro, likeable
Caroline & Pasha - good dancer, popular pro, likeable
Pixie & Trent - good dancer
Simon & Kristina - good dancer
Mark & Karen - good looking (debatable) and not hopeless dancer
Thom & Iveta - good looking (debatable) and not hopeless dancer

Dark Horses
Jake & Janette
Steve & Ola
Sunetra & Brendan

No Chance
Alison & Aljaz
Jennifer & Tristan
Judy & Anton
Scott & Joanne
Tim & Natalie
Gregg & Aliona

I know we only have seen them dance once, but since we were quite accurate, I wonder if we can also be it a second year running.

Put Alison in the dark Horses section but I agree with the rest

I was just going to say the same thing.

Great Minds Think alike

Spot on BUT I would put Mark & Karen in the dark horse category. I'm not quite sure that they are on contender status.
I like them BUT a lot of people STILL see him as that guy from towie. Not good.


I would also put team Alli in the dark horse category as well

I just hope and wish Sunetra improves and gets a fair length.

Thank you for that. It's really interesting to see people's guesses from last year. I had Rachel in the final!

So on the basis that I'm that good at predictions:

High on the leaderboard:
Frankie
Pixie
Simon
Mark
Caroline
Jake

Could be good learners/dark horses if they can stay in long enough to learn, but might not have the popularity to survive a bad dance/song choice:
Alison
Thom
Steve
Sunetra

Popular even if their dancing is not great
Jennifer
Scott (maybe - I'm basing that on the Radio Times poll and other people's comments on here)
Tim - if he can do a reasonable ballroom

Having a tough time by the look of it so far:
Gregg
Judy

that sums it up for me too

Yes, me too. Hope that she can at least match last week's score and then build on that. Surely she will at least be better then most of the Cha Cha Cha men last weekend.

Would be great if she were to get at least 30 points and a popular dance before it is her time to leave.

Contenders
Frankie & Kevin - good dancer, popular pro, likeable
Caroline & Pasha - good dancer, popular pro, likeable
Pixie & Trent - good dancer
Simon & Kristina - good dancer
Jake & Janette – Good dancer, not good looking, but with EE fan base
Thom & Iveta - good looking (debatable) and not hopeless dancer

Dark Horses
Mark & Karen - good looking (debatable) and not hopeless dancer
Steve & Ola
Sunetra & Brendan

No Chance
Alison & Aljaz
Jennifer & Tristan
Judy & Anton
Scott & Joanne
Tim & Natalie
Gregg & Aliona

I know it's subjective but I would personally say that Jake is attractive albeit not in the conventional way ..........I personally don't find Mark in the least bit attractive and that's mainly to do with his personality. Simon and Thom I think are both conventionally attractive but as personalties they're not appealing to me at the moment, that might change.........

I agree about Jake, i find him very attractive. I dont find Mark attractive at all, but I know plenty who do, that is why I said debatable.
I am warming up to Simon, weirdly since everything i know of him makes me . Thom is gorgeous, but ever so boring! But he looks like a nice guy so the grannie and mum vote may work. All to be decided!

Remind me - who's Jake?

I would totally agree with everything you have said here Topaz

dancing with Janette - plays Max Branning in Eastenders

Since the 'Year Alesha', I have managed to get the winner, except for once, within the first two weeks!! My one failure was the year that numpty Chris Hollins won (I had gone with Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe)
This year after watching the first week, I see four strong possibles and a dodgy dark horse.
My four possibles are Frankie, Caroline, Pixie and Simon. The dark horse is Jake. I would like to see Frankie dance a latin before making my mind up as by doing the waltz, as long as she kept her frame and posture right, she couldn't really go wrong but if she dances latin as well as her waltz then I reckon she will be 'last two'. I think Caroline may be just a bit too 'leggy' (I lurveeee long legs lol) and Pixie will do well but for my winner this year I think it will be yet another male and that is Simon. I loved his jive and his attitude afterwards.

That must be a record! I have had my favourites either win or second finalists since I have been watching - the year after Alesha.

I think Frankie is the odds on winner right now, I am just not too keen on her. She may grow on me, but she always has looked too bland and a charisma vacuum, trying hard to be a pop star. Never understood why she is often single out in the Saturdays when the rest seem much more of star material. She is a bit of Rachelbot v2. But that is just me.

Caroline, she has a good personality for Strictly, bubbly that seems to have done well in the past. If she can maintain a good standard of dance, a good partnership with Pasha and doesn't become too annoying, she could be in the final.

Pixie hasn't got a stablished pro so we dont know, but it hasnt been a hindrance for female contestants in the past. Trent could go Artem/Alijaz/Darren way and win on his first year on the show.

Simon, I am warming up to him but I wonder if the average voter will. Past history (see Ricky Whittle) on the show isn't too encouraging for lifting the title.

Agree with OP except I'd downgrade Steve to dark horse, otherwise, spot on

Never mind - I googled it. I had forgotten he was in it. More than a little surprised that a couple of people find him attractive.

Interesting. And we've all been at this game long enough to be able to gauge the winners/potential winners!

My record isn't bad as from series 2, I think I have backed the winner more often than not. I hit a blip after Kara, but felt from half way through last year, that Abbey could possibly pull it off. The Dance off has skewed it a bit, in that some popular contenders have gone out. Grrr.

Don't forget...how much it has to do with the relationship and partnership with the pro, and how you answer Claudia/Tess afterwards. A modicum of wit with charm does help, and not least, good song choices, at least it is for me, but sadly the power seems to be more and more out of the pro's hands in stamping their own individuality on a routine, which is why I am increasingly finding them 'samey.' For better or worse, I would like to see the couples be able to form their distinct 'identity' as the winners/contenders have done in the past without this now obsessive need to over produce.

I am not writing off Thom. I don't see him winning yet, but am not writing him off, if he is another Ramps in the Latin. Steve possibly has more enthusiasm than ability, but again, I don't write him off. It's surprising how much determination can carry you in this, plus likeability.

I can easily see Caroline in the Semi. Being in the final...kind of depends on her routines on that night and who she'll be up against (assuming it is not a straight public vote as it should be, and we have to suffer the bloody DO).

Being with Kevin, it seems almost kind of inevitably set up for Frankie to win this year, after he CAME SO CLOSE!!! last year. I actually find her more personable than Rachbot if not necessarily as technically good but it's still very early doors. Let's say she has a very good chance as it stands but it's a long road. There does seem to be some good men in the frame this year or at least men who have good 'potential' and that will make the competition very interesting in the next few weeks as they hopefully get better.

Contenders
Caroline & Pasha
Frankie & Kevin
Jake & Janette (I would have put him in the 'Dark Horse' section, but after seeing his Salsa training on ITT... well, it's looking pretty good, let's put it that way )
Pixie & Trent
Simon & Kristina

Dark Horses
Alison & Aljaz
Mark & Karen
Steve & Ola
Sunetra & Brendan (though I really think she has no chance of winning whatsoever)
Thom & Iveta

No Hopers
Gregg & Aliona
Jennifer & Tristan
Judy & Anton
Scott & Joanne
Tim & Natalie

Contenders
Caroline
Pixie
Jake
Frankie

Dark Horses
Simon

I know !! Bald and ginger
Contenders
Frankie, Pixie, Caroline, Mark, Simon
No Hopers
All the rest really.

He's the one who never smiles and actually seems rather aggressive. Doesn't appeal to me one jot at the moment.

Quote. I know it's subjective but I would personally say that Jake is attractive albeit not in the conventional way.

OK, maybe I should have said follically challenged, rather than unattractive. I have a feeling he might become well loved, in a Chris Hollins sort of way, although this guy can obviously dance - I have put money on him at the bookies.