Forgot to add my cheeky 6th

6. Great to hear Brendan acknowledge the help of Anya in that amazing VW

1. Judy was better than Scott!
2. Pixie was a cut above tonight. Too bad she has been hit with the ringer tag and has no chance on winning, no matter how well she dances.
3. Thom took a step back tonight, which is a shame as he has been doing very well.
4. Frankie and Caroline were both fantastic.
5. Mark did a great routine but not worthy of a 9.

1. Very enjoyable week to watch overall. Nearly everyone has improved.

2. Costume designers may at last be beginning to get their act together.

3. Caroline and Pasha's Paso was undoubtedly good...but it still didn't thrill me (could be that it was danced to that dreadful 'Wings' song - probably the worst Bond theme ever).

4. How many more times this series do we get the dubious pleasure of seeing Pasha's slightly chubby chest?

5. Steve's Waltz wasn't fantastic, but it was very sweet.

1. Thought Mark was fabulous - I love being surprised.

2. Thought Steve was so gentle tonight....again, I love being surprised! And Ola looked sublime.

3. Thom was disappointing, which was...disappointing.

4. Judy will go soon, so hope it is this week as it was her best dance.

5. Claudia almost melted into a puddle when Thom compliment her - hilarious!

1. Not going to pretend to be impartial - I thought Steve was done for, doing his waltz between Caroline and Pixie, and I thought it was really really lovely.
2. Good show tonight - lots of good dancing and surprises. I am enjoying this series, though I think it's just going to get harder and harder to see people go. It's great to have lots of good people, not one obvious winner, but I worry it will get bad tempered as there will be some very even dance offs. But if I forget the competition element and just think of it as a night of dancing, I really enjoyed it.
3. Great to see the men wearing tails to do ballroom. Thank you wardrobe. I thought everyone's outfits were pretty good tonight.
4. Claudia is fantastic but I thought she was a bit unfair on Simon, particularly when his dance hadn't gone well.
5. Found the judges' comments and scores a bit confusing with several people.

1. Sunetra did a very lovely VW, in a very revealing dress (if you look on the BBC site), undermarked by the judges (see also: social media)
2. Mark was surprising with his samba, easily the best samba on the night (it is one of those dances that you need to feel and technique only won't get you there)
3. Hope that we aren't left with the four best dancers and Scott & Judy in the quarterfinal.
4. Think that Alison's story on Strictly is almost over, it doesn't seem to have the same power as Lisa Riley's arc.
5. Darcey has been an awful judge this series.

I noticed this as well Pet (and did think of you and someone else I know who really valued Anya on the show!). I think Pixie also mentioned Anya's help on ITT. It's nice that she's still a part of the show (even if behind-the-scenes) and getting some recognition for her input.

But do you know if this was her decision to take a step back and just help with choreography or the Beeb's? And I'm wondering if there's still a chance she could come back as a main show pro? There's definitely a couple of female pros I'd trade for her.

Scott's lost a little bit of weight, so he must be putting effort into the training, even if it's sadly to no avail.

Darcy was somewhat distracted - she hilariously very nearly told Steve he had 'elephants' before correcting it to elegance. And during one of the dances, I think it might actually have been Steve's waltz, when the couple were near the judges' panel, you could see for a few seconds that she wasn't actually even watching them.

Cold or no, Len had the biggest grump-on for practically most of tonight that I recall for some time. What did Len say when Darcy asked him if he was alright after nearly being karate chopped by gesticulating Bruno?

Simon went at least two steps back tonight. That was an extremely strange start to a VW, and all throughout things just weren't 'correct'. Glaringly, there was some kind of abandoned hand movement that just looked like a random, contact-less high five, and during one of the spinny bits towards the end Kristina by the skin of her teeth just managed to stop herself going A over T.

Pixie - professional as ever, immodest as ever. In the pit you could see how nonplussed she was with Craig's 8 as she was clearly expecting a 9.

I really wish I knew Sid! I'm maybe fond, partial, dopey etc (all of those things) but I've been imagining for weeks I'm seeing little bits of Anya's touch in different couples' routines. Just moments that feel like her signature...

It would be terrific if she came back fully in her own right.

1. Getting very very VERY bored with all the Tess-bashing. She's there, she's doing fine, so every "hatuh" please stop it.

2. Costumes normally fine (loved Sunetra's dress), but very odd colours for Caroline's paso dress and cape.

3. Could Alison please be voted off very soon. Visually impossible to watch those dreadful flat feet, and it sends me off to watch Lisa Riley on YouTube - hey, that babe could dance!

4. Delighted that one tennis son is coaching Judy to relax. She's probably getting too many sympathy votes from the Great British Public, or she would have been out last week, but - ungainly though she is, at least she is trying. Hard.

5. The singing was very screw-driverish. Sorry, Hayley, but one song was fingernails on blackboard time.

1) My favorite show of the series so far, thought it got progressively better as it went on

2) Both samba's were my highlights of the night

3) Steve seems like a proper nice fella

4) Pixie and Trent becoming my favorite couple

5) If Sunetra and Mark continue to improve, this could be a really entertaining series

1. Better choreography -tick
2. Better costumes- tick
3. Fair judging-tick
4. Claudia on form -tick
5. Yay Strictly is BACK! - tick

1. James Jordan (on twitter) said that Pixie's Samba was by far the best dance of the night and that she is by far the best dancer on the show. I can only agree.

2. I was distinctly underwhelmed by Trent at the start of the series, but he's completely won me over. Great choreography again from him.

3. After showing much improvement in the previous two weeks Thom took a step backwards. He looked very hesitant and unsure of himself, and wasn't helped by Ivetta completely outdancing him at times.

4. Great comeback by Mark. While his Samba wasn't quite in Pixie's class, it was nevertheless a very good effort at a very difficult dance.

5. Music choices make a big difference to my enjoyment of a dance and that song by Queen was a poor choice IMO for a VW (Simon's). Simon was another who took a step back this week and so far he's looked more suited to faster paced dances (eg. Jive, Charleston) than to the ballroom ones.

1) It was greats to see Judy enjoying it so much, I thought the Craig from three was too low.

2) I'm really enjoying Mark, Sunetra and Steve

3) Loved Carolines Paso

4) I agree with some of the other comments about Allison, she seems to be regressing and is terribly flat footed.

5) I find Pixie incredibly dull

Steve has the potential to win in a Tom Chambers kind of way - his love of dance is palpable in a line up that seems to sorely lack charisma this year. If he pulls out a stand out dance next week, he could rocket to the top.

Iveta completely out danced Thom

Simon looked as if there was a bad smell in the room again

I just cannot stand Pixie. She comes across as a very entitled individual.

Jake was disappointing this week. Has he peaked?

1. Wardrobe heard our pleas, and gave us better outfits for both male and females. Loved the dresses of Ola and Iveta.
2. Music choices were a bit odd at times, but Dave Arch and co did a reasonable job.
3. A few celebs took a step back, and put themselves in danger of the DO.
4. I found myself looking at my watch twice, no standout dances and no major car crashes ( a few minor ones), was a bit bored tonight. Not usual for me and Strictly.
5. I assume the wrong person will go tonight, as it is week 5. For Halloween, some might want to come back next week masquerading as a dancer.

I think he's a Latin person, he needs a bit of freedom to show some spontaneity. All those rules down to a position of one's fingers do not agree with him.

1. I'm still not getting Caroline. Good, yes but not that impressive.

2. I loved Sunetra's VW. Not perfect but lovely nonetheless.

3. I don't think Alison's 'top half' can hide her 'terrible bottom half' for much longer.

4. Love Judy and Anton's partnership. They are having such fun.

5. Will Caroline ever get a decent dress?

1 - Enjoyed the show last night. Amiable tosh to accompany my Rioja. Just what I needed after a busy day.

2 - First time I've watched Judy from in front of rather than behind the sofa.

3 - Didn't know Frankie had a baby. Surely she should have kept the public appearance by Bridge Junior in reserve for a sympathy vote later on.

4 - I want Trent as a son-in-law.

5 - Darcey was even more stunning last night than normal.

1. Brendan has really mellowed and matured this series. Although Sunetra
Isn't my favourite he's choreographing some really beautiful routines and not
Being as egotistical as usual. Lovely to watch .

2.some of the music choices just does not not fit the dance !
Wish the pro's had more input . Alison's Addicted To You choice hampered
Her dancing any accents at all .

3.caroline was under marked . One of the best Pasa Dobles
I have seen in a long time . For done reason Pixie bring favoured
This series

4. It's time for Scott or Judy to Benin the bottom two . Have a sickly feeling
They won't though and someone with potential might 🙀🙀

5. Non theme weeks are so much better ! I hate Halloween week

1. I'm loving Claudia more and more as each week goes past.

2. Tess is annoying me more and more as each week goes past - not as much as Bruce did though (yet!)

3. Alison and Aljaz - she's just ... clompy. I know she's enjoying it, but last night I rewound my recording and watched just her feet and ignored her top half. Not good

4. Frankie and Kevin - one of my favourite couples still, but she does need to up her game now. Top four celebs are still frankie, pixie, Caroline and Jake IMHO.

5. Scott - oh dear. Sweet guy but it's like watching a puppy being kicked and coming back for more.

Thoroughly enjoyed the show, with some great dancing and choreography.

Cannot take to Pixie at all.

Don't get the Alison love, although I think it may be Aljaz who is getting the votes.

Really didn't think I would take to Mark, but always find that there is a little smile on my face at the end of his dances.

Want Sunetra's dress .... please!

1. Loved Steve and Ola this week. Beautiful waltz with no mucking about

2. Thought the judges were rather generous with Mark

3. Music for Simon and Kristina really hampered their dance, not VW music

4. Jake seems to be trying too hard, a bit OTT

5. Judy did not deserve to be bottom of the leader board (Scott and flatfooted Alison were worse)

Wasn't Len grumpy tonight? Needs to leave his bad moods at home!
Last edited by Mrs-Mop : 26-10-2014 at 08:35

1. I admire Mark for putting in so much effort and pulling off a good dance last night when I thought he would struggle.

2. Jake's frame in hold is improving but I felt he was left in the wake of Pixie, Frankie and Caroline last night.

3. Loved Sunetra and Brendan's VW - the music, the set (with a looming Liver Building looking like something straight out of Gotham City) and the performance all blended together so well.

4. Overall the band were fine last night but their performance of Queen's - Somebody to Love was beyond redemption. It got in the way of Simon and Kristina's performance for me.

5. If you strip back all the camping about and listen to what he says about technique and what worked and what needs further refinement, Bruno is very insightful - the best judge on the panel.

1. For me. most enjoyable show so far. And for once, agreed with majority of scores (considering Jake sets bar high).
2. Maybe just me, but felt costume designers finally seem to be getting act together (no real horrors).
3. Once Scott & Judy go (apologies to their fans, and I really hoped Scott would have been good, at least at ballroom), this is best series seen so far for competition between 'instinctive' dancers (Pixie, Frankie, Jake, Caroline) and strong neophytes (Sunetra, Steve, Thom, Mark).
4. Clauds just makes me laugh. She even makes the bad Brucie puns funny.
5. An aside, but adored the little hand hold between Janette and Karen (if anyone else spotted).