I am out of the country so relying on you tube at the moment, from what I can see he is an exceptional dancer yet does not seem to be popular here. Am I missing something?

He is popular. Why do you think he's not popular?

He's currently a respectable 5th on this week's favourite poll and it's fair to say it wasn't his best dance.

I always get the impression hes not enjoying the whole experiance even though theres no doubt he is, i think hes one of those people who appears misrable whatever his mood, perhaps people pick up on that?

Agree, but it's his "so attractive, sex symbol" tag that I cannot fathom Ah well, it's good we don't all have the same taste. He does nothing for me and nor does his dancing.

I find him a bit of a cold fish. Good dancer though.

I'd call his demeanour phlegmatic. That's how he comes across to me anyway.

He seems to me like a humorist with a lot of reserve and a little menace. Good cool energy. I like him

I thought his dancing was great then I looked on the poll and he was only fifth, I thought perhaps there was something I missed.

I don't watch East Enders so have no previous experience of him, I certainly would not call him a sex symbol or even attractive I just liked his dancing, can't find this weeks dance on YouTube yet though.

It depends how people define 'favourite'. This week I didn't vote for him in the poll because his wasn't my favourite dance of the night. However, he's probably my favourite overall so far.

Dont knock that sex symbol tag it gives some of us a least a bit of hope

This year, I like watching Jake, Sunetra, Thom, Steve and Judy - in that order

I like Jake. I think he comes across as a bit "cold" because he is quite shy.

I get the impression that Jake and Pixie are getting the most popular votes.

I went into the show really wanting to vote for him, but even after re-watching his QS, I found it meh and realised there were at least three other dances I thought were better or I very much wanted to help save other couples. If we still had 5 votes, I'd have included him, but not this week. I bet he'll be good again next week.

But I'm always really interested in him and his dances. And the bookies still have him as favourite to win. Not sure where the OP gets the impression he's not popular.

Jake is my favourite in terms that I think he's very talented & I look forward to his routine every week but he doesn't always get my vote on the poll as its meant to be what was your favourite THIS week. That has been Jake on some weeks but not all. Doesn't stop him being my favourite overall

If you watch ITT I think you'll agree he's coming out of his shell now.

I am in Dubai and have been for a few weeks, all I have are the clips on YouTube that don't always have judges comments. I haven't been able to find this weeks yet, so I really only have DS to go by and it just seemed to be a bit meh when it came to him, but good to have it clarified. Thanks all

Really? possibly Jake - however I can see Pixie possibly being in a shock dance off situation if she has a slightly duff/ just ok dance. I like Pixie, however going by polls and the general feeling on here is that she leaves many cold and she is 'too good'.

Unfortunately I think there is a good case that Allison, Scott and Judy are hoovering up votes at the moment

If you've just started reading DS on this Series you may have missed this thread which got a lot of positive traffic the first few weeks. That might fill in some of the blanks you are drawing right now. It's hidden away on page 3 at the moment.

Things do change from week to week, though, and threads come and go.... and resurface... or get created anew by other posters.

What a brilliant description of Jake. I agree

Dancing ability: I think he might have peaked early with his Salsa. His Jive should have been good, as he's evidently good at fast, jolly dances, but for some reason it wasn't up to his previous standard. Same with Quickstep: I expected more somehow. i think he's another Sophie E-B, dancing prowess-wise. I hope I will be disproved, however!

Him: he's a low-key, wry kinda guy whose personality might not click with everyone. He seems like he's probably got a lot on with work/family, isn't the type to declare his utter infatuation with the dahnce (although he clearly enjoys it) and the Strictly experience, and therefore just gets on with it without a lot of fuss. Voters tend to like some kind of drama/narrative to buy into, but he's not really creating one other than 'I trained, some bits were hard I guess, here's my dance: hope you liked it.'

I think he will win if he does some more knock-out dances. He's got no real competition from the other men (Simon and Mark have been in the dance-off; Steve and Tom aren't that good I don't think; Sco-hahahaha) and the good women are all ringahs so he'll win because he hasn't had training.

He is just an introvert. Acting is a strange profession for someone who doesn't show off.

Jake is top of a very short list of those I would like to win this year.

I agree with you. He does the steps, but his dances just don't excite me. I really don't see the appeal.