Yes, you're right, this year's group does look stronger when you set them out. I must have been remembering wrongly. For some reason I have Alesha's year in my head as 'the year of the women' and must be conflating some of the years together.

I think it came across like that because the judges very much set that tone early on by hyping up the Big Four women (Alesha, Gabby, Kelly, Penny) right out of the gate as the ones to beat. It didn't help that both Gethin and Matt got off to a slow start, mostly due to having the usual awkward week 1 bloke cha chas, and that the SPORTSMAN who might be expected to "go on a journey" was in the first dance-off. I think the public then kicked against what they saw as this judge "favouritism" of the women (and of course it didn't help that this was when the dance-off was introduced to give them more power over who went home), meaning the actual results on the female side of the draw ended up looking a bit random. Of course this was the start of the long slow-burning "public vs judges" mass-controversy that only really resolved itself when Chris won and then the judges successfully converted their relationship with Widdy into a panto act rather than something more fraught and serious.

I'm utterly fascinated by what Katie did, I mean I can't stand Peter, but that's festered since his Mysterious Girl days, I've had years to work on it, not a few weeks.

In answer to the original question, yes I think it is the strongest female line up by quite some way.

Very true observation Theirs is such a small world, full of stage school brats with suspect hair, small talent and very loud voices.

Innit?

No offense to Jamelia ( I like her ) but she doesn't reminds me of Alesha. Alesha had a personality that a lot of people found endearing. ...and at the moment the jury is still out on that aspect with Jamelia.

*cough*

(Yes I know, Jay's obviously winning, but STILL)

Regardless of dancing talent, nothing will ever beat the glory of Alesha-Kelly-Letitia-Gabby-Penny-Stephanie Beacham (and Kate I guess).

I think it's more to do with a weak male line up more than a strong female line up. There was already less one less man and out of 7 only 2 have to turned out to be serious contenders.

It's sad, week after week, men fall, the ladies seem to have it easier.

I thought a female would go this week. However, if Jeremy hangs on in there it must be a female next week because I cant see Peter or Jay going anywhere for a long time.

it is a strong line up thats for sure - anita, helen, georgia, kellie and katie (despite anton's efforts) all pretty able, so much so that a good dance can easily get lost in the mix

I am disproportionately amused that the last men standing are Jay (best dancer overall, boy band member), Peter (pre-show hot favourite, above average dancer) and...Jeremy (first cousin to a stork, makes Ian Waite look like Vincent, dances like a Thunderbird puppet with slightly perished elastic).

Once Jeremy goes I can see it being woman after woman after woman going. Don't think we'll lose Peter or Jay until at least the semi-finals.

It won't be Peter that's let through!

I don't want to jinx him by saying this, but I think we might keep Jeremy (and Peter and Jay, I agree) for ages yet. With only three men standing, Craig unable to give him more than a 3, no other comedy duffer (Carol isn't very good but she isn't funny), and his amazing enthusiasm, he seems to me to be ticking a lot of boxes of why people vote that nobody else really ticks now.

The question is, if they're safe, which of the women are in most danger. Carol, lovely as she is, surely has to end up in the b2 soon, especially if she has a latin for Halloween. Kirsty also facing a latin, and Jamelia, though it suits her more. And I wish Georgia all the luck in the world, perhaps it will be amazing, but I wouldn't want to be dancing to Ghostbusters.

In my view, Peter and Jay will make the final so the representation, regardless of ability will level out when it matters.

We actually have two women who could easily gone out by now. I don't think that Carol was any better than Daniel in the big scheme of things, or Kirsty any better than Anthony, but the public votes went to the women. I think it does show however that the celebrity women do find it easier to put out a reasonable routine given that we have a decent male line up and they're dropping like flies.

Yes I think Carol, Kirsty and Jamelia are in the most immediate danger. Georgia could slip into the bottom two over the next 2 or 3 weeks but would most likely be up against one of the above three or Jeremy so should be OK in that scenario.

eh? I prefer legs for the nights, am I missing out on something?

Well yes they do have an advantage in technical terms.
The male has to lead and I think therefore that would be more difficult to learn. When men win they have done exceptionally well imo.

Carol seems to be popular but I'd rather she was the first woman to depart. I think Jamelia and Kirsty will go before Jeremy.

I predict:
Kirsty
Jamelia
Carol
Jeremy
Katie
Georgia
Kellie or Peter
Kellie or Peter
Anita and Helen as runners up
Jay to win (though he's not the one I'd like to win)

I doubt dancing backwards in high heels is a doddle (and that's just Bruno doing The Strictly).

It looks like it but it is not. The strongest woman cast was in 2007 and 2013 IMO .

We had Penny, Alesha Dixon, Kelly Brook ( and others who I cant remember ) ...... who were more or less equally good in latin/ballroom.

In 2013, we had Natalie, Abbey, Susanna, and Sophie who could manage to do reasonably well in both .

However this year , that's not the case. Out of the female frontrunners :
Helen is good in ballroom but rubbish in Latin; Even Susanna was better .
Anita is stronger in the Latin and a bit shaky in the ballroom
Kellie is the only one of the 3 that is imo good at both and this is why I think that she is a sure bet of making the finale over Anita and Helen.

Ultimately, I vote for the year of Alesha Dixon for having the strongest female cast.

Penny was *terrible* at Latin tho. Far worse than any of the frontrunners this year.

I agree.

Although I would have liked to see a few more potential male contenders in this year's line-up, instead of only two, which seems to have been the case over the last couple of years.