Craig really is the only judge anyone should pay attention to, isn't he?

Yes, although the other guys are not too bad (Bruno was quite restrained with only one 8).

I've given up on Darcey (and laugh with the people who said/say she is miles better then Alesha). Just look up her scores for Jay and Katie and compare them with what the men scored them.............laughable.

In Series 1, there were only 2 celebs in the final, so Anton has never made it.

It was always shot on Saturday anyway. The structure it has now it could not be done live anyway, music acts, pro dances, costume changes, there's a lot of waiting for things to be ready or gone.

I think we have to give credit to the panel....if it had not been a cha cha they would have said so. I loved it......loved their interpretation and attitude. And am definitely up for their advice of more hip action from Peter next week. Bring it on.

But it's not always about being technically correct. There is also how you interpret the dance and attitude,and Peter was way better on those elements, therefore deserved a higher mark,

These are jokes no?

In the past years everyone has let everything slip through.
Since when did Len not say about people closing their feet in a waltz? Years ago he would of been on it, he didn't say a word to Jamelia.
Craig is a bit better, but in recent years he has gone along with dances which do not correctly reflect what they are more then most.

I think Jamelia could be in trouble with Jezza. I thought the lad from The Wantedcwas good with more to come and the lady from Benders was good. Peter Andre excellent but the dance did sort of play to his style. The young girl from Cirrie good better to come. Shame about Kirstie hoped she would nail it Brenda will sort that out.

Daniel average but no personality at all. The boxer lad was ok nice guy. Ainsley was like Uncle Fester funny but bad. Ryan thingy do not like way too serious. The rest not much to say really

I did enjoy though

I thought Peter Andre was very good, but I did not like the choreography, I expected more fluidity from it, this felt quite staccato to me. I thought Jay at the beginning did a classic cha cha, although not as well executed. Still very nice and despite how nervous he was supposed to be it did not show. That BTW is a very nice quality in a person that they can overcome their nerves like that, some people would be petrified and forgot everything

I don't think she was sulky at all, but she was clearly a bit disappointed (in herself perhaps). I actually prefer to see them a bit warts and all. Everybody's so media trained these days it's a relief to get a glimpse at a real person now and again. It's why I hate the silly, glib version of training we get in the VTs. We see nothing genuine, just producer defined childish nonsense. (Well, that and their excruciating unfunnyness).

I agree. I can't stand all that scripted stuff they do. The gimmicky stuff at the beginning of performances bugs me a bit too. I always feel like shouting "just get on with it!"

Anita was the big surprise to me - a nice surprise.

Other surprises were that Carol seemed to have learned so little, Kirsty looked so unsure, and Anton produced something that looked like dancing a jive.

I thought a lot of the dances were too vague - ie. didn't look like the dance was supposed to look like.
Jeremy's CCC, Ainsley's Tango, Peter's CCC, were examples.

The VT's were not as bad as usual on average.

There were more props and heavy theming than I would like to see, plus some strained music choices such as for Kellie's Tango.

The judges were OK apart from the variation in scoring, but the scores may have been a bit pre-ordained from above.

All in all a show that looked like it was ordained from above to be prop heavy, theme heavy, pun heavy.

Could not have put it better myself. I do think though that if you are dancing a cha cha it should be recognizable as a cha cha. I also think that Anton should get a Latin coach - his choreography was terrible. As for the judging - it was the first dance, but felt the only judge who really gave constructive comments was Craig.

Bring back Trent Whiddon!!!!!

Who?

Others say it's only the first dance, only the second dance, if Craig did the same they would think they were perfect. Sometimes it can be like a bucket of cold water, but better to know there's still some work left and exact pointers help, too. He can be too finicky about little things, but there's still time before he can get to those.

Is it just me or are the outfits a lot better this year? I swear last year the dresses weren't that great until a few weeks in. And caroline was always dressed in something really weird!

Helen George's dress reminded me a little bit of Frankie's one for her final showdance.

Katie's dress was amazing. Have they got a new costume design team this year?