I don't get the fuss over Anya. I thought she was fine in her series but no more than many of the other pros. I can barely remember any of the routines she choreographed though - there was a voodoo one, I think?

I quite like Gleb and I think he's done a decent job with Anita. I hope he's back next year.

On the other hand - whispers softly - I wouldn't be sorry if Brendan bowed out after this series. I can't remember the last time he seemed completely engaged with a celeb partner.

I am happy with this year's final 5 and think all of them deserve their place.

Yes, I would have preferred Helen to be in the final but there are too many strong dancers this year so it's inevitable that someone good has to miss out.

The now out of date statement that Anita has never danced before. Mmmm yes you have my dear, for 14 weeks you have had one to one coaching from a professional, so that fact that you have not improved is either down to yourself or your pro.

I think Gleb is an excellent dance teacher and really choreographs to showcase Anita whenever possible.

I thought Brendan and Lisa's showdance was really well danced and musically interpreted and it was only the costume that spoiled it.

Peter Andre seems like a nice bloke. He was a good dancer and was committed to it.

I thought Anita's paso face was cringey and overacted.

I think you have captured the spirit of this thread quite well.... (with the first three anyway)

Ah, I feel bad now. The last one was an afterthought; perhaps I should have left it off.

Anita had been one of my favourites since the beginning and as I was out the night she did her paso, I was really looking forward to watching it on iplayer after reading the rave reviews of it on here. But I was disappointed - maybe I just didn't get it because I didn't watch it live? I do think some of the faces she pulls whilst dancing are a bit...off. But of course it's all down to personal interpretation.

I really like Gleb and his choreography and I think has done a great job with Anita. If my favourite doesnt win then I would like them to win.

I will miss Helen she was a terrific dancer and she should have been in final.

Im not feeling Georgia & Giovanni they past me my by good dancers though.

Anita's face pulling is beginner stuff compared to Helen's Paso faces - I nearly fell off my chair laughing. I will miss Helen though - she was lovely and did some excellent routines.

But - there's still Georgia and Katie (they won't actually win of course; we all know where the glitterball is headed, don't we?)

I didn't like Anita's paso and have slowly been going off her and Gleb ever since. Yet I supported and voted for them every week before. Admittedly I still throw them a vote every week since, but I think that was more out of habit and because I'm told too by my Mum.

How an opinion can change over the course of a series.

I loVe Kellie and KFG

Think the semi-final dances and songs will be fantastic for them.

Can see Anita (FT difficult dance) in bottom two, if she is she's a gonna 😏

When she remembered to snarl, it was like being menaced by a bunny wabbit.

A confession, maybe not unpopular, just shameful...

I spent the last hour making Giovanni in my Sims game

I know it's hoping to the point of as likely to happen as a chocolate teapot staying in one piece in the Sahara.

But I don't want Jay to win, not that I don't think he's a good dancer but I think some of the others have come along further progress wise than he has. Plus for the sake of being biased, I don't like it when contestants are overhyped by people (in any case, Jay seems to be the Strictly darling, ahead in all the polls etc) and if anything it'll put me off them.

Though I've resigned myself to the fact he's probably going to win.

There was the Voodoo quickstep with the two-in-one dress and also that really glamorous American Smooth where they jumped up the stairs like Paddington or Gene Kelly or someone splashing in puddles. I loved Anya on the show. Othello strangling Desdemona in the VW. The judges hated it but I thought it was so simple and touching. She had a fifty-year-old guy as her partner and she found the choreography to make him romantic.

Not trying to change your opinion! I just read 'Anya' and I was off...

Gleb isn't all that gorgeous.

Karen Hardy wasn't a very good choreographer.

Alesha's cha cha cha wasn't great.

Totally agree and something about her personally grated on my nerves as well. The most charitable way I can interpret it that she was very girly and I don't like girly girls.

That said she's the only winner I'd didn't like winning - I'm not sure Darren Gough was the RIGHT result but I could understand it enough to be ok with it and Goughie you are wrong plenty of people remember the runners up.

I agree. Jay is nice enough and I have nothing against him, but his dancing isn't as good as some are making out. The hype has been palpable since his jive and it's obvious that he's destined to win.


I think Alesha was very overrated in general. I remember her technique wasn't very good in her Cha Cha, Jive and Paso. Her Latin was quite mediocre in general, but the judges threw high scores at her because she sold the dances well.

Those list threads or prediction threads - I don't believe anyone actually reads anyone else's list or prediction.

O Mio Babbino Caro is lovely music but I don't love it as waltz

I'm not sure I agree but I remember at Blackpool wishing that Matt was dancing to Natalie's choreography and not Ailona's as I loved Natalie's routine but it was a bit beyond Scott's ability and I didn't think Ailona's was anywhere near as good but Matt was obviously a much better dancer.

BTW - I very rarely fancy any of the male pros except Tristan and shock horror a younger James Jordan. However I do think most of them are nice guys and that Ali (whose name I can't spell) would be great to go out for a drink with. He didn't really register with me when he won (I think because - and I'm really going to shot down for him - Abbey was kinda of all over him a bit - but I kinda fell in love with him a bit with Alison - they obviously got on like a house on fire in real BBF way.

I liked him but it was a mixture of extremely guilty mild lust and the fact he had no emotional filter kinda of like me actually. I could indentify with that and the fact that it made some people want to throw heavy objects at him - I'm not easy to live with either.

He was a bit but there were an awful lot of very bad dancers that series. He just catches the flack because he's the one that put out someone decent. That said I think all those who call him arrogant are deluded themselves - he was clueless and a bit odd and Flavia obviously found him frustrating and had no connection with him - but he always struck as a nice guy and I actually felt a bit sorry for him.

No I agree with you. I also thought she was judged by factors that people would have over-looked in a man just as I think Matt DA's personality would be viewed much more favourably had he'd been female. I think there's a little bit of stereotyping in what the man or woman in the street thinks a man or woman ought to be behave like.

Now that's an opinion that will be unpopular and contested.

I do too I also thinks she's a pretty good choreographer.