Having watched these two pairs for a few weeks now, I can't help but feel that we would have got much more productive results had Jamelia been partnered with Brendan and Kirsty Tristan.

Despite Jamelia having a reputation for being difficult, I really get the feeling that she is prepared to put the hard work in to succeed on Strictly - a facet Brendan would fully appreciate and use to full advantage. Yes, their partnership may have been explosive but I believe the more she is pushed, the more Jamelia would rise to the occasion and achieve the necessary rewards. This pairing would also have made Brendan more prominent as opposed to the fading backround role he is currently playing with Kirsty.

Talking of Kirsty, although I think she wants to do well, she doesn't seem as driven as Jamelia. I get the impression she is not enjoying herself as she thought she would. This is manifesting in the distinct lack of chemistry between her and Brendan and I feel that they are just tolerating each other. The fact that Brendan has been bought back to earth with a bang after thinking Kirsty would be a contender can't have helped matters.

I, therefore, think she would benefit more from a slower-paced and more patient approach - the type Tristan could offer her. Even more than Jamelia, she has confidence issues (in terms of her dancing) which I think Tristan would be more adept at dealing with than the driven Brendan.

What do you think? Vote in the attached poll and feel free to give you input.

Think Kirsty's problem is she's too driven and Brendan feeds that competitiveness and then she gets annoyed when she can't do it.

Think Tristan would have softened that competitive edge and got her to just enjoy it for enjoyment's sake, rather than trying to make it perfect.

Brendan would struggle with Jamelia as much as Tristan is. She's far too emotional and weepy for Brendan, it would annoy him and yes, she would work hard but he doesn't do emotional.

Why does Jamelia have a reputation for being difficult?

I think it comes from her sometimes
forthright opinions on Loose Women (people forget that the whole idea of sitting on that show's panel is to be opinionated) and her apparent lack of effort on the Bear Grylls survival show (I say "apparent" as I didn't watch it but have heard plenty).

I feel much of her reputation is unwarranted. Both on LW & Strictly, I see a young women who is not very confident and a bit too self aware trying her best to build her career in the media.

I know before this series started James Jorden was hoping Jamelia & Brendan would be partnered together.
He really doesn't like Jamelia as a person and he knew she would bring out the worse in Brendan.

Oh what would I have not given to see James remain on the shpw and be partnered with Jamelia himself!!!!!

I think the reason Jamelia has her good attitude is partly because she is with Tristan.

Brendan tends to be more demanding and less laid back, although he has shown he can do otherwise with Jo Wood in particular.

I think they are paired the right way round. I had much higher hopes for Kirsty (as did the bookmakers at the start of the show).

Brendan did turn up this year looking very fit and motivated, so I think he was hoping for one of the contenders, because there were quite a few.

I wouldn't put Jamelia with Brendan anymore as I feel sorry for her. I think she's trying very hard and is disappointed in her efforts. In terms of support and encouragement of her fragility, I think Tristan is doing well. Brendan lacks empathy.

I might have mixed the couples up thus: Aljaz with Jamelia, Brendan with Helen, Tristan with Kirsty, Katie with Pasha and Carol with Anton.

But I agree with many others that what was meant to be happened and it's highly unlikely that Jamelia or Kirsty would be progressing much more than they are with their pro partners. I just wonder if their experiences might have been nicer with others.

Jamelia and Brendan Imagine it!

I'd say she would be in floods of tears all the time, can't see Brendan being as patient with her as Tristan,

No, I think they're better as they are.

FWIW I think the only change I'd make this year is I wouldn't have put Kellie and Kevin together. Not having a go at either of them, but they're too similar. I'd have liked to see Kevin with a complete learner to see a different side of him, and Kellie with someone softer like Tristan.

I DONT think these changes would make any part of difference to their dancing. I think Kirsty would have more chemistry with Tristan but she just not very good. Jamelia would be about the same and maybe worse as I think she'd clash with Brendan.

But I think a partner switch up like they do in america for one week would be interesting. I'd particularly like to see Katie do Latin with Kevin/Alijaz/Pasha and Jamelia with Anton for a ballroom to see if they really are bad at them or its partner related.

I think this swop would torture Brenda and put Kirsty at more ease. So I see it as a complete win-win

Kirsty is a very strong willed woman who puts pressure on herself. I think she would get frustrated with Tristan's easy-going laid back attitude.

I'd like to have seen Jamelia with Anton, then she could have just had fun & giggled her way through the show without worrying too much about the actual dancing.

After seeing ITT with Tristan and Jamelia last night, I think she's in safe hands.

I think Kirsty's fundamental issue is that she just isn't very good, but she puts pressure on herself to be perfect. I think a 'softer' pro would frustrate her because she would probably feel as though she needed to be pushed harder to make faster progress, rather than accepting she isn't at the stage where she can do X, Y or Z yet.

Can see that Tristan is supportive, and after ITT this week it's clear he's exceptionally good at supporting his celebrity.

Jamelia surprised me as she seems to be vulnerable.

Kirsty wants to work as hard as possible - unfortunately she doesn't seem to 'feel' the music, but she tries.

So - they are both in the best hands to suit their characters (as far as can see as just a viewer).

Quite.

She even said Brendan should get tougher with her.

I think they're both in the correct pairings. Despite public opinion Jamelia comes across as far more in need of a softer encouraging approach than Kirsty who seems to want to work really hard and be pushed.

I think both pairings would be worse off if they swapped.

Interestingly these two are where the story is for me this week as it's possible if there are tied at the top that they could be in the dance off.