Jake was probably very high in the early voting last year and it didn't see him through.

I don't have a view on the veracity of the claim that they've won the vote 3 weeks out of 4. In general it's hardly what I would consider a trustworthy source but in this particular case who knows? Certainly they've been close to the bottom of the LB a number of times and if that doesn't mobilise their sympathisers nothing will. In any event I think support fluctuates more than people think which is why a visit to the B2 isn't necessarily the end of someone's chances and why early frontrunners may run out of steam. As others have said, we've seen this kind of hype before and ultimately the victory went elsewhere.

When it comes to predicting the winner, history is against the middle-aged / seniors. IIRC Hollins was the oldest winner at 38

Yes, it's very believable. We'll never know of course but for everyone I talk to about the show the main story is wouldn't it be great for Anton to 'finally' do well, and she's been low down the leaderboard which most of the other contenders have not so people know they need to vote. I'm more surprised that Jeremy isn't topping the vote than if Jay isn't. You vote for people who you think won't survive the dance off.

One but though - I don't think these stories help people. I think often people who are reported in the papers as winning, like Suzanna, don't.

I think it's very possible and I don't actually think I would begrudge it if it is true.

She's had a hard run of Latin dances, which means she's going to have a lot of ballroom in the latter half of the series, and as such it should build to her getting to the final. Anton is very popular with a lot of people outside of the forum and a lot of people I talk Strictly with would really like to see him win it, and this really is his only shot at it.

I mean there is still a long way to go, but it would be a brave person who would bet against them if they get to the final.

Who knows? The only one I'm sure won't be in the final let alone win it is Jamelia.

Probably true.

Mainly because
I t's phone vote data only.

Most "older" less tech savvy fans vote by phone but a lot of younger vote via online free voting system. This demographic also love anton.

The fact she is winning the phone vote might not mean much at all now if the majority internet vote.

Agree ^^^^ It's possible (just) that they've got some phone data, but should think more people vote on- line - which might be different.

Anton is the most well known outside Strictly and is popular - people like his sense of humour and patience with his partners. He also has sympathy that he's finally got a (just about) possible contender.

But if they aren't getting as many on-line votes, to get through they need to avoid a dance-off later on in the competition.

Usually the public votes, in the end, for the best dancer or the one that has made the most improvement.

Her odds of winning have drifted from 10/1 to 22/1 now on www.oddschecker.com so not that popular.

How can people still doubt this D.Star info? It has an impeccable record with its vote leak stories. It also told us Chris Hollins was romping the public vote.

Even if the story is accurate as others have pointed out a lot can change over the coming weeks. I think the nearer we get to the final the better the stand out dancers do and gradually the less able dancers tend to fall away. Katie is kind of middle of the road for me dancing wise. Love her ballroom - hate her Latin. I also don't find her very likeable at times, particularly when she's being critiqued. I do believe Anton is extremely popular with voters though so they're certainly a threat. I just can't imagine something like their show dance for example would be enough to win the final if people like Jay and Anita were there.

I don't believe it.

yes i've seen it, and Georgia is Climbing in the bookmakers

They say, we'd get snow in late October, no snow.

They say it's going to be a record hot summer, no it wasn't,

So I'm sorry if I'm sceptical at what the papers say.

I will admit, she might have topped the vote in the first couple of weeks but I don't think she would much longer.

I don't understand why the online votes are limited to just three.

Whether true or not it's not an indication that they'll end up winning. We've seen on past shows where voting figures have been released (like DOI) that the people topping the vote early on very rarely end up winning (with a few exceptions). Towards the final stages the public tend to switch their votes to the better performers.

She's not very tall so probably can't reach the counter.

I thought they were just using the term 'phone vote' very loosely to mean viewer vote. In fact I still think that even though you've quite rightly pointed out that many votes are given via the internet.

Exactly. In the year Ray Quinn won Dancing On Ice, in the early weeks he was getting significantly less votes from the public than Colleen Nolan and Todd Carty, the latter who didn't get anywhere near the finals and the former finished in 4th place. These things usually change a lot as the competition becomes more serious and whilst not impossible, I can't see Katie keeping this momentum up even if the figures are true. Besides there has already been a week when someone beat her (Jay?) so her fanbase arguably isn't that strong.

LOL

you are really funny, and you're right she's tiny but she is a good dancer.

Doesn't matter if it is true or not as she isn't going to win and in all likelihood will be departing sooner rather than later. She will be doing well to outstay the three worst dancers.

I love the charleston, and in particular I like Anton's charleston - they are always so funny - hope Katie can do funny.

They all get help with the choreography and if you have ever seen Anton & Erin's stage show, you will know that he can carry off a showdance.

If she can make the Final (and I hope she can), she's one of the only people (along with maybe Anita) who could pose a realistic competition to Jay. She's got some fabulous dances left (only Rumba/Samba look like potential sticking blocks), and tonnes of Ballroom to build up steam with.

If I were stage managing the whole thing, I'd give her the Charleston after the Quickstep (Week 8), so she could have it again as the Judges' Choice in the Final (she can have the Rumba/Samba in the Semi-Final). A sweeping American Smooth Viennese Waltz based Showdance, pure Anton, followed by their Week 2 Tango as a Favourite Dance. What Anton needs to avoid is having a purely Ballroom final, as that could look like a cheap tactic; heck, her Jive could make a creditable Judges' Pick...

...although perhaps not next to Jay's.

Oh, I think she is really the only competition to Jay if she manages to get into the final (Anita fans are mostly also Jay fans, so her vote in the final will quite probably drop like a brick).



You have just highlighted the two major problems towards/in the final. The Charleston has lifts, good luck with that, and her Jive would become the only possible latin choice for the final (in which case, she should just concede defeat).

A showdance like Denise or Louis or Natalie or even Sophie, no. But one like Frankie's, absolutely he could.

No, Katie's problem would be if the judges gave her a Latin as her mandatory redance. Though equally, it depends what "story" they are trying to present.

Which said IF she gets to the semis, it'll almost certainly be rumba or samba for one of her dances... (assuming she gets Charleston in 3 week's time, should she last that long which she should with (probably) 2 ballrooms.

It's no longer the case that they dance one Latin and one ballroom in the final though. Frankie had samba and paso last year, though whether they were chosen because she had a ballroom based showdance is unknown. Caroline had cha cha and Charleston. That said, I don't know that they'd let Katie do three ballroom - certainly in the final there's a bit of a feeling that ballroom is less exciting. I imagine her Charleston could be good though, and if the lifts are sticky, it could be why it was chosen to improve.

I wouldn't be surprised if she did top the votes in a few weeks - and I'll hazard a guess that the week she didn't was the week Jay had Quickstep. There's nothing like your favourite having a bad week to fuel votes, especially if they are low on the leaderboard. At this stage, there's nearly no point in voting for someone on the top, after all! I do doubt 20% of the vote though, especially because it's clear that Jeremy and Carol must be doing well on the public vote too.