They are my two favs with Jay just behind them.

See I think Anita will be in the final now, Helen to me can't seem to hold the audience together in my eyes. Helens odds really have drifted with the bookies of winning as have katies and kellies. Kellie who was 5th fave for the crown is becoming an outsider now.

Apart from Jay i can't predict who will be in the finals this year. Even Katie has potential, she must have good support out there much more than Kellie it would seem.

I'm wondering about Jay a bit. He clearly knows how to perform, but what may be new to him is performing as himself in a couple.

I know he's had stage school training, but my bet is that a lot of that will have involved ensemble work - and to some extent, that continued in the The Wanted. If he's used to blending into a group, it is quite a big jump to working as part of a couple, especially when the other half is someone with vast experience, technique and charisma like Aliona.

I'm saying this based on the back of a lot of years teaching drama. You do get people who are clearly good enough for larger, solo roles in shows, but who don't necessarily make the transition easily.

I'm not expressing this very well, but I hope you get the idea

Jay, georgia and Peter are the strongest contenders to win with the bookies currently.

With the Wanted , they're 4 other guys and judging from what I've seen from their interviews, he was more than happy to take the backseat at times. Some of the other guys have really loud and outgoing personalities. This doesn't mean that in interviews he was quiet, in fact he was very talkative but then he had the other boys with him.

Here at strictly it's a different ball game. He in the spotlight by himself for the 1st time in his career. And he has to share his journey with another person ( Aliona )... I dont know it's just different so I totally understand why he can be awkward or shy sometimes. I thought that even Simon Webb and Harry were a bit shy or self-conscious sometimes. ..but when you see them with their bandmates. ...they're so relaxed.
He's slowly but surely coming into his own

Good point, especially when you add in his comments in the pre series interview about having to get on a level with Aliona's sexiness and tonight when he said about trying to at least be on a par with someone who can pour themselves across the floor.

It's clear he has concerns about being "good enough" to be centre stage which is possibly compounded by feeling Aliona is so amazing and he needs to be as good.

I think he puts a lot of pressure on himself

I was struck again that Aljaz is the perfect partner for Helen, getting great dances out of her and at the same time so calm and nurturing. They're great and I really hope they do a great tango - I love the tango so much.

I don't think we got much from the training footage as it all looked really early days.

I swear that Jay is more cheerful when he's not top of the leaderboard. I was so happy Zoe didn't go on about acting for the whole interview. Lovely story about Anton. lovely interview altogether.

I think you express it very well and that makes a lot of sense.

Was that the X factor music they were using to introduce the couples?

Could be.


You explained it perfectly. BIB I have only seen clips of him dancing as part of an ensemble so you could be spot on about dancing as a couple and tied in with bb's point above, perhaps it's the exposed element that he's struggles with.

Im convinced the bookies base their odds on this forum!

Oh Gawd, just the thought of it! Actually, I'm now going to start a petition to have that happen

I may be mistaken, but I don't recall any connection between Jason and DWTS. I know they have big meet ups between all the different versions. Presume they share ideas then


I do think Strictly is a wierd mix. You're right there in the spotlight a few feet from the judges and the audience being publically critiqued seconds after performing something way outside your comfort zone. On the other hand, there's a massive telly audience watching you live that you need to connect with in a different way. It's very exposing, as you say.

Not really, I think it's based on FB, twitter and instagram. Jay and georgia are getting a lot of positive social media mentions which is the most of them all so I believe.

The Indian version of Strictly looks like quite a show!

As for ITT tomorrow - Team GG and Glita... definitely won't be missing that one!

At this stage I'd be very happy with either georgia or jay to win SCD.

That makes me think of Marian Keyes saying when you go and see it live you forget who you like and who you don't and you just admire them all for getting up there and dancing. I think it was in her vlog.

I love seeing the other versions of Strictly.

[quote=fridgesoup;80320732]I may be mistaken, but I don't recall any connection between Jason and DWTS. I know they have big meet ups between all the different versions. Presume they share ideas then


Ah right, i obviously just made that up! Im not sure Jason is the best thing that ever happened to Strictly

Helen and Katie becoming attractive to bet on.

Obviously different as it is pre-recorded, but I can already tell you now that their Apprentice odds are laughable

Peter is certainly not a strong contender, as he has always been firmly in 2nd place with the bookies and has now drifted to 3rd spot (even with that Charleston!!!). The VW will be the death of him.


Anyway, a good show tonight and I think that Jay and Helen actually looked good in the training clips (apart from Helen's toe leads, which Georgia also had in her tango training clips). Peter, Kellie and Anita not so much. The VW was never going to be his dance, while Kellie getting the Samba after Georgia is going to look positively slow and stilted I think. And Anita is luring a bus their way.

One would expect the ballroom dances to be on top at the weekend and latin dances at the bottom (except switching Georgia and Jeremy).

It will be hard to call who closes the show on Saturday, only Helen and Georgia are very unlikely. Perhaps Jamelia?

Thought Helen looked good in Tango at this early stage, with good poise, posture and frame. Nicely into her legs too. Kept a good connection too, so if Aljaz can eradicate the footwork errors, will be a good dance again.

Jay not looking so good at this early stage, but always more difficult for the celeb male. Needs to keep hips tucked under and drive from standing leg. Looking very steppy, needs to roll through feet more than just placing them, needs to track legs under body and more linear swing. If Aliona can work more on the basic Fox action, will improve quite quickly. Would like to see a little more projection.

Only saw a small clip of the VW from Peter, and sadly it looks awful at the moment. Hopefully Janette can turn it around. IT is so very technical and needs to be taught - and danced - correctly.

The Indian version looked great, I love Bollywood style dancing and I'm looking forward to ITT tomorrow too, didn't Giovanni look cute as a baby, although I don't know what that outfit was supposed to be

[quote=brendans babe;80321037]
He has loose links to the show as he has choreographed DWTS Live in the past. Considering the drop in ratings for DWTS, I have no idea why the beeb look to that show for inspiration.

Unfortunately, Janette is the worst ballroom teacher there, so am not expecting that routine to turn into anything much. Peter's stompy feet much in evidence.

I would expect a lot of improvement from Jay between whenever the footage was from (Mon or Tues) and Sat - I've never known a week where he doesn't look rubbish (or at least, not impressive) in training - even the jive. Aliona also ensures they are glued together in their ballroom, which is nice to see.

I'm sure Aljaz will get rid of footwork errors and I think it'll be a good one for them.

one thing I don't understand with Ians Wednesday Warm Up

the footage he was analysing today was from monday (Zoe said, Ian confirmed)

what IS the point of looking at training footage from Monday?

they have only just started to learn the dance and I thought Ian was unnecessarily harsh and slightly rude tonight when he was talking about some of the couples IT WAS MONDAYS TRAINING, of course they are not going to be very good - he was lucky that some of the couples were actually in hold/moving together

surely he can look at training from this morning and put together his Warm Up in readiness for a 6.30pm show