I'm actually appreciating the absolute obviousness of those who have "chosen" Danny as their favourite this year and the continual references back to Jay because it's so blindingly obvious they're hoping to stir the shit and, so far, they've pretty much been ignored.

Danny's supremely talented as a dancer, he just leaves me utterly cold and, as I don't watch ITT or even had a clue who he was before SCD, he hasn't really given me much indication of a personality either yet.

Same with Natalie Gumede, brilliantly talented but most of her routines did nothing for me, clinically executed but lacking the spark that makes me engage with a performance.

Will I be drummed out of this thread if I say I like both Jay and Danny?

Baiting is such an inelegant way to initiate discussion as it generally encourages entrenched positions. I don't appreciate that.

But I do appreciate DOTs with a similar outlook to me.

Not at all Gill

I quite liked Danny's paso, was my third favourite dance of the night, but I didn't appreciate his cape twirling or his awkward knee moves.

This may have been unappreciated before but what's with the dodgy underground car park backdrop to the new pros introduction VTs? I am imagining lingering odours of people who aren't too bothered about "finding the facilities" if you know what I mean. Soz.

To me, the more rational comparison is between the two Movie Week pasos; both based on 'historical' action/adventure films and requiring the celeb to take on the persona of a dashing, yet with comic elements, hero.

Last year gave us Peter Andre stomping about in his wellies like Paddington having a bit of a tantrum and this year we got Danny making a good fist of being the dashing hero whilst dancing a recognisable paso.

Well it is an "unappreciation" thread

Only joking, not at all! I like watching Danny dance, I love Oti's choreography, I just haven't had a "wow" moment yet. Not saying it won't happen though but I've not really seen anything of him come across in either the dances or the little interview snippets.

As someone's said to describe Louise, he just seems really beige (apart from his looks which, again, don't do anything for me either!).


Couldn't agree more. I remember Suzanna Reid's Paso with Kevin or Anita's last year more than I do Danny's and my all time favourite one is still Austin's with Erin

He's an odd one for me. I didn't notice him until week 2 and then I was stopped in my tracks. He looks like a young Pierce Brosnan and initally I was smitten. At a distance he is drop dead good looking and seems elegant, sophisticated and masculine. Up close he isn't as good looking and seems rather gauche (and not in an endearing way). I like looking at him from a distance but when he speaks he turns me right off. He can dance though.

Actually, I couldn't stand either of those pasos. All I remember of Suzanna's is TTF's breeches-with-best-school-shoes look and Suzanna acting like she was Eleonora Duse at the end.

Mind you, although I can recognise its shortcomings, I've got a soft spot for Austin's.

Yes! Completely agree, he is much more striking at a distance.


That's what I mean though, neither of them were particularly good technically and yet both are far more memorable

Same here - I remember Emma Bunton's as well ... mainly for the faces.
I did quite like Jill and Darren's though.

In terms of pasos I loved Denise Lewis', and I adored Holly's, which was done to the exact same theme as Danny's although that was mostly because it was her Comeback Dance after being in the Bottom 2 a few times and it meant she managed to knock Donobot into the dance-off. Pixie's was camp as tits (Gladiatrix Queen slaughtering footmen), as were Scott's (James Bond and stripping) and Hamela's (Bad Romance)

Honourable dishonourable mentions go to Pendledrama bungeeing around Wembley on a BMX to Queen, and Natalie fanning so hard I thought she was going to take off, to distract from whatever Tim Wonnacott was doing with himself. Rachel Stevens' was also hilariously bad, for all that she was generally a great dancer. Looked like someone having a strop on Dance Moms.

Appreciating that this has gone blithely right over my head until now 😀


Unappreciating I now will very probably notice and be irked by it 😀


Neither appreciating nor unappreciating Danny, but greatly appreciating Oti so he needs to stay till the end please.

Honestly what is with all these beige people, have they all been media schooled to death or were they always beige but pretty people.

I loved Pixie's paso it was really great, I miss Trent, couldn't we have had him back instead of AJ actually no because he was tall. Damn!

Oh gosh, how could I forget Holly! Artem in a sparkly hood mask and Holly laughing like a drain at the judgey bit.

It's funny isn't it? I was looking forward to a serene series after the nerves of last year - but all this grim competence is actually making me look back on the watching from behind a cushion-ness of last year with fondness

Was it the cricketing wardrobe's paso that brought on Len's "dance like a bloke" not all "airy fairy" comment that still makes me grate my teeth?

All pretty pointless, as you could not find two dancers who are more different, both in dancing style and personality. Room in Strictly for both of them. But unless Danny falls on his face next week, I imagine he'll be able to edge out J's car crash QS (bless him! he was so funny about it afterwards on ITT).

Unappreciating the combination of great dancing with beige this year. Hopefully as the competition progresses this situation will improve. Can't help feeling that the cast are less friendly than last year, but that's only the impression I get from the outside.

Oh yes, Denise's was wonderful but then Ian Waite is my all time favourite pro so I'm a bit biased there. Also liked Zoe Ball's again with Ian. Holly's was hilarious. Less so much a Paso Doble and a lot more Paso my partner not actually dancing.

I have always said I never wanted a series of duffers, then they give me a series of almost all semi professionals and the one I actually care about are the non dancers

Be careful what you wish for!

I like Danny, but that relationship is all about Oti's wonderful choreography. I wonder whether he will maintain his very good level throughout, or whether he can raise his game?

Thanks for those Cadiva. Not only songs they regurgitate then. Holly's VT was virtually identical to Danny's (still missing the *rolls eyes* smilie)

Just rewatched and was struck https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=da...1_eSJbVuhOM%3A

By this https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=no...QgsifUWi19M%3A


We had Norman DEADNAN before who is this Norman Beige?

Especially as the others start to improve.

I do like Danny's dancing even if on reflection because he's not as tall as Jay, he looked a bit like a kid playing a superhero. I 'got' Jay last year. Danny's kinda...there? Bit like Louise and Laura. If not for Oti, I'd probably forget him altogether. Maybe he is just quiet and nice. I mean, to look at, he should make me drool buckets. Instead, poor Gorka was the victim in his police uniform.

A phenomenon known as "being a Monet" [cf Clueless]