A lovely woman, I'm sure, but personality-wise, I think people are voting for Aljaz in this pairing as she does come over as a bit bland.
By the same token, Anton has been getting the votes for theirs imo.
The Paso this week will be a real test as to whether Helen can give a less balletic performance more in keeping with the Latin 'feel'.

I think Helen and Katie in the bottom two - I have been known to be wrong

Helen comes over, to me, as an intelligent and funny person. Bland is the last word I would use to describe her. Perhaps she is just too subtle.

Latin doesn't seem to be her strong suit in the dances, her Charleston was terrible and she was way over marked for it. Ballroom is her strength where her pose and inner body strength helps hold the lines the Judges want to see.

Oddly Georgia's Paso was excellent other than one small slip and yet she was under marked terribly while Anita's was ok, but not the huge success in my eyes Karen Hardy and the Judges seemed to think and she got decent scores for it so there is no consistency with the Judges voting ... but nothing new there. Paso has always been a hard dance to try and guess what the Judges will do and if they do score her low she could well be in the bottom two.

I think her public support only now will become obvious to us. Now we have lost Pete and are down to six dancers all those who did vote for him are casting their votes to the others and imo Helen won't pick up many of them. Jay might, Kellie might even pick up a few as will Georgia, but for me right now the two dancers who should be in the bottom two this weekend are Katie and Helen, as I feel Kellie is more consistent across the board on all forms of dance, and if that is the case the Judges will definitely save Helen ... which if Katie puts in an amazing ballroom number could leave us with another Jameliagate situation

Anita's performance within the Paso thrashed Georgia's, also while Georgia made a few visible mistakes Anita didn't.

I'm tired of defending that Paso.

I agree!
I really like her personality even if its a bit "neurotic".

I have a feeling that the judges will not want Aljaž or Aliona winning again . so if Jay or Helen find themselves in the DO ....they will be gone.

Helen is OK, but the luck she has is being partnered with Aljaz, it's him the viewers are voting for not Helen.

I love her ballroom dances. They are lovely.

So do I! Maybe she is suffering from not being as "in your face" as some of the others.

That could be said of all the female celebs. Katie is benefiting enormously of Anton's fanbase, Anita's of Glebs looks, Kellie of Kevin's... even Giorgia.

While that's generally true I think there are many of us voting for Anita despite Gleb

exactly

Of course, but I am sure that some arent. The same with Helen and Alijaz.

yes, which is why I said it was generally true.

I can't imagine people voting for Helen despite Alijaz. He seems fairly popular.

Gleb has a knack of irritating me. I'm sure he's a lovely bloke but I have to blank him out sometimes.

I really hope that viewers continue to vote for Helen, as I think she's a lovely dancer.
I am looking forward to seeing their Paso Doble as I think it may surprise those who think she will not be able to dance it well.
Completely unlike the other Latin dances, no hip action is needed, and her (normally straighter) legs will be an advantage, as long as she puts in some good strong heel leads where necessary. Added to that she is an actress, I love the dramatic music, so feel it will be a dramatic, classy not frantic Paso. I'm sure that Aljaz is working on some fabulous strong shaping, his choreo is always excellent, so I'm very hopeful that it will be great.

With a Paso against two Foxtrots and a Jay Rumba she won't top the leaderboard, and I'm not convinced the Paso will suit her (though she did do a good Tango, so there is hope).

Jay is undoubtedly topping the public vote if opinion polls are anything to go by, and given Anita hasn't been in a dance-off yet despite some distinctly average and overmarked routines she's probably pretty popular too. Same goes for Katie.

I think after the last few weeks Georgia's star is on the rise, so unless Helen tops the leaderboard I think the most likely dance-off is her v Kellie (who has an awful song and clearly isn't pulling in votes), with Kellie leaving.

I'll admit Anita's Paso was flawless as far as mistakes go, but it didn't have the WOW factor that some Paso's have. Its only my own personal opinion, you like Anita's with good reason but I prefer Georgia's, as Len said on ITT its all down to personal preference. Plus I am getting tired of the Gleb factor. He seems to choreograph according to his own wishes and ignores normal dance techniques. Remember he got slated by Len for the lift in the Rumba? Plus all those Gleb specials he throws in, I don't know, I just don't like him <shrugs> Which is annoying as I do like Anita actually.

But as we're in a Helen thread lets get back to her. This Paso could really test her. Someone said it might work for her as its more straight legs and lines which she is great at so she might surprise us all. I would be happy if she did, I watch this show for the dances more than the contestants if you know what I mean. I have my favourites as any of us do but if someone I don't like does a great dance I will still enjoy it and say so here

I think the Paso will be like her Charleston, she'll nail it technically but there will be something missing.

Bit of a presumption there. I'm voting for Helen because I like Helen...I hadn't particularly taken to Aljaz before but I've noticed him more this series because I like how he's been with Helen...so she's made me like him more.

Her legs will be too stiff, like usual. I don't think there's been a really decent female Paso this series, and Helen's won't be the best either. I think she comes across as controlled and artificial.

Well then ... don't!
It's subjective .. you liked Anita's best but not everyone did! It's a question of personal taste .. as it is with all the dances.

A quick look at Ultimate Strictly shows you that, once you get to the final 6, a leading dancer always up in the DO and in the cases of Pixie, Patrick and Ricky, after being top of the leaderboard.

S12: Pixie v Simon
S11: Patrick v Ashley
S10: DVO v Nicky
S9: Jason v Robbie
S8: Scott v Ann
S7 Ricky v Laila
S6: Rachel v Christine

Of the above dancers, I'd say Helen resembles Rachel -technically good and appreciated by the judges but maybe not capturing the public imagination. I may be wrong, but I don't see much discussion of Helen in the media. Social or otherwise.

Oh- and she's doing a Paso which seems less likely to suit her.

helen is probably my favourite of the remaining dancers, despite some flaws/weaknesses. she dances with commitment and integrity that really shows through even where dances aren't perfect. her VW is the only dance of the series to date that has actually been breathtaking.

however, i also think she could well be in the bottom two because of complexities of votes and scores. previously i would have said i was confident of her staying against everyone except jay, i'm not so sure now since jamelia gate fubar'd up the otherwise perfectly adequate if somewhat obscure system by which the best dancer tended to go through (rather than this tyrannous requirement to send through the best dance even if its best by fluke or accident)

Anita's Paso was far from perfect, and I saw some foot placement corrections etc - not mistakes per se, but by no means brilliant.

It's all subjective, so defending a dance is rather missing the point.

Really liked Helen in Midwives but find her awfully false in SCD. All the over acting with the judges, the desperation to do well is a bit off. She may be a lovely person but she is coming over as a really attention seeking diva. Shame, I thought she was going to be lovely.