As I said earlier in this thread, I think Anita and Gleb are winning shows when (arguably) better dancers are not because they have two spectacular routines which work really well in an arena, and people are entertained by them (not Gledb's looks/physique). It's a bit of an insult to suggest that it's all about Gleb - they are both part of the performance.

I have seen the show and they, along with Jay and Aliona get by far the biggest reaction to their dances, but with Jake and Janette right up there too. The audience have paid their money to be entertained, and they are voting on what has entertained them the most.

The world of IACGMOTH, Celebrity Pointless, Big Borther and those interminable shows driving round Britain in vintage cars buying tat, sorry antiques, beckons.

Regarding Anita's popularity on the TV program I believe she was popular for a multitude of reasons, to point at one single one of them is a bit blindsided, but denying the Gleb factor is as well not very truthful.
Some people like that couple because of her personality, her performance levels, some in spite of Gleb, but many because of him (whether because of his looks or because of his flashy choreography that hid her technical deficiencies yet highlighted her perfomance capabilities)...
Yes, there are those who dislike Gleb but still supported Anita, but there who supported them because of him too.
I haven't been to the tour, but it is obvious that they have two hugely showstopping performances (of which one highlights Glebs phisique, there is no denying that and they make a bit of fuss about it) and Anita is a fabulous performer who has improved her dancing (or so we are told by your goers). Perfect combo for some tour wins.
Personally, I just wish better dancers than Anita, like Helen and Georgia or even Frankie, would get also some wins or even second placed instead of her.

Anita and Gleb were winners of today's matinee show.

So true. Whispers " Get a life."

All the popular celebrities are popular for a multitude of reasons; if Jay weren't an adorable woobie, he wouldn't have been so popular, despite his dance competence. Helen is (imo) the better dancer and performer; she didn't win SCD and she's not winning tours because she doesn't have Jay's personality (and gender), and being paired with the very popular, charming, handsome and elegant Aljaz didn't help her either.

Bib completely agree. I was pointing out at Anita as that was what it was the discussion of.

R.egarding Helen as a dancer, there is no doubt that she is way ahead of Jay as a ballroom dancer, but as a Latin the tables are clearly inverted. As a performer, well that is completely subjective so there is no right answer. Personally, I think Anita and Georgia are better performers as strictly standards go, but I prefer Jay's style of performing. But as I said, there is no objective way of measuring it.

I said Gleb helped her popularity imo but I think a lot of people liked her for other reasons....she was great to watch....I'm sure Jay got a lot of votes from people who fancy him and in a boyband ect.....but lots just simply for his dancing,personality and charm among other things....point is I still think he is most popular MALE on the show do date.

All of the male winners (except possibly Tom and that might just be my bitterness talking) had massive rabid fanbases and widespread public support when they won. Trying to pick out any of them as the most popular would be a fool's errand.

Darren Gough had a rabid fanbase?

Well that explains why I've been foaming at the mouth for years over Colinwuzrobbed.

Suddenly it all becomes very clear...

Also I don't remember Chris Hollins' rabid fanbase! They both won mainly on one dance.

I've no problem with people feeling passionate about their favourites (although asking people to examine breasts is a little eughhh for me) but I do find it a little disconcerting when people speak as if they actually know someone or share their fantasies about them. Still, there's nowt as queer as folk as they say.

Well ... he had a rabid Len ...

Ramps certainly had a devoted following. How many others could have survived the news of an extra marital affair while the competition was ongoing with barely a blip?

This is so true.

I was there in Birmingham and I enjoyed those three couples the most as did all the people in our party.

Go back and look at the polls - Chris was the clear favourite even here, a forum that historically favours technical ability over personality and female celebrities over male ones. Within the wider public he was the favourite, by miles, well before the Charleston happened.

Darren won off "blokes can dance" rather than any one dance I think. But it was a massive thing with the public and it was incredibly obvious going into the final he was going to walk it (something he himself backed up when he claimed he was told the public vote figures).

That's how I remember it as well and goes back to the point I made earlier - I don't think this forum reflects the GBP's views as a rule.

Anyway, Jay and Aliona won last evening in Newcastle!

But I think it does reflect it overall, maybe not in number of posts or AT activity, or the ardent caliber of their fans in here, but in the polls and general feel I think it does reflect it quite accurately. Hasn't the polls of favourite couple nearest to the final have an almost spotless record?

As far as I can remember since 2008, only one year got it wrong (2011 with Chelsee slightly ahead and Harry close behind on the poll here).

But if you went by the tour results, it's a two horse race between Jay/Aliona and Anita/Gleb?

Indeed it is on the Tour. And I believe in terms of popularity on tv program, Anita was probably the second most popular celeb until the semis.

The tour is different from the TV series, this forum polls are reflection of the TV program. I don't see any polls for the Tour, and imho it's the polls that is the most accurate part of this forum.

I have lost track of it, but I think in the weekly favourite polls, Jay was ahead since week 2 (not sure about week 4) with many times Anita second favourite.

Also, as Monkseal has pointed out, there is a certain bias/favouritism of this forum (that deviates from other forum/polls) towards technically good female dancers, which would account to disfavour Anita and favour others like Georgia, Helen and Kellie. Taking that into account and looking at Anita's fans in this forum (which there were plenty, just not the AT type) you can see that she was a real popular celeb.

I don't think I am explaining myself very well. But I don't seem to think a better way to say it! Oh how I wish my grasp of English was better than it is.

I think you've explained it very well! Anita was one of my favourites and the RL people I know who watch the show liked her very much as well. I didn't pick up on a huge following from her on this forum though although I don't read every thread tbh. I'm very glad she and Jay have done so well on the tour (although I wish Helen had done as well!)

I think ... with Chris & Ola ... it was the partnership people were drawn to ... they loved seeing the pair of them together and he did improve. They didn't win on the tour which is no surprise as his dancing paled in comparison to the other competitors.

I believe Anita & Gleb won the matinee yesterday and Jay & Aliona the evening performance. Nobody else challenging as yet but someone did say that it's Georgia's birthday on the 11th so possibly the audience will reward that. I'd like to see Helen win or come top two before the tour finishes but Jay being ahead is just as it should be ... IMO!

I'm not keeping track but it seems like Anita is more likely to win a matinee than she is an evening show and Jay is more likely to win an evening show than he is a matinee. I'm not sure if this says anything about the demographics of their fans.

If I've got it right, Anita has won 3 matinees and 3 evenings. The last 2 matinees she won were followed by Jay wins in the evening. I'd wondered whether Anita's having won the matinee hadn't prompted Jay fans to vote especially hard on those evenings--rather than a difference in demographics I'd suspect a difference in dedication.

Unless they've heard through social media or friends how would most people know who'd won the matinee to prompt them to vote all the more for Jay at night ? Some people have suggested it's that far more women are there in the afternoons and are voting for Gleb . I think Jay's only got to win 6 more and he's won the tour. He should get some in Glasgow and Nottingham's a given so I reckon he'll do it.