... or volte face if you're being posh. Which celebrity made you change your mind the most drastically? The obvious one for me was Chelsee Healey. All I could see to start with was false boobs and all I could hear was a screechy annoying voice. But I gradually came to like her more and more and she ended up being one of my favourites. I found her very sweet natured and open and I loved her dancing (the quickstep and the jive in particular). If anyone remembers the good old days (?) of the BBC Strictly message boards then opinion was divided on Chelsee but she did have a lot of fans.

Judy Murry

at first I didn't seem to like her much or see much personality but she seemed to be likeable IMO towards the end of her time

Yes, I agree. She was a very good laugh.

yeah I didn't think she'd be as good a sport as she was about being rubbish, I thought she'd take it all too seriously and I would say the same about Ann Widdicombe (eventhough I still don't like her) she took it all well

There have been a few over the years. Last series it would be Kellie, I actually changed my mind twice. At the beginning I was interested in her partnership with Kevin but then found her overbearing on the main show. It was an ITT interview that altered my opinion again. She joined Zoe on her own and I saw a softer side to her when she was discussing enjoying having a day off, being able to take her son to nursery and make him lunch. I laughed when she said she hoped she could get away with the hip hop samba because her son was too young to be mortified by watching, something along those lines. Made her suddenly relatable. Her dancing was fabulous throughout the series and she was a deserving finalist.

I remember that interview Ochre, she definitely showed a softer side. I wasn't her biggest fan (too much shouting!) but she really put her all in to it and clearly loved dancing. Although I loved Helen and Aliaz's relationship, I think that out of all the finalists Kellie and Kevin were the closest - there was a genuine friendship there. And much respect to Kellie for working the hours she did on EastEnders during the show - she must have been wiped.

I finished up disliking Ann Widdicombe, Mark Wright and Peter Andre even more, if that counts

Ha ha, definitely counts! I expected to like Peter Andre (how embarrassing) but found his faux sincerity seriously annoying.

It was the screaming at scores that put me off the most earlier in the series (to be fair to Kellie she wasn't the only culprit). She did tone it down towards the end and yes, having flip-flopped backward and forwards in my opinion of them I really came to see and appreciate their strong friendship by the final. Kevin seemed in complete awe of Kellie's work ethic doing Strictly alongside EE and then going home to her young son. He looked exhausted by the end, surely a duffer for Kevin this year after making three finals, give him a rest

The series before it was Caroline who I changed my mind about. I hadn't been keen on her at all presenting the Xtra Factor (in the days I used to watch XFactor) but liked how genuine, relaxed, warm and funny she was on Strictly. I think Pasha brings out the best in his partners, Chelsee too (I can just hear her voice in my head calling him Pash). They weren't my favourites but I did warm to Chelsee by the end of her series.

Lisa Snowden. To begin with I was neutral and as weeks went by I was a fan and voted for her. I think she never thought she would do well and really appreciated the experience.

Being a tennis and Andy Murray fan I was looking forward to seeing Judy, thinking she might have some potential as a dancer and would be quite competitive. Then came her Week One dance and I thought uh oh.....but she is such a lovely lady who doesn't take herself too seriously and is great fun. She had the most gorgeous gowns. And I loved the style of Judy's exit. If I ever did Strictly I'd want to leave at Blackpool, flying up to the Tower Ballroom chandeliers singing 'Let's Go Fly a Kite'. Brilliant

Lisa's Foxtrot is one of my all time favourite ballroom numbers, perfect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M1E4APLIUo

Thanks for reminding me. I watched this and the final version.
Dance, music and the dancers really came together for this.

I have one so many U turns. Another one is Zoe Ball. Really warmed to her, partly because of Ian and now I am a big fan of her's.

Went right up over the show:
Gavin Henson
Alex Jones
Deborah Meaden
Tim Wonnacott
Pixie Lott
Giovanni Pernice

Went right down over the show:
Austin Healey
Jason Donovan
...and over the series:
James Jordan

Absolutely. Brendan is so good at choreographing elegant, sophisticated ballroom dances like this and Lisa looked stunning and danced it beautifully. I adore the song.

I was actually voting for Tom by the final but this is how I remember Lisa and she did seem to fall in love with dancing. It was nice to see her back for the Christmas special although I thought it a bit of a shame she wasn't partnered with Brendan again.

Same here and ditto re Caroline. I thought both of them would be hard as nails frankly given the jobs they do but both came over as really genuine people who fell in love with dancing.

I expected to like Hairy Biker Dave but found him creepy and I didn't expect to like Mark Benton but fell a little bit in love with him, especially after this ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crv-0jHOcX4

Crying, thanks for that Lou that is exactly the dance that caused me to love his and Iveta's partnership The amazing Iveta.

(My husband has just asked me why I'm listening to MC Hammer)

Definitely in the top ten best ever dances Ochre!

I agree with your 'up' list, but Austin Healey difinitely was on my 'up' list too. (I'm an Austinwozrobbed, but even more Erinwozrobbed person )

He came into the show with a reputation as a forceful rugby player but he kept going even though he was asleep on his feet with twin new babies. I remember he kept saying 'I'm a lucky man'.

Also remember on ITT Erin being so upset at losing the dance-off and crying on Austin's shoulder - and him passing her his hankie.

Agree with Sarah777 about Zoe. Didn't know much about her before Strictly but loved her partnership with Ian. She's really good on ITT too. (Though I really liked Claudia on ITT.)

Judy Murray surprised me - so good natured and funny, but not good at dancing at all.

and if you remember that dance the judges said that she had improved and there was hope, also her scores had improved a lot so I don't agree that she had a load of potential but I think she got better and was better than what the judges marks surgested and I'm not just saying it because she had Anton

Peter Andre
thought I would love him but he was the most annoying man on the planet!

Abbey Clancy
thought she would be really annoying, stuck up model/footballers wife but she was lovely, the total opposite of what I expected and she turned out to be a good dancer

Zoe and Ian's Tango, memories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg8neixzZtU

Seems strange to say now I'm such a fan of Zoe but I really didn't expect to like her that much at the beginning of Series 3. Then I fell in love with her and Ian's partnership and her dancing. Having adored their Quickstep the week before I was excited for their Tango and I just remember thinking "Oh wow this is special". Teary eyed after watching how emotional she was in the training VT and then the performance itself.

I was thrilled when she began presenting ITT and can't imagine the show without her now, so glad she's confirmed she'll be back this year. She builds such a good rapport with the celebs and pros.