Excluding the newcomers, which of the male and female pros most deserve a "dud" this year? (Vote for as many as you like)

Kevin's listed twice. I voted for Kevin, Anton and Janette.

I know - second "Kevin" should be KAREN.

Have asked mods to change it but please take note!

EDIT: now changed, thanks mods!

For me:

Aljaz
Kevin
Brendan
Giovanni
Janette

Not sure who voted Pasha for a dud- he had Carol last year.

I didn't vote for him but can understand those that did/do..after all since he's joined the show he has managed to avoid four years of duffers having been partnered with Chelsee, Kimberley, Rachel & Caroline. One out of five is not saying much tbh...

If, however, you had enquired about Anton...

Rachel was a middler though. Carol's lovely but TBH, she was the worst female celeb at dancing since Nancy Dell'Olio.
He could, however, go the same way as Darren now.
Not sure about Aljaz, Gio or Brendan deserving a dud either.

As it turned out. She was highly considered to be a contender before the competition started.

I imagine Artem would have got Pixie.

I would have sent in a complaint letter if that had happened. Kara, Holly, Natalie and Pixie would be very unfair. I'd have given him Jennifer or Judy after having Natalie.

Aljaz is my fave male pro but, in the interests of fairness, he has never had a dud in the real sense. Alison was the nearest but she was far from unable a la Carol for example. Put another way, he has never had the oldest female celeb.

Gio will probably be a victim of his own success. He got a fit, young thing in Georgia in his first year and deservedly reached the final. If he gets another contender this year, he will become unpopular as Kevin has due to his succession of able partners. Good for him to get a dud to maintain balance.

Brendan is a funny one because on paper, he has not had a dud (as such) since maybe Lulu. Its just that his partners ended up not as expected. In the last four years, the only one who rose way above mediocrity was Sophie. He now deserves an out and out dud (a la Jo) to show us exactly what he can do with them.


Me too - but after Fern-gate, I think producers may have been worried he'd scare both Judy & Jennifer off!!!

If he can't treat a less skilled celeb well, he shouldn't have a place on the show. He did well with Patti LaBelle on DWTS though. Anyway, back on topic.

If she is indeed in, I'm almost certain Kevin will get Lesley.

Same. Ruth Langsford would get Anton if she's in.

Not only do I agree, but I also hope this happens as I have been 'championing' this partnership for as long as I can remember.

Ruth will need that reassurance...and no one could do a better job of giving her that than Anton.

Please please please let Aljaz escape a dud! Really need to keep one likeable male pro in for the duration, give Brendan the biggest duffer going, along with Janette.

I agree, he's my favourite by a mile. I am sure the PTB will take his popularity into account when they "partner up".

Voted for Kevin surely he cannot have a 4th contender out of 4 contestants.

no-one "deserves" a dud!

Kevin should be paired with an older celeb IMO as he has had a very good run with ladies who can dance

The show is about the celebs' journeys in learning a new skill, not the pros' careers. So it is not about what the pros deserve.

Every celeb deserves a pro partner who is suited to them in terms of teaching style and preferred dance genres as well as one that understands their particular challenges and aspirations.

So if that means a pro gets a 'dud' (horrible word) several times in a row, then that is just too bad. It is what they are getting paid for.

Quite right - I agree with all of this.

But hey - this is DS - not the real world!

Must be Janette's turn for a dud after two decent partners, Reckon Kevin will get a middler but can see Gio getting another contender/upper middler.

. In the real world most of the pros know what that they would be teaching wedding dance couples if it wasn't for Strictly!

Kevin Clifton has had three good partners in the time he has been with Strictly (Susanna Reid, Frankie Bridge and Kellie Bright), so maybe this year he could be partnered with a lady who isn't a natural dancer. Hopefully with his help, patience, coaxing and teaching they will be given the chance to flourish and shine.

Kevin Clifton by a country mile!

This may well be correct correct...I just don't think it warrants such a 'serious' response though. We're hardly talking about the World Dance Championships here are we?

Agreed.

Even though I do like him.