Me too. From his nervous and shy beginnings, compared to previous "comedy" acts, he's confidence and dancing are improving noticeably each week and he throws himself whole heartedly into the characterisation.

So much so, the Daily Express report this morning that bookies are slashing their odds. They are worried he may do a "Leicester City" in the Premiership!

http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-...ies-slash-odds

I must admit, I'd been wondering if Ed might 'do a John Sergeant' - and I don't mean quitting the show!.

I would so love it if Ed & Katya made the final. This forum would explode

Can you imagine the toast and tea being spat across the breakfast table when the papers are opened?

I like Ed anyway and not only is he trying hard, but he is getting it. I object to the pigeon-holing of him (and Rinder) as jokes by the production team, judges, media and public so the devil in me wants me want him to win even more just for the outrage it would cause

I really wouldn't mind Ed staying in a while longer. There are no celebs I feel I must see, and so Ed is as good as any.

As much as I like the Beatles I'm not keen on Help as a Quickstep. It is a bit frantic. Not sure the verses work. Chorus is probably ok.

Hello Ann. I'd love Ed to remain until semi-finals as many of the good celebs I'm finding dull. That would put noses out of joint, I know. I love the song Help! and titter that it's been given to Ed for his QS. I think I've Just Seen a Face is a better Beatles's song for a QS.

Really loved them both on ITT tonight. Their working relationship seems utterly solid and good for both of them

They're SMOKING!!!

They're also a little oasis of unalloyed joy in a crappy old world. Anyone that can make me dissolve at the merest hint of "OOOH!! AHHH!" gets the best suite of rooms in Gormenghast Castle free, gratis and for nowt!

Keep them safe from Steerpike then! Part of the reason I love Ed is that ... he represents how I would be as a Strictly contestant. Awkward, without fluidity, self conscious and struggling with learning a proper routine, which I would want from my pro. Not for me a pretence. A full on routine as Len would say. I hope I have Ed's timing and a feel for music, may be more than a feel for dancing! Katya is a perfect pro. She is calm, focussed and respectful with a kooky persona on the dance floor. She's also beautiful.

Just running through the song in my head and the chorus and verse have the same emphases (plural) except the last line of the chorus. It will be OK I think unless the BPM are too fast.

The training footage looked good I thought on ITT, but as this probably will not be as comedic as the other routines (excepting the waltz) they have their work cut out to please the judges and to win the public vote. I'd like them to go a long way, even as far as the final, but this week could be decisive.

This pairing has given a lot of people, including me, some joy and they deserve all the plaudits they get, especially as they are choreographing proper stuff, I guess because Katya knows he can do it.

Don't mention Steerpike! He messed with my head!

I love him (Ed, that is!) because he has no hang ups, despite being awkward, without fluidity and etc etc. Except that I reckon under there somewhere is a dancer - maybe not one who would ever be terribly adept, although who knows, but definitely someone who hears the music and who is becoming gradually more in tune with his body and not afraid to express himself through dance and movement (and OOOH! AHHH!).

It wouldn't surprise me - given his attitude towards and application in learning to play the piano - if he carried on with dancing after Strictly. Don't tell me he's not enjoying trying to learn to dance, because he very obviously is and I reckon he's finding the whole experience truly liberating. Imagine being an uptight, stuffed shirt politician metaphorically cutting opponents' throats for living, then suddenly finding yourself in a dance studio with Katya for weeks on end perfecting a Michael Jackson move which, on the night, turns out looking like Beyonce.

I reckon his world must turned on its head at the moment.

So true! Oh, and thanks - I'm gonna have "Oooh, ahhh!" stuck in my head all day now

Loved them on ITT last night (and Katya looked amazing as usual!). I think they're the couple enjoying it the most simply because there's the least amount of pressure on them so they're just having a ball out there (no pun intended ). Having said that Katya is still taking her job as dance teacher very seriously and Ed is ever the willing student. And they're doing it all with that wonderful "c'est la vie" attitude. Perfect combination.

Loved the training footage on ITT of Ed chasing Katya And he looked pretty good!

I know

Ed did look quite good tonight. I'm coming round to Help as a quickstep, Maggie and Bouzouki Boy.

Mmm - but i'm wondering if this is setting him up for "no amount of help..." type comment from Craig.

I share your concern about it being frantic though.

Watched their training clip and laughed at the routine on the back of an envelope! But from what Ed said, Katya is including proper QS with some comedic elements. I think she's a good choreographe so I'm curious to see how she manages their QS.

hi everyone, just popping into this thread to say how much I love Ed and Katya, for all the reasons you do.

He's come a very long way from his "dad dancing" and is turning into a dancer. I'd love him to stay to the final *wishful thinking I know*

his progress is exponential, he just gets better and better, that's what strictly is all about

I hope Ann likes what was done with the song to make it less frantic. Nice rendition that suited the theme perfectly. What a clever routine from Katya and good characterisation from Ed. I'm most interested in what Ann makes of his QS steps. I thought he looked a bit skippy at first but he moved well across the floor, was just about in synch with Katya for the pendulum and had good body contact with his pro. I prefer Katya with her wild cha cha cha hair but like the refreshing choice of outfits. I've seen a samba, think it was, on YT with her and Neil both dressed in trouser suits!

ditto...

I totally agree with you.....
I Just sat down to watched Ed and Katya quick step again and I love it.
I voted quite a lot last night on the Tel plus free votes. I would love to see Ed and Katya for a few weeks more. I know that others are better dancers but Ed is getting better and better every week. it's wishful thinking from me as well!

He's turning into a little twinkletoes. I think that routine could have taken a little more QS and fewer comic intervals because he looks quite capable, but I'm not complaining. Well done Katya - she's knocked the ball out of the park more than once, and counting, hasn't she?

Delighted that they're through. Katya is a genius isn't she!

What a routine. Enough dance content to ensure Ed is really dancing and continually improving. And then the entertaining slapstick to make it a dance to remember. Let's get them to Blackpool!

Let me join in the love for Ed and Katya. They are fast becoming one of my favourite couples and I have to add my congrats to Katya for coming up with some fabulous choreography that is actually allowing Ed to dance.

And so it begins. We ought to keep a count of the (anti and pro) Ed threads on the MF