Interesting to note that Series 14 broke several records this week:

- The first time since Series 6 that one couple scored a 9. Austin & Erin were the last couple to receive a 9 in Week 1, also from Len, also for a Waltz, and with an IDENTICAL score, 7 - 8 - 9 - 8 - 32

- The first time in history that no couple scored below 20 for their first dance. Ed & Katya were the lowest scorers with 21.

- For the first time ever, four couples scored 30 points or more on their first dance (Daisy & Aljaz 32, Danny & Oti and Louise & Kevin 31, Will & Karen 30)

- Incidentally, Zoe & Ian hold the record for the highest Week 1 score, 35 for a Waltz in Series 3.

The standard this year is high but I do think the judges overmarked for week 1.

I would not have scored a 9 for Daisy Lowe's waltz although I liked the dance very much.

I think Ed Balls and Melvin should have both been under 20.

However the top 4 couples probably deserved to be all over 30 points.

Also, Greg was better than expected but overmarked for sure.

Series 7 had four couples score 30+ for their first dance as well - Ali, Zoe and Ricky's waltzes and Laila's tango.

True. But that was Week 1 and 2, i'm only including Week 1 in these stats.

again as much as I like Daisy's waltz it wasn't a 9 but when Len commented I knew its what he'd score since he said similar things to Austin Zoe& Ricky, as mentioned its high standard but I don't think it was as good as the judges made out for me Annastasia was the best Gregg Ore Melvin and Lesley should've been under 20 for me

oh& same for Tameka& Gorka. Hope they don't do the Gorka the Corker thing every week as that would get on my nerves& wear thin very quickly as its extreamley cringeworthy

Next week they will have had only one week to prepare so expect lower marks.

Yes I agree with you, the standard this year is very good but I am expecting it to drop this weekend as the contestants will only have a week to learn their new routine, this should separate the men from the boys, as the saying goes.

Anastacia was good but no way was she better than Will, Danny, Louise, or Daisy. They didn't make mistakes. And Ore and Greg under 20? You have got to be kidding! I don't know what you were watching but it certainly wasn't the same as me!

Every year i have to laugh at the comments on these boards from various people complaining about the marking. I have been watching this show since Series 1 and every year there are complaints about the scores. It doesn't matter who the judges are, they could put anyone i those chairs and someone will whinge that their favourite was undermarked or the couple they don't like was overmarked. Then there is "gasp" the "Judges Favourite", the couple every year that numerous opinionated people decide are being unfairly given "gasp" higher scores than everyone else, which inevitably leads to a campaign of nastiness directed at said couple, who will then be subjected to weekly scrutiny and dissemination of their scores because horror-of-horrors their favourites are being shamefully overlooked and "undermarked". Even if four new judges of impeccable character were sitting in those chairs, the same culprits year after year will keep complaining, and the same moaning will keep happening, because no matter what SOMEONE will be overscored or underscored in the eyes of these people.

And every year i will come on here and chuckle at the same complaints from the same people, armchair judges with no obvious qualifications except their own biased opinions, because god forbid they should be in those chairs and face the wrath of another lot of armchair critics who believe their favourites are being unfairly treated.

The judges are the judges, they have their opinions, There are no conspiracies or score manipulations, those are just the feeble excuses of people whose favourites are not scoring as highly as they'd hoped and need someone to blame.

I think he may have been dosed up on a Craig special (extra potent).

But half the fun of watching strictly is complaining about the scores! It's similar to what I imagine sporty type people do moaning about referees and red cards and stuff. It wouldn't be a British television phenomenon if it didn't give us ample opppurtunity to moan about something! See also - filling column inches up with its a fix strictly curse blah blah.

I love, love, love your post.
Good one.

Completely agree with you here! Of course we'll all have our favourites and may disagree with the marks and say why we think one was better than the other, but you're so right in terms of the conspiracy theories in general.

What I find the biggest irony about it all is that all this 'favourite' business actually works in the opposite way. Being seen to be undermarked by the judges, is one of the biggest reasons they get to be popular and 'favourites' with the public, while the opposite is true - if some have the misfortune to be blessed with good scores from the judges, it can mean they're toast in a few weeks time from the public voting point of view

I'm glad there's no joke act this year and everyone is either reasonable or very good. Even Ed held his own in the waltz. I'm also liking that there's no obvious favourite and I'm really hoping it stays that way after last year. I want a real neck and neck situation in the latter stages, even though it will probably kill my nerves

I agree. Compared to the previous people like John Sergeant and Anne Widdecombe, he is so much better. He actually danced, whereas a lot of people in the past mostly stood still while their partners danced round them.

Yes! Absolutely! No joke acts and a good number of talented dances. Last year we knew who was going to win by Week 3 and it killed the competition for me, because Jay was going to win whether he danced well again or not, the others were just making up the numbers. I want a last 6 situation this year of very good dances battling it out for the last 4 places where anyone could grab the trophy. Fingers crossed!

Daisy's waltz was good but OTT from len, imo...
danny mac was good...almost too bloody good...
Was expecting a few more laughs tbh...only judge rinder made me 'lol' (ouch)..
Will also be interesting to see some of the try-hards out of ' hold' .

oh, and daisy has used up her 'dead grandad' card in week 1 so expect lower sympathy votes from now on...

yeah, last six blah blah, agree...

BUT would like a bit of FUN for the next two and a half months before we get there though!!

Yes because those pros are such nincompoops and won't have been doing anything toward the second round in the three weeks they've had prior to the first show.

Exactly! If people bothered to keep up with the early training videos, they'd know the pros were working on more than one dance. And Joanne posted some training footage in Week 2 where she showed Ore had mastered the Cha-cha walk.

I'd dispute that Daisy had any 'sympathy votes'.
I'd also dispute that Daisy had any say what went into a vt.

In addition, I find your comment inappropriate.