I don't think Danny is the underdog. He's been consistently good, and he looked like a dancer in the very first week. But he's starting to get the familiar 'under-marked' trajectory that we've seen in past years with several of the eventual male winners.

Given the guy is consistent, I guess the 'journey' aspect is added to his progress by how others fare.

You must be on a different forum even though he has some likers on here, the majority think Danny should not be on the programme because he is a uber ringer and think he is cocky, arrogant know it all.

I agree with this - there is already an attempt to foster that narrative because Ore has had slightly better marks than him the last two weeks despite Danny's overall superior marks/critique over the series. It's a shame as I really like both & want them both in the final, but it's like all things, once a theory starts that fits what you believe, it gets repeated enough until it becomes truth - like 'the judges want do and so to win' or 'my guy/girl is clearly under marked' or 'random celeb/pro is clearly having it on to try and distract from my fave'.

Yes I agree with that.

He's winning most of the "Favourite Couple"/"Who Danced Best?" polls on here quite handily.

How ? It's quite the opposite actually

He annoy's me the same way Peter did last year, all that gushing and comes across smug too me.

I agree with you. I thought Kellie was undermarked a few times last year.

Basically, lots of us just don't like people who are too nice, unalleviated by other more spicy qualities. Louise is suffering from this also, although she doesn't come over as gushy or smug. I reckon all of them are lovely in real life - but that doesn't always work in little bursts on screen. You can only get away with being really really nice if you are also funny. That's where Ore, Louise and Andre all fall down. They need to be nice and witty to get mass votes.

Ore's dance has a quite a few dislikes on YouTube, lots of comments on here and YT about overmarking him and undermarking Danny...

I've not liked him from the word go and I do wonder if the judges are trying to keep him in because he isn't doing so well in the voting. A lot of people I know dislike him.

BIB, Absolutely agree with both points.

Danny is not undermarked, 35 for a male rumba is a good score.

He's getting good marks every week, as he should do giving his background and experience.

Spot on, I don't like Louise either.

I have no idea why I don't take to Ore, but I don't

It doesn't help that he is clearly teacher's pet. And I'm sick to death about hearing the word 'ringers.' Who ruddy well cares? I want to see good dancing, not wall-to-wall blunderbusses. Danny is everything a dancer should be and yet he consistently gets given a hard time, both from the judges and this board. Get the impression that for the judging panel think Ore walks on water.

I could also live without the blubbing and the emoting. Danny is humble and keeps it brief and that's what I want, as well as being a dancer I can't take my eyes off.

He needs to man up s bit, plus Danny and Claudia are better.

I thought 35 was a fair score for Danny's dance too, but I suppose some people thought it was under marked in comparison to Ore's.

I expected their positions on the leaderboard to be reversed, with a score of 31/32 for Ore.

Me too. Far too gushy,likes the camera and attention. Sorry but his gurning is also annoying. Though I have to say he is looking very trim from his training, not that he was big before. I preferred him when he was just the sports presenter on the red couch.

'Man up.'

Lovely.

Don't think Ore can help the tears (which he did not have yesterday) have you seen his wedding pics? there is one in the mirror of his bride and best man having a good laugh over his tears but he is trying to stop them and on the vids have heard Jo a few times saying no tears this week.

We can't all like the same people and we don't - on the whole I think the marks this year have been ok - Danny's tens will be here soon enough and whilst I appreciate he is a good dancer personally he does not connect with me yet and likewise Laura in the end with any series most of the final is made up of the right couples, yes we have one or two exceptions Pixie should have made the final for me and would have much preferred Helen to have been in last years one over Katie and we normally get the right winner in the end

Good post!

Ore is very good and with Joannes teaching is progressing really well, but please give the tears a rest, that ultimately could be his downfall as people tire of the emotional aspect.

Ore started to get on my nerves last week!

I have no problem with a man crying but even if a woman was blubbering away like he does it would annoy me.

Yes he can dance but I really don't want him to win, he is just tooooooo annoying for words as far as I am concerned.

Are you a mind reader ??

I don't mind anyone getting emotional, emotions are difficult to control, but I know it seems to be a big no no with some viewers and may affect his votes .
Maybe some would prefer to see robots dancing

victoria pendleton got plenty of stick for less crying!

I think Ore has this sort of natural dramatic side to him, which he couples with humour, but the combo can sometimes feel grating. On the whole I think he's a very decent dancer, a nice surprise in a way as when the original lineup came I was looking more at just Danny being the main potential male with something to show for, so I don't really mind that we get the emotional tears and fist in mouth moments as we get the dancing as a result of it. As for the hight scores, it's not his fault if they're being paddle happy at times, he can only go with it and it's not like he's going to reject them in a bid to appear humble. The scores are what they are, and I don't particularly think he's expecting 10s just because of previous dances going well. I think he knows it's as much a journey for him as others, and at all their varying levels, dips and highs will come which I'm pretty sure he'll understand all to well.