I'm voting for him and I don't think he's anything like contestants such as Anne Widdecombe who weren't prepared to learn properly. He's really trying to learn and his enthusiasm and willingness is obvious.

I honestly can't get excited about the other contestants. This is the first year I haven't identified a favourite with a real chance. Everyone is too good, too bland or too beige.

In any case he's my former MP and I like him.

I think he's great, and not getting some of the credit or marks he should be getting.

I'm voting Ed and Katya because they are a good pairing; she gives him proper choreography and he tries to dance it properly. In time he will succeed though perhaps not in time for the programme. Whilst he can, I'll support him. I love Katya too.

People are voting for him because, as a complete non dance trained celeb, who is not a media savvy entertainer, he is prepared to spend his time learning Katya 's choreography and attempt to dance it to the best of his ability.
He wants to learn and I do appreciate that.

I've voted for him every week, he tries hard and makes me every Saturday.

Me.

Same reasons as everyone else on this thread - he's working hard to learn as much as he can, and at the same time is very obviously loving every minute. His very real enthusiasm is compelling, as is his ability to laugh at himself. He's gradually losing his 'corporation', too.

Go Ed!

I'm voting for him. I like it that he is a true beginner unlike so many of the others and he is really trying his best.

I hope Katya doesn't make it too ridiculous for him. Some of last week's steps were a bit weird IMO.

I've given him a couple of votes so far, not many yet though as Greg has been in danger but I'd rather watch Ed than some others. Similarly I voted for Judy Murray up until Halloween in her year. Not even for the dance floor but cos I just wanted to listen to her interviews every week

Me too! ...though I might switch a vote to Miss Daisy this week...feel sorry for her!

thats part of the appeal...they are hardly taking the 'safe' route...and I am still killing myself laughing about 'that lift'...

Me .
Three votes every week . My other three I'll allocate on the night , but I don't care if Ed falls on his bottom or crashes into the judges dais , he'll still get three votes for sheer doggedness and likeability .

The most entertaining to me are the best dancers, hence they get my votes. I don;t find carcrash attempts to stomp across the dancefloor entertaining at all - I find beautifully performed dances with correct technique, appropriate swing/sway/bounce/hip action (whichever is relevant to the dance in question) and a fair bit of finesse wonderful to watch.

In any event, it's called Strictly Come Dancing, not Strictly Come Entertaining, so of course the dancing is and should be a massive part of it. I think treating it as if the word "Dancing" in the title doesn't exist does it a major disservice - the focus is and always has been on how well celebrities can perform particular dances.

Of course it hasn't escaped our notice the show's called Strictly Come Dancing. We've only been watching for 12 years

It's not called The World Dance Championships though - it's a light-hearted entertainment show based around dancing and the best dancer (or one of the best) virtually always wins anyway.

But the 'light-hearted' part means it's also fun (in the early weeks) to watch the ones that come from a completely different world have a go at a Samba or whatever and to cheer them on for being a good sport and making us smile.

I'd have thought people would've got that and accepted it by now tbh.

Ballsy is great fun. That's why he is still there. I bet he survives this week as well as he has good music & will probably entertain as usual. Possibly gone next week though.

This.... I find it really irritating that some people think that people can only be voting for him, because they get some twisted pleasure out of watching him 'embarrass' himself or because they are being vindictive to other 'better' dancers.

I love the fact that he is trying really hard to learn and I find his efforts far more entertaining and representative of everyday people learning a new skill, than watching a whole bunch of people who are very polished from Day 1. As someone else has already said, I think voters will eventually decide he's had a good enough run, but I think he's got a couple more weeks in him yet.

I think you come across as taking Strictly far too seriously. -Sid-'s quote below sums it up really well I think. It has always been an entertainment show. Surely having someone like Brucie from the start gave that away? A lot of what Strictly is now is based in entertaining. The dances are kind of superfluous to it in a sense. It was a dance contest, you'd have no theme weeks, no out there songs, no big props, flashy lighting etc.

It would be far less interesting too if it took itself seriously like you seem to do. Strictly is a bit of fun!


Fully agreed with you -Sid-. I am amazed that some treat it as this bastion of dance competition glory where it should be taken seriously. Strictly is a bit of entertainment and should be enjoyed as such.

I genuinely don't get it when people say this. I love dancing. I'm totally obsessed with it. It is a huge part of my life. However I don't expect to get my 'fix' of good dancing from Strictly. There are thousands of videos on youtube and loads of competitions and shows which show dancing of a far higher quality than we would ever see on Strictly.

The appeal of Strictly for me is watching people try to master a new skill, and specifically a skill that I absolutely love. I enjoy watching the small victories and minor disasters as they embark on and continue that journey. As long as a celeb is genuinely trying to learn ballroom and latin and not using Strictly as just a vehicle for doing a few showbiz style dances, or alternatively coasting along relying on comedy, I will enjoy watching them. Personality may just tip the scales for me to vote for them, as in the case of Ed.

That's finer than fine. Everyone should vote where their heart and preference takes them.

But y'know. Strictly has 10 million viewers. Not all 10 million are entertained most as you are by the best dancers. Nor are 10 million entertained most by the pantomime acts, nor the plucky but two left footed learners, nor by the zero to hero good learners.

If they made a show that catered only for one of these demographics, Strictly would get a couple of million viewers and would be cancelled.

I never understand why people who get what they want from a show want to make it ONLY what they want. when the only reason the show has continued for years is that it makes a good stab of giving everybody something of what they want.

agree ~69.
There was one person a couple of weeks ago who was complaining about the band and singing. They thought SCD needed the original records to dance to.
The band were spoiling the enjoyment of the music! - (even though- as pointed out that it was a dance competition not a listening to records) competition.
SCD obviously doing something correct . The viewing figures endorse this.

Ed's already a more popular dancer than he was a politician. Maybe he chose the wrong career path all those years ago!

Lesley was on Loose Women earlier and boy can she talk! She was sticking up for Ed (5 mins in):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rGMuBENKMU

100% agree

I agree with you, I've not voted for him either but I look forward to his dance every week because I know it'll be entertaining. When Danny, Laura, Daisy or Louise come on I only half watch. It's an entertainment show and he certainly entertains!

...Probably the entire Labour Party...