Katie Derham? Maybe a different case as she was with Anton. Overall I agree though a Journey contestant a Gough or Hollins hasn't won in years. The public now usually vote for the better dancers. I do think however that a couple of the better woman will go out before Greg or Rinder.

Darren Gough won by default cos Colin Jacksons show dance was abysmal, worse than abysmal, really really terrible.

Bold prediction alert: At one stage there will be a Danny V Louise DO, with Danny winning, and later a Danny V Ore DO, with Ore winning.

1) Greg- Very Popular
2) Laura- "Journey" contestant
3) Ore- Seems to be the BBC's favourite.

I can see one of these in the final and his name begins with O.

Think: Danny, Ore and Louise.

Want: Danny, Ed and Judge Rinder

Three beginners... would be a fab final in that sense! Too much to hope for maybe

Think
Danny
Ore
Louise

Want
Danny
Daisy
Claudia

Think

Danny
Ore
Judge Rinder


Want

The best three dancers. Danny seems likely to be one of those. The other two spots are in play.

The most seasoned viewers (and posters here) have sussed by now that it's going to be Danny, Ore, Louise.

Fourth place could either be Greg, Claudia or Rinder depending on the weeks to come.

Don't think Claudia should be discounted.

Think:

Claudia
Danny
Ore

Want:
Not fussed at all. This has been the worst series by a long way for me.

I think Danny. Ore and Louise

But there could be a shock dance-off, I expected Helen, Pixie and Patrick to make the final in the last 3 years and they didn't. The viewers might have learned from that or maybe they just weren't that popular.

Claudia maybe, she is good and she can bring the gymnastic element to some routines, she'll do an amazing showdance if she gets the chance. She needs some decent music tho.

If Laura's ankle can hack it and she goes for it a bit more in the Latin then maybe, she is a very graceful ballroom dancer. But it's tango this week, she's in pain and she's already been in 1 dance off.

I would love Rinder and Oksana to make the final but tho he has brilliant moments every week, the others are doing brilliant whole routines, he's one of the weaker contestants

Louise
Ore
Danny

I wouldn't mind your final 3 either but unfortunately I don't see that happening.

Think

1st = Danny
2nd = Louise
3rd = Ore

However I would really like to see one, or even both, of Claudia and Greg up there. The likes of Ore, Danny and Louise have started stronger but "peaked too soon" is a famous phrase.

If Claudia and Greg can continue improving each week and get better and better with each dance I don't see why either of them couldn't be in the final 3.

I kind of think Danny AND Ore in the final is too obvious.

I'm certain one will end up in the dance off at some stage, and it will all depend on whether their rival does a better dance on the night whether the judges save them or not (see Pixie, for example). At this point, I don't see the judges saving anyone over either of them, but one bad dance - or one good dance from their rival - could see them out. Neither are likely to be in the bottom two any time soon, but as the competition comes to a close, I think one of them will be, and I'm not convinced the judges will save them. Laura, Daisy, Louise and Claudia have the potential to out-do them in a dance off.

I think Louise is certain to be there. I think I'll stick my neck out and say Ore, Louise and Claudia with Louise winning.

In my dreams

Ed
Greg
Anastacia

A more realistic preference

Daisy
Ore
Louise

The most likely scenario

Danny
Ore
Louise

...with Danny winning (which would make it 2 completely unsurprising and underwhelming series outcomes in a row for me!)

Yes, I can easily see the final being Ore, Danny and Louise too.

Think :

Ore
Danny
Louise

Want :

Daisy
Louise
Anastacia

Both in order of preference.

Danny, Ore, and A N Other - probably Louise, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Judge Rinder. I can't see any of the others making it to the final three.

Oh, I like the three-tiered approach. I missed out my wildest hope phase because so unlikely, but it's good to see it there. (I guess I'm lucky this year in that I'd put Ore in all three phases but at the same time I love how different and independent your first trio is)

Hope:Louise, Ore and Greg but feel Danny will probably be there at the expense of one of the others. I do struggle with Danny's experience but he seems perfectly pleasant and he will appeal to some because of his looks - I do remember the first Friday night when somebody made a comment about one of the celebs looking like a professional and wondering how much was exaggeration, there wasn't much!

Other thoughts:
Rob Rinder [why do they persist in calling him Judge?] - think he might have peaked too early and the charm is slightly fading for some;
Ed - as above plus I actually think his dancing has not improved and the comedy/sympathy angles usually only take people so far;
Anastacia - think her time might run out soon;
Daisy - surprised she was bottom 2 but might not have fan base ... I think she is quite endearing;
Laura - if she comes back well from her injury she might get close, another one I find likeable though some seem to be annoyed by her; and
Claudia - I don't think the partnership has totally gelled with the public and she can be a bit too perky/confident about her dances and some people might get annoyed by that.

If we were having our usual 4-couple final, and Lesley was still around, I'd stick her in the mix too

(and Anastacia's in there under the proviso Gorka comes backs to reprise their QS )

Am with you on Ore, I'd settle for him winning but I sense people are turning against him.

Same! For a BlokeRumba in Week 1, as a non-dancer, his was one of the most pleasantly surprising first dances I've ever seen.

The comment last week about Louise plateauing, that she needs a wow moment.

Not being cynical, but after watching ITT last night and the fact they have arguably the most popular dance to get a wow from is the Charleston....not being cynical obviously.....

Agree with previous posters this is a bad year for me, but I'm going to go with -

Danny
Claudia
Judge Rinder


This is what I actually want and I'm just really hoping that Louise (nice girl...snore) and Ore (really really annoying) don't make it, but sadly I can't see Ore losing a DO unless he does an extremely poor dance.