they were all speechless just like I was andI expect everyone else on here

If SCD was purely about people learning Ballroom & Latin dancing, the judges should all be from those fields. By including Craig & Bruno (and Arlene), it showed that it was intended as much for entertainment. These very talented people know how to choreograph entertainment and do it very well.

Ed has been revelation on SCD. Katya has really worked him hard and he's obviously not scared of the hard work.he isn't the best dancer and never will be, but I couldn't perform the way he does, even if I could learn the dance in the first place.

People were upset with John Sargent when he walked. I remember that people thought it was insulting to those who voted for him. I didn't vote for him as I wasn't entertained by him, but I have voted for Ed as he is entertaining me. And for me, he's fulfilling the brief.

I can understand why some people are not happy that he's still in the show, I was mystified on who was voting for Ann Widdecombe as I really didn't enjoy her time on the show at all, but I wouldn't have suggested or expected her to walk.

The best dancer doesn't always win. But as there's not a prize of representing Britain in a dance competition, does it really matter???

You mean like every comedy act over the years?

Unlike them, he actually tries to execute the correct dance steps (within the bonkers routine). Plus the fact that we have a clear top 4 of contenders and the rest aren't much (if any) better then Ed. Which is shocking, as two of them are youngsters, who you would expect to be much better then him.

In a week when the world seemed a nastier place Ed delivered a joyful routine He is clearly working his socks off each and every week. He brings entertainment rather than expertise but he will get all of my votes while he is there

I don't see Ed as John Sargent or Ann Widdecombe, who were unbearable to watch, for me Ed, discounting what he did before, is an overweight middle aged man that is a) losing weight b) trying SO hard each week c) is obviously listening to his partner and Katya has done amazingly d) Is fully embracing the show


I was really looking forward to this series but - and this has happened in other series - I am suffering Strictly overload. The marking was too high too early, so the comments and marks have been the same for weeks. A lot of the dancers came in at a high standard and apart from Ed, no one has really shown a massive improvement and have stayed as they were from the start and that makes me a bit 'meh' from 8-5 contestents.

Ed is the only one I rewatch, His dance two weeks ago is still my fave!

Which are the comedy contestants that we're saying didn't try to learn the correct dance steps? Other than maybe Widdy (and she would claim otherwise)? I have no objections to Ed being there but throwing every single other "comedy contestant" under the bus to try to big him up is ridiculous.

He is worth watching again for the entertainment value alone. I agree he is working hard and obviously carrying too much weight, but gives it his all.

I don't think he is the joke act he is an ex politician who has embraced the show tries very hard is fun to watch ,and gets my vote I would rather watch him than most of the ex stage school stars

I think she certainly would. The problem was more about how she was executing the steps.

Ed is trying to learn the right technique in ballroom, but I wasn't overly keen on his salsa when compared to last week's quickstep. It was entertaining but not as well danced as the previous week. If he's in next week I'd be pleased to see him go back to ballroom although I wouldn't mind seeing a jive.

(I thought John Sergeant was quite a nice ballroom dancer with a fair amount of musicality.)

If his previous performances are anything to go by, then his jive to the Jerry Lee Lewis classic Great Balls of fire promises to be absolutely epic, and then the doubters will belatedly realise that Ed was always a serious contender.

Agree entirely. So he can't dance as well as someone who has been dancing since they were 9 years old? Of course he can't! He's learning a new routine in a week, with no dance background at all, and a minimal level of physical fitness. He's entertaining, he's trying, he loves to dance.

There have been shows where professional dancers show off their dance skills. They haven't lasted as long. If the old Come Dancing came back, I doubt that would last 14 years or whatever either. I like the mix of good dancers and tryers, interspersed with watching the beautiful professional routines.

I think they should. I think he should come down seated at the piano in a dignified manner and playing great balls of fire like a virtuoso. Then leap of the stool and throw himself into a jive that will silence his critics wearing a flaming red and orange Jerry Lee Lewis style costume.

Or he could do the best he can given the gimmicks, circumstances and his skill level.

I wish strictly would stop with the joke acts (in their eyes). Last year Jeremy Vine was being forced to be an act when he went on the show to learn I imagine same with Ed balls

That... and her appalling posture. That Rumba! She stomped down that staircase looking like a coalman with a sack of nutty slack slung over her shoulder... and then when she stopped in front of Anton.... she looked as if her entire spinal column had liquified.

I think it is partly because he was such a serious politician that people are so surprised. I cannot somehow see the other famous Ed doing Strictly.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all his routines but not sure he will be able to top Gangham Style, their routine was fab. I hope he does one serious number though because I think he actually can dance.
Not as gracefully as Ore or Danny but he Is no John Sargent....

I wonder how long you've been watching SCD. Of course the salsa hasn't always been part of the show but we've had many dancers who have been much much worse than Ed. I think he should be taken more seriously.

I've little interest in the celebs who are almost perfect from day 1. This year, I've enjoyed watching Greg and Claudia who, although they came to the show fit, have no background in entertainment.

It was sad that he got so little comment about his technique, poor though it might be, because in his VT we saw him saying to Katya that the previous week the judges had discussed his dancing technique. Also, Bruno was rude - typically caustic - because when Ed asked of Darcey "is that it?" Bruno shouted "what do you expect".

I agree with others on here that Ed should have got more credit for his routine on Saturday than he did from the judges. They basically just ignored it, and said nothing about his lifts, I mean I doubt I could have done that, and I'm younger than Ed. (Just.)

Ed is the best thing about Strictly this year, by a distance. It's just the sheer joy of it. He is not rubbish. He is trying hard and doing proper steps. I do not regard him as a joke act.

It has to be said though that the dances he has been given have been ripe for comedy. He hasn't had many of the serious dances like tango and waltz.

I would actually like to see Ed do one of these dances, do it straight, and do it well, because I think he is capable of it. I think the audience would love it.

To those who say the judges are going easy on Ed, or are overmarking him, I do not think they are. In any case he is bottom of the leaderboard every week, so the marks they give him don't really matter. It doesn't matter if they give him 6s and 7s instead of 3s and 4s, he's still going to be bottom. It is the public keeping him in.
And I have no problem with that.

nicely put

ED for the Win

Dance trained zombies is a bit harsh, but I know what you mean. I think Ed's routine is the one most people want to see every week.

It's certainly the one I want to see.

.......what?

Dance is a subjective matter so he thinks he can dance HE CAN

Well what has become apparent, is that the voting public have clearly taken Ed`s brilliant efforts very seriously, and those who still deny that he is not a serious contender for the final, must be living on another planet.

Agree ! , Ed has developed into serious challenger for the top prize.