I think you are trying to read peoples minds here, which is pretty presumptious; just because you have an inkling about something, it doesn't make it real. Your synopsis is full of guess work: how was Jay a winner after the jive, why presume ppl like Danny for anything other than he's a good entertainer?

I don't mean to be rude or anything but if you didn't "get" the he had it in the bag after the Jive maybe we were watching different things. Everybody else but his supporters (for reasons too long to be developed here) was absolutely sure he was going to win. He was always miles ahead in any poll, his YT/FB videos were always the most watched, his dances had more likes on Twitter than anybody else. I mean, it's not rocket science, innit?

So we can assume after Ore and Danny's jives, a win is in the bag for either of them?

Didn't I just explain the part that Jay was always miles ahead in any poll, his YT/FB videos were always the most watched, his dances had more likes on Twitter than anybody else? Same situation does not apply to neither Ore or Danny so far. For once, Ore has been in the DO already, something that never happened to Jay for example.

ETA: I also remember reading from people who had been in the live show commenting that Jay always got the loudest cheers whenever he appeared, even when he was coming down the stairs.

Yes, but your point is irrelevant to this thread, IMO.

Well I was a Jay supporter last year and I don't remember anyone being vile about Kevin. I do remember that a lot of people, including me, didn't particularly enjoy the Kellie/Kevin partnership. She was far too loud and shouty for me and Kevin didn't help with his brash choreography

I much prefer the partnership this year but I think the main complaint about Kevin is that he always gets a good partner thus fuelling speculation that he is favoured.

Yes, it is.

But only because the argument has strayed somewhere else, you contradicted me and I proved you wrong. Now I proved you wrong my point is irrelevant to the thread

There you go again with your arrogance. You haven't proven me wrong at all; you've quoted stats and hearsay
For somebody who takes time to point out they don't want to be rude, you come across as exactly that.

If you don't prove someone wrong with cold hard stats how do you do it then? Maybe an astrological chart prevision? Seeing through the crystal ball? Tarot cards?

I give up, there's no point in trying to prove a point when someone does not want to see something is/was as clear as the daylight.

I think the issue is, both last year and this, that they have to put on a good show. After the first two weeks everyone was saying it was a coronation for Danny and they needed to nip that in the bud. Who would watch a coronation for thirteen weeks? It was the issue they had in 2009 and people got tired of Ricky Whittle in the process. It was the same with Jay and the Jive - even worse dare I say as last year there wasn't the feel of a competition, even when he was going through his quiet period (American Smooth, Argentine Tango, Foxtrot) where the dances were acceptable but he wasn't at his peak.

This year they have been able to generate a competition feel to it and have managed to do it cleverly; I don't think this year is a foregone conclusion but I do think the producers have a hand on the dances including music, marking and comments more than usual to create this feel. For me it's far more led behind the scenes than previous series - I'm not a fan of the manipulation that entails but it's far more interesting in terms of a competition.

"I don't like Louise but the judges seem to and so do the viewers... there must be a massive conspiracy afoot. That is far more likely than my opinion just going against the grain."

I love Louise as a person - she was my preshow fave and the one I was most looking forward to seeing and supporting. She just hasn't really caught fire for me yet (sorry). I didn't really like the Big Spender routine - wasn't enough AS in it for me, quite a lot of showdance, but lacked that Fred and Ginger feel. Having said that, I can see it was well danced and she deserved second on the leader board - but it wasn't better than Danny's AT for me (although all I could keep thinking was how, had he been given better, slower music, that would have been a 40).

So far I have rewatched Ed and Danny, but not bothered with Louise. I do think she is popular though and think she is a shoo-in for the final. But she may fill the Ali Bastian/Rachel Stevens role - bridesmaid not the bride.

Any post that includes the words 'haters' and 'fans' is never going to be sensible

I agree with you that having access to voting figures they do manipulate things somehow to make it more interesting and not a coronation. Having said that, I don't think they push for Kevin or anyone else, it's just a matter of trying to even things out a little regardless of whoever is ahead. However, I do think contrary to last year this is year is naturally more open fielded. Last year, whatever manipulation there was, the feeling that we had a runaway winner was there and it was unavoidable. Jay's main competition was supposed to be a marmite character like Peter Andre and ended up being a thirtysomething soap actress with ringer written on her forehead and a young actress who left another soap sometime in the past year who most people didn't know or remember. It would be difficult for him not to have won actually.

you're just a sleepwalking sheeple stuck in the matrix. the PTB must love you, wake up! the truth will set you free.

cui bonio, eh?

thats what i say.

I like Louise and, after really disliking Kevin last year, I quite like him this year too.

I do feel though that although she dances well she just does not put any emotion into her dances.

That flashdance routine should have been a real Wow but, for me, it wasn't. I felt disappointed and I love that song.

Then she did the AT, my favourite dance. She danced it well, did all the steps well but no passion, no emotion. Danny had far more emotion in his AT.

Last night should have been another Wow showstopper to that particular song but it wasn't. When it ended I though "Is that it?".

I wouldn't be upset if Louise won but, personally, if it is going to be a female would far rather it be Claudia

I totally agree. I don't have a favourite this year but I am totally fed up with the judges pushing for Louise.

After reading this thread, it does seem like if judges don't agree with viewers and don't critique like the viewer thinks they should, it somehow becomes favoritism. A lot of 'They didn't wow ME...' going on. I've been completely wowed by Louise this and last week, but if the judges aren't, I wouldn't cry undermarked.

I think the combination of Kevin doing proper choreography and getting good music is helping Louise in the judges eyes. However I don't enjoy her dancing, it's a bit oomph-less, she dances like someone who doesn't like to sweat.

I think Louise genuinely seems to lack confidence in her ability to deliver the routine and is very nervous, as are many of the others no doubt .
Nerves manifest themselves in many ways , some of the celebrities make mistakes, even Danny! some dance with a poker face or a fixed smile or in Ribert Rinder's case, with such a variety of bizarre facial expressions.
I like Louise and all the Cliftons. Kevin has produced some lovely routines and Jo's have been outstanding..
I like most of the dancers this year: though I have not really taken to Danny, I think he dances so well and Oti is wonderful.

I agree.

IMO Louise is a competent dancer and hardly ever makes any mistakes. For me she lacks chemistry with her partner. In herself I find that she lacks charisma. Apart from that she is a very nice, polite and friendly woman. The marks she gets are right for her and Kevin.

I find her as dull as dishwater!

It is apparent that just because YOU don't rate Louise the only reason the judges make good comments and score her accordingly is because of favourism!

Louise and Kevin are brilliant! Louise dances extremely well and Kevin's choreography is superb. This is MY opinion and nothing to do with favouritism.

I agree. She doesn't ignite me and yet it's clear she has fully deserved all her very high marks. There doesn't seem to be any edge or risk in what she does and that stops my spontaneous sympathy... But she is consistently very good. Kevin's choreography for her has been really clever for the most part