Louise has 17 points in the latest Forum Poll, compared to Danny's 76.

Thank god it wasn't just me thinking that pretty boy Danny has no personality . That wasn't much of a charleston anyway, more of a showdance. He also looked tired in the last few moves. I think Judges were blinded by his smile. Ouch ! I was actually shocked at 40!

Louise might be disliked on this forum but she seems very popular outside of DS. She's been very consistent with YT views and FB/twitter likes the past few weeks. I can easily see her making the final without landing in the dance off and I think she's got a strong shot at winning.

Happily you are both in the minority, and that 40 was well overdue.

I agree, she's shy and endearing. Her dancing has improved ( Paso non withstanding). I really like her.

Agree I think she has more support in the "Real World". Enough support to win? Don't think so.

I've got to be honest, but Danny's the best dancer by a country mile, and I'd be very suprised if he didn't win. If the competition finished now, imo he'd win 100% and deservedly so, so unless the others completely up their game, and he get's a bit lack lustre (which I can't imagine will happen)it's a foregone conclusion. I don't want him to win, 'cause it's such a boring outcome ..but on the other hand if he didn't win, then it wouldn't be right. Guess we've got to wait and see what happens!

I personally don't think anyone has got enough support to be declared the obvious winner at this point (I think there's an argument for Ed but I'd be more convinced of that if it was a four person final). I think it's going to come down to the combination of finalists. Louise vs Rinder and Claudia - I think she'd have enough support to take it. Louise vs Danny and Rinder or Ore - she might struggle to win in a final so focused on show and wow. However I do think this forum is massively underestimating her because most people on here find her "beige." She's a shoe-in for the final I think (and the only celebrity I'm confident will definitely be in the final).

Why "happily"? Does it matter to you all that much whether others think differently about him?

Danny should win he is the best dancer we have ever had on Strictly. But the best dancer doesn't always win so who knows.

if he does! I for one will be well pleased.

See the Loose/Lose post on General Discussion - it's a SHOO in!

I don't think he is better than Harry Judd. I don't think he is worse either, but no better. Or even Tom Chambers.

It is only natural to want others to agree with us, and see what we see, that is human nature.

I just don't see how anyone can find Danny boring or bland, but the same was said about Jay last year. There are always those who seem to resent a celebrity who is that good.

But I am not going to lose any sleep because everyone doesn't share the joy that I get from Danny's dancing every week. I shall just spend more time browsing through his Appreciation thread.

Some of his dances have been superb - beautifully polished and technically excellent.

As he is an actor, I had hoped that their Charleston would have shown his ability to take on a character and do something quirky and full of personality - after all, the Charleston is all about story-telling and kookiness. I wanted to see if he could take on a character that made him look fun and wacky... but no... it was delivered with the same technical sterility as everything else he does.

It takes a special talent to make a Charleston look bland but he certainly pulled it off. Shame really, as it just makes him look a bit one-dimensional.

Fair enough but I don't think that Danny's Charleston was meant to be wacky. I think that it was meant to be an old school stylish Charleston, which he pulled off.

I disagree, I find it hard to ever see past Alesha Dixon as the best dance ever on Strictly - compared to the big scores they give rubbish these days, she was seriously under marked.

He reminds me a little of Ray in Dancing on Ice. He was just miles better than anyone else in any of the series, and he was from the very first dance he did. For me, he was always a highlight of the show and a pleasure to watch but the gap in class made some viewers very angry. Even though nobody could claim that Ray had had a secret previous career as an ice dancing professional!

I wonder why some people are so keen to minimise Danny's talent on the grounds that he has appeared on the stage in a musical. Was he dancing in this role? Has he been paid to perform jives and waltzes for the public?

Totally agree. The only potential bump for her is still having two party latins to go but I think Kevin will save that for the two dance show so she'll be protected by a wow ballroom

Nope that is in your eyes his job is to deliver choreography as laid out by his teacher's nothing more or less which I think he has done the selling is the bit when you listen to him being grateful to all who have made his experience what is there lays the unpretentious man

I am happy with Danny/Oti, Ore/Joanne and Claudia/AJ win even though I have reservations about AJ.

I find the whole "so and so will obviously win" annoyance a bit odd, to be honest. I know a tight competition is exciting, but everyone complains if this is manufactured by the producers and judges. If one contestant is clearly more popular with the public than anyone else, and good enough to survive a dance off if that happens, then yes, they probably will win - I don't see why this is a problem. It's better this than endless manipulation and pretence, surely? As it happens, I think Danny has a very good chance but am not totally sure he'll win - there's still enough time for others to consolidate their popularity, I think. I still prefer others and imagine there are plenty out there like me. But if he's a good enough dancer to get to the final and the most popular with the public, then he should win, surely?

Well, yes of course it's in my eyes - because it's my opinion.

No idea what the bit in bold is all about. I'm interested in watching them all dance - not listening to them all being grateful.

Pity really.... as I think it would have shown greater versatility than just more of the same.

Easier to post an explanation

Shoe-In or Shoo-In :

A race horse so fast that you can merely shoo it across the finish line rather than having to urge it on with stronger measures is a “shoo-in": an easy winner.

It is particularly unfortunate when this expression is misspelled “shoe-in" because to “shoehorn" something in is to squeeze it in with great difficulty.