I agree with all you've said.

I'm trying to keep the perspective of this just being a TV show but I've been surprised at how quickly the tide has turned against Zoe. Hardly anyone on this forum seems to have a good word to say about her and she's done nothing to deserve it as far as I can see. It seems she's being disliked for being (a) good and (b) popular with the judges.

Obviously everyone's entitled to their opinion and if people have just gone off her fair enough but it does seem that her popularity has plummeted since Saturday when she got a marginally higher mark than Colin.

I certainly don't hate Zoe (what's to hate?); I just think her latin dances are being slightly over-marked. No daft Barbie & Ken comments or envy or knocking or anything else like that...

(I don't think she has the 'Halfpenny' factor because she just isn't as good as Jill [or Denise] at the moment)

Well reasoned post Veri - I enjoyed it

You're right, most ppl don't get too retentive about the marking but I must admit to being a fusspot when it comes to fairness. And fair consistent marking should leave room for better and worse performances to be rated as such so it is no disadvantage to dance first or advantage to dance last. What's good for the gander (?Colin) should be good for the goose (?Zoe)!

And as you say, sports with artistic components have much more movement in the marking. omg don't mention figure skating. I love it but the bias and the scoring I need a lie down in a dark room after watching it - I think it totally undermines the integrity of the sport. I'm no Zoe hater even though I've commented on her scores. Just like to join in an interesting thread I think it's taken a little while for ppls comments to surface because it has taken several weeks of successive performances and scores for some ppl to put 2 + 2 together (and get 5 )

We must be fair too - if we tape it and then replay it over and over to catch the mistakes it doesn't count! It's amazing what you see on the second viewing but the judges just get the one viewing and not from all the camera angles we get either, just from one side. I like Zoe and Ian and their relative ranking is about right - they are one of the best overall but I would like to see their errors pointed out as they have been to the other couples sometimes quite cruelly.

About the 'Vorderman' moment
Carol Vorderman was dancing with the very experienced professional Paul Killick in Series 2 and one of the early weeks they did a rumba (?). Carol's dress was fairly nude looking and her facial expressions were...best left in the bedroom? It was one of those moments you want to look away because it's cringemaking but it's so bad it's good! She went out that week but she was actually quite a good dancer and should have stayed. She then didn't appear on the final show at the end with all the other couples citing another engagement. I think ppl had trouble seeing Carol express herself in that way. This clip from the BBC website contains a little of the dance but not the best(worst?) bits. Colins thrusting gave me the same feeling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedan...11/15975.shtml

beesknees your posts always make a good read

Had to hide behind the cushion for both Colin's and Carol's moments!

Zoe and Ian are my favourites, but I don't think I'll have a breakdown if they don't win! On the other hand I would have a breakdown if the very hyped up Barbie and the very stiff looking Kenny won (James and Camilla)

I think the "vote for who you want to stay in" method of SCD is so much better than the "who goes" attitude of Big Brother as the former encourages people to vote for their favourite rather than try and oust a celebrity they don't like. So much more positive!

In my opinion Zoe and Ian Cant do anything wrong in judges eyes! I want Camilla and James to win! Zoe and Ian go great together in a dancing parternership and i think they will win but i dont want them to win!
xx

Going back to the question first set out in this thread, I don't think Zoe does have the Ha'penny Factor.

For one, she does make mistakes. She knows it, and the judges do acknowledge her mistakes. But she dances well enough that she still scores well. The ability to cover mistakes deserves to be marked well. She certainly doesn't have the quiet confience that Jill always seemed to exude. She is genuinely pleased when she gets through.

I agree that the judges are beginning to take sides. Last year Craig seemed to like Jill while Bruno liked Denise. This year, Craig likes Zoe and Bruno likes Patsy.

I think Zoe & Ian scored well this week because their Samba was more traditional and bouncy. It was the most classic. It was carnivalistic (is that a word?). It is a shame that the dancers are sometimes maked on their pros' choreography, but it's all part of the package. Colin & Erin's samba didn't work for me, although it was very well performed. Maybe the judges felt that way too.

Beautifully put.

Len admitted on ITT last night that the judges can't help being biased (for example, by Bill's poor ankle and how great he did despite it). They're only human, and I guess that's why they have their favourites like us.

Hasn't she turned very orange recently!

I think she may have done this for the samba for an "I'm a hot Brazilian mama dancing in the Rio Carnaval" look. I think it helped

Thanks Takseem but sorry to everyone - it was a long one