I'm just wondering how many people have chosen their favourites on looks rather than dancing talent

I have my favourite dancers having watched all three series but I always choose my favourites based on who hooked me in. No one did in the first show, on the second I admired how much Patsy had improved, on the third I thought their tango was stunning and have supported them ever since. I love Anton to bits so it's great to be able to support him again (unlike last year with Esther), but I can't support a couple unless I like both of them. Fortunately Patsy has really grown on me and her and Anton make a great double act.

not so much looks as personalities and whether I like the dance they do - so am a bit of a floating voter eg Last week James and Camilla were my favourites, have voted for Will and Bill in past.

It's good to read that... I've read loads of threads on here and a lot of people seem to choose on looks. I'm not saying that's wrong, but I do think it's a shame!

I choose on the chemistry or the way the couple work together. From the second show in the first series I wanted Natasha and Brendan to Win. Trouble is, it made it so hard to accept Sarah in the second series, as I thought he belonged with Natasha.

Although, I quickly moved over to Darren and Jill and Lilia and Aled. I thought they were two great partnerships and thought it was a real shame Aled and Lilia didn't make the final.

This series I like Darren and Lilia. I think they are full of so much fun.

In the first series I enjoyed Brendan and Natasha's dancing but my heart was with Anton and Lesley. They were so much fun and that really came out in their dancing. Second series Aled caught my eye in the first show as someone who really surprised me and then his and Lilia's brilliant double act was the icing on the cake.

And now I'm with Patsy and Anton, although I am fond of some others too.

I couldn't just support a couple on how attractive I found the guy, there's got to be personality there too.

For me it comes mainly down to their dancing, although being able to appreciate them as individuals is important. If I disliked their personalities, I wouldn't be able to support them no matter how great they danced. I knew from the first show that I loved Zoe and Ian's dancing and I was immediately drawn to both them and the way they interact.

Certainly, the fact that Ian is easy on the eyes is an added benefit, but without the dancing and his personality I'd have little to go on and most certainly wouldn't be able to support him solely for this reason.

For me I choose who moves me the most emotionally and who I enjoy watching the most, I am not a dancer and unless they make a glaring mistake I can't really tell.

I really like Patsy and Anton and Darren and Lillia for the same reason they aren't perfect but they are enjoying the dancing and are trying to improve which is what strictly is all about - I wouldn't choose a couple on looks alone but wouldn't complain if they were attractive

No, I'm entirely shallow and go on looks alone!

I think it is their personality that makes them my favourite and how they interact with their partner and the other dancers/celebrities.

I was flicking channels during the last series and watched Aled and Lilia training. Then i carried on watching because they were just so good together. I think that has made me bias this series because from the first episode i wanted Lilia to win even if her partner was rubbish. Thankfully he isn't and i think they make a great partnership so i can justify my favourites!

It's chemistry, personality and dancing - the best combination of all 3. I love Anton to bits and, to be honest, if he was partnered with Skippy the Bush Kangaroo I'd still vote for him. I have definitely been won over to Patsy, though - she's growing in confidence, doing things which even 3 weeks ago would have been beyond her. Look at the difference between even the samba and the cha cha cha.

Anton is so funny and patient and her success is at least partly down to his teaching and he deserves to be rewarded for that.

I will admit there's a bit of superficial lust involved - but if I didn't like him as a person, I wouldn't be as emotionally hooked in as I am.

I have chosen Zoe and Ian for their dancing, both being tall - they look so graceful and elegant. My second favourites are Darren and Lilia, Darren seem to improve every week and they do seem to have so much fun.

i love both these couples for similar reasons (plus i've had a major crush on dazzler since spending a few hours alone with him) and can't decide which of the two i like best. changes from week to week

I missed the first series. Last year I loved Julian and Erin. This year I'm with Darren all the way because he's a cricketer. He's been absolutely amazing, though, I never dreamt he'd be able to dance like this!

Also - I only thought of coming on the DS forum for SCD the other day, and hadn't realised Goughie has such a large following. I'm used to seeing him on the cricket field and tbh I never dreamed he would set female hearts a flutter. However, he's always had a big personality and a twinkle, and used to be the heart and soul of the team when he was at his peak. I didn't know where his public votes were coming from, apart from his cricketing mates and me, but it looks as if he's going to go far in this competition.

My faves are Darren and Lil. Not chosen on looks, or dance ability really!! More just how cute and fun and giggly they are!!!!!! Also, I love how they've just been getting on with it. Quietly, and suprisingly well without press interest of causing arguments with the judges!!!

I tend to vote with my heart. Its just sometimes you find yourself drawn to someone, for a certain reason. This series I have voted for Bill and Karen, James and Camilla and Darren and Lilia at various points.

My favourite is Colin Jackson. As an athletics fan he was the hook that brought me in. But I can honestly say that apart from the first week when he did the Cha Cha Cha I have voted for other couples who I considered to be either the best or the most improved. Altho one week I voted twice because I couldn't make up my mind between Jaye Jacobs who I felt did a good rumba but was somewhat undermarked by the judges in my opinion and poor old Gloria Hunniford who was told to get down and dirty with a much younger man in the Rumba

You are the ideal voter, Diamondlife. You are actually voting on what you see each week. However, the idea that we should wait and see the dance before voting is made a mockery of when you can place your vote all week before seeing the dances at all. I know they want the telephone money but it just makes it a personality contest rather than a true dance competition.

Awww shucks it'snotcricket...you made me all embarassed now. But seriously I couldn't imagine voting any other way. It was the public's love of Fiona Phillips (admittedly she was in the bottom 2 twice) that weakened the competition earlier on in my opinion. One only has to look at last Saturday's episode to see at how high the standard now is

My favourites are Zoe and Ian. Before the programme started I had high hopes of Zoe being good as I've always liked her from her early days of presenting. There's a quality about her that I find endearing and fun, and I think she's very pretty in the way that people can be who have slightly odd looks (the poor girl's ears). I was thrilled therefore when I found that she could Dance as well!

I know that Ian doesn't have the outrageously outgoing personality that Anton has (no one does!) He seems much more quiet in his approach. But the way that he has brought out the best in Zoe, found the right choreography for her and encouraged her despite her nervousness is wonderful to behold when they hit the dance floor. I know too that many people think that her nervousness is an act. Hmmm... are they all women? I don't think it's an act. I suspect that she's one of these people who excel not just because they're good but because they're terrified of failing.

I know that some people vote on the basis of someone trying really hard to improve or gradually getting better. On that basis, perhaps Christopher Parker should have won the first series. I'm afraid it doesn't wash with me. Natasha (thank goodness) won because she was best. Jill won the second series because she was (just) better than Denise and definately so on the night of the final. On that basis, and on current form the final play-off in the final should be between Colin and Zoe, and Zoe and Ian should win because at the moment they are without doubt the best dancers on the floor. Even on the basis of someone getting better and better, they are the best dancers on the floor. Of course all that may change and I'll do my best to be objective. I've seen lots of dancers working in my career and I know how things can change; how some people can improve and surpass other dancers abilities. I think Darren has done so with James but I think the others have some way to go before they surpass my darling Zoe!

I couldn't understand why the public did keep voting for Fiona, in all seriousness. She was hopeless and didn't even look as if she was enjoying herself, just embarrassed. But we keep being told how much we are all missing her. No wer'e not!

I have to say though that last year I was supporting Julian and Erin. Julian may not have been a great dancer but he did carry the whole thing off with style and certainly added something to the competition, although I wouldn't have wanted him to win.

I would disagree that the others "have some way to go" to surpass Zoe F'loon. I voted for Zoe and Ian last week because ,quite frankly, their Tango was superb to say the leastr. But if I may be indulged for a moment I think it is fair to say they ARE being pushed by Colin and Erin (Comments or no comments about "QuickstepGate"). Even before the controversial Quickstep I thought Zoe and Ian did a ropey looking Samba the previous week and they still earned high marks. There is no doubt that Zoe and Ian HAD to bring their A game this week and they did

I thought he was

I quite agree. They are their closest rivals. And I agree that after the first week their form fell somewhat, but it certainly has improved over the past couple of weeks and you're right. Their tango was superb.

I never vote until saturday night, an then Zoe and Ian and whoever I think has danced second best will get my vote I do think its a shame that we are able to vote all week as I believe that is why Will got voted out - nothing to do with dancing imo,just lack of fan club backing, if it was down to voting on the night I don't think Will would have gone.