that James could win?.....I mean this in all seriousness. He is undoubtedly the most popular contestant now. I've no time for the Sympathy vote, and to his credit he has never courted it. But the public have clearly warmed to him over Will Thorp and now over Patsy Palmer, or perhaps feel protective of him as he stands there and is mauled even by the likes of Len Goodman.

He is competitive and has at least competent Ballroom talent. Could this be enough to oust a Colin, Darren, or Zoe.

What do you think folks?

I think James deserves to be there as he reminds me of Julian last year. He came with absolutely no dance experience and has given his all to learning and loving it and I feel that he has made more progress than Patsy hence being kept in tonight.
James has a huge following but I think Darren may well just pip him at the post.

he's probably more supprised than anyone else!!

The Lady Boz

I think it's very possible. I absolutely love James and Camilla, but even as a fan I have to say (based on tonight's performances) that I do find this prospect somewhat disheartening. Their interaction has been lovely to watch, but on a dancing level I don't think I could in good conscience put him before Colin, Zoe or Darren at this point. He has however come on leaps and bounds and his ballroom is pretty nifty. The latin, not so much.

However, if they dazzle me with their performance come next Saturday I'll vote accordingly.

I like James & Camilla.

Fine, they may be better suited to the ballroom dances than latin, IMO, but there are others in a similar position & they don't get the stick that he does for it.

On these grounds I don't think he's good enough to win the contest, but I do think he's improved enough over the weeks to deserve some recognition.

It'll be between Darren and James to go next week and I hope James goes for the sake of having the best possible final.

When Bill stayed over Will there was a backlash against him and he went the next week. The same may be happening to James.

At least I hope it does. We don't need another Julian Clary in the final this year.

I love him and Camilla to pieces, they have a great relationship and are trying so hard, and I did vote for them like hell this week because I really wanted then through to the semis because a) I wanted to see them perform all the dances, and b) So Camilla would do better than she did lat year.

But they shouldn't be in the final. The other 3 couples are far better than them. I know how upset I was when Aled and Lilia left last year when they didn't deserve to, I don't want that to happen to fans of the other 3.

Darren & Lilia to win now!! And Colin & Erin second.

I think that Colin will be in the bottom 2 (probably with poor James). I don't think it will be Darren. I think Darren could win this.

Darren WILL win this! I'll make damn sure of it! Time for the banner again I think!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...DL_banner1.jpg

Looking at the figures from tonight which someone kindly posted elsewhere, James seems to have come 1st with the public.

If (and it's a big 'if', I know) the public votes the same way next week and the judges scores are the most likely outcome (Zoe, Colin, Darren, James), Darren would likely go which would be very sad indeed...

Glad there's someone taking note of the factual bits tonight. Sorry but I'm a little too mellow for my brain to digest the figures, I'm merely thinking aloud as I reckon Darren could be more popular than Colin when push comes to shove. Still the public are a funny bunch (aren't we) and you never know what can happen.

Oh god! Not that scenario again!

It was bad enough seeing Aled go out, last year, after the real improvements he had made over the course of the series, without it happenning again.

I guess the only answer is to get on the phone & vote like mad.

DARREN & LILIA TO WIN!!!

Hear hear!!! I will be voting for them like mad, don't worry!

to me it would be a traversty if colin didn't at least get into the final he's been consistently the best male dancer out of the celebs and he deserves to get to the final. my worry is reading the previous messages people are going to vote for couples becuase they like them rather than on how they perform. i personally don't think that's fair thats why i always fear for colin every week. he showed his class out of the celebs this week yet everyone seems to want james and darren to get through why is that?

As I've said in another thread, I like James & Camilla, as people, but I don't believe he's an all rounder; better at ballroom than latin.

To be honest, I want Goughie & Lilia to win because I think he's the most improved, all round, dancer, over the course of the series, & he seems to be genuinely enjoying the whole experience so much.

everyone moans about the judges having preconcieved ideas what about people in this thread?? from what i can see its a popularity contest rather than a dance contest just ask anton or patsy if i'm wrong?

I think that James and Darren are so popular with the public now that no matter what happened - even if the judge's ratings were Zoe/ Colin followed by James/ Darren, Zoe or Colin would be likely to be voted out. Which I think is a shame as they are IMO the best two dancers. Darren has improved loads and I thought had unfair criticism tonight but there's No Way that James, neither on tonight's performances nor on previous performances, deserves to be in the final. I don't care whether people "hate" Zoe or Colin or "love" Darren or James, we're down to the nitty-gritty now. It's a dance competition. From now on lets all judge on the dancing alone.

PS. My pet "hate" is when people use the word in boards like this. eg "I hate Colin" or "I hate Zoe". Hate? "Hate" is an incredibly strong expression. It should be reserved for someone you know and who knows you, who has done you some very, very serious wrong. Surely. How can you "hate" these celebs? You don't even know them.

Well said farmloon i think its time to quit favouritism and just vote for who performs best. at the end of the day none of them could dance before this competition began so you can argure that zoe has improved the most out of everyone and therefore deserves to win despite the overmarking tonight

I asked this question primarily because like a lot of people I was shocked that James is still in the competition. This is my first time of watching the series so I didn't know that there is a history of not very good contestants ousting good ones on the show. But I have to say that IF (and I stress if) James even got to the final let alone won it I don't think I would be watching the next series.

Bruno (for all his overmarking of Zoe aside) made the very good point that James has reached his plateau where the others are now raising their game. James had better dance his @rse off nest week!!!

Well Guys, In my opinion the show started by taking celebrities who couldn't dance and training them to dance and to see who made the most improvement over the series. Some people have a natural talent for rhythm and coordination whilst others have absolutely none at all. Zoe did do ballet when she was younger and last years winner Jill had also lots of dance experience. James came from not being able to dance and his overall improvement is commendable. I admit his Ballroom is better than his Latin but he loves it and puts everything into it and most importantly of all HE ENJOYS IT.
Everyone loves the underdog and James unfortunately is now the underdog. His performance this evening wasn't as good as some of his previous weeks but at least he did a complicated lift and some nifty, samba footwork. Darren also was a non dancer who has been transformed and the crown I think will go to him, however, everyone is entitled to their opinion and if the public choose to vote a certain way then that's up to them. Everyone is entitled to a favourite and at the end of the day it's a TV Entertainment show. No need to be so critical of others views!!!! Remember, many people may think along the same lines as myself regarding the objective of the show in the first place.

Well said.

i think GET JAMES OUT
im sorry - he should NOT be there
he is out of his depth
if he is in the final it will be just terrible
sorry - he should have gone tonite

Think it will be Zoe's place in the final at risk if James does get through next week.

Yes, he could easily win it. I would like to think that the best dancer will win through in the end, but unfortunately that will not always happen.

Yeah i think James has everychance of winning! Im happy about that! Next week they are doing Foxtrot , Ballroom for James Yay!

http://www.jamesmartinchef.co.uk/boa...ghlight=#61247
xxx

I really don't think James has a chance of winning, and to be honest it would be a travesty if he does.