You heard it here first

I reckon she will do well too - and Matt is a great partner.

Well, only if the GBP votes for her

I cite the case of Colin Jackson v Darren Gough. Colin was the better dancer of the two and should have won if it were a decision based on technical ability. the GBP stepped in and decided that they liked Darren better and voila.

It works in reverse too, so I think it's too early to be so definite. I agree (for what it's worth) that Alesha and Mathew look the part and if she can move (and is a lovely person wioth a great story) then they have a great chance of making it to the final.

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT WHO MATT WAS DANCING WITH?

Hi Blobby,

Great to see you back. How are things?

I'm good, but missing the dancing.

shes my favourite at the moment.

I agree I have said since I saw the line up Penny and Alesha will be in the final

I was thinking that high expectations would be a problem but she'll deliver. She looked as good in the small bits they showed in ballroom hold as well as the more dancier stuff.
With most of the ladies is going to come down to how well the male pro's choreograph, they all are good enough to dance some knockout routines.

She is my fav already regardless. Backing no one else.

She looks fab so far. that shimmy and shake in the group dance to day was good. She has pure confidence and that is what you need. Her and matt hopefully will be on fire come next week!

this v ideo proves she knows how to move... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V69zp9YoeI

Oh and I loved that body roll move M/A did and he smacked her arse

I really hate that song, I haven't watched that in a long time.
How Arlene describe her as bland is beyond me, she looks great.
Maybe they should show that to the others to psyche out the competition!

Current favourite on betfair..lets hope she doesn't peak to early

http://sports.betfair.com/Index.do?m...x=1&origin=MRL

Alesha's fantastic and I love Matt to bits!! I hope they win!

Me too, though there's a long testing time ahead littered, no doubt with a few downs but hopefully a whole lot more ups. She may prove not to be the best dancer in a technical sense, but like Mark and Karen last year, Alesha/Matt this year seem to me to have that same (immensely) likeable quality. I hope the rest of the viewing public are likewise drawn to this pairing.

For me, theres also the small matter of Alesha being ravishingly beautiful. When she came down those stairs yesterday, I thought WOW, DOUBLE WOW and BLOODY WOW AGAIN!!! And a great beaming smile when Craig picked her out for praise this evening.

And in contrast to Mark/Karen, I think roles will be reversed with Alesha being all bubbly and talkative and Matt remaning quieter and more restrained.

As well as Alesha, I'm also liking Kelly (despite being partnered with Brendan), Penny/Ian, Barnesy/Nicole, and Matt/Flavia.

Matt and Alesha seem to have a great chemistry She is absolutely confident which is fantastic, and they seem to have a laugh! I see them definitely making it to the final.

I reckon Alesha will be fantastic in all the latin dances cos she likes to move about... Hopefully she'll be just as good in the ballroom stuff as well

I'm really looking forward to seeing her next week. I think she's gonna be really good.

I think there is no doubt that she will be one of the better dancers in the competion, but I doubt she will win, as I think people will have "Emma Bunton" syndrome with her. Ie. she was good from the beginning and was always expected to be good bearing in mind she is a "performer". Not necesarily my view, but I think it will be the view of some.

It depends on her attitude. I think a big reason people didn't like Emma was because she seemed to think she didn't have to practice and got overmarked by the judges for some dances. She copped on a bit towards the end and started to work hard, but at that stage it was too late. If Alesha is down to earth and hardworking, as she seems to be, she can do very well.

Emma's main problem wasn't Emma, it was the judges overmarking and ignoring mistakes she clearly made. Alesha looked very good, and appears to have an immediate connection/chemistry with the lovely Mr Cutler. Although I'm edging towards the Penny/Ian camp, I'd be really pleased to see them do well. At this early stage, a final between John*/Nicole, Alesha/Matt and Penny/Ian would make me very happy


*So long as he looses the weight and looks slighly less disturbing in those lycra outfits

Think that's a final that would appeal to me too

I have to say, so far, having watched the preview, the two group dances and some training clips at the end of the first ITT, I would say Alesha and Matt will be in the finals and possibly win this, because:

- they have chemistry in spades both on and off the dancefloor

- Alesha seems to have the right attitude, not been to dance school and wants to learn all the ballroom/latin dances

- She definitely has talent and, er, the x-factor (don't hit me for saying the x-word!), doesn't have to try hard like the Special K somebody in the group dance to look sexy and/or enjoying herself...

- Matt Cutler has hordes of salivating female (and gay) fans voting for him

- The judges seem to like her a lot and said so far she has dance talent...

Add more to this list in te future!

SCD I agree but I'm worried that due to fact she's already a dancer of sorts this may count against her

Hope not though