There's no hating, it just wasn't as good as Jill's Jive, in fact if you ask me it was a bit floppy in the arm department

A dance should have a 'Wow' factor to get a '10'. For me Kelly's AS was worth '10' but it broke the rules. I don't think either John's Salsa or Alesha's waltz deserved a '10'. I think you have to be picky when you are looking to award a '10'. neither of the dances that have been awarded legitimate '10's by the judges were either perfect or blew me away. Usually when a dance is worth a '10' it's so special the almost everyone recognises it such. I do, however, think that both Kelly and Alesha have performed several dances that are well worth '9's.

IMO Arlene is favouritist towards Brendan as a dancer and is willing him to do well with Kelly. I'm pretty sure this can be inferred from general comments she has made on ITT. She'll see what she wants to see.

Saying that, I thought the jive suited Kelly and I'm warming to her. But NO, not at the standard Jill/Darren set and which all jives now seem to be measured against.

I sort of agree with this, in that any dance that gets a 10 should have that wow factor. For me, John's salsa had that, I literally can't stop watching it, and I could watch it for days and still love it. I got the feeling from Len he was completely blown away by it. Again wth Alesha's waltz, didn't blow me away but obviously did Arlene and Bruno, and a lot of people on these forums. And to be fair Arlene is pretty stingy with her 10's so it must've had the wow factor for her.

As all last weeks salsas were measured against Ramps. And will be in the future.

I liked the jive, but I agree that no dances have had that Wow factor.

Did think that Kelly was doing the windmill arms again. Never used to like Brendan until I saw him in uniform last week. That was Wow factor. Could do with a photo for my desktop

We heard Kelly say in training "I want this to be the best jive anyone's seen," (or words to that effect) - therefore she put herself in the firing line to be compared to Jill.

lol true. I didn't mean it as a criticism or negatively, I meant it as a fact.

I agree with you both. Don't really like the gradual shift upwards of marking each year.

The desperate hunger for a 10 might motivate and push all the talented celeb dancers (Like Kelly & Alesha) from really good towards EXTRA SPECIAL performances....it would also produce some element of healthy competition. Jill and Denise were fighting, in a healthy way, to get that first 10 (Darren and Ian as well of course. Bet that motivated them too ).

For the last few series it’s felt almost inevitable that certain couples will be doled out a 10 at some point. In series 2 getting a 10 was like finding the holy grail and you had to sweat blood and tears to deserve it.

Its not as if you go into training thinking 'Ah..I hope this will be average' now is it?

Seriously, picky picky picky.....

True - but if you try to emulate the best, then be prepared for the brickbats when you fail - and boy oh boy - did Kelly fail

Don't be ridiculous. Kelly's jive was great, Jill's jive was great.

I just do not understand how people can be so nasty.

Kelly's jive was above average - Jill's was flawless, so where is the ridiculity?

She set herself up to be better than Jill and failed.

Nice try but if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.

Before you jump to conclusions and start spouting off that Arlene had no right to say the dance was in the same league as Jill's, actually listen to what Arlene said rather than hearing what you chose to hear. Arlene actually said the dance was the closest anyone has come to a jive as good as Jill's - she didn't say it was as good or even on a par, just that it was as close as anyone has come to that standard, and that could well mean it was still some way off the mark.

I'm a Kelly fan but I wasn't blown away by her jive. I thought her leg action was excellent, but I don't think that Brendan matched her in terms of energy - there doesn't seem much of a connection between them, does there? Still, I'm backing her along with Alesha, mainly because I'm sick to death of the incredible bile that gets chucked her way. Anyone checked out the bbc boards? Positively swimming with anti-Kelly venom!

Speaking of jives, I'll be honest - I don't really remember Jill's jive so I need to watch it again, but Louisa's jive last year (neon green dress - remember?) was absolutely fantastic! Loved it.

I didn't think it matched Jill and Darren's jive, or Louisa and Vincent's, but her flick kicks were very good. Some bits of it seemed a bit flat-footed to me but I'm no expert! It was a very good jive, but Jill's is a tough act to follow.

As a few other people have mentioned, you are never quite sure how the BBC edit any comments that are made (or the questions that were put to them first!).

I still think thats off the mark, I think both Alesha and Louisa's jives were better and closer to the standard Jill set.

Yeah it was fantastic, I actually think Louisa's jive was the best ever!

It's the only dance that's really stuck in my head over the years... Colin and Erin's quickstep is up there, too. But I seriously loved the bouncy energy of that jive. Louisa was fab.

I have to say I'm glad this thread is here because I can not believe that Arlene said it was the closest jive to Jill's. When Kelly was talking in the "promo" I felt she was a bit like Emma (last series) wanting to outshine Zoe's Tango and as a result I watched her closer than I normally would have. The jive was ok but imho was only worth 8s and has a long long way to go before it looks as natural as Jill's. All we need now is for Kenny to say that he wants to do the best Rhumba ever!

I never saw the show Jill Halfpenny was in. I have seen both Jill and Kelly's jives and prefer Kelly's. Jill's performance was more "polished" perhaps, but her jive seemed to me to be much easier - Kelly's was faster and more complicated - so Kelly wins the Best Jive accolade.

It was a good Jive, but Jill Halfpenny's was in a class of it's own, i mean i do not understand how Mark's Argentine Tango got the same score as it!

Good but Jill's was in a class of it's own!

What a load of rubbish. She set herself out to do the best jive she could, and it was good....

If she said 'This is going to be the best jive ever', then maybe, but she didn't. She said she wanted it to be....Alesha has said exactly the same thing week after week, and as she hasn't got a 40 yet, I suppose the same applies to her then

Dont think Tess helped by saying to Kelly in her interview.

"you wanted this to be the best jive that Strictly had ever seen"

Kelly's dance looked good last night but bore little resemblance to a jive.
It consisted of lots of 'kick ball changes' and 'flicks' but hardly any true jive steps.
It could not be compared to Jill's jive which was simply in a different class.