The 'I'm so sorry' was because he had messed up part of the dance - he said so himself in interviews....you can see the mistake when you watch closely - and also the commentators on the commentary red button-thingy pointed it out too.

I'm not saying its a complete mess up - just its been a bit of a slide in confidence and performance...

Ah I am so annoyed with Matt! He could be soo sooo soooo much better! He is this natural dancer that Gethin never was. The judges were screaming at him and he just had this blank face on!! He was driving me crazy by just messing it up in the middle of a good samba, not picking the steps straight away. The show goes on darling!! There is no another go!! ARRRGGGHHHHHHH MATT!!

I have been a great fan since his American Smooth. He is great at both Latin and Ballroom. I would marry him even though he is this immature 20-year-old penniless actor who just got kicked out of Eastenders. But one thing I can't forgive, is that he goes and destroys himself because he is frightened by his own greatness.

I really don't know what else can anyone say to him to make him see sense. He can triumph, he can dance. Just get over this and he will be flying! Would someone please shake him until his self-destructive streak ruins him for good. I am too upset...

I'm not his biggest fan but he really does have potential

from a dancing point of view in this series, it should be an Alesha v Matt final but his nerves let him down. He seemed to have gone backwards tonight, and yet the great arm movements and hips are still there!

Even with the mistakes, there was definitely dance talent there.

I agree with this. I have a feeling he has some issues that need resolving. This 'cheeky chappie flirty wirty' attitude is endearing and I wouldn't want him to lose it, but it's masking some bad feelings inside him I think.

I do think you might be right and it might be self-destruction due to being frightened of achieving his potential. But as none of us know him personally we can only suspect it.

I really felt for Matt this week, his nerves are obviously sky high and it's affecting his performance.Matt seems to be trying so hard and putting more pressure on himself. It was mentioned he was going to see a hypnotist to try help, i wonder what happened there? I really hope he can get his nerves in check for next week, i would hate to see him go due to nerves. Come on Matt we know you have it in you!!

i think that people should really give him a break..yes he messed up..yes it nearly broke my heart but we should remember that the bits he did do well, he did them really well. I just think that somewhere in the middle of the first dance, something must have happened..and he had that pressure to follow up in the next dance..its just a shame realy that hes having bad weeks at this stage in the competition...i obviously felt for him because it seemes that he is the one putting so much pressure on himself because he wants to do well so much.

I don't why everyone is having this discussion. Do you really believe the dance off is tonight? It has all been done last night film and recorded ready for tonight

It started before the dance off was filmed. Now we aren't even talking about whether to vote for him we're just trying to figure Matt out!!!

You made some good points there. I too wondered whether he was trying to hide his real feelings behind the confident and cheery appearance. I don't watch EE but maybe his playing a very unpopular character and getting slated for it didn't do him an awful lot of good.

Matt annoys the hell out of me. At first I expected not to like him, then his jive completely changed my mind and I really looked forward to him dancing, but now you could see the tension and nerves in his face during the backstage bits even before he danced, he really appears to be buckling under the strain. I know people keep saying 'he's only 20', but I'm pretty sure Louisa was younger last year when she competed.

I, for once, don't have a firm favourite this year (it's lovely, I watch with no pressure and worries whatsoever ) but I really do like Matt's dancing, but each week he seems to go out expecting to mess up. Alesha has made major mistakes as well, but she seems to trust both Matthew and herself enough to get out of them. Whilst I believe Matt has complete trust in Flavia, I think his problem is a complete lack of trust in himself - his ability to get himself out of mistakes, as he managed in the jive, seems to be disappearing

I think what needs to be remembered here is that Matt is one of the youngest people ever to do the show.

Now if you compare him with Chris in year 1, Chris knew he had nothing to lose, and knew he would not win on dance ability, so he just did his best and enjoyed it.

Louisa by contrast, yes she may have appeared more composed but she was very up and down with her confidence despite being very good most weeks, good enough to be a contender arguably, and so inevitably she was very upset when she left.

Meanwhile Matt started off less well, built up to some great performances and has in the past two weeks started to realise how far he has come and what is at stake, and to feel the nerves and self doubt, and I believe his conduct off the floor as well as his performances reflect that.

It has been disappointing to see this but I still think he's been a great asset to the show and I will certainly remember some of the great performances he's put in up to this point.

Aw that was a lovely post Sallyforth.

I think you have hit the nail on the head. I read someone once sent him a picture of some dog poo and wrote a little note telling him that was his acting. Can you imagine the effect that could have on someone?

For the last two weeks Matt has been trying to coordinate two complicated procedures: learning the dialogue and developing the performance for his EE exit storyline; and learning four new dances. I know other contestants are also working (though some aren't at all), but it is the specific sort of work that might be important. Not to be too much of a luvvie supporter, but to me this particular combination sounds mentally fearsome, especially for a young actor. Its too simplistic to say: oh, he's young, he should be able to learn two dances in a week. This is also without adding in the fact he's been saying goodby to professional friendships and facing a less-certain future.

The counting in the second dance would suggest that he did not know the routines very well. I think it's not a coincidence he had problems last week (although not that big) and again now, when he has to learn and perform two dances, plus there are other things for him to juggle. Some people just can't perform well under stress and I think Matt is one of them.

Good points....plus...I'm sure his exit will be rather emotional (knowing what happens a few weeks before it). It's hard to separate yourself from your character when it's a particularly emotional storyline, particularly when you're working all of the hours that god sends and are completely stressed out.