Of course, it may seem the show and judges caused the problem in the first place with 10s, the gushing praise, and even by where she was being placed in the dancing order. (See the thread about why does Alesha never dance first.)

But not long ago, people were noticing that Alesha wasn't suffering from perceptions of being favoured and overmarked in the way Zoe and Emma did; now I see more and more posts that either complain about her being favoured or complain about the 10s etc making people (unfairly) think she is.

So it's a new problem, or at least one that's gotten worse. And yes, it developed because of what the show and judges did and was made worse also, possibly, by Kelly leaving. (If someone thinks it's Kelly who's the unfairly favoured one, then they aren't thinking it's Alesha; and a lot of people did think that about Kelly and were encouraged to by some of the press.)

But consider:[list][*]Saying they expected perfection from her may have made it seem they were being unfairly hard on her, rather than unfairly easy.[*]There's been a lot on ITT about how favourites have trouble winning, and how people still need to vote for them.[*]This week especially, they've turned down the praise and pointed to flaws in her performances.[*]They also had her dance 2nd, which has a reputation for being the worse position, and - sure enough - she ended up in the dance off! A wakeup call to her supporters? But also something that makes it seem she's not getting to easy a ride.[/list]So it seems possible that - despite the continued 10s, though Gethin also gets them - they're trying to keep Alesha from being seen in the way Zoe and Emma were.

Which, right now, I'm inclined to think would be a good thing.

I agree with you. I personally liked both Zoe and Emma (although I agree with others that they could be overmarked occasionally and I have no problem with that complaint).

Alesha has now been put in the spotlight (so to speak), with Kelly's departure. Whereas before she was shielded from the criticism that inevitably raises its head on here (and I reiterate, much is reasonable and not personal, nor aimed specifically at the celebrity, more at the judges and their seeming impartiality), now she has to bear the brunt of it all.

Perhaps the judges' agenda is to protect Alesha from leaving too soon (like Zoe, in particular. I feel, personally, that the final three were in the correct position last year! But then, I am slightly biased as I am a Mark fan, even though I liked Emma!), at least not consciously. But then again, perhaps this is what is taking place, because, as they keep telling us, it's a 'dance' competition (I still have my doubts about this, actually especially when we're constantly urged to 'vote for your favourite' and the lines are open all week before the celebrities have even performed their next dance!)

Even Alesha has admitted (on more than one occasion!), that she has been overmarked, which actually has endeared her to me! I love that she's so honest. Unfortunately, there will always be the element on these boards who take an instant dislike to one of the celebs (for reasons best known to themselves, as they don't know them personally!) or decide to dislike them because their favourites have been eliminated and start making unkind personal remarks or constantly pushing forward the theory that the overmarking is somehow of their own making (it isn't, as we all know. They have no personal influence over the judges - again, which the reasonable people on these forums understand!).

So, in answer to your question. Yes, perhaps the judges are 'protecting' Alesha (even knowing that it can backfire and raise the perception in the public's minds that they're showing blatent favouritism, when, actually, they probably also mark some of the other 'good' dances higher than they should too in order to ensure that the final is a 'dance off' rather than a 'travesty'!).

I just hope that the perceived 'overmarking' (as I say, even Alesha herself has said she has been overmarked) doesn't sway those voting for her or those who haven't voted yet but who will wait for the semis or the final (and it depends if she gets to the final! I don't know if there is a dance off next week but if so I have a dreadful feeling it will be between Gethin and Alesha. Which will actually not be so bad if Matt pulls himself together and performs as we all know he can. Otherwise it won't be fair).

But whatever happens, it's certainly been an entertaining year in SCD!!!!

(And there's the Xmas Special to come .... I shall refrain here from drooling at the prospect of seeing Mark again!)

I've never been one for the "overmarking" malarky - as long as people end up in the right place in the leaderboard (give or take a place or two for subjective differences), then it's all fine with me. However, a lot of people just see the tens and think it's too high.

With regard to the way in which they say they're expecting perfection from Alesha, I think this could be damage limitation, but I don't think they're all playing along - Len and Bruno seem to find it nigh on impossible to not give her a ten. If they really think it was worth a ten, then that's fair enough, but I can't help but think they could have protected her from the "overmarked" argument by not giving her so many tens. I know this applies to Gethin as well, but Alesha's had more tens than anyone.

So, I think they're trying their damnedest to protect her from the public (and I would expect her to be top of the leaderboard this week to that end), but I don't think they're going the right way about it.

aleasha has deserved every 10 shes been given in my opinion whereas others havent .

some couples just dont do it for me on the dance floor, matt and flavia leave me cold, gethin and camilla go ott at times to distract from the not so good footwork, aleasha and matthew just light up the floor everytime theyre on it and until they admit to their faults which they do i wouldnt have even know theyd gone wrong, they just have a presence on the floor and a total togetherness when dancing they are for me the best couple ever on scd i hope and pray they win next week.

Gethin has great footwork in ballroom. In the jive he was slightly off beat - if you play back your notice Camilla was stepping to beat whilst Gethin was slightly behind her but as its so fun and fast you don't notice that much but who cares if they are putting on a great show. Loved the jive - best dance of teh night for me. I'm with Bruno for a change!

That's what I feel, although Matt and Flavia have had some really good dances. Gethin and Cmailla bore me, and don't make me go "wow"

Alesha got them 10's (which she desevered) because she is a very good dacner, and has been from day 1, the judges (who know what they are talking about) have seen that and have given her 10's for it.

but you see every person is different - Aleshas has not made me go wow for a few weeks. Matt did on his quick step but thats all.

The only 10 that was definitely undeserved (for me) was for Alesha's Samba; I don't know about the rest.

I don't think the judges need to protect Alesha (if that is something they can do). If she doesn't make it to the final, it will be because of the women-voting-for-men thing and not because she is teacher's pet or something.

Re Zoe & Emma - my gripe with the judges concerning those two is that they allowed their love of their ballroom dances to blind them to the faults in their latin dances (which were often overmarked - Zoe's samba & Emma's tittarube paso being a couple that I can remember).

Apart from the Samba, I don't think the overmarking for Alesha is as conspicuous (and it's only happening because of overmarking in general; Alesha is often the best, ergo she gets 10s when everyone else gets 9s [and rarely, if ever, dancing first compounds the problem]). Craig has possibly awarded more 9s during SCD5 than he did during SCD1/2/3/4...

Think they`ve left it abit too late

lets face it, Alesha doesn't have good feet in the latin, they should be turned out ( as in ballet), hers don't.

Exactly!

I've noticed her feet for weeks, they were very quick to pick out Gethin's feet but not hers!

I think Alesha is a great dancer but like all of them she has her faults - but I honestly believe that backlash as regards to Zoe and Emma was based more on their prior public profile and less to do with their dancing or the judges. ( Any overmarking was just a convenient stick to beat them with if you like... it's also easier for Claudia to sit next to Zoe and say oh well Goughie had a journey, people thought you were safe...rather than what I think is more likely to be true - Your partnership was just not that popular for a whole gammit of reasons.)

Winning SCD has always included a combination of factors chemistry + talent + stamina. And no doubt a whole other list of things, it's never just because you're A. Talented, B. Have a "journey" or C. Good looking.)

The Judges marks -
I've never bothered about the odd overmarking in other series....as long as the leaderboard position seemed right. However the marking in this series - and I mean overall not just Alesha - is OTT. As it's been happening almost on since week 1 I've basically resigned myself to it. (Suddenly I'm all for Craig, his nitpicking and "I'm hear to criticise and judge"). I don't think Alesha is being judged any differently from say Jill, Denise, Colin, Zoe, etc - ie those folk who were up at the top of the leaderboard with talent and potential skill.

Due to a few unexpected events + departures... Alesha hasn't had any real competition up at the top of the board for a while. I'm glad she now has, it makes the show more exciting. I don't think she's coped with 2 dances a week as smoothly as she would have liked....coinciding with Gethin finally coming into his stride....Both deserve to be in the final and I'm pretty sure they will be. For the first time I don't really care so I'm not partisan.

It'll be interesting to see how Matthew/Alesha, Gethin/Camilla, Flavia/Matt, cope now that the real competion is finally on the go.

Alesha is more likable than Emma/Zoe. This discussion is invalid.

Gethin is the one overmarked btw because his dances are so simple....wheres alesha's are way, way way more advanced, and authentic.

No you are entirely prooving my point. IF Zoe/Emma didn't get votes because they were more unlikeable... then Alesha has nothing to worry about.

Also can I just say banging on about authenticity is ridiculous - none of them have enough time to dance an authentic AT this week for example. None of the pros as far as I'm aware have much experince in salsa etc.. the celebs can only dance and be judged on what they are given to do.

Part of the Pro's job on SCD is to strategically balance the needs of entertainment, content etc in each of their routines. It's in this respect that the pros on the show demonstrate their skills.

there hasnt been a backlash for Alesha until this and last week

I think its because up till then people were busy slagging Kelly and Brendan off

now its Aleshas turn

Why shouldn't they female celebrities not get the credit they deserve just to stop backlash, it's been a Gethin lovefest lately and no one cares. If the public has a problem with women doing well that's not the judges problem.

Yes ITT were ridiculously biased towards Gethin tonight. They even have his BBC colleagues/friends promoting him on ITT...and giving standing ovations for average dances.

If you think Alesha's footwork is the best than I respect your opinion. I personally would like to believe the professionals (ie. James, Erin, Brendan, Philip Jackson etc) who make it very clear that Gethin's footwork and posture has been the best for many weeks, it's only the last two weeks he has put in the wow performance that the judge have to admit that he's the best all around. The professionals also point out that Alesha's footwork is not very good. What happen now is the public have heard more from the other professionals and see it themselves that they make their judgements, just like you and me.

And you think they are not biased last week by showing Alesha's interview, fans' interviews plus more of her interview, rehearsal etc etc on every single day of the week?

Like Gethin you mean?

Thats simply untrue. Emma was the most popular member of one of the most popular bands of the 90s and has never put a foot wrong in her personal life. She hasn't even manifested being successful like Victoria to put jealous people off. She is the epitome of sweet. The fact that people use her for advertising suggests that she is still liked.

Zoe was one of the best loved childens TV personalities of all time and one of the country's most successful DJs and has gone back successfully to TV presenting.

Alesha was part of a less successful band and has a lower individual profile and record of public support. What she has going for her is enthusiasm, natural ability and charm. I wouldn't argue thoiugh that Zoe and Emma didn't have that - they were just a bit older, more mature and didn't show it.the same way. If anything they were penalised for being too successful outside the show and on it. its not that they were less likeable its that the people who actually vote on SCD invented reasons not to like them or decided to vote for the males instead.

There's nothing there to suggest that Alesha can escape the same fate if the public again vote for the same male journey story.The only thing working for her is that Matt may be clearly much worse in the SF but that still leaves Gethin who has a clone of the last two winner's stories and is even better looking.

I agree both the last points. Alesha is trying for harder stuff - which is partly the judges fault. Gethin is performing better but to me he looks like someone who is putting on a funny/enthisiastic/ romantic/strong or whatever face when he realises he should - he's acting better but its Biggins rather than Blanchette. Alesha I think is entirely into it - if anything she is still working out how to control her exuberance.

That's an interesting suggestion, kazmson.

Connecting those parts of those two posts, I wonder whether having a lower profile might have helped Alesha to avoid a backlash earlier.

I also wonder what aspects of Zoe and Emma's public profiles might have been a problem.

Gethin's footwork is good, in some steps outstanding - here comes a Craig but - his left foot has been consistently pidgeon-toed, most noticeable on his backward steps. It's been mentioned but has not been corrected. Some of his turns in the jive fell very short and the first move after the floor slide was horrible.

Alesha perfect - no, but her footwork has definitely improved as required by the judges. She was asked to maintain body contact after her AS, her top-line and body contact is now super. Her footwork in her VW was fantastic and expressive. Two controlled fleckels and some beautiful difference shown between the natural and reverse; the change steps were very smooth.

Perfect, definitely not - professional dancers and dance teachers spend a life-time perfecting their dances. If it was that easy to obtain perfection then they are surely depreciating the skills required to perform their wonderful sport.

She was picked up on her turn-out and (except for some steps in the samba) she has obviously taken on board the comment and made improvements.

Alesha has been given the task of improving accuracy, Gethin improving performance. Both celebrities have taken up the challenge but I know which one gets labelled with the 'j' word and wows the crowd.

I'm beginning to agree that Alesha (or maybe Matthew) is buckling under the strain of trying to gain the respect of the professionals and judges. This could be affecting the natural joie-de-vie we came to expect from this partnership, but I'm still bowled over with the connection this partnership show on and off the dancefloor.

Good luck to all of them. What could have been a less than gripping SCD is now going to be one of the best - with three passionately loved partnerships fighting it out for one of two places in the final.

Thank you gritty for a very thoughtful post. I picked the above because I agree () and because it annoys me that Alesha's improvement has gone unnoticed by so many on here.

I loved Emma Bunton. I thought she was a great dancer and had a lovely personality as well. She was my favourite. Zoe irritated me a lot and that year Colin was the best dancer and got my support.

This year, no one interested me apart from Gabby, until Gethin worked on his performance issues and seemed to change overnight. As long as he and Alesha are in the final I don't much care which out of them wins, I just haven't got the connection to any of the couples this year that I had in previous years.

Why didn't Jill suffer from this "effect"? She was the favourite all the way through S2 wasn't she. She was certainly mine.