This is what I find strange. It's almost as if people think ITT is being engineered to do Matt down and big up Alesha this week- which I don't think is the case at all. The guests come on and give THEIR opinion, and it just so happens there was a lot of love for Alesha yesterday- it may well be the same with Matt today or tomorrow.

xx

I didn't at all and I'm surprised anyone would think that - the two panels and the look back took up most of the time and Nicole happened to choose Alesha and Matt's cha cha.

Honestly I didn't think the show was much about either Matt or Alesha on the whole last night - there were lots of other elements to it. And what are they supposed to do with the guests? Tell them who to like before they come on? It was the same with Mark vs Matt last year but what can you do about it?

I thought it was biased towards Mark & Karen yesterday, still showing bias a year later!

It's possibly a little unfortunate - they had the celebs who Alesha got on best with, so they will have been biased, and to combine that with her cha-cha being Nicole's choice and PJ saying how Matt was overmarked, it felt a bit more Alesha orientated. But Nicole's choice was going to be on some night; those celebs were going to pick Alesha as they got on well; PJ had made it clear from his Jackson's 5 that he wasn't hugely impressed with Matt's waltz. Luck of the draw I guess that they were on the one show.

Edit: bias was the wrong word to use. I think that it was unfortunate that they were all mixed together on the one show. But then there have been other shows which were, beginning to end, about one celeb. Also, at this stage in the comeptition, with only two left, it's going to seem biased because it's going to be all about 2 people when we've been used to 4/5/6 etc. celebs sharing the same amount of time.

What's the technical distinction between showdance and exhibition?

I do lifts myself, and I follow as much exhibition as I can, but I don't know much about showdance. But looking on youtube, most showdance routines are done by ballroom (or latin) pros and show a ballroom dance heritage much more strongly than exhibition.

Personally, I love exhibition dance, but at the same time, I don't think it has that much to do with "proper" ballroom dancing. The way the BBC positions it (with the 'showdance' demo from Victor and Hanna each year) does both sides a disservice, I think.

^^ I think unfortunate is the right word. The only slot that was actually delibirately about Alesha was Nicole choosing the cha cha. I honestly don't think Claudia was expecting PJ to say Matt's waltz wasn't worth a 10, just from the look on her face. And I think with all the celebs, you're going to be hard pushed to find any of them who didn't get on with Alesha- or Matt for that matter (Dom's the only one who spring to mind!) so I'm sure Matt will get his fair few supporters in the next couple of days. As I said before- I think people are more shocked by the fact that Gethin's out rather than the fact that Matt's in. (if that makes sense)

xx

I think a woman can win.
Alesha has just as much a chance as Matt, i honestly dont think the fact shes female goes against. She has already done better then Emma and Zoe by just reaching the final 2.
IMO it'll all comes down to how both couples dance on the night. Id like Alesha to win but i do think its a 2 horse race and could go either way

I think Alesha will win.

I AM sorry that she didn't get a final that was truly shall we say...worthy. I am guessing here but going on the past two weeks, with Matt getting the sympathy vote into the semi, Alesha in the dance off, Gethin going through both times, Alesha through on the semi, and Gethin in the dance off, I THINK both Alesha and Gethin were possibly fairly evenly matched on votes and I think had it been a final between them it could have gone down the wire and been the closest final we've seen. Certainly closer than last year. It could have all come down to the last dance.

It would have been exciting.

If Alesha doesn't win....I'll lose a bloody fortune

Have a horrible feeling female fans of pretty boy Matt will swing it in his favour

I was supporting Gethin rather than Matt, but I don't think it's on to imply that people vote for either of them simply for their looks. I don't even find Matt physically attractive (much too young) and have struggled to like him. The only reason I would pick up the phone is if his dancing/partnership with Flavia blows me away. I said earlier in the competition, and I still hold that view, that Alesha (and Gethin) have a wider fan base than Matt.

..there is no justice in the world and it will only be because she might fall foul of that 'oh, she has it in the bag' way of thinking that makes people not bother voting. I'm a Gethin fan but even if he had made it to the final I was quite happy to assume Alesha was going to win it coz she's such a joy to watch. Unfortunately I can't vote or at least not without making very complicated arrangemnts . So Alesha fans can't afford to be complacent and still need to vote. I hope last week didn't bankrupt y'all coz it was a great outcome for her.

I think Matt got his sympathy vote over the past two shows and that may have dried up a bit now. I guess any Gethin fans who aren't so disillusioned that they won't even be watching (that was me up till today) and are still moved enough on the night to vote may be Alesha's secret weapon, of course you really can't tell with SCD these days how things will work out - oh, okay then I will try to make arrangements to get a few votes through to her, good luck Alesha and Matt!

I think the OP is right - if someone who is generally as likeable and talented as she is can't win this, then it will be very difficult for any other woman to win

you have a person here who is actually liked by a lot of females - if she can't do it who can???

Reading this thread & some others, I wonder... if Alesha wins, will it be because

-- Her fans bankrupted themselves repeat-dialing?

-- Matt lost support because voters thought he'd been 'rewarded for having a bad week'?

-- She didn't push whatever buttons make women dislike women?

-- She didn't have a journey (= has been good and consistent all along)ʔ

-- She danced better than Matt?

-- Or, most likely, all of the above in some mysterious combination?

Of course some people will vote based on looks, I hate to stereotype, but a good-looking young lad will always gain some extra votes from the prolific schoolgirl texters. I'm not saying that's right - as everyone should be judged on talent alone - but to suggest Matt won't pick up any extra votes as he is Eastender's hearthrob is a little naive.

Having said that - I do think Alesha has got it in the bag or else I wouldn't have put my money on her.

Let's face it, Alesha's hardly a wizened old hag, she's absolutely gorgeous!

If Alesha doesn't win, I will swear lots of times

If Alesha doesnt win, Matt D will ?


It`s down to the public now - simple.

Too right she is gorgeous

And such a joy to watch, you would never get bored of Alesha.

Dolly, you summed it up much better than I did!

I may be being controversial, but I don't think it's just the school girls- I think some of them that do this are quite a bit older (and probably more prolific).

I hope Alesha does win. But as always it'll depend on what happens on the night.

They are a bit odd arent they those fans. Not all of them mind, just in case I offend anyone. But there are a few that are so completely obsessive about Gethin and take away the joy of the overall programme.