Based on looks I am backing Jodie and Ian, also will be interested in Andrew and Ola.

However I would love Erin to win or make the final this year.

Will change my mind once they have danced no doubt!

I don't think the stories of Christine being 'under pressure' will do her any favours.

The public get a bit impatient if they they think they are being manipulated into pressing the sympathy button.

Having watched the One Show last night, there was absolutely no sign of her being "under pressure". I think it's just another made up story by the press. She said how much she was enjoying it!

My prediction for the top 6:

1st Mark Foster
2nd Tom Chambers
3rd Rachel Stevens
4th Austin Healey
5th Lisa Snowdon
6th Jodie Kidd



Betfair's prediction:

1st - Tom Chambers
2nd - Rachel Stevens
3rd/4th - Austin Healey
3rd/4th - Christine Bleakley
5th/6th - Mark Foster
5th/6th - Lisa Snowdon
7th - Jodie Kidd
8th - Jessie Wallace
9th - Andrew Castle
10th - Heather Small
11th - Phil Daniels
12th - Gary Rhodes
13th - Cherie Lunghi
14th - Don Warrington
15th - Gillian Taylforth
16th - John Sergeant

As of now, I would hope to see Rachael or Tom lift the trophy. Not 'knowing' them yet, it's just a gut feeling, of course...

My predictions for the top 3 would be-

Austin and Erin
Tom and Camilla
Jodie and Ian

just remember people its a dance competition!

I think Tom, Rachel, Jodie and Mark will all do well. I think there will be a Kate/Bill scenario probably be Andrew/Don/John.

I don't want Christine to win though.

I have to admit I don't either. Don't get me wrong I like Matt C and I've nothing against her but I loved it last year that we had two pros in the final for their first time and I'd like to see someone different win it this year.

To be honest - I'm not sure what's she's going to be like but tv presenters don't tend to have a good track record apart from the boy Joneses.

I really hope it is Camilla's year this year- but if it isn't to be her- then my support will switch to Erin

Are the boy Joneses Aled and Gethin? If so, they both had musicality on their side- Aled obviously being a trained musician, and Gethin plays the violin I think?

I think the problem with TV presenters is that whereas most others have something to work with- actors-performance, musicians-musicality, sportsmen-fitness, in theory TV presenters don't need any of those things. Some will have those qualities anyway, obviously!

I don't mind if the same pro wins again- it happens on DWTS. Although I can see the point that it's nice to see what new pros can do, equally Lilia and Ian have done two finals each, and we've seen a different side to them with different partners working to different strengths.

On paper both have got a pretty good chance I think- you might have them up against each other in the final!

Oh yeah as Der Chef says, I'm sticking to my view earlier on here, I want both Miss Whiplash and the Danish Dynamo in the final and for both to push those boys to the absolute limit. That would be a cracking final.

To win - Austin and Erin - he'll work as hard as her, plus he's got a lot of charm and cheeky chappie appeal

First out - Gary and Karen, or is it just me that finds Gary quite unappealing these days.

Now that would be A FINAL

Rachel wont win- I don't think she was the best dancer when she was in S Club

I wouldn't write off Rachel as I think she'll be good in the latin, which in the past has been more important than ballroom in terms of getting the viewer vote.

She did look a bit scared in the promo videos though

Even if Christine is the best dancer ?

Yeah but how many votes go to the fit men for want of a better phrase

Well, last year did show that a female celeb can still win, so I'd hope if Rachel is the best than she will win

What I think happened last year was that Alesha was the best and was so pleasant and likeable with it. Plus I think a few votes which went te way of the wrongly ousted semi finalist then went to Alesha in the final

Ok, so if Rachel is the best dancer and pleasant and likeable, presumably she's got a shot at winning however many fit men there are!

Gethin fans could just as easily have voted for Matt as Alesha, so I don't know if that would really have made a difference.

Yeah absolutley- If you tick the boxes- i.e pleasant and likeable and reasonably adept on the dancefloor you have a great chance of winning

I'm only going by Rachel's S Club dancing- no doubt Vincent will be pushing her.

Personally speaking last year after the farce in the semis I did switch my support to Alesha after poor Gethin got rotten treatment from the judges

I think they will look fantastic in ballroom - but come the latin and Jodie might have trouble controlling those long limbs.

Not long now - this time next week I might have changed my mind completely - so much comes into effect. It should be just about the dancing - but never is.

There's the sympathy vote (Kate Garraway, Julian Clary, and, god forbid - Fiona Phillips etc), favourite professional (a few in contention for that category)are you or are you not an EE fan? (Christopher Parkinson) Louisa and Jill deserved their success with or without the EE votes. Does the celeb seem nice: Penny Lancaster seemed genuinely warm - but some (Dom) who, despite the popularity of the celeb (Lilia) could never tap into the public enthusiasm. Some, though good, are just too competitive, too abrasive - who can forget Gabby Logan? Then we have the impossibly handsome, such as Mark Ramprakash - although he was seemingly unaware of his attraction.

Well next week should be interesting - we'll have said goodbye to 1 - and started for form opinions about others.

Give us a couple of weeks and we're like to be defending our choices with ferocity and if past years are anything to go by, picking up on every fault of our least favourites.

Roll on next week.

Erin and Austin to win xxxx

Difficult.

Of the stunning females, I suspect Rachel will be more palatable in general to the Strictly audience than Lisa. I can imagine her being quite a good mover too. I've always found her a bit bland previously though. Nevertheless the judges have more power now so I wouldn't be surprised to see her in the final at least.

Tom is the one contestant not known to me previously. If he can dance, I think he stands a chance....judging by the reaction he seems to get.

I have a similar opinion of Austin as I did Matt Dawson...which is not entirely favourable...but Matt proved very popular...so I can see him doing well.

Mark I can imagine being decent at both Latin and Ballroom...so maybe he has chances.