I would say it's gone a lot better than it has in previous years.

By this point last year and the year before, we'd already lost Spoony and Gabby, two people who certainly didn't deserve such early exits.

So far, I would argue that the 4 weakest dancers have been eliminated. And the weakest dancers that remain have been in the bottom 2 already.

Jodi & Ian
Mark & Hayley
Heather and Brian

I would say that so far, the public have got it right.....but of course we could loose somebody really talented in week 5! haha

But Gabby wasn't liked and people wont vote for someone they don't like. If it was all about the dancing they would use all pro dancers and have no celebs

I think the voting has gone okay. I have 3 favourites and as long as they stay till the end I'm okay with losing the others to be honest.
I just pray that we don't have to watch a John rumba at any point , I think his waltz was beautiful but I fear certain dances will provide face behind the pillow moments

I don't think that Heather and Brian should be part of the weakest group. I think Andrew and John should go before them. I know John was great so far but I don't think his Latin is going to be great.
What I find strange this year is that there is nobody in the remaining couples that I would like to see leave. That's unusual!

My own guess - based on no knowledge whatsoever - is that there is very little voting, compared to what there used to be, particularly in the early weeks. The economic news, it's not for CiN anymore and all the scandals mean I'd be surprised if there is a lot of impulsive voting, other than from die-hard fans. That's my guess why the voting has gone, not exactly with the judges' marks, but pretty close.

However, if people are watching SCD for some escapism from the troubles they may want to keep the happy funny people in over the criers, which may help the less good men.

Generally, while knowing I'm asking to be wrong by saying it, I don't think there will be any Kates this year, staying in week after week while at the bottom of the leaderboard.

The voting has gone the same way it does every year - the way the viewers make it. Spoony & Gabby went early because they didn't get enough votes, it doesn't matter why. If you're fave couple gets the boot it's your own fault for not voting enough times

Going by actual dancing form, and the groups being split, I reckon it's gone about right, the two weakest females and the two weakest men have all gone.

I agree on the performances we have seen so far.

I do think it would have been different final 12 though if the couples had been mixed from the start and if each couple had to alternate Ballroom and Latin dances.

I think you may be right jt....the crunch will have an effect methinks.

Having seen John's Samba training tonight I do hope you are right.

It is a dance competition and people should be voting on the dancing, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't route for and vote for their favourite couples.

I feel the right couples have been eliminated so far, and on what I've seen of training clips and previous dances, I have to say that John looks the next weakest, but not sure I want him to go. If not John, then possibly Mark. Heather wasn't good last week, but it could have been a 'blip' (her salsa was v.good) so jury's out at the moment.

I thought Heather's samba looked quite good so I hope she's not the next one out. But it'll depend how it goes on the night.

While I accept that Heather isn´t among the very top, I wouldn´t lump her in the bottom group either. I think she is better than Andrew, John, Mark and Dom - and so far I´ve liked her dances better than Jodies.

I´d agree with you that the voting has been reasonable enough so far - and only hope it continues. I think Heather and Jodie are judged much too harshly by the judges (if you compare their dances and comments with the comments and marks for the boys I´ve just mentioned) - when I feel their dances were much better. I distinctly get the feeling they try to sympathise and encourage the boys more. And while I think John and Kristina are adorable, I´ll be disappointed if the likes of him, Andrew Castle and Mark get through over Heather if they produce worse dances on the night.

I think the judges should stop making allowances for John Sargeant and be as blunt with him as they are with Mark, Andrew, Don, Jodie and Heather. Yes, he's cute, cuddly and a gentleman, but if you want to at least fool people into thinking that this is a dancing competition, then it's high time they start calling a spade a spade.

They don't make allowances in the marks, which is the key thing. I'd have marked his waltz higher than they did.

If John dances his Samba to the standard shown in his training the judges will have to give him low scores.

I've never seen anything so bad - I hope it was early in the training and he can pull something out of the bag, otherwise he should be on his way unless someone else makes a major blunder.

The public will vote for him in droves. I can't see John finishing up in the dance off just yet.

Actually Marks dancing ablilty has never been called into question, the judges have always said his dancing and posture is good he just needs to work on the performance, which he has and is doing.

He is better than John, Andrew and Don

Craig did express a wish that people wouldn't keep John in on sentiment alone on ITT last night. Whilst his walttz was charming he's got to stay in the competition on merit. I think their marks have been about right so far. It's really up to the public.

I think it will be very interesting to see how the judges deal with the 'John Sargeant' problem as the weeks progress. In all honesty, notwithstanding Kristina's skill in presenting his strengths and the charm of their partnership, he is by far the weakest dancer. It must be very annoying to Heather, in particular, who is a way better dancer by any remotely objective standard, to be picked apart, and yet hear the judges cosying up to JS. On the other hand, many people, myself included, think the John/Kristina partnership is adorable and that SCD should be about more than blind competitiveness dressed up in sequins and professional entertainers who claim never to have danced since school days. SDC is richer for the inclusion of man of John Sergeant's stature but there will come a time when the judges do have to tell some uncomfortable truths if they are to have any credibility.

I think John will be the only one who might benefit from a sympathetic vote (NOT a sympathy vote) this year. I think that because there is no CiN to hide behind people are much less likely to vote for just anybody and those who do vote are much more discerning about who they are voting for.
So far the worst ones have been going out quite rapidly, which is a good thing.

I feel teh right person has gone each week but I feel most people are not bothering to vote cos of credit crunch or saving their money for when one of their favs is in the bottom section of the leaderboard.

I know, that's why I said he should be on his way