Agree, Tom, Austin, Rachel and Cherie will be near the top with the judges scores and seem to have large fan bases.

I think Mark, Andrew, Don, Jodie, Heather, Christine and Lisa are pretty even when it comes to marks from the judges vs support from GBP. It could be any of them, although my head says Mark and Don are the most likely to be in the bottom two if they don't put on a good show in Saturday.

What makes you think that Rachel is any more likeable than Cherie and Christine? I find Rachel to be incredibly boring and little or no personality.

Heather's footwork looked better in what was obviously a later clip from their training. I think it's between Mark, Andrew, John and Jodie. John could go if he's far enough down the leader board.

Personal opinions, you see.

Like I said before elsewhere, opinions are like arses, we all have one!

I might hazard to disagree with you about John! If he's slated by the judges with comments like 'tomented', 'heinous' etc.. and be placed last on the leaderboard, he just might be saved by the (sympathetic) public vote!

I did only say 'could go'. This is based on the observation that so far the eliminations have gone with the dancing rather than the sympathy vote this year. Jessie turned on the waterworks but that didn't save her. The nearest thing to a sympathy vote went to Jodie & Ian.

There's no warmth to Cherie....and Christinerella's storyline isn't working.

Rachel is dull....that's her biggest weakness....but she's harmless...and she and Vincent make a cute pairing.

That's why I used the word 'might'.

I don't think John will cry for public sympathy. That's beneath him.

What someone beautiful being letched over constantly... very cute

The boys:

Austin - Aggravating an old injury may hamper him from keeping his top spot but he was still looking fairly decent in training. Much better than most male sambas!

Tom - The AS will suit him down to the ground I think. He's safe.

Don - Was looking surprisingly good in training but could that leave him in the dangerous middle ground?

Andrew - So-so. Don't think he's going to be that brilliant. I should imagine he'll end up middle/bottom. Hard to judge his fanbase imo.

Mark - Samba looked very uncontrolled and messy. Likely to be in big trouble with the judges and seeing as he's already been in the bottom 2, looks like he's a definite candidate to go.

John - I expect Kristina will create a simple routine which suits him although I don't think he'll get the samba bounce right. I can see him being better than people expected though and therefore saved by the public on that basis.


The girls:

Cherie - Looks solid in the AS and therefore should be safe.

Rachel - She's really enjoying the samba and I think that'll mean it'll be good. Again, right up the leaderboard and safe.

Christine - Her samba training looks good - she seems to have the bounce down well. Again, could be in the dangerous middle ground but I think she's more likely to be safe than not.

Heather - Looking so-so and the result last week obviously puts her popularity into question. Potentially in trouble unless she's had a break through.

Jodie - Seems to be loving the AS and, again, looking decent in training. Could also end up in middle of the table problems though.

Lisa - I'm not convinced she's finding this all that easy, especially with her schedule. If there's going to be a shock bottom 2/exit I think she'll be it.

I find Cherie quite warm. I like her.

Hopefully whoever dances the worst will go and not be saved by the infernal 'sympathy vote'.

I seem to have missed this 'lechery'...perhaps you can provide some examples or preferably clips?

If Vincent is being 'lecherous', I wonder why the beautiful soon-to-be-married millionairess is tolerating it....not to mention the producers of a family TV show.

LOL. crying for public sympathy is also beneath 'Proud' Heather Small. I don't think her position in the bottom two does put her popularity into question. She was third from the bottom and my guess is that there was a massive vote for Jodie who the public feared would again be in the bottom two rather than Jessie.

Going on the basis that I think that the AS is a gift dance - glamour, lifts, etc - and it's really, really easy to do an awkward/technically bad/just plain cringingly embarrassing samba, especially if you're a bloke, I'd be amazed if any AS dance is in the bottom 2. Unless Don or Andrew drop their partner, I think they're probably safe for another week. I think all the other ASs will be gorgeous.

John - will he be painfully embarrassing or better than expected? If he can manage better than you'd expect, he could be OK, even if the judges mark him down. If he's painful, he might well go - I don't really think there is a huge sympathy vote this year. Mark could score well if he has improved, most of the judges, apart from Craig, want to like him (imo). If he hasn't improved, I think he's in the most trouble. I don't even think Austin is definitely safe, if the injuries affect his energy, especially if viewers assume he's OK. I think Christine and Rachel will score higher than him with the judges, going on the footage. But I do think the judges would save Austin, unless he was against Rachel or Tom or possibly Christine. (Austin v Cherie - not sure.)

I don't think Cherie is cold - she's tough, and I'm not sure that's a vote winner either, but to me it's a different thing to cold. I haven't taken to Christine, but that's her interviews, not her dancing which is very good, and most viewers are not watching ITT or would agree with my take anyway (very influenced by having been someone who makes the coffee myself). I don't think either of them will go for weeks, because I think they'll get lots of votes, particularly Christine, and because the judges would save them if necessary.

I think Jodie and Don are improving significantly and am surprised how many times they appear on this thread. I would like to see them go further. Jodie's enthusiasm and hard work could give her a few more weeks in the competition and Don seems to be losing weight too which is bound to help!

Mark to go. No hope of improvement and painful to watch. Then possibly Andrew (unless he can gain control over his posture) and Heather. Sorry!

I agree with you in terms of who you think will be safe.

I think that Christine and Andrew have more of a fanbase than the others you compared them with - I have a feeling that plenty of the regular viewers of GMTV and the one show will be backing them.

I reckon the bottom three on the leaderboard will be John, Andrew and Mark but as to who will be in the dance off, probably only one of those and someone from the middle, like Jodie or Don! Don't underestimate Ms Small and Ms Snowdon, I have a feeling they'll both do really well on Saturday!

The Big Four will be safe. Am a bit fearful for Austin, he'll get through OK (should) but my knee is twinging in sympathy.

*PLEASE don't do tonight's demo!!*

I think Jodie will be fine, her attitude and hard work plus a good dance should see her through. I may vote for her if I feel she's in a dodgy zone.

John will be bottom but will go through regardless, can't see the public letting him go just yet, as long as the samba is entertaining in a good way.

Mark possibly in drop zone, as don't think he and Hayley are adding much to the party, and possibly Heather but I'm really not sure.

I think Mark could be in danger this week. Just have a feeling. It is definatly much more exciting now we have the male and female stars dancing together. It could be any of them bar about 4 imo so difficult to predict. Can't wait.

I feel most of you may get a shock on Saturday night as to is in the bottom two

winnie

Aw, go on, be brave and say who you think it will be.

So long as Jodie stays in a few more weeks I don't really mind who goes - so long as it's Mark, Andrew or John! I think that they're the ones who should be in the firing line next although like everyone else, I love John's attitude and sense of humour. I don't think any of the other girls or men deserve to go yet. I realise that Jodie is by no means semi final or even quarter final material. But my heart hopes she stays in.

I think it will be two of Mark, Don and Andrew in the bottom two with Mark to go.

It should really be Andrew who goes but that'll depend on the GMTV faithful not picking up their phones.