I have to admit it's probably Austin although nothing's really set me on fire yet.

Lisa's growing on me but I still think she's been a tad overmarked on occasions and I don't like Brendan's attitude this season the way he seems disapointed when they don't get nines and I think his opinion of her is unrealistically high and he's convinced she's going to win and it'll be great travesty if she doesn't - whilst she's more more level headed and takes the good comments with grace and the bad as advice. I'm very torn because I want them to succeed for her and fail for him.

I like Jodie and training footage on Wednesday bodes well that she had not fall into the Cherie trap and be some good at the fast latin although the jive is probably going to unseat her. She won't win but I would love her to do well.

I'm afraid I don't like Christine - unlike Jodie and Lisa she doesn't seem to take criticsm well and what Adrian Chiles said about her over-reacting to it confirms the way we saw her react to her qs - yes, she was disapointed but so was Jodie and she didn't whine about it. I'd also like to see a new pro lift the trophy to share the glory around - I know Matt's a lovely handsome man (although he's not my type) but I'm afraid that's how I feel.

I love Cherie but unless she can prove people wrong with her remaining latin she doesn't deserve to win.

Heather is a wild card which is always interesting and I'd like to see her improve but I don't think she's a winner.

Rachel is a good dancer and I like to see her stay in for that but I'm worried Vincent's cheorography's getting a bit out there and she doesn't wow you.

Tom is also gifted and great to watch (most of the time - didn't love his paso) but I'm afriad I'm one of the people who finds him a bit smug and I can't quite engage with his personality.

I think John's as good as he's gonna get and it'll be wrong if someone with more potential goes just to keep him in.

It changes every week. Mostly I've oscillated between Austin & Erin (current fave) and Rachel & Vincent.

There's no outstanding partnership this year a la Mark & Karen, Kelly & Brendan, Darren & Lilia etc ...but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I haven't got a favourite and in fact I don't really care who wins as the people I quite like haven't got a hope (i.e. Jodie)

I don't mind Lisa, Christine or Tom but I've actually taken against Austin and Cherie
Rachel is good but bland, I like Heather but am frustrated with her dancing, I want to marry Kristina but John's terrible

For me, there's good and bad in all of them.

I think Cherie, Lisa and Rachel are lovely dancers and come across as nice people, but I find that they’re both a little dull, despite their colourful partners.

John is a sweetie and entertaining, but I don’t think it’s a shocker to anyone when I say he can’t dance for toffee.

Heather is so unpredictable, when she's excellent she's exciting to watch but it's frustrating and painful to watch her crash and burn and that happens more often then not. I'd like to see her do well, but I'm not confident that she will, which is a shame.

Christine seems to have the right ingredients (pretty, bubbly, the 'j word'), but it's just not gelling in the right way. I agree with other posters who say that Jodie seems to be stealing her crown. I really like Jodie, she’s seems really fun and down to earth, and that her 'j word' is pretty inspiring and heartwarming to see, and just goes to show that any klutzy tomboy and be graceful on the dancefloor. But she’s yet to come out with the 'wow' dance yet.

I've been really impressed with Austin and Tom, and some of their dances have really been electrifying to watch. I'm not warming particularly to Tom, so I guess, Austin is my favourite by default and out of all the professionals I'd like to see Erin lift the cup.

I'm not desperately rooting for a couple as I was last year, though. I think I miss that feeling - it's less stressful, but I miss it.

Rooting for Austin and Erin all the way, he defines magic on and off the floor and would love Erin to finally win, she deserves it.

Last year I was almost completely indifferent to the kupples and result so it's back to anxious Saturdays for me.

This year I'm enjoying far more. There's almost nobody left now I'm finding painful or boring to watch. Only Heather and Christine not really doing it for me.

I don't have a particular favourite yet, although I do appreciate Austin and Erin, and Rachel and Vincent, and can't see why so many people don't like them. On the other hand, I really can't see what people like about Tom and Camilla, so each to their own, I guess.

I'm rooting for Jodie and Ian .

A wonderful partnership and Jodie continues to improve each week. Dare I say, she has come on a fabulous 'journey'.

Its strange really; Jodie seems to have alot of support of here but everyone is saying she hasn't got a hope of winning because of either he fast latin or Austin... She could therefore do alot better than perceived

I dont normally struggle to find a favourite but tis year I have with so many good dancers i have got one now though

I'm not seeing her name on the glitterball but I'm certainly seeing her in the quarters, perhaps even the semis.

Oh my THG you must be inside my head...that's exactly what I was thinking as I was reading down the thread. Well said!
The problem is that most of the public don't believe she's improving because the judges haven't recognised it. The minute they do - so will others. It's one of the things I despair about. I get fed up of hearing the judges 'views' fed back as others own views (rant over!)

So - my favourites are Christine, Jodie and Heather I'd really love anyone of these to knock the blooming socks of the judges with just one dance that they can't mark down

In the men it's got to be Austin for me...I disliked Tom I'm afraid once I saw that you tube dance video.

Cx

Obviously, because of her height, she may struggle with the faster Latin dances such as the Salsa or the Jive.

She does have a lot of support on here, and it still continues to grow.

I think everybody has a shot at winning. Even John . If they are still in the competition, they have a shot!

I do like Rachel & Vincent - Vincent always makes his routines interesting and therefore doesn't always please the judges and I loved him with Louisa - I am warming towards Heather but that is mainly to do with Brian who I think is a great addition to the show. Austin and Tom don't do anything for me I'm afraid - Jodie I think is very sweet and is getting better and better and to me seems slighty undermarked by the judges.

Me! Weird, as I usually have one clearly by this stage in the comp.

I find myself being drawn more and more to Lisa. Also like Jodie (but her dancing needs to improve a bit more before she can be a real favourite).

I also like Rachel, and think she has a lot to give. I'm sure she will come alive at some point.

I'm not as keen on Cherie as at the start, and equally, finding Tom and Austin to be a little too smug at times. Enjoy their dances, but not sure they are in contention to be favourites.

No favourite. My feelings verge for the contestants and professionals this time from outright distaste for one or both parties to apathetically positive. It feels odd not having a favourite, but it's far less stressful!

I've never seen anything in Austin that I could say was smug. He seems humble and grateful for his comments and marks and doesn't coast. He works hard every week and doesn't take anything for granted.

Equally, I wouldn't say Tom is either, his face is another matter of course......

We should, in the spirit of 'tittaruba and bumwriggle' of series 4, comes up with a tongue-in-cheek name for that now classic Tom's Paso face!

What about Tomapasta?

Well, Austin I find less so than Tom. I thought his personality greatly suited the AS, but he does give off an air of arrogance. At least I seem to think so. He totally thinks he is the hunk, when really, he's not all that.

And as for Austin, I found the whole "we'd love a 10 at some stage but who knows when...." comments a little irksome. Don't get above your station, boy! I think it's the winks at the judges and all that bananas that puts me off slightly. It's good to confident, sure, but there is a thin line with cockiness and, for me, Austin strays over it now and then.

They are both super dancers, and definitely deserve to be there til the end, but personality-wise, I'm not sure I like them enough for them to be a favourite.

I've said this a number of times, Austin never said unprompted that he wanted a 10, Erin did and he said it would be nice, he never said he deserved one. Which one of the celebs when asked would say that they didn't want one?

As for the winking, I can understand why some would see it as cocky, but I think it's Erin (and she choreographs the routine) playing on his cheekiness, it's meant to be tongue in cheek and I think he would be concerned if people actually thought that he meant "Look at me, I'm all that". It also went the with the cheeky lyrics of the Hairspray track.

I think it's the same misintepretation of his personality that was made when he played rugby and I was guilty of being one of those people.

But again, I do understand how you could hold that opinion!

Can't think of a better one.

I adore the winking, it shows personality and a bit of ooomph aside from just going out and doing the steps. It's called performing. The bit in the jive was very tongue in cheek to go with the lyrics.

I'm most enjoying John & Kristina, Heather & Brian and Jodie & Ian.

I dont connect with Austin, Tom or Christine.

Every other year I've watched, I've decided a favourite in week one (Aled, James, Mark, Gethin) and though I've liked other couples very much, I've always been rooting for them (you can guess that I don't like the semi-finals much).

This year I haven't, and it definitely makes it a completely different show to watch. I lean towards Austin, but I think as it goes on his stressed, pained look is taking some of the sparkle off his dances and I don't think Erin is the right dancer to handle that. (I prefer his first two dances to his recent ones.) I feel like his fun is disappearing, but that may be because we don't see as much of him as some.

Jodie and Ian, Rachel and Vincent, Cherie and James and John and Kristina are hugely likable, but I like them more in interview than dancing. Lisa's sweet and I usually don't mind Brendan, but he's coming across as so unhappy and grumpy this year I can't root for them. Heather's a lovely person too, as is Brian, but it's so frustrating to watch her dance. Christine and Tom - I can't justify it, but I can't take to them. I'm expecting them to dance well, but...

I suppose it would be Austin or Jodie and I'm willing them on, but I suppose if I'm honest I'm feeling the lack of a male 'journey', which is what I really enjoy, sexist idiot that I am.

I don't have a favourite no. I think it might be Jodie but I know she isn't the best dancer, I love her partnership with Ian.

I never have a fave whom I support from the first week.
As events unfurl I favour different individuals and couples depending upon their performances, personalities, attitudes etc.

For example, I quite liked Matt (Matt & Flavia) until he "wimped out" that time. After that I had no time for him at all.

So I keep myself open to success and disappointment throughout the series.

I've been very up-and-down with Austin and Cherie. I'm growing much keener on Jodie and Lisa. I've had enough of John. Tom might end up as a great fave but he may not.

My liking for the show doesn't depend on supporting a particular dancer or dancers. Perhaps that is why my interest is waning a bit now.

Bruce is getting lame. Tess is almost unbearable. The music is dire. The costumes and hairstyles are highly variable.

Worst of all the dancing simply hasn't been inspirational or even especially entertaining.