I wish he'd let me into his secret then - 'cos I can sit on me behind reading the paper ... but I've never lost 2 stone. Put it on mebbee

I already knew this but thanks

I dont believe I said it wasnt a dance contest. I said it wasnt 'purley about finding the best dancer'

You take a random group of people some who will have previous dance experiance, some maybe are sports men used to training long hard hours, some maybe have none of this but have a natural flare and rythm and/or have a kanck for picking up steps.
Then you have people like John, Julian, Kate Garraway etc who have none of this. Which is what I meant when I said it wasnt an even playin field they are all starting of at different levels and they will mostly finish at different levels. If they put the work in and improve based on their own performances week on week then they all dessereve to be in the final that to me is what Strictly is about. The year of julian I was voting for Denise but I was very pleased to see Julian in the final because his improvment for him was remarkable, I would have been eqally pleased to see Aled in the final becuase likewise he wasnt as good as Denise or Jill but he had improved markadly and worked hard, both julian and Aled dessereved a place in the final Aled was no more worthy because he was 'better'.

People need to quit stressing about this whole John situation. Is it any worse than when Fiona or Kate were constantly kept in by the public? I don't think so.

Well said, John puts in as much work as the others, I expect, and nobody loses 2 stone without doing a heck of a lot of moving about, so good luck to him, he works as hard as anyone.

Beautiful Kristina grew up in impoverished Vladivostok, but by the age of 21 had achieved a Masters degree. Having spent 12 weeks with John at close quarters she retains enthusiasm and infectious fun for her assignment. Under constant camera close-ups how can this harmony possibly be faked?

With 6 evictions survived and 6 more before the Final, when Kristina calls quits (and she will before the Final), only then will the party be over. Until then it is champagne and balloons for all who permit themselves to be happy.

Vote john..you know it makes sense!!!

It may be your opinion but it's not necessarily fact, if he's lost 2 stone that's a lot of work he's done.
I haven't voted for John yet, and it's not even the judges comments that might make me, as i'm sure some of that comes from the producers, as they know when they're onto a good thing.
However if people keep starting threads to have a go at John (or anybody in fact), then I might start voting. He is far from the worst dancer ever in Strictly, and I'm sure there will be worse in future series, It just amazes me that people can get so worked up over a Saturday night entertainment programme.

I can't believe he has trained the 3rd most hours.

John just walks across the floor whereas all the other couples (even people like Andrew) actually dance and have steps as part of their routine.

He can't dance and I also find him smug and arrogant, so I want him out as soon as possible.

I just don't want to see him attempt a Jive or a Quickstep.

DITTO

the vitriol on display here astounds me

it's the public voting for him, he's not putting in all the votes himself

I have met John on three separate occasions and he's an absolute sweetie, he's working really hard and just because he's not young and buff he's getting a right slating

I hope he does go further now, purely to piss all the hatas off

ps well done John for totally owning Craig on ITT - every point excellent and well made

Yes, get John out, it is a dancing show and he needs to go.

Yes after that performance with Craig he should walk the "American Smooth".

I want John to go next week, but the only way that will happen will be if people vote for the other couples.

I normally just vote for one couple each series, but from Saturday night I will be voting for the couples I don't want to leave the competition.

Could you perhaps, y'know, flesh out your instruction with some suggestions regarding strategy?

Different people see different things in different ways.

I though John was arrogant to the point of rudeness on ITT. His comments have been widely reported in the media and I hope they put more people off him than persuade more to vote for him.

I've done just that.

Vote for the couples you want to save - it is the only strategy that can be used.

Surely if people are voting for him, they want to see him. It's not some great conspiracy, just numbers. More people want to watch him than they do at least two other couples. And it's not a dancing show, it's about 'celebrities' learning to dance.

Because he's no longer even mildly entertaining to anyone who doesn't think a Joke is funny or worth repeating after hearing it for 8 weeks.

He's also not there any more on a sympathy or a humour vote but solidly on an anti-judge vote. He knows that which is why thats what he has been talking about for the last couple of weeks.

Thirdly he's trying to become controversial and get media coverage . The answer why is perfectly clear to anyone who has seen the adverts on Sky for his new controversial discussion show on some channel called Dave which is being advertised heavily. He needs to look controversial himself and has turned SCD into his story to do that.

All of which might be forgivable if he was really trying and improving but he is doing less and less dancing and less and less well.

I saw one of those 'odd balls' from BB on TV some time back she screamed and shouted until she got her own way. Now most of the public don't contribute torums like this so it's not reaching the target audience. Perhaps a full spread of advertising on all the Major channels would suffice.

em.... vote for the others possibly.

I actually think the any contraversy is being stage managed as much by the SCD people as much as John.

The Saturday night early evening slot is a battleground for viewing figures.

Just how much publicity/column inches/radio/tv articles has this story arc generated for SCD? How many people watched on Saturday purely on the back of it and how many will watch this week just to see what happens?

In a rather featureless series this has been a godsend for them.

Just because you disagree with me does not make me repulsive and I am not throwing a tantrum. I've said thats its for the best for the show that John goes.

This is a forum where we are allowed to express our opinions. I have been positive about couples I enjoy to watch but I'm balancing that out with some nagative threads cos I think he ruins the show.

Which ones, though?
With John last week being at the lowest 4th placed on the public vote - who would be the ones to vote for so it's not wasted

I think it's the fact he's so bad and Kristina wears minimalistic clothes that's keeping him in.
He represents probably every mature man's dream while he's dancing with his Salome

Let's simply ask Kristina nicely to to put 'em away,
and voting numbers should dwindle.

If they don't.........well, then he really must be a sex god

aaargh ! help !