Maybe the question should have been applied to all couples, but because Matthew is such a favourite there is some logic in using him as a case in point when asking if people are voting for pros or celebs/partnerships. I don't feel that this is a tread attacking Christine, she just happens to be his partner in this case

Apologies! I retract the word 'assumption' in relation to your post and substitute 'theory' instead in a spirit of proper scientific enquiry.

But it did hold water to the actual poster I was replying to.

Although I agree in general it doesn't really hold water.

I vote for both Christine and Jodie firstly because I like them and also because unlike the other three smug females they do not have benefits of previous extensive dance training and are often undermarked.

I thought Christine's jive was far superior to either dull Rachel or Austin's.

Yes I do like Matthew (doesn't everyone?) but do you honestly believe the majority of viewers who vote even care who a celebrity is dancing with?

I think its more a case of the viewers being tired of the judges favourtism and also because the better female dancers are not as likeable as either Christine or Jodie.

I've been thinking about this a lot since the thread started.

Whilst the people I DO vote for, I vote purely for the celeb (i.e Natasha S1, Alesha S5 and Christine this series (I missed series 2-4)), since we have unavoidably got to know some of the pros more and more, I do find myself NOT voting for certain couples because of the pro. I won't name names, because that is not the reason I'm posting this. I'm just making an observation. However, sometimes as well, I don't like the celeb and therefore don't vote for them purely for that reason.

I don't really know what my conclusion is (LOL), I think it really is about the partnership in most cases, in that certain pros gel well with certain celebs, and others IMO really don't. However this year it's just about Christine, I loved her way before Strictly started, and fortunately she's not done too badly (I admit she's not the best, the reasons for not liking the dancers who are 'better' than her are mentioned above).

Point taken, although I think posts (in general) are often read within the context of the thread in which they appear, as I did with yours. (I was reading through several posts that had appeared since I last visited.) In that context, the argument, as both you and Lorelei Lee have acknowledged, becomes harder to sustain.

Can I just add how nice it is to have been able to have a (somewhat) heated discussion with minimal offense taken (I hope)?

I really don't like the way I worded that, so rather than edit it to death, I'll try and re-write/summarise it here.

1. I vote for the celebs.

2. I do, NOT vote for certain couples because of the pros.

3. I do also NOT vote for certain couples because of the celebs.

4. I said certain couples gel well, I mean they gel and make the celeb come off better, so I therefore vote for them, unless I was a fan previously as in:

5. I love Christine!

I've got a lot worse for some of the others!

Actually, your rational defence of your points has cut me to the quick. *flounces off crossly*

I always vote for the celeb. Having said that, I haven't felt driven to vote this series at all, unusually, so perhaps it isn't relevant.

But I do think this is a valid question, because while the viewers in general might not vote for the pro, I get the impression that a lot of the most fervent support on DS for a couple is for the pro, and carries on for that pro year after year. I've seen lots of comments from posters who've met or had a dance class with a pro (and usually therefore won't hear any criticism of them), far more than any who know the celebs. That's not a criticism of those posters, but I think it is one way in which the forum is a little unrepresentitive.

Humph! *takes deep offense at gentle sarcasm and goes to sulk in a corner*

Seriously though, after all the bickering and name-calling that seems to be floating about, it is nice to be able to disagree with someone without being jumped on - or at least being able to explain oneself if a point is misunderstood!

I have liked christine since day 1 so christine, I would of voted even if she was with James & i'm no fan of james jordan

I hardly ever vote on these shows but I have been voting for Christine the past few weeks as I think she is a brilliant dancer and there is a great partnership between her and Matthew. Speaking as a dancer myself, I feel she is not the best dancer but she is improving every week, even if it is very minor things sometimes but I feel she is a good dancer and continually getting better. I don't vote or form favorites based on the pros, although I do have a soft spot for Camilla

I would agree with this.
I normally vote for the celeb but as you've stated the professionals do play a huge part in the show and have there own fanbases.

Always a pleasure.

I'm never allowed to vote for people on these programmes but this week I voted because I thoroughly enjoyed Christine's Jive, I thought it was brilliant.
Her being partnered with Matt is definitely a bonus because he's just as sunny as she is. Plus he's a fantastic dancer and she's improving every week.

Valid enough question I think. On the other hand, what does it matter whether people are voting for the celeb or the pro or the couple?

But to answer the question, I am voting for Christine because I love Christine. I do like Matt, he's one of my favourite pros, but I don't actually vote for my favourite pros. I'd be voting for Christine whoever she was partnered with.

I'm voting for Christine because she's Christine. It's partly a "one of ours" thing - we're both from Northern Ireland - but even that wouldn't be enough if I didn't genuinely like her and find her a nice person. I do think Matt is swoonworthy but woudn't vote for them just for that reason.

Christine seems to me to have lots of merit - more interesting and personable than Cherie or Lisa, tries hard. Improving.Her problem is that there are 5 more OK people in front of her but no one really excellent. The casting is wrong to produce too many people in the quite good category which means she may not stay as long as she should.

On the other hand she may have more support than 3 people ahead of her on the leaderboard.......

I think it's a really interesting question - do we vote for our fave pros no matter what?

I think there is a limit to my adoration of the pros - and believe me - I really do love em!

Case file #1: Darren Bennett (my fave of all fave pros!) - YES I did vote for him and Jessie this series - I had hopes that she could improve.
NO - I did not vote for him with Emma Bunton. I simply could not take to her - despite her technical brilliance, she left me cold.
YES - voted for Darren and Letitia like mad last series.

Case file #2: Loved Matt and Alesha last year and voted them all the way to the glitterball.
Will not be voting for Christine, much as I love Matt. There is simply something about her that gets on my nadgers. I do appreciate that other people like her though and fair play to them.

I'm voting for Rachel and Vincent at the mo - I might toss Jodie and Ian a few votes too. Didn't think I would like Rachel (I adore Vincent) but I've actually warmed to her quite a lot.

Regarding John and Kristina - I'm memsmerised watching Kristina dance and I think she's amazing! I wouldn't vote for John on the back of this though.

Personally I don't vote for either the celeb or the pro, per say, but their relationship as a couple on (and often off) the dancefloor.

I'm not voting yet this season but if I were, I'd be voting for Austin & Erin, Jodie & Ian, Lisa & Brendon and yes, John & Kristina for this reason - for various reasons, I enjoy watching all of them dance (although I don't think I could have brought myself to vote for J&K's cha-cha last week and admit to supporting Lisa rather than Brendan but she's my exception to the rule!) I'd also have chucked in a vote for Christine & Matt's jive last week as I loved it. If any of the aforementioned are still there nearer the end I may well chuck a few votes their way.

I've voted for all sorts of different pros over past series though, and have always voted on the couples' chemistry rather than me liking anyone separately, if that makes sense!

I'm voting for Christine and Jodie. Neither of them take it as their right to have good marks on the night and they are both able to accept the critisim from the judges, even when it is harsh.

They are also extemely pleased to have got as far as they have without any show of arrogance on their parts. Also neither of them are using the media to boost the votes they recieve.

I like Christine and Mattew as I think they gel together brilliantly.
I also like Jodie and Ian.......

wish there was more pro dances tho........

Christine is a lovely girl and you can see she is just loving being in the show and dancing with Matthew.......who would be.......lol

after all you've been spouting about John, this admission says it all, really.

Although people may think they are voting just for the celeb, I do think that if a celebrity is paired with a pro that a viewer likes, then they will be more likely to take to that celebrity. They will then tell themselves that they were always going to like that celebrity the best all along (really, truly, honestly) but in point of fact, although they might possibly have liked them a fair bit, they probably wouldn't have been their favourite.

All the above is magnified hugely with Matt C because he's so popular and lovely.