I'm another Claudia fan. She has been much funnier and sharper on ITT this series as she had tended to lapse into "How thrilled are you..." questions in the last series. I think she's making a point of dressing down on Sunday nights so as not to be seen to compete with Tess. She's very clever and always goes for the self deprecating approach. Remember last year when Bruce was ill and she filled in for Tess last year? Someone complimented her on her performance and she said "Oh no, I was rubbish". She has more wit, intelligence and personality in one fingernail than the fembot that is Tess - albeit a very attractive one - who has never said anything original or funny in all the years we have been watching her. She completely lacks empathy - excruciating to watch her usher people off the show at the end as she tries to finish the show - she couldn't care less how they feel and this really comes through. I'm far from being a fan of Bruce but he did seem to care when saying goodbye to the losing couple. I remember reading other threads which said that Tess is a nasty piece of work - some programme where she was a judge on some modelling show - and it really doesn't surprise me.
I feel better now that I have got that off my chest.
Kara - loved her routine and her. Saw what Len meant about them not being in hold but they still deserved more than 6.
Pamela - as others have said, can't warm to her. I think it's because, for all her elan and enthusiasm, she just comes across as false - the simpering "thank you" to camera etc. She looks as if she must have had dance training - even Len said this on ITT. It also doesn't help that she is saddled with the hard to like James. I thought she was way overmarked as she looked really uncomfortable in parts of her dance.
Matt - fab-u-lous as it's such a difficult dance.
Scott - strange that he was overmarked as I thought it was obvious that he looked uncomfortable and was not really moving his hips.
Patsy - not the most technical but love her energy and vulnerability. When Tess said at the end that you couldn't shut her up you could see Patsy look at her as though she had done something wrong. Surprised she was in the bottom 2 as I thought people would have warmed to her more like Laetitia Dean though maybe that's what has kept her in the competition so far.
Ann - thought it was really funny this week.
Gavin - surprised he is still in it but the puppy dog look will probably keep him in for a while longer. Loved Katya's dress.
Re. the comment on Alesha's marking - I agree that she can overmark but then so do Bruno and Len. What I love about her is that she is always so positive and often says what I feel - i.e. loving Patsy's vulnerability and that she was the right person to get the party started.
Re. the comment on Robin and Aliona - I assumed that Robin was gay??
Phew, didn't intend to write such a long post.