Strictly am shocked *No spoilers* - edited by MNHQ

[incognitomum]

I thought Mike would go? She didn't put a foot wrong.

I’m really going off Karim. He’s like a show-offy kid, throwing all those kicks and jumps into his routine whether they belong there or not, and always at the front of claud 9 trying to muscle into everyone else’s moments with his gurning and heart hands. Unless he learns that “less is more” with his dances, he’s never going to get that emotional connection with the audience. The blubbing pissed me off too.

I think Michelle might be too "American" for the british public and miss out on the final.

It'll also be interesting to know if they change up the pro line up next year to give Pissy Gorka a go. I think Johannes will be back. Neil will also be given another chance given the up and down series he's had with his injury. Think they'll keep AJ if they have another young celeb. Alijaz is a viewers fave. And I can't imagine a series without Kevin! And if they ask Joe Varney to sit it out just got Gorka I will be most upset. Hence it makes sense for Anton to go. Am sure the other pros can handle whatever is thrown at them. Love Karen and Giovanni for both showing that you can take celebs who might be actually easier to turn into "comedy contestants" and actually take them on a journey.

It was a but if a pathetic cry too!

I do hope Michelle makes the final - I think Giovanni is my favourite pro, he does some really nice dances. Anton is my least favourite at this point - I think the show has moved on and left him behind.

I think Michelle might be too "American" for the british public and miss out on the final.

She's got a huge LGB following but it might not be enough to keep her in to the final.

Anton really needs to go now. Last night Emma actually out danced him, which isnt good.

I've been saying Anton should go since Jan's jive...

The only thing Anton is good at is ballroom. Everything else shows his weaknesses and then he resorts to 'comedy' and gurning.

Michelle has GOT to get to the final. She's the best female, imo. She could sell snow to Eskimos with her expression.

Saffron is really trying to act it out, she was giving really sugary looks to AJ during that Waltz. But tbh I can't see her able to do the variety of expressions that Michelle can do. And tbh I didnt believe it at all, perhaps cos Saffron and AJ seem to be only just tolerating each other.

Alex looks joyful and is improving but I think she's about ready to plateau. She'd definitely go further with Kevin, which is a shame.

I have to say this stand-in thing has actually woken me up to his worth - he connects massively to whomever he's dancing with and makes them look awesome. Neil still just seems to be looking away from Alex towards the camera.

Emma has 2 weeks left. Tops.

We'll never know, but I think it would interesting to see how Emma B would have fared with a different pro. Given her background and West End experience, you’d think she would have been a cert for the final, but something’s clearly not working with Anton.

Aww I think Karim is just a very sensitive person, he loves his mum and blows her kisses which should be a clue, he just wears his heart on his sleeve , so he was really upset about letting Amy down. I think probably because Blackpool as she said on the vt means a lot to her and he thought he had reduced his chances of getting there.

It just comes across as a bit performative / “for the cameras” with Karim. I’m sure they all love their mums.

In fairness if someone can only rehearse from Wednesday on, theyre gonna struggle with any pro.

And some of the pros would get ratty about it cos most of them are very competitive. I could just imagine Giovanni's face! Like thunder!

I know, I'm sure they do but but cant see Chris for example throwing kisses at her and making love heart shapes everywhere

DWTS do a partner swap week where the celebs dance with a different pro. Ive often wondered what would happen if Strictly did the same. I think we've seen just how training and dancing with Kevin has changed everything for Alex. Could work for others as well, as you can never really know who's going to gel and who's not.

Strictly always seem very reluctant to try new things these days, or take ideas from other international versions of the show. Before Couples Choice was brought in last year they'd not brought in a new dance style in years.

To be fair, Kevin didn't seem to do very well with Anneka. That terrible Kill Bill dance was made worse by the fact that he was massively outdancing her, in a way I've never noticed him do before.

Was he simply fed up?

Christ, what could you do with Anneka though. Her body barely bent 45 degrees.......

and her legs didn't bend at all !!

Giovanni would have been great with Emma.

For a non-dancer and non performer (unlike michelle) let alone as someone who hasn't been on national tv or before live audience, I think Saffron is holding her own really well.

Kurri
I agree about Saffron. She wasn’t one of my faves at the start but she’s growing on me and it’s nice to see a genuine girl next door type, ie no ‘done’ lips/boobs, healthy weight etc as a role model for impressionable teens. She comes across as brave and a trier too, what’s not to like? She’s even stopped mentioning her nan.

For a non-dancer

I thought Saffron was one of the ringers? Albeit not as ringery as Karim.

I just saw a trailer and they showed a couple looking very shocked so even the Beeb are showing spoilers .

I'm really liking the AJ and Saffron pairing too.

He's a beautiful dancer especially in Ballroom. I think Saffron's a hard worker and it's paying off.

I expect she has more time on her hands as her participation in
Strictly is driving her channel content, but she's still making great strides.

I'm finding AJ and Saffon really rather dull, I think it's because both come over as fairly vacuous. When they're on ITT I find it hard to pay much attention to what they're saying.

To be fair, Kevin didn't seem to do very well with Anneka. That terrible Kill Bill dance was made worse by the fact that he was massively outdancing her, in a way I've never noticed him do before.

They virtually all do that when they're paired with duffers, they're pretty clearly trying to distract the judges. It was a standing joke with Ola that when she turned up in a bodystocking she was obviously seriously worried about her partner.

To her credit, Katya doesn't go in for that tactic, she tries to choreograph to bring out such strengths as her partner has and still makes them work bloody hard. But I suspect even she couldn't have done much with Annika.