I can't wait for Strictly Come Dancing tonight...

[georgepig]

if only to see Brendan Cole and i dont reckon he'll be around for long with Jo Wood!

Think Tuffers will be hysterical though.

Who are we tipping to win/be 1st one out?

What a funny night. I was really upset for Jade. She looked genuinely worried that her athletics career might be hampered by tonight's injury. How awful

I didn't know what to make of Laila and Anton's rumba. I don't think she should have danced if she was in that much pain. I suppose it didn't do her any harm in that she got through anyway.

I loved Ricky W's jive. I actually really liked Ali's Cha Cha Cha even though I wasn't expecting to.

Didn't really want Phil or Ricky G to go as they both seem like really nice funny blokes but I think they were probably the right people to be in the bottom two as they're not quite at the same standard of some of the others.

I thought Claudia was great but I have a major crush on her so no surprise there. Tess did a pretty good job front of house. I actually thought it was a bit undermining drafting Ronnie Corbett in. It was like the producers didn't think the show would work with just a woman fronting it. He didn't add anything to it at all. I thought it was a very odd decision.

Well - what a strange one...

Loving the girls being in control though and I usually don't like Tess and shout at the telly but thought she did a great job (way better than Bruce) and loved Claudia being there... want her every week but from what I gather, she likes her little ITT spot and doesn't want the higher profile stuff!

Sad that Phil has gone as didn't really like Ricky and Erins - Ricky really didn't look like he was enjoying himself and at least Phil seemed to have fun every week. Oh well, I guess thats why you have the judges who watch the actual dancing!

So for Jade... am really hoping that she hasn't hurt herself too badly. Whilst I want her to stay in Strictly as she is my new favourite, really want her not to have buggered up her proper career.

Anyways - only saw 2 and a half dances due to bedtime but some of them looked really odd at the moment of truth - Natalie in particular looked sooo strange... what was with her hair.

Anyways - bring on next week!

Best programme of the series so far.

Injuries made good drama.

The right two in the bottom two (Laila's better than both of them).

So refreshing not to have Bruce there. Like others, I'm no fan of Daly but she coped well and Claudia was, of course, fab.

Just shows that losing Brucie would have reinvigorated the programme far more than losing Arlene.

I was so looking forward to seeing Jade and Ian's tango, thought there might even be 10s! Poor poor Jade, she looked terrified she might have put her 2012 prospects at risk. Lots of controversy on BBC strictly boards over her getting a 'pass' to next week. Server keeps going down!

Standard not that good overall this week I thought. This time last year scores were in mid to late 30s for majority of couples IIRC. Loved Ricky and Natalie's jive but nothing else really did it for me tonight.

Sad that Tuffers has gone but agree that he probably wouldn't have stayed in much longer.

Don't understand why people are so uptight about it. I'm sure this has happened before.

Even if it's not exactly equivalent, when Kelly Brooks' Dad died, she was only going to have one week off.

Skilbo-Natalie had a bow made from HAIR in her hair! it was wierd.

I thought Chris and Ola should have been in the bottom 2, I really thought he was rubbish.

Camera angles get worse!! Someone needs to tell the cameramen that the footwork needs to be seen!!

Majority of dancing in the real competitive world is judged on foot placement. But we can barely see feet.

Yes someone who danced with Karen Hardy had an injury and missed a week a few years back now. Can't remember his name - was it Bill?

Did Kate Garraway get a week off too?

Wish phil had stayed. Ricky & Erin just get on my nerves (esp Erin).

Agree with the others - Claudia was brill

What a weird show last night was.. Agree with everyone - loved Claudia backstage, Tess did well and didn't think they really needed to draft RC in.

Loved Ricky W's jive. So much fun and personality in it. Does anyone else think Ricky and Natalie have a serious flirtation going on? Esp since Ricky has recently split up with his girlfriend.

I was so disappointed that we didn't get to see Jade and Ian's tango - they were becoming my favourites. I hope she hasn't seriously injured herself, firstly for her career and secondly because I really enjoy watching Jade and Ian dance. They seem to have so much fun together.

I thought the dance off was fair, esp since Laila wouldn't have been able to dance with her ankle. Would she just have forfeited, then? Even more drama!

Even though I had a soft spot for Ricky G, I actually wanted Phil and Katya to stay as he looks like he is having more fun. It is only a competition after all, Ricky G has gone all horribly competitive. I don't mind competitiveness but not when it seems to take all the fun out of the dancing. Lighten up Ricky G!

I don't see how she could have danced. In fact, it looked like she was psyching herself up to say "I can't do it".

I had fraught nerves watching this. There was so much drama!

I lvoed Caludia.

Do you think they brought ol' Ronnie in because of the ageism row? Just to push up the average age of the presenters?

The papers seem to blame the show for Jades injury. IMO she could have done that looking for something under her bed.

I think Laila is going to have a tough week too. That sprain is going to take a few days at least before it feels better.

OMG did anyone see ITT tonight? Phil and Katya had me weeping! No news on Jade though. Don't know if that's good or bad.

So, a taste of what it will be like when Brucie gives up - exept that they're probably lining up Anton to take over brucie's slot.

Personally I preferred it without Brucie's flat jokes. Could have done without Ronnie C though - he didn't add much to it.

Claudia did a fantastic job - as usual.

The show did seem a bit flat this week dancing-wise. The scores and standards are not as good as previous years. I expect it'll be a run-off bewteen Ricky from Hollyoaks and Ali.

Still trying to get over Donny Osmond dressed as Adam Ant doing the Pasa Doble on the US Dancing with the Stars - bizarre

I was really surprised there was no Jade (and less importantly Laila) injury update.

WA - I couldn't get my head round that either, plus if you are dressing as Adam Ant, use a bloody song by him to dance to!

Thought Len was quite dismissive of Laila's injuries. Mind you that would put him in agreement with most of the Beeb's strictly boards!

I thought the show seemed a bit of a shambles without Brucie. I heard that they are lining Tess's husband, Vernon Kay, to replace Brucie. No!!!

I thought Laila made too much of her injury (but what do I know )and without the sympathy vote, she would have been a gonna. She's got a ballroom next week so might scrape through another week.

I used to really like Anton and have just worked out why. In previous years he never lasted more than a couple of weeks, so he is obviously OK in small doses!

I do love Claude though, I think she's fab.

Anyway, that's what I think ...

I LOVED the show without Bruce Forsyth - can't stand him and usually watch the show on delay so I can whizz through all of his cringy 'joke' bits.

Agree about Anton though...

LOVE Claudia but can see why she would wish to stay on ITT.

Just loved Claudia and Len's rumba masterclass today - so funny!

"Imagine you're a flower"

"Can I imagine that I'm a weed?"

lolol

I was actually weeping! If you haven't seen it - def worth a watch on the iplayer.

Weeping here too!

Very funny.

I did, however, spend the first half of the programme wishing that Laila would stop whining about her sprained ankle.

Doesn't look too good for Jade does it? Reading between the lines it sounds as though the Beeb not willing to risk its insurance?