Strictly Come Dancing - straight from the horse's mouth

Strictly Come Dancing / Chicken Dinner / 19 November 2007 / Leave a Comment

Students of the dancefloor Chicken Dinner tell us who is twinkle-toed and who's fast turning an art form into a pantomime...

Seven dancers are still standing, but is it already a one horse race?

THE ONE TO BEAT

Alesha Dixon (1.8 to win on Betfair) enjoyed a brilliant week seven score, equalling Zoe Ball's 38 - only the third time a score over 37 has featured before the final. She is absolutely running away with it, and as things stand, only a horrific leg injury could stop her. Of course, Matt Dawson scored 37 for his week seven waltz last year and went on to be the runner-up. But that's just straw-clutching.

WON'T WIN

Now that the Garraway joke is over, the audience will be more inclined to keep the best dancers in. Hence, time has been called on Kenny Logan (90) and John Barnes (55) - expect them to go in quick succession. Logan is now infuriating the judges by standing there frozen, incapable of dancing, while Barnes has done his best, but just isn't very popular (bottom two this week).

MIGHT WIN

Still giving Dixon something to dance for each week are Kelly Brook (7.2), Matt Di Angelo (7) and Gethin Jones (7.8), although all three have drifted a couple of points in the last week.

Jones is too inconsistent and not exciting enough to pose a huge threat. Even with the massive appeal to the Saturday tea time audience of his bland Blue Peter background, he lacks the sexiness of someone like Ramprakash (winner, last year). The judges, however, can clearly see his potential, as proven by the judges' motivational roasting after Saturday's rumba, which still produced an over-30 score. Looking the strongest bet for best male.

Despite rumours of his squiring Dixon AND his dance companion Flavia, Di Angelo is also completely sexless. Initially a favourite thanks to his similarities with series one runner up, Christopher Parker (both Eastenders, both boyish), he doesn't have enough to win over the mums, nans and gays.

And Brook has the consistency, but also suffers from being a bit dull. With her Hollywood boyfriend, smiley nature and perfect teeth, she is the girl that every woman has secretly hated for eternity - far too perfect by half. The viewers will be more inclined to Dixon's raw enthusiasm, more obvious sassiness, and marginally less perfect figure.

THE DARK HORSE

Letitia Dean (50.0) is still on the all-important 'journey', dancing to forget the tabloid headlines. While that journey last week was in the wrong direction, this week she got right back on track. One stellar performance could see her rise into contention, as thanks to her Albert Square status, she still has the highest profile on the show and with the trailing pack showing serious flaws, the opportunity to make the final is there if she can find some consistency.