Strictly Come Dancing Betting: Jade on the up

Strictly Come Dancing / Alan Dudman / 23 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

Jade or a real rough diamond? The long-jumper's peformances have been steadily improving.

"Jade's 35 point Viennese Waltz was all rather good, as were Flavia's hotpants during her jive routine with Craig Kelly (the best thing in that duo). I am a big fan of electric blue hotpants now. Note to one self......"

Alan Dudman tells us about fantasies involving Laila, disbelief about Craig Kelly still being around and this week's best bets ahead of another edition of Strictly Come Dancing.

What an earth was Zoe Lucker doing in the bottom two last week? Dear oh dear,
are you having a laugh (the phone voters out there)? Poor old Lucker was clean
and efficient as always in her jive, and yet with 30 points, was subjected to a ridiculous
dance-off with the wardrobe Calazaghe. If ever there was a 1.01 shot....

Week five was all rather strange. I cannot believe how bad Laila's jive was. Her 22
was probably five too many. She and Anton looked like a pair of drunks dancing at a
wedding, although that black catsuit seemed to have a fairly uplifting effect on Dudders
last Saturday evening. She definitely looks good in that number, however her Latin is
clearly miles behind everyone else. Her ballroom is tops, her jive isn't. She's gone out
to [14.00] in the outright. She can't win it with her weakness away from the
classical stuff. I worry about her. I also dream about her.

Jade's 35 point Viennese Waltz was all rather good, as were Flavia's hotpants during her
jive routine with Craig Kelly (the best thing in that duo). I am a big fan of electric blue
hotpants now. Note to one self......

The improvers are Ricky Groves, Jade J and maybe Natalie. The ones who are regressing are Craig Kelly and Chris Hollins, and just ignore Zoe in the bottom two last week - she is still decent.

And Ricky got his 10! He is still [2.04] to win it. Back him again I say, although the better value in Whittle is siding with him for top score this week at the same price!

11 remain, and they tackle the samba and the American smooth this Saturday. The samba is the Brazilian dance that needs to be flirty and exuberant. Whilst the smooth will consist of a fairly easy repertoire that combines all three steps of the waltz, the Viennese and the foxtrot.

I can't quite believe Craig Kelly stayed in last week, but with two tricky dances in wait, I am gunning for him once again. He trades at [2.16] favourite in the 'week 6 elimination' market, and [1.42] to find himself in the bottom two. To complete the clean sweep he can be backed at [1.72] for the lowest score. I wouldn't lay him in any of those markets. If he has the samba it could be an utter disaster. He has no timing, no personality and is just plodding along. He has to go this week and will get a score of around 19-21 (hopefully).

Chris Hollins is worrying me meanwhile. The cheeky little funster has not trained on (to use horse racing parlance). He showed so much promise at the start but has stagnated at a 6-7 level - with more sixes. He reminds me of a poor man's Austin Healy. He has spring and personality, but his dances are lacking any timing and his steps are all wrong. He looked interesting at one point in the winner market - but he's gone out to [50.00]. He is [3.55] in the bottom two category. I think he could be safe this week, but he's got to get back on track.

Jo Wood collected 23 points with her best effort to date. She is still fairly boring and clearly has no apptitude for this game. I am hoping she dances the samba this week, if she does, she has zero chance of avoiding the bottom two.

Week 6 recommendations:

Back Craig Kelly in Week 6 elimination market [2.16]
Back Jo Wood in 'bottom two' @ [2.02]
Back 19 and under in 'lowest total score' [4.50]