http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009...g-fiasco-ofcom

"Media regulator Ofcom has decided not to punish the BBC over a voting gaffe that saw all three semi-finalists on last year's Strictly Come Dancing being put through to the final.

Ofcom received 297 complaints over the break down in the Strictly Come Dancing voting system, which saw viewers – paying between 15p and 80p to vote – unable to save Holby City actor Tom Chambers and his partner, Camilla Dallerup, from the dance-off, in which the two lowest-scoring couples compete in front of the judges to stay in the show.

The BBC received nearly 2,000 complaints about the semi-final round of 2008's series of the hit BBC1 reality talent show, broadcast on 13 December.

However, Ofcom today ruled that "the mistake had resulted from an oversight, rather than any shortcomings in the technical arrangements for voting or in the handling of votes received".


Oh weren't the message boards on fire that night

It was a dangerous night to be on the boards. Everyone seemed to like Tom and suddenly his name was worse than swine flu.

Seems so unimportant now, funny to think of the high emotion at the time.

I miss SCD. Only three months to go until the board is open.

I STILL can't believe Tom won

Lisa was the worthy winner <whistle>

With that showdance I think not - unless your tongue's in your cheek - the showdances justified the public not the judges ranking IMO

Which boards were on fire? I was on the beeb boards that night and wasn't aware that a dozen or so posters saying Tom shouldn't have gone through consituted a fire. Just as many, if not more, expressed their disgust at the judges habitual over-marking of Lisa, particularly in her latin routines. If anything should have been investigated they should have started there imo

In a way though, it would have been quite amusing if Lisa had won on the back of probably the worst showdance Strictly will ever see Had that happened, there might well have been a real fire