Best dancer doesn't win - SHOCK.

Everyone knows Colin was better than Goughie, but Erin blew it. Everyone knows that Austin and Rachel were better than Tom (unlucky week and hmmm - show dance again).

The world didn't end then ... life goes on.

Of course, you're right - I keep forgetting we've lost an extra dancer.

On the bright side I'd rather watching Chris dance than Darren any day of the week and I don't think Ali or Ricky are as good as Zoe and Colin were.

Chris winning in itself would not be the death knell though would it, lets face it probably the worst dancer in the world world won series one but the series did not crumble to dust. If he won it would purely be because the two better dancers are not garnering enough support because their personalities are not appealing enough. It has happened before with Darren Gough as has been mentioned but as has also been stated he had at least improved substantially over the show which Chris basically hasn't.

If you get the right mix of dance talent and winning personality then I think they will always win now (I don't think a Chris Parker situation would ever happen again) - If Chris Hollins wins I definitely think it is more reflective of the overall dearth of vitality in the series this year and not least because of the fact that we have never had a year where the dancing just seems static with no real change from beginning to end. I think all the dancers now know that if they get to the final showdance (and Chris is likely to sail through on his popularity by the looks of it) and do a cheeky routine then they are likely to raise the trophy.

Strictly is a light entertainment show based on dancing. If Chris wins (which I doubt) he'd be the ideal winner. As a dancer, I enjoy watching him dance. His Charleston was brilliant last night, and his VW.

I don't understand. Natasha was an amazing dancer ...

Given that in every series where the outcome's been 'questionable' (and I'm thinking specifically of Series 3 and 6 here) the competition's been won with the final dance, I'm not making any judgements until a) Chris actually makes the final and b) has done his showdance.

Like others, I suspect that Chris is unlikely to feature in a two-couple final if the judges can prevent it. Plus I strongly suspect Ali and Brian could pull off a showdance so sensational that it would blow all competition into the shade, no matter what had transpired up til then.

Are you a relative ?
I thought Natasha was lovely..but it was the first series, we didn't quite know what to expect. She was clearly the best of a small and rather average bunch, I doubt she would have got very far in subsequent series..but we will never know.
I don't think Chris is good enough to actually win the series..unless he improves out of all recognition. Darren and Tom were far better at this stage, being able to pick out their most crowd-pleasing performances for the final ensured their victories. I just don't think Chris has enough in his locker yet to do the same.
However..one thing that really annoys the GBP is any attempts at manipulation by the judges..if the public suspects that the judges want to get rid of him, his suppport will go through the roof..we love an under-dog.

Probably the same bloke who came top of the leaderboard 3 times, compared to Austin's 5 times (and he had 2 fewer weeks to do it).

What are you on about saying Natasha was probably the worst dancer in the world? Apart from the fact she was up against Chris Parker in the final, that statement is a load of rubbish! She may have not been up to the standard of subsequent winners, but plenty of the other celebs that have been on SCD haven't been anything like as good a dancer as Natasha. And no I am not a relative.


I agree that Chris isn't at the same standard as Darren or Tom, but when he remembers the choreography he isn't a bad dancer.

I would love Chris & Ola to lift that glitterball, but I wouldn't have any problem with Ali & Brian or Ricky & Natalie lifting it either (I wouldn't be a happy bunny of Laila and Anton won). Ali and Ricky are good dancers, but don't tick all the boxes for me. Chris when he dances well, does tick all the boxes.

If Chris is in the final, I'll only vote for him if he dances well on the night or the judges don't play fair. I'm not that bloody minded!

Well it would`t even be on our screens....let alone a prime time Saturday Night slot......The only reason Strictly and other shows of the same ilk are so popular is because the audience decides....No audience participation=No show.

I wondered what you were on about there, but it was a reply to a different post.
No, Natasha was good, very good..but not great. I just think there have been many, many, better dancers since who have not even reached the final stages.
It wouldn't bother me either if Chris and Ola won. I just think that when it comes to the final, just before Christmas, there will be lots of new viewers and voters..has Chris/Ola or Laila/Anton got anything in their locker to wow those viewers ? Of course, you could argue the same for Ricky and Ali..they have hardly blown me away with anything yet.

I wondered what you were on about there, but it was a reply to a different post. Oh, and the relative bit was because I was responding to a post by VikkiKaplinsky..no slur on Natasha intended.
No, Natasha was good, very good..but not great. I just think there have been many, many, better dancers since who have not even reached the final stages.
It wouldn't bother me either if Chris and Ola won. I just think that when it comes to the final, just before Christmas, there will be lots of new viewers and voters..has Chris/Ola or Laila/Anton got anything in their locker to wow those viewers ? Of course, you could argue the same for Ricky and Ali..they have hardly blown me away with anything yet.

The other point to remember about Natasha was that she trained far less than celebs did in the subsequent series. I think she had potential and I wish she had been in a later series to see how far she could have gone. I can still remember Arlene saying she was now a professional dancer - rubbish, but lovely to hear at that time!

Strictly has never been just about the dancing though has it and as I dance teacher I tend to forget that and get annoyed when the best dancers dont always win but in the end the eventual winners have IMO have overall been the right ones (couple of exceptions)

Chris and Ola - I have enjoyed their dancing this series and indeed they are popular but I still believe dancing will out in the end and it will be an Ali and Ricky final - Iwould not complain if Chris made it though - But would not watch a final with Laila in it

It's never been total dance competition. If it was people who forget their routines, look like puppets on speed, and generally cannot dance would not get through to the finals. It's light entertainment for the family.

I don't think we're comparing like with like - we might as well compare world records in sport of 10 years ago with record performances today without taking into account improved technique, higher expectations and longer, more productive training hours.

Natasha won the first show - when it wasn't really clear how much could be expected of the celebs, and she did what was required of her to a very high standard.

Trying to put it into perspective, if the top celebs had competed in the first series, given the same training time and similar choreography would they have been any better than Natasha. In reverse if Natasha was competing now, with more complex choreography and more flamboyancy could she compete with the best?

I think she could!

Look Folks.Its just an entertainment show not to be taken to seriously

Its a good way to win money from the bookies mind if you bet on the right celebs at the right time

I agree and she should have won because for me Strictly is about the person who best combines both dancing and personality. Without her it's a bit split - Ricky and Ali have the talent but are a tad dull - Chris has the personality but it's quite good enough. There's still another couple of weeks and last night we saw Ali let her hair down a bit, Chris produce a good quality of dancing and a mistake-free routinue and Ricky produce a wow dance in the dance-off. To be honest I'll reserve judgement about whom I want to win (because SCD starts around my daughter's bedtime I watch it time shifted and so don't get a chance to vote) at least until after the semi-final and then possibly even after the showdances. At the moment I probably want Chris to improve enough to justify a win for him but I wouldn't be gutted if anyway except Laila does (I just don't think her latin is up to scratch).

Isn't that less to do with Laila and more because of her partnership with Anton?

You've made your dislike of Anton very clear, which leads me to think that you wouldn't watch a final that included him, whoever he partnered.

e.g. would you watch Ali and Anton?

I'm not questioning your opinion - your feelings are your prerogative, and you must believe you have good reason for your hostility, but isn't it a bit unfair to hoist your animosity towards Anton onto Laila?

What?

Tom had one dance scored below 30 (his first), his top ballroom scored 39 (one below Rachel) and his top latin scored 38 (one below Rachel). Can we please stop the rubbish on this forum that Tom couldn't dance. Of the winners only Jill Halfpenny is better and he's the best all-rounder.

Best ever post in this forum

I congratulate you

Totally agree!

The technically best dancer only won once - Series 2. That's because she had personality with it. Everyone else has beaten a technically better dancer why shouldn't Chris?

I think Tom was a great dancer and I voted for him in the final, but I also think the scoring throughout the last was ridiculous - far too high from week 1.