Doesn't matter how well Ricky dances it seems he is the least popular out of the remaining three and will be eliminated next Sat.
The judges have saved Ricky twice so far this series in the DO but this Sat is going to be his Waterloo. Seems a good majority of the voting public prefer an entertainer over someone with more excellent dancing skills.

I think the only thing that we can be fairly sure of is that Chris will be in the final.

I still think it's anyone's game between Ali & Ricky.

Why?

As usual the GBP celebrate mediocracy

Elaborate

It would be shame if Ricky does not make it to the final, he deserves to be there and to be honest I would rather watch Ricky's showdance than Ali, who bores me.

But I don't care too much as long as Chris and Ola make it.

There may be a price to pay for the lack of dance off in the semi...maybe the public will not get the absolute last say in the final (they don't in DWTS...the judges do as they alone score the last dance of the night, although it's supposed to be scored without knowing where things stand at that point).

I think it would be in Chris's best interests for him to come second in the final - avoid any back lash that way

Daisy with respect I cannot find grounds for agreeing.

Based on endless clues the best Ricky can do is 3 from judges plus 1 from votes, making 4.

The worst Ali can do is 2 from judges and 2 from votes, unless she breaks her ankle, foot, knee, concentration. This 4 will beat Ricky's 4.

The worst Chris can do is 1 from judges and 3 from votes ( IF you believe there is a nationwide tidal wave of voters of all ages desperate to get Chris and Ola into the Final at least). Chris's 4 will beat Ali's 4.

Ricky is a goner.

I realise that all signs point to Ricky being unpopular with the public and I hope Ali does make it but I won't be counting any chickens. I'm still not convinced that she will beat Ricky in the public vote. For me, that's the unknown quantity next Saturday.

There are many dimensions as to why people vote for their favourite and as we all know if it had been down to the best dancer Chris would have been L-O-N-G gone.

Ricky is a great dancer...he's incredibly sexy...BUT..he doesn't stamp a personality on his dances and his partner is unpopular.

Ali is a beautiful dancer with great technical skill BUT she again doesn't WOW you with her personality shining through her performance and again, her partner doesn't appeal to everyone.

Chris's dancing started at first base. He lacks Ricky's natural musicality, rhythm and talent and Ali's gorgeous balletic lines and posture.

However, he has made the kind of hard won progress that the viewers love.
He hasn't whinged, he hasn't dramatised, he's taken rough and rude criticism on the chin. He's done it with a smile, good humour as an outstanding competitor and probably a life changing partner for Ola.

'Strictly' isn't just about technical excellence and dancing ability - its about true grit, giving a great performance to the best of your ability and your attitude to trying to entertain the viewers consistantly for 3 months.

If Chris were to lift the trophy with Ola - he will have achieved on merit and deservedly so.

I'm supporting Ali & Brian all the way but I am not complacent about them getting to the final. Bruno & Co could be right in saying that Ricky didn't get the votes because the public thought he was safe. Without a dance off no one is safe without the backing of the public.

But what difference does it make if she goes out this week or next?

She won't win so we are wasting our money voting for her

I agree, and although Ricky is clearly better than Chris, I would be much happier with an Ali-Chris final anyway. (Preferably with Ali winning)

I think that whilst Chris isnt as good as Ricky, his improvement throughout the series has been great to watch, whilst in all fairness, Ricky came in to the competiton as a great dancer, and will leave it a great dancer. Im not saying it should be a "most improved" competition, but then its pretty pointless for anyone like Chris or Natalie or to use a past contestant Letitia Dean to even bother showing up if their improvment will ultimatley make no difference. Chris will never be as good as Ricky, but considering how good Ricky is, he's made great progress in catching up to him, and I think that should be commended.


Though like I said, I think Ali should win

Excellent post.

I agree. I don't mean to be unkind but, I really can't see how he can out-dance Ricky or out-point Ali. Ali is loved by the judges and Chris is loved by the public, either way it's an Ali vs Chris final.

I'm just sad that we don't get to see Ricky's show dance. I'm so happy for him that he did his "easy" lift in the AS now.

It'll be a real shame if Ricky who is technically brilliant doesn't make it. He is streets ahead of Ali in skill so if it's got to be a Chis win then ok but I hope it's Ricky v Chris.

I'd just like to take you up on some of your statements.

I don't find Ricky sexy at all. He doesn't move in the 'sexy' way some of the pro dancers do.

Brian is much more popular than many of the pros. Fortuna's Fantastic on the BBC message boards has received around 8,000 postings.

Chris has achieved a degree of technical competence in some of his dances. They are the ones I prefer over his more showman numbers.

We are all influenced by factors that have nothing whatsoever to do with the dancing. If Chris & Ola win it will be for a variety of reasons and he will be no more meritorious than Ricky or Ali would be.

Just about sums it up really.....I really do wonder what all the fuss is about....For example how many times has the best dancer actually won Strictly.

Series 1...Natasha yes

Series 2...Jill yes

Series 3...Darren...no

Series 4... Mark ?? Was he technically better than Emma Bunton..umm...Possibly not

Series 5...Alesha yes..but only by a whisker...I personally thought Matt was better than Alesha in the final...but she was more consistent over the series

Series 6...Tom..No...Rachel was technically better...and many would argue that Austin was better than Tom as well

Series 7...???It ain`t over until the fat lady sings.

That was a worthwhile post, nice of you to add to the debate

What everyone seems to forget is that none of this is a forgone conclusion. We think we know who is getting the highest vote but we dont actually know for sure. Ricky and Ali have an advantage over Chris in that they will get more points from the judges (rightly so) If the public decide to change their votes then you could get a Ricky/Ali second weekend, I agree that at this stage it seems unlikely but he is just as vulnerable as the others really. This way with no dance off and just the vote they all have an equal chance with the dance off there was in possibility of unfairness not only for Chris but if Ali and Ricky had danced off the judges might have picked the one that the public didnt vote for which is just as unfair.

I think the highlighted parts are true of all three of them. I know Ali and Ricky have had less criticism but both have them have accepted it graciously also.

I think all three are nice people who have given their best for the duration of the competition and whichever wins deserves it.

Im not a Chris hater whatsoever (he's been my desired runner up since Jade left) but I have to say, he would easily be the weakest winner if and when he wins. I think what has people so riled about it is, even in the past when the better dancers havent won, the winner has always been strong anyway.

Darren was easily the weakest in the final 3, but certainly was one of the top 3 that year.

I personally think Mark was only slightly worse than Emma, as much as I wanted her to win. He was second best that year imo.

Tom wasnt as good as Rachel, but again deserved to be in the final. I personally prefered him dancing than Austin, so i'd call him the second best dancer.

Chris on the other hand is probably the fifth best celeb this year behind Ali, Ricky W, Jade and Zoe. Potentially even Laila if she had gotten a different pro, but from what she got, id say Chris is better than her.

Im not a Chris hater, dont let me stress that enough. I like a bit of Cola

Thank you Daisy - I agree entirely.

I would be happy for any of the final three to lift the trophy - they all have their own merits

You're wasting your money voting for either Ricky or Ali