for the formula for working out how the winner will be decided. They have known for weeks it would only be a two couple final so why the secret? Were they waiting to find out who was in the Final before deciding which is if so, to be blunt, disgraceful. I know I will get shot down for this but I want to have a bet on Ricky and Natalie because on dancing ability which is what this show is about, the clue is in the title, they would win easily but for some reason they are not favourites. Don't get me wrong I like TeamCola, Chris used to play for my football club, Aldershot Town so I have nothing against him. It is just that IMHO they should not be in the Final. It is as if the public have got their revenge on the judges for last year and got the "limited" dancer to the Final at the expense of an obviusly better one(Ali). Anyone out there know when we will know, nothing on the official site?

Have I missed something? What don't we know? Judges (2 points and 1 point), public (2 points and 1 point), public trumps judges in tie. Yes?

Well obviously after the "no dance off" surprise in the semi, the bbc could still have a twist or two up its sleeve but I'd have thought that the final will be the same as it's always been.

That is, the couples will dance, the judges will score and the public will vote. The judges' scores will form part of the final tally but as there are only two left and public vote takes precedence, they won't matter in practical terms.

In effect, the judges' scores are for guidance only in the final; votes are what count. If you're not confident about Ricky out-polling Chris I'd save your money.

What's the confusion

As previous poster said, it'll be the way it's always been, public vote and judges scores put into a points system and added up. In a two couple final however, the public vote takes precedence as previous poster explained.

Or in simple Lehmans terms, Chris has it in the bag.

Yes you have ,on the official site it states "specific rules on how voting will work on the Final will be published nearer the time". Back to you.

Only difference I thought was the Judges don't mark - only comment?

No, they still mark for the first few dances, but in previous years the last couple of dances weren't marked, only commented on (when the third couple drops out if there is one). I presume that's how it will be again this year.

Oh I think that's merely to cover any eventuality such as a couple dropping out or a Tom Chambers b*lls up. That's probably been on there since the start of the series when they weren't sure what, if anything, might go wrong.

I honestly can't see the rules changing from any previous two couple final. The decision between the final two has always been solely the choice of the public; I really doubt it's going to be any different this year.