Which ballroom is Chris doing for the final?

His Latin is deffo the Charleston.

Ricky is doing:

Latin: Cha Cha Cha
Ballroom: Quickstep

Chris and Ola are doing the foxtrot.

I think that the Charleston for the latin category is a big mistake for Chris. I'd have thought a dramatic latin dance would've given their four-dance performances more contrast. The Charleston and Lindy are light and lively, and the foxtrot isn't dramatic.

Now I'm wondering what they're going to do for their showdance. Another lively dance or (oh no!) surely not one of those posturing, circus style, acrobatic dances?

It's most likely going to have less impact than the first time around - especially as since then his gurning has come in for even more criticism plus the routine was already criticized for not having particularly much content.....

He's possibly shooting himself in the foot with this one - I can see Ricky and Natalie improving on their chacha, even if it was more recent than Chris's, yet somehow I can't see Chris's Charleston improve...

I disagree, think Chris will do better with the lively fun dances <crowd pleasers !> especially since his Rumba didn`t improve much from the first time -

He`s got this in the bag imo.

I don't know it sounds like there are going to be 3 very similar dances from Chris in the final

I think the BBC will pick up the floating viewers this week now XF has finished - those who just want entertainment and not really bothered or interested in the technical side of dance.

I disagree.

I do as well, I think it's fairly close as to who wins, which is the reason I'm looking forward to Saturday.

Yes, I think the final is going to be a corker!

X factor audience will also include a HUGE amount of teenage girls who may be more likely to vote for the hunk Whittle than some obscure (to them) BBC presenter.

I don't think it's as clearcut as some people are saying - and crowd pleasing dances with less content can work - 1 out of 4, 2 out of 4 perhaps - 3 out of 4 will be too much.

yes I think so..............

Well, I hope Chris & Ola's freestyle routine is markedly different in style from Charleston/Lindy-Hop, or the evening will get very repetitive.

In principle, though, I would have preferred Chris & Ola to do one of the 'standard' Latin dances in the final.

Aha! Perhaps a ploy by the BBC to ensure that Ricky appears more versatile and so takes the trophy home?

Hurrah! Another conspiracy theory!

I'd agree, although I can see why, although the Charlston wasn't that long ago for the regular viewer, SCD can expect to pick up floating viewers for the final, and thus there will be, perhaps, a large percentage that haven't see it before and it is a crowd pleaser, so might secure votes. However I'd have preferred a standard Latin and a Charlston based show dance from them.

Don't think anyone's got this in the bag, Ricky proved that with a great performance he can get the votes, Chris has a steady strong fanbase - this may well all come down to the floating voter/viewer so it's all to play for Saturday night

Why start that again ?

We were discussing quite amiably about his routines. Is healthy discussion not allowed anymore if it involves Chris?

I'm thinking Ola would have preferred to be dancing the Lindy Hop seperately, so she could chose a tune to suit Chris's style and ability and choreograph to suit him.

Ricky, because of his ability, will be capable of adapting well no matter what the music is, and is always going to out dance Chris.

So the decision to have them dance it together does not do Chris any favours. (Just slipping that in for all the BBC conspiracy theorists.)

I thought Chris loooked pretty good at the LH last night in midweek update

I thought so too.

Ricky is doing three lively dances too, actually. Should be a fun show!

Oh yes Fun and lively - hope they throw caution to the wind and just thoroughly enjoy themselves at the same time as entertaining the public.

Was getting bored with all the injuries and seriousness of everything.

I was being ironic - really! Sorry you missed it ...

And contrary to what some posters might like to say, of course healthy discussion involving Chris is fine. Unfortunately, we keep getting threads where people claiming to want that simultaneously insult his supporters.

It should be easy to differentiate and therefore ignore those posts - don`t give them the attention they are seeking.

Yes,but he has it in the bag anyway doesn't he .. they could come out and do an 'Erin' and still win .. they could come out and fall over and still win .. I suspect they could come out and just play a game of monopoly and win.

It's already done and dusted.
The Charleston is generally believed to be his best dance ... though he hardly did any Charleston steps .. (no swivelling feet at all) but then there was the same complaint for his Samba and Rumba, perhaps he will put that right in his performance on Saturday .. but not going by the training footage yesterday ... where he was as flat footed as ever when he was mirroring Ola.

He shouldn't be allowed to do it .. it's not a latin dance, if anything it is ballroom, but as I said before it's all irrelevant.

I am looking forward to Natalie's routines because she is such a clever choreographer and their routines from the beginning have been stunning.

I'm looking forward to the choice of music too .... that is such a key factor of whether you can engage in a routine or not .. showdance especially.

Talking of showdances all of the videos for literal versions of songs has got me thinking about how much I'd like to see a showdance recreating the very literal dance moves I used to do to wham's "wake me up before you go go" at the school disco. The highlight of which was me pretending to play with yoyo

Perhaps you should take this up with the choreographer who staged this routine in the first place? Ola didn't do it (outside choreographers did all the dances that week - stated clearly on ITT) so neither she, nor Chris, can really be held responsible. Can they?

Not that I expect you to change your mind, of course - -but let's at least get our facts right.