I was not a fan of Tom last year but I felt really sorry for him tonight.

Lisa and Rachel got to dance and he was sitting on his own in the audience and then Tess sat down acknowledged him briefly and then turned her back on him to tolk to Chris Moyles and the boxer. I understand why Camilla was not dancing with him but you would think he could have danced with one of the other girls wouldnt you.

Should have been either with Erin or Rachel imo or even Katya since Phil has flu.

And Tess's ponytail nearly took his eye out.

Yeah, I didnt quite get that either actually.
When it was said that Rachel and Lisa would be on, I assumed that Tom was busy and couldn't make it...but he either didn't want to dance with a pro other than Camilla, or he simply wasn't asked. A bit strange really!

Yep, had the same feeling. A shame about that really.

He sd on a programme I caught yesterday - not sure which on - that he had been too busy with Waterloo road to practice.

I thought that was truly odd:

"Look it's Tom! But I'm going to talk to some dude who's the friend of that guy who was knocked out weeks ago for being rubbish! And Chris Moyles...!"

I dont.Explain more please

I also find it strange that he's not in this years Xmas Special either when he was last years show winner....
and yet Rachel was in last years special, danced tonight...and is also in this years Xmas special on Monday!!

I actually really like Rachel and love watching her dance, but I do think her Xmas Special place should have been allocated to someone else who wasnt already taking part in tonights show.

Maybe other people weren't available or dropped out, and Rachel stepped in Doubt it's some form of conspiracy.

Surely if it was that he didn't want to dance with another pro they could've said something.

It's weird the way different winners are treated by the show:

Alesha seems to be the goddess at who's temple we must worship.

Jill is amazing, but you'd think she only ever did the jive.

Mark: as above, but he only did the AT & Salsa.

Tom & Goughie: I'm sorry, did they win? Are you sure it wasn't Rachel Stevens and Zoe Ball?

I assumed that as he isn't doing the Xmas special because of other commitments, that likewise those commitments may have prevented rehearsal for the final too. And he did dance at the beginning of the series, so perhaps the producers decided to bring the others back, like they did with Jill and Penny at Blackpool, for a bit of variety.

Well I might be wrong but I assumed that Camilla wouldnt dance with him because

a. She said she wouldnt be back on Strictly as a dancer and
b. She now works for GMTV so perhaps there are problems there.

Yes but she did dance on show 1 this year.

I just presumed she meant she wouldnt do a whole series ever again

Yes she did but that was before she went to work for GMTV. I think (might be wrong) that she was on ITT at the beginning of the series too but then that stopped too.

He was too busy to dance. So it was him apparently.

If only that had stopped Fiona Phillips, Kate Garroway and Andrew Castle.

Camilla retired from Strictly; Tom has work commitments. No big deal really is it, no strange conspiracy. The previous year's champion and/or previous contestants haven't always performed during the next series.

I think that is such a shame.

I was so looking forward to seeing them do their show dance again and I was also hoping to see them in the Christmas Special.

I know a lot of celebs hope to get more work from their exposure on SCD and I wish Tom well, but I really wanted to see him dance again with Camilla as the out going champions.

In fact, I'd like it to be part of their contracts.

I don't get the big fuss - didn't he dance with Camilla on the 1st show? I personally would have preferred not to have endured him again on show 1, never mind again in the final

I thought Tom was there to present the Glitterball to the winners...that would be a nice touch...

They did the showdance on the first show of the series didnt they. I know it was a long long time ago Buddy

I can understand him not being able to dance.

Just seemed a shame that Tess didn't spend more that 5 seconds with him.
Bit rude i thought

I was not bothered that he didn't dance or that the interview with him by Tess was short lived. What did bother me was when Tess came along and said "it's Tom Chamber," sat down and then turned away from him!

Surely she should have spoken to him first and then the other two guys. I think Tom himself looked a little stunned by it all.

Me too - she did that last year too but worse, she didn't even acknowledge them - forget who now