I know there was a negative thread about Chris that had some kind of a ranking going on, but it wasn't the OP's original intention. So here's the 'official' thread about how you would rank the SCD winners of the past seven series.

For me, it's

(1) Jill (excellent both in ballroom and latin, performance and technique-wise)

(2) Alesha (excellent both in ballroom and latin, excellent performance, but technique was sometimes lacking, esp. in latin)

(3) Tom (I actually think he's a very competent dancer, both in his latin and ballroom, and while his technique may not be as good as Rachel, he made up for it in his performance)

(4) Mark (though Mark does latin BETTER than Tom, his ballroom can be unnatural to watch, except his Waltz, which I felt was underscored)

(5) Chris (very entertaining, quite a good dancer, but let down by his latin. Made up for it with the new category dances like Charleston and Lindy Hop though)

(6) Natasha (don't understand her supposed charm or talent, from what I could see in youtube, she's average at best)

(7) Darren. Awkward ballroom, and very dire latin dances. Not sure HOW he got the giltter ball AT ALL. Saw most of his performance in youtube and his Paso was especially cringe-inducing.

Is this in terms of ability or favourites?

Favourites

1. Alesha
2. Mark
3. Chris
4. Jill
5. Natasha
6. Tom
7. Darren

Ability

1. Jill
2. Alesha
3. Mark
4. Tom
5. Chris
6. Natasha
7. Darren

1) Jill. Only ever watched her on YouTube and last year's Xmas special but I think she is great.
2) Alesha. Of all Strictly dances I ever watch on YT, I watch hers the most.
3) Tom. Captured me from the start as could dance both Latin and Ballroom. I love his AS, QS, Paso and Showdance.
4) Mark. Only ever watched on YT but his AT was great. Didnt like his partner though.
5) Chris. Nice guy. Average dancer.
6) Darren. I liked his AS in the Xmas special but his dancing is appalling at best.
7) Natasha. The woman repels me.

Just put your justifications beside the name you rank, it doesn't really matter. But if you are going to be this specific, you may produce two leaderboards.

Yes I'm going to do two

Ability:
[LIST=1][*]Jill[*]Alesha[*]Ramps[*]Tom[*]Darren[*]Natasha[*]Chris[/LIST]
Favourites:
[LIST=1][*]Ramps[*]Alesha[*]Chris[*]Natasha[*]Jill[*]Tom[*]Darren[/LIST]

I have to say my jaw drops to the the floor when you rank Chris' ability below Keplunk!

Ability:
[LIST=1][*]Jill [*]Alesha [*]Mark[*]Natasha [*]Tom [*]Darren [*]Chris[/LIST]
Favourites:
[LIST=1][*]Jill [*]Tom [*]Chris [*]Alesha [*]Natasha [*]Mark[*]Darren[/LIST]

1. Mark - first celeb I really supported on Strictly and I still watch all his dances now
2. Chris - highlight of this series for me and I've adored watching him dance. Plus he was paired with my favourite professional
3. Alesha - her and Matthew were a great partnership and I still watch her cha cha on YT
4. Jill - I've only ever seen her on YT (and xmas special/tour) but some of her dances were incredible. And of course that jive.
5. Tom - I supported Tom towards the end of the series but I didn't actually like him until his QS. I was really happy that he won though and he did one of the best showdances in SCD history IMO.
6. Darren - I've watched him and Colin on YT and I by far preferred Colin. I can't really recall any of his dances I've watched and enjoyed.
7. Natasha - I've never liked Natasha and I can barely sit through one of her dances.

Protect me from the backlash!

Everyone knows I love Chris, as my second list proves, but his Latin wasn't great - he never really got the hang of the hip action so the Cha Cha, Salsa and Samba were all non-starters for me. Then there was the issue with his hands...

Natasha's execution looked better to me.

I think I agreed with one of your posts expressing the same thing in another thread, and agree more here with the added justifications!

Now that you put it this way... Hmm. I am easily persuaded or what?!

1. Alesha - Strong in both Ballroom and Latin (stronger in Ballroom)
2. Jill - Very strong in Latin, not as strong in Ballroom
3. Tom - Strong to a degree in both, better than people give him credit for
4. Mark - Latin strong (apart from Jive and Rumba), Ballroom not so great (apart from the AT)
5. Chris - Good at Ballroom, OK at Latin, excelled in the Charleston
6. Natasha - Good at both, but standard not as high as subsequent series
7. Darren - Good at Ballroom, Latin was poor

I preferred Alesha's personality hence why I put her above Jill; but those are the best 2 for me

Gee. Thanks!

Ability:

1. Jill
2. Ramps
3. Alesha
4. Tom
5. Darren
6. Chris
7. Natasha

Favourites:

1. Ramps
2. Chris
3. Jill
4. Alesha
5. Darren
6. Tom
7. Natasha

#1 Jill best by miles
#2 Alesha
#3 Mark
#4 Darren
#5 Tom
#6 Natasha
#7 Chris worst by miles

My fave winner was Ramps though, I loved that season.

I wish

I'll behave don't worry!

Natasha looked more of a natural mover. I really liked her Samba, for example.

What Chris lacked in technique though, he more than made up for in spirit

1. Tom
2. Alesha
3. Chris
4. Jill
5. Mark
6. Darren
7. Natasha

I have to concede, that since Natasha was doing the first series, nobody expected her to be really technically accomplished. So maybe by natural talent alone, she just pipped Chris that way.

alesha was the best imo

i also loved natasha but acknowledge her dancing although the best of series one would not be a patch on subsequent winners.

Jill i can't stand - never saw what the fuss was about her.

Haha no worries

I find it a tad off-putting when the judges compare contestants to Alesha as if she was the great goddess of dance! For me, Jill and Rachel are probably the best female technical dancers ever, with Colin and probably Ricky Whittle holding the men's side.

..And the less said about Darren Gough the better

She's one of those winners who I've become less fond of as time has elapsed.

Not her fault but because they won't stop showing us that damn Jive! Yes we know it was good, but we don't need to be shown it every year!

1. Jill
2. Mark
3. Alesha
4. Chris
5. Tom
6. Darren
7. Natasha

1. Tom (only beating Chris because he's a better dancer. I love both personalities equally.)
2. Chris
3. Jill
4. Darren
5. Natasha
6. Mark
7. Alesha

1. Alesha (also loved Gethin and Matt that year. Best year ever for ability)
2. Mark (still get hot flushes thinking of Mark dancing)
3. Darren (having just watched the two xmas specials i think hes so much better than people remember, including me)
4. Tom (was overshadowed by Austin for the most part but was a great dancer in his own right)
5. Jill (good but never excited me and all i can see when i watch the jive is her dress caught in her heel)
6. Natasha (can barely remember her, she was good at times but wouldn't have faired well against later competitors imo)
7. Chris (got the entertainment factor spot on but the weakest winner in terms of dance ability)