I cannot disagree - but nor would I give credence to unsubstantiated assurances.

I would like Hayley to win because the contestant that I am backing (I always back the underdog)will never win. I'd like him to come 2nd.

I'm not convinced yet. I think it depends who she's up against. I don't think Kieron or Danny can be ruled out.

Does the contestant have a name...???

You know its Danny, you always respond to Danny posts (In a nice way). Sorry but I so want him to have a job. And Yes I think he does try very hard and yet people dont like him.

Lol, honestly I'm not very good at remembering who supports who! I know gazb2 supports Hayley, and Strictly Irish supports Gary, but that's about the limits of my mental capacity.

I'd quite like Danny to get to the final (just not at the expense of Kieron, obviously! )

totally true

Hayley deserves to win, she is better than any of them that are left.

I think Hayley's vote was probably tested for the 1st time tonight (not top & a bit of a dull routine) & she came through.

Final will be set up for her with Jai Ho being her repeat dance & the flying which will suit her down to the ground as she is right build & height and dance trained.

So in answer to the thread title I think Hayley will win.

I think she's 'virtually' certain to win. Not a fan but she's miles ahead of the rest and deserves to win.

She won it with the Jai Ho routine which was for her the equivalent of Mark Ramps Salsa and Chris Hollin's Charleston. None of the others have really pulled out the same kind of showstopper...yet and we've only effectively one week to go. As in Day After Tomorrow, the time has come and gone my friend. It's a matter of holding the nerve now and not dropping the ball for one moment and she'll walk it.

I find her very likeable , and out of the one's left she is the better skater and deserves to win.

I dont want her to win,but think she will.

Although Hayley has lead (nearly) all of the way and therefore must be the favourite, I don't think she is as far ahead of the field as Ray was last year, and therefore there is the chance of an 'upset'.
Although some people find her cheesiness a bit grating (sorry!), I think to many she comes across as a talented, hardworking trier who doesn't moan and probably deserves the win. The main difference from last year is that in the past couple of weeks we've reached a stage where any of the remaining contestants is capable of producing something really stunning given the right routine. Some viewers just save their votes for the final and, if another skater comes up with something really fun and crowd-pleasing, Hayley might just miss out. I think that's made it a much more interesting competition this year.

After last saturday I wouldn`t discount Daniella.

Can I ask a question please?

Is the voting the same in the final as it is during the rest of the series?

And no, in answer to the OP's question, its not a dead cert that Hayley will win - its likely - but anything can happen!!

Judges votes don't count in the final.

I don't think Hayley will win - she deserves to but I have a sneaky feeling that Gary will.

He is much better technically but lacks that certain "crackle" that is known as charisma when he skates. I don't think that can be taught - and Hayley has it in buckets when she performs.

Until the final itself it's so hard to know ... I was SURE Chris Fountain was assured of the win ... and then Suzanne pulled it out of the bag to nick it from him!!

I don't think last year was a surprise at all because Ray was SO far ahead of the others.

This year there are strengths and weaknesses in the final four ... and I think it's still up for grabs.

I think Hayley SHOULD win and I hope she does. But as we know, when the public are involved, anything can happen!

thank you

As lots of people have said, it's hard to predict. The results in the final don't always reflect the rest of the series, largely I suspect because lots more people vote in the final who have never voted before. By their very nature, those people are less likely to be "attached" to any one contestant - based on the fact that they haven't felt strongly enough to vote up to that point.
I think for that reason, Gary's lack of "crackle" you describe may actually make him less likely to win since he may well not produce a performance which "wows" the new floating voters during the final.

As to past voting, we have been told that Hayley has topped viewers votes (how true that is we don't know), but having said that, the same leaked results showed Mikey topping the voting just before he went out!

I think this week will be key.

It's a chance for one of the others to out-skate her so clearly that it has to be reflected in the marks.

But if Hayley is top with the judges this week, I don't think anyone will be able to beat her. Skating's her weakest link. If they can't even out-skate her by enough to matter, they may as well give up.

I thought Chris Fountain was a cert to win, he topped the votes every week until this point really when Suzanne stepped up her game, so I think with the public anything can happen and their is every chance the public may get fed up of her being top of the leaderboard everyweek and vote for someone else. I think if Daniella gets the right routines she could beat her. I wouldn't be shocked if she didn't win.

Lol funny that Hayley isn't likeable in your opinion, I don't think Ray was at all likeable either tbh.

Anyway, I hope she doesn't win purely because it bores me when the obvious wins lol, that said though, the winners aren't always the most popular afterwards..

But anyway, I just hope the public actually take notice of what the others do in the final & don't just vote for Hayley because she made Karen cry after her fantastic flying routine & completely made Jason lost for words - yes people, it is so scripted, I will actually throw a party if that doesn't happen on final night.

She so deserves to win with Kiaron 2nd, like Ray last year she is so much better than the others now.