i have to say that i am disappointed that Sophie did not win but i am happy for Danielle although not sure if it is just me or did her reaction seem at bit fake? i mean she didnt seem too shocked at winning and seemed to be a bit smug as if she knew she would win. might just have been me but thats how i saw it.

Well, she didn't descend into floods of hysterical tears or other such histrionics as previous winners have done, which would have been fake, given Danielle's basically introverted personality type. I was particularly impressed with the mature and gracious way all three finalists handled the results, actually. They showed that they all winners.

Lily Cole, one of the most stunning people in fashion today.

And Sarah Ferguson, she still pops up now and again

I don't think Danielle was smug I think she was holding back some emotion and may have been a little unsure how to react.

I've not been entirely convinced by this series it's been the weakest in terms of the contestants and in terms of the comments of the panel. I think ALW may consider that JP and Charlotte Church were not the strongest choices to have alongside Sheila Hancock. Partridge played up Stephanie's potential before she was given Mr Bojangles and then clapped her off after rubbishing her performances that night. He also suggested a few weeks ago that Steph would definitely be in the final.

Charlotte Church frequently interrupted JP when he was giving his opinion on performances as if because she's been a singer and released an album she could lecture him on what he was saying about the girls singing. Charlotte Church's comments were often very generalised and illustrated her lack of experience as an actress on the stage. I can barely remember talking in any detail about any of the girls' acting ability. Sheila Hancock didn't need to say that she didn't understand what the words of pop songs meant but she appeared to empathise most accurately from someone who had been in the west end what it was all about.

I just think that the other shows with John Barrowman and Denise Van Outen as the judges had more credibility. I also think ALW found it hard to understand or comment on what Charlotte Church or JP was saying about the girls.

Nah, it's just you (and a few other sore losers - j/k!!!) I haven't actually seen it myself so I should probably have refrained from commenting but tbh I don't get any sense of smugness from Danielle at all - I think she's a very humble and down-to-earth girl who can't quite believe how well she's done and probably doesn't even realise just how talented and highly-rated she is, especially in theatre circles.

It's the introvert thing again... Look at the pic from the dailyFail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...ns-finale.html

I dont think she expected it any more than the other finalists. For me, her face was doing all sorts of extroadinary things it doesnt normally do in the final song

They showed clips of all the finalists offstage in this show which I think made this much obvious: you cannot judge their personalities by what you see on the live program. Danielle and Lauren both look devastated in some of the clips offstage, and Sophie has some much more confident, happy moments than she shows on stage!

I dont think anyone can be expected to act exactly as themselves in front of a massive audience...would you?!

Charles Dance is ginger I think.

Lily who? and as for the other one..don't remind me. lol

Besides I still said on TV regularly and niether of those two are..

I think although Sophie outsang Danielle tonight, I was happy with the result.

Danielle has been the most consistent performer, I think - and outshone most of the other Dorothys in the tasks.

I'm so sad the show is finito though I want moooore!

I was happy with the final result. I'd have preferred Jenny or Steph, but Danielle was my favourite of the three finalists. It was a pleasant surprise too, as I'd expected Sophie to win.

Felt sorry for Lauren going first, but that was certainly no surprise.

It's all over now and I am sad about that.
The result was a little too predictable but I am glad that Lauren and Sophie took it so well. All the best to both of them and I want go and see any show they are in. Also Jessica and Steph.
I shall definately go and see The Wizard Of Oz, but not necessarilly just to hear Danielle sing. It just looks colourful and fun.

I really enjoyed the last ten weeks of this show and will miss it.

I'm content with the result. The girls were all quite stunning to be honest. I expected Lauren to be voted out first. But that doesn't mean she wasn't good. She was outstanding as were Sophie and Danielle. Especially in the Dorothy group performance I found them all to be a perfect fit for Dorothy. It left me a bit confused. They were right, any one of the finalists could've played the part. For a moment I thought Sophie was gonna surprise everyone but I guess Danielle was destined to win the role after all. And she'll make a great Dorothy! No doubt about that!

Loved all three Over The Rainbow performances. I could definitely see Dorothy in all of them. It suited their voices beautifully. Lauren's was rather classic, probably the best vocal like they said. Thought Sophie did it brilliant! She had a real old mixed with modern feel to her during that song. I was amazed at how natural she looked when in character. as Dorothy. And Danielle, also did it very natural, and again acted quite subtle.

Also wanted to mention that I would've adored Sophie as Dorothy after last night cause she brought all she had in her heart to the table. She really took some high risks with her performances and proved to be at her best yet. For that alone she has to be praised. Also loved the way she handled her defeat. That just shows she has such a wonderful personality!
It was probably a very close match between the two of them, think almost 50/50 really. Think Danielle won because of her 'Mambo Italiano' although Sophie's 'Reflection' was also better than the first time. Weird that the judging panel didn't get to choose their Dorothy as they did in the previous shows. But I'm almost sure they all would've said Danielle in the end.

All together we got a worthy winner. Danielle was one of the right choices. But that would've also been the case if Sophie, or even Lauren got it. I've enjoyed the show very much. What a pity that I just got to follow/watch it cause now I regret I didn't get to watch it earlier. Would've been interesting as to see who developed to be my topfavourite cause I actually felt the final girls standing were almost equally great. To all the people who made it possible, I'd say a big thank you! Cause now we discovered a whole new bunch of talented performers. The journey to Oz was really amaaazing! Will miss it, even though I didn't tune in that long ago!

The best of luck to all the girls! Especially Sophie and Lauren. I'm sure they will find their way. There's something out there waiting for them. There just is! I wish them all the best!
And for Danielle/Dorothy: Have a blast creating your very own Dorothy. Now that you've won this big competition, don't let it change you! Lots of succes Danielle! or should I say Dorothy...

That was a lovely read, thank you and I agree completely with your sentiments.

Actually I thought it far less predictable than any of the three previous A;LW shows. There was never any real doubt from the beginning that Connie would win HDYSAPLM or that Jodie would win IDA, nor was there about Lee winning ADWD after Paint It Black. But in OTR all three finalist girls had been in the bottom 2, and nothing seemed certain. Even as the last two girls stood head-to-head I thought Sophie would probably win it.

Actually, I wasn never convinced that Lee was going to win ADWD (though I thought he deserved to), and in IDA, I thought Jessie was going to win. Connie in HDYSAPLM was probably the most obvious, but that was because she was the only finalist not to have been in the bottom two during the series. Both ADWD and IDA had two finalists who hadn't been in the bottom two.

With a public vote, anything can (and often does) happen.

Although particually liking both Sophie and Steph's vocals, and wishing Steph had also made the final. I will readily admit that Lauren probably had the best, most polished voice in the competition. Being older and more experienced with her training would have helped her though. I think Lauren is more suited to a more adult role than Dorothy with her maturer vocals and look though, and think that might be the reason she didn't get the votes the others got, nothing to do with being disliked at all, and have no doubt she will go far in a Westend career

Well, they were more predictable for me, that's all I can say!

It was nothing to do with not having been in the bottom two; I just knew from the beginning that Connie's resemblance to Julie Andrews and Jodie's personality were pretty well certain to win it for them. And Lee's Paint It Black was such a knockout that I didn't feel he could fail after that.