Darren Gough. His journey was a confection, his dancing was frequently mediocre, and he was an utter pillock.

(I still think he danced better than either Chris or Kerplunk, but I thought they were both far more personally engaging)

Totally agree with you about Lisa & Austin.

Natasha wouldn't do at all well in today's competition. But I guess the only good celebrity they had in Series 1 was Lesley Garrett.

Um.......I've liked all the winners (and I didn't mind Lisa Snowden either).

It was after seeing Darren Gough's progress during that particular series, that I decided to take up dance lessons again. Sure there are dancers who should have won the series if technique were the only consideration, but it's those who reveal an unexpected talent (and enthusiasm) who are the inspiration as far as I'm concerned. I think it's a shame that there is so much negative feeling about the celebs that win.

Darren Gough, lumpen and stompy even at the end

Would be interesting to compare the winners individual dance routines

Who had the best foxtrot etc etc

Do you mean in terms of scores Tissy?

I think the judges have become softer over the years so high scores now don't mean as much as they did a few years back.

It's like GCSE's!

No Sid - just our <expert> opinions

Most of the previous winners had just one or two stand out dances - CH - Charlston - TC - Showdance etc etc

Whereas I think Jill and Alesha had quite a few memorable routines.

Ah right, that's ok then

Like you say, I think the audience opts for consistency some years (e.g. Alesha) and journeys on other years (e.g. Chris and Darren). Or they're just plain drunk and don't know what they're doing such as when they voted Tom the winner

Has to be Natasha and Brendan, I mean who in their right mind voted for a partnership involving Brendan to win.

Goughie, shockingly enough for a cricketer was very likeable, his ballroom was gorgeous and he had the lovely Lillia with him.

As for Cola, who challenged them, neither Ricky nor Ali did enough to get the public vote, not Chris' fault Ali and Brian barely had a personality between them, Ali couldn't do latin, Natalie made herself unlikeable before the first dance, Ricky couldn't train a lot and got arrested.

Tom was a country mile more entertaining than the fembot's Stevens and Snowdon, who were also not helped by overcompetitive pros. Also what Rachel fans tend to forget is that if the judges, Bruno in particular not tried to cheat she may not have made the final at all. Also her top ballroom and latin scores are only one point ahead of Tom's.

No-one stayed awake during Rachel's dances to vote for her after them.

Ramps - Salsa, AT, samba, waltz, VW, Tango, showdance

Tom - both jives, AS, quickstep, tango, salsa, foxtrot (best ever on Strictly IMO) showdance.

Chris - both rumba, AS, foxtrot, charleston, AT, Lindy hop, showdance.

lol! - OK I'll give you that one

Because it was ther first series and no-one knew him that well?

Darren Gough - I could not believe he won against Colin Jackson and Zoe Ball!!

Chris Hollins - nice chap but just average dancer and I could not stand his starfish hands with every dance - should have been corrected. Ricky was robbed amazing dancer.

I have been quite surprised by the number of people saying Chris Hollins as he was so popular with posters last year!!

What she said ... and West End choreographer Matthew Bourne called Tom a beautiful dancer. So certainly not an undeserving winner. His foxtrot is quite possibly my fave dance ever.

I've loved every single winner. Didn't mind who won out of Chris or Ricky, voted for all the other winners 'cept Natasha cos I didn't see that series. So possibly that does cloud my judgment - all my faves have won

I accept I may have used the wrong word when I said "undeserving" - but on the spur of the moment, couldn't think of an alternative - 'unexpected' or 'unlikely'; something like that, might have been preferable?

Changing the subject, but still talking about the winners, when it gets down to the final 2 couples, everything they've done before goes by the board, and it's really all down to the showdance. Because of this - do you think they should do as they do in Dance with the Stars? In that, all 3 finalist couples dance a recap of a previous dance, and then their showdance.
Then one couple is eliminated. The final 2 couples then dance a third dance - this way, as I see it, the winner is down to more than just the showdance. Just a thought?!

Colin was better than Goughie - he paid dearly for Erin's muppets - but sorry Chris fans he was less able than Ricky and Tom wasn't as good as Rachel.

imo.

I don't think the showdance has ever made a difference to be fair. I think they've just been rather lucky that in the few cases of an undeniably poor showdance, they've come from a losing finallist.

Incidentally, in DWTS, the showdance is the last dance open to public vote. The others are danced on the Results Show, after phonelines have closed. Which, as they have a % based scoring system, with judge input counting right to the winner, has produced bad feeling of its own with people accusing the judges of marking knowing the public vote results in order to give their favoured contestant the win.

Great, sensible post. I think I actually voted for all the winners too - that doesn't necessarily mean that they were my favourites in their respective series (although quite a few were: Jill, Tom, Mark, probably Natasha although didn't really watch Series 1) but when it came down to the final they were who I wanted to win. I think all the winners had something special. The only one I didn't vote for in the final was Chris, but then only because when it came down to the final I thought both Chris & Ricky shone & couldn't really pick a winner.

Quote Ignazio - "but sorry Chris fans he was less able than Ricky and Tom wasn't as good as Rachel".
True in terms of judges marks, but everything is subjective, and at least in the case of Tom he had some absolutely fabulous & memorable dances in my opinion that Rachel just couldn't quite live up to, despite the fact that technically she was excellent.

Really?

Jill - jive, paso, cha cha, samba, foxtrot
Alesha - salsa, cha cha, foxtrot, waltz, VW, QS, tango
Colin - rumba, QS, AS (how I wish I could include showdance in that...)

Well it was stand out - just in the wrong way!

This is the recurring debate, should you crown a couple for their consistently high standards (league winner) or for one exhilarating display in the Big Match (FA Cup winner)? The world champiionship is decided by the league criteria over 5 dances, but the Strictly electorate appear to prefer an FA Cup style showdown. Tom won by his Showdance as did Chris. And Darren Gough?

Woe betide a consistent couple who on Final night do not sparkle like a skyrocket.

I don't understand all this Darren Gough knocking.