Or has there been another one in which the last three dancers left in were truly the best three dancers?

Last year no, Austin's year no, first year no. In between it gets a bit fuzzy, can anyone help?

(Please don't come on and say Scott was better than whoever. Wrong. I watched him like a hawk last weekend, had to blank out Natalie which was tough considering she was doing twice the work.)

What's the point in starting a thread and then telling us what not to say?

don't get that myself.

i thought that series 6 had a strong final i would replace tom with austin though.

Series 3
Zoe Ball, Colin Jackson & Darren Gough- Yes (although I don't think the correct person won)

Series 4
Emma Bunton, Matt Dawson & Mark Ramprakash - No
Much as I adored Matt, I think Louisa Lytton was better.

Series 5
Gethin Jones, Matt Di Angelo & Alesha Dixon - No, I think Gabby Logan should have been up there, instead of Matt Di Angelo (I'm ready for the backlash!)

Series 6
Lisa Snowdon, Rachel Stevens & Tom Chambers - No, I think Austin Healey was better than Rachel (I'm really in trouble now)

Series 7
Ali Bastian, Ricky Whittle & Chris Hollins - Yes!

I won't even comment on what you said for series 6, but Zoe and Jade were streets ahead of Chris Hollins dance wise, and that was in the opening weeks!

I thought Scott was better than Pamela .

Series 3 and that's your lot. I guess Series 5 was unavoidable because Kelly had to pull out.

Austin was better than Lisa and Tom (not Rachel)

I loved Chris Hollins but Zoe and Jade were better and also better allrounders than Ali

We never saw enough of Gaby Logan to really be able to make an informed comment.

This year ....I think at his best Scott was better than Pamela and Matt such a shame, the worst case of lost potential in any series I think.

Was Darren really the third best dancer that year? It doesn't say much for the standard back then I suppose his Ballroom was pretty decent at the end.

Patsy was alright, but her relationship with Anton was barely functional, and it showed on the floor. Apart from that, Jaye had potential I think, but went out very quickly. But yeah - third best I'd say.

I think his ballroom is gorgeous. His latin wasn't great but I can think of a few other in the top threes (Matt Dawson, Lisa Snowdon, Rachel Stevens, Ali Bastian), that's true of.

I wonder how many 10's Goughie would get now?

I'd say Tom, Rachel and Austin were top three of series 6. That would've been a fantastic final. I think Tom would've still won, but it would've been more of a contest.

Probably Ricky, Jade and Ali for last year. Although if someone is really technically good at dancing but no-one want to watch it are they really a good dancer?

Nobody's mentioned Series 2, even though it's the one where Julian Clary made the final despite never getting a score above 29 (and that was in the final itself) - must be some kind of record.

Having said that, it was a pretty dismal year, and somebody had to get that third place in the final to make up the numbers. The alternative would have been Aled Jones, who wasn't entirely bad, and he had the added benefit of dancing with Lilia.

I think the answer to the OP's question comes down to opinion about who were the best dancers in every series and we all know how divided opinions are on this!

It is easier for me to say who shouldn't have been in the final because their dancing wasn't good enough -

Series 1 - Chris Parker- should have been Lesley Garrett or Claire Sweeney
Series 2 - Julian Clary - it should have been Aled Jones
Series 3 - Happy enough with the finalists
Series 4 - Matt Dawson - should have been Louisa Lytton
Series 5 - This series had the most contenders - Gabby Logan, Kelly Brook, Gethin Jones, Matt Di Angelo and Alesha Dixon and any of them would have been worthy finalists. The BBC messed up big time by not making sure there were three couples in the final. Happy Alesha Dixon won.
Series 6 - Four contenders - Austin Healey, Lisa Snowdon, Rachel Stevens and Tom Chambers and yet again no provision for making sure of a 3 couple final. This series was spoiled for me by the ridiculous over marking by the judges. The contenders in series 5 were better than those in series 6, yet with their over marking the judges, succeeded in breaking records, to the point of rendering records worthless. The worst ever series.
Series 7 - Ali Bastian should have been part of a 3 couple final.

I'm sure he was.

Series 1,4 and 7 definitely didn't have the best three dancers make the final three.

Series 3, I think, definitely did although Darren was some way behind the other two.

Series 5 and 6 are open to discussion although it's arguable that the top three in each case were good enough to be there. In series 5 there's an argument for Gabby (possibly) but as Jan (above) says - we didn't really have enough evidence. There's a better argument for Kelly but circumstances meant that wasn't possible. Series 6 only had 4 real contenders and 3 of them made the final. Many people would say that Austin should have been there ahead of either Lisa or Tom (or even Rachel judging from the post above but in terms of ability I think that's incorrect) and I'd agree but it was close.

In your opinion

I'm glad there are 3 good dancers in the final. It makes a nice change.

Although one person doesn't make "no-one", this is exactly the reason why I wasn't keen on Rachel making the final. She may have been good technically, but I found her utterly uninteresting. A cold fish. But I was on my own then, and it looks like I still am!

Series 6 the last three were the best. Same with series 5 - Matt and Alesha were the best dancers that year. Series 3 also had the best three left, if I remember right.

Brilliant analysis..in other words, I agree entirely.
I particularly like your summing up of series 5 and 6, looking back series 5 was a cracker, and series 6 was marred by the over-marking.
The current series ?.. I would have chosen Scott in front of Pamela, but it's not something I regard as a travesty of justice..it was just a close call, in my opinion. But then who knows how Jimi or Tina might have fared with a few more weeks ?..both looked promising, and didn't deserve to go so early.

It's entirely subjective so yes, in previous years lots of other people will think the best three (or usually two) dancers have been in the final.

Austin was robbed.....

Yes, that's why I said I'm sure, not everyone is sure.

There are 3 good dancers left in, just not the 3 best

Not sure about best three - that is down to personal opinion! But is this the first series when the finalists have never been bottom two?

Of previous finals, I know Ricky, Alesha and Matt DA were all bottom 2 at some point and I think Tom was? Matt Dawson was bottom 2 in week 1 if my memory serves me correct but I can't remember back further than that!