Just curious. I'm watching from America and only have access to the scores and dances. Before Dani was eliminated, was it like a normal week, with judges' rankings and audience votes combining to determine the first elimination (without a dance-off this time)?

Or was it all up to the public vote, and her noticeably inferior performances actually garnered her fewer votes than DVO?

Certainly the latter is possible. But I read something in one of these threads to suggest the former. And certainly that would make more sense. DVO could have had 4 points from the judges and 1 point from the audience = 5 points. Dani would have had 2 points from the judges (due to the tie between Louis and DVO for first place), and no more than 2 points from the audience = 4 points, which is less than DVO.

In the final, the judges' marks are 'for guidance only'.

It's all decided on the public vote.

I think it was the public vote.

OK, thanks, that's what I originally thought. Though with the already-odd four-couple finals (all were deserving), I could see them doing whatever it took to get DVO through one last time.

I think nerves got to Dani tonight and it came through in her performance unfortunately. And however much a couple is disliked most people will vote on the dance quality in the final rather than personality. I think we're a fair minded enough nation to do that.