why are people upset about the result and saying such and such didnt deserve to win the title or that someone else deserved to win?

As with any programme that relies on the public vote, you know beforehand that talent might not be enough to win.

Remember that rubbish bloke from Holby winning one year?

Why can't people realise it is a bit of light entertainment and that the final results might not be truly accurate of the contestants ability.

Personally I thought the best man won on the night. His showdance especially was magnificent. He gave me and the Missus goosebumps, whereas the other three did not.

I'm delighted that Flavia won with Louis. Flavia has been my favourite from day one.

We'd love Vincent to win next year, so we're hoping he gets a really fantastic partner.

I don't think there is any prescribed basis that says what 'it' is about.

For some it is about who has made the biggest journey

For some it is about who is the best dancer

For some it is about who they find most attractive

For some it is about which pro dancer is their favourite

For some it is about which celeb is in the soap that they watch

Those who believe 'it' is about who the best dancer are perfectly entitled to say that the winner didn't deserve to win if they feel that they were not the best dancer.

I think since Chris Parker (and later Hollins) onwards everyone knows it's not solely judged or voted on for the dancing, it doesn't mean thought that they have to like or agree with it.

The only disappointing thing is when someone is ahead in the polls/votes from day one which I think we had this year more than any other, luckily Louis wasn't Chris Parker in the dance dept because that would have been awful.

Probably because their favourite didn`t win

As Tess says every week - vote for your favourite

Unless, when you phone to vote Tess (or Bruce) says I will only accept and register this vote if you can prove you are voting for valid reasons - and if you are voting because x, y or z has taken their top off or looks good in cat suit hang up now and go and think about what you have done ... people will continue to vote for who they like

Nobody was all that great this year and Louis was one of the better dancers.

I would say Harry had last year in the bag from day one. This may well be why Nicky was handled so harshly this year in order to avoid a repeat.

Exactly, well said

Why can't people understand that it's about whatever you want it to be about?

It's still about dancing for me, even though they've lower the standard so badly, and I don't take kindly to people telling me that I can't still think that.

Lowered the standard from what, though?
Series one with Chris Parker in the final?
Series two with Julian Clary in the final?
series three with Darren Gough winning?
Or the any or all of Kenny Logan, Kate Garraway or Ann Widdicombe and a whole host of others getting further than their skill set would suggest?

I always think it's about all the elements coming together, a personable celebrity who makes progress, a degree of technical ability somewhere in there, a great partnership with the pro, innovative choreography, outfits, music, the 'journey', memorable standout wow dances and most importantly connecting with the audience.

There is no denying on many occasions the 'technically' best dancer hasn't won, Colin, Denise, Rachel etc but this was most likely because they just didn't tick all the boxes.

Whilst I admired Denise for her technical ability, she just didn't do it for me on an emotional level whereas Louis show dance literally made me smile and cry at the same time.

This. ^^ And I wanted Dani or Kimberley to win, but his showdance nailed it.

But do they really have to keep saying ad nauseam? And they all seem to be DVO fans, because the Kimble fans don't seem to have such an issue with it.Yes, we get that they wanted Denise to win, and over the series as a whole she was the best dancer but on the night it didn't happen. It's now 2 days later and the DVO fans are still moaning.

I'm hoping something really controversial happens in the Christmas Special tomorrow so someone can change the record!

What a brilliant post.

It's solid, well-honed, light entertainment. The celebs who sign up for it know the score and play to the gallery. The 'journeys' are as contrived as anything else in the show. For me it's about the dancing and how much effort the celebs put in and how much they improve from whatever baseline they started from. The rest is essentially flim flam - don't get me wrong I love glitter encrusted flim flam but I'm not taken in by it.

The dancing isn't irrelevant but it's the combination of effort and attainment that's important to me.

I expect Denise worked her socks off but I had more affection for Michael because he was clueless at first and had to give it his all to make even the slightest progress.

So I evaluate the degree of achievement in conjunction with the effort and can easily come up with a favourite who is far from the best dancer.

Dancing must come easily to all the pros on the show (it looks effortless and they wouldn't have chosen that field of employment had they had no talent) but it isn't the pros I'm tuning in to watch.

Bravo BruciesToupe, the whole package, entertaining us, moving us, a wonderful light entertainment show.

That's all well and good but I still have a problem with people saying Louis (or any of winners) doesn't deserve it.
Of course he deserves it, he's worked hard and turned into a very good dancer.

Denise and Kimberley would also have been deserving winners but just because the winner isn't always the best technical dancer doesn't make them undeserving.

From the technical excellence that some of the finalists of previous series achieved. No-one said anything about there ever being a series where anyone was good, but in the past series I've watched (4 onwards) there's always been at least one finalist who you can see is technically good. This series there didn't seem to be much emphasis on technique at all in comparison - not much said about heel leads in ballroom or avoidance of them in Latin, for example.

You hit the nail on he head here, I was a Kim supporter but Louis showdance moved me also and changed my mind in the end

I really don't think Denise was the best dancer. I can't deny that when Denise really got a dance she performed it technically very well. But she didn't always get every dance.

- Louis' Cha Cha Cha, Salsa and Rumba were all better than Denise's. And I'm pretty sure his Samba would've been better than hers had she attempted it.

- Their Tango, Foxtrot and Waltz were pretty much equal. As was their Showdance, although some may give the edge to Louis.

- Denise's Viennese Waltz, Jive, Paso and Charleston were better than Louis'.

And really, apart from the Jive, Louis was much closer in standard to the dances Denise did well than she was to the ones he did well. So really there wasn't all that much between them.

I liked Denise as a person and thought she came across really well on Strictly. And if Louis hadn't won it, I probably would've like for her to. But she DID have her weak dances. She was no Rachel - who I loved - or Kara - who I didn't like so much. Which is probably why I wasn't so bothered by the ringer accusations.

I agree with Mystical and natalian that the show is about whatever I want it to be. (And personally for me it is about a combination of factors.)

Incidentally, the boards may have gone manic initially, but I'm not seeing loads of "Denise/Kimberley wuz robbed!" threads on the first page now and so I'm not really understanding what the problem is.

I agree with the above post - the show is about whatever you want it to be about. If that's amazing dancing, fine. If it's comedy dancing, fine. If it's about a journey, fine. Nobody's ever guaranteed to win, so we might as well just enjoy the ride in our own ways.

I was hugely entertained by Louis because he was captivating. You have or haven't got 'it' and he's got it; nothing to do with looks or physique - it's down to an appeal beyond that. I say well done to him for winning and winning on merit. It must have been lovely for his mum as well being there to see him win. WELL DONE LOUIS AND FLAVIA X

What typically happens with these shows is you start by getting rid of a few obvious weaker participants followed by the inevitable shock result somewhere near the middle. Next, the remaining dross is filtered out. This usually culminates with the surprise of the show (who has managed to make it much further than ever expected - Lisa, Rylan etc) making their exit.

Once that is done, the public start looking at the real reason for the show and begin seeking out real talent. So you move into the quarters/semis with genuine contenders. Then, come the Final, the real reason for the show is forgotten and popularity takes precedence. If Denise had an ounce of Kara's connection with the public, the result would not have been open to question.