And the difference between them is terribly obvious.

Rachel just in another league.

I think this is it in a nutshell.

It was very obvious the producers had an agenda to get Rachel to win, so how better than to pick someone who was less popular as her rival?

The trouble is, Rachel wasn't that popular with the public, either - both she and Lisa were in the dance-off more than once.

And, although the producers couldn't/wouldn't see it at the time, there is no point of having a Strictly final between two contestants whom the public aren't that keen on.

There's some residual griping on here that Tom shouldn't have won. Sorry - can't accept that.

Tom may not have been technically perfect, but he had one thing neither Lisa nor Rachel possessed - showmanship. That's what endeared him to the public - he sold the dance. He put character into his performance. As did Austin - but it was fixed so Lisa would take his place in the semi-final.

The vilain in this is then executive producer Sam Donnelly, who should have been ashamed of herself for her blatant attempt to manipulate the public vote (which was leaked during the run - and proved to be pretty accurate).

If that is true I am so glad that manipulation backfired big time.

And I agree about Tom wholeheartedly!

I so wanted Rachel to win. I particularly loved this tango with Vincent, but her combination of beauty, elegance and ice-queen aloofness just didn't hit the spot with the general public. By contrast, I always found Tom a bit cheesy, but I preferred him to Lisa and can quite understand why he got the popular vote.

Possibly the most hilarious moment of Series 6 came afterwards, when Lisa Snowdon's father gave an interview in which he claimed Tom had reached the final unfairly and so robbed his daughter of the glitterball trophy ...

Understandable that he'd be loyal to her - but did he not think that three showings in the dance-off might have said something about the public's view of her?!

Gosh, I don't recall that bit! As you say, understandable that he'd be loyal but saying something bland about the overall high standard and how proud he felt of her would have been wiser.

I disagree. She was excellently, especially in ballroom. Her Viennese Waltz is my favourite ever to be danced on strictly. Loved her Rhumba, Quickstep and Foxtrot too.

I never understood the hatred directed at Lisa Snowden.
I loved her dancing although I did not have a favourite that
year agree that Tom had what none of the others had
showmanship and the public loved that. Having seen him
in top Hat he was amazing with dancing and acting etc.

Re: Lisa I sometimes go to the Piccadilly in Bournemouth
for dancing holidays and that year I remember them saying
what a lovely dancer Lisa was with lovely posture so they
should know.

I also have the DVD - the Showstoppers great it is: the
Judges picked Lisa for her Foxtrot and Cha Cha Cha.
I enjoyed all her dances.

Always amuses me every year there is someone to dislike
and we never even meet these people!!!

Rachel has the better frock and choreography but even if you put that aside she looks at least 10 times better than Lisa!

who was the blonde pro in the middle at the beginning

My "perv radar" suggests hints of the sadly missed Ms Virshilas. Could be just wishful thinking though.

Yes, Rachel was miles better. For some reason they had the idea that Lisa was good at the Cha Cha.

yes!! thanks, it is - I had forgotten that she was initially a blonde

BIB, why?

Yes I remember that direct comparison really showed up Lisa's deficiencies. I do think Brendan did a great job that year with his choreography, as did wardrobe giving her lovely costumes (and she is a very attractive woman) but I could never understand how someone who looked rather clumsy and 'unfinished' was so rated by some even in ballroom, let alone her weaker Latin dances.
Obviously, the 'dislike' of her was really stoked up by the perceived favouritism of the judges - I never really understood their motivation.

I think technically she was originally a brunette, but I get your drift!

Did she now? Those must be the ones I've seen quoted in recent weeks on the forum.

Completely agree about Tom. After he and Camilla performed their show dance the judges grudgingly acknowledged it was good when tey said he saved the best until last. Even Arlene, who was the biggest supporter of Rachel, was forced to concede his show dance was good.

Now then. I usually post anonymously here. In real life, I am Space Commander Travis, so I was hoping you could do your old partner in crime a favour...

How was the it fixed for Lisa to progress at Oz's expense? I was a huge fan of Oz, but on the night, Lisa's best dance did seem better than either of Oz's. He didn't get stitched up with dodgy dances either - the AS should have been a "banker" for good marks given his previous ballroom efforts. I know Brendan got some stick for focusing on only one dance, but if you expect to be in the DO then that's shrewd tactics.

Or was it simply that the decision was taken to have a DO with only 4 pairs left, which gives the judges huge leeway to engineer a particular pair into the bottom 2?

Oh I've been here before, in another life

Lisa was loved by the judges because when she danced ballroom,
she was the epitome of elegance. She put her feet in the right places
and her frame was as good as a pro's. Her smile lit up the room.
For me she is the best female ever and I'm totally biased. I adore the woman.
She's a stunning figure on the dancefloor and she is so gracefully feminine, it's bewitching.
She was a real trooper too - two jobs while doing Strictly plus appearances - and did as she was told. Brendan had a star pupil in his hands he did.

I can only agree with you !!!

Lisa's legs always looked gangly and her Latin wasn't very good at all.

Lisa's Cha Cha was as good as Alesha's Cha Cha technically i.e. fairly crap.

This!

Lisa's showdance was beautiful!

I can't answer that any more than you can ...

Because they wanted a woman to win? Because they thought technique was more important than personality? Because Sam Donnelly loved S Club 7 and wanted to help boost Rachel's career? Her agent bought Sam a nice lunch?

No idea - but Bruno was all over from the off and Arlene not far behind. And I can see why - she was techniclally excellent. But technical excellence isn't all that Strictly is about. It never has been. And Rachel didn't have a vibrant enough personality to engage with viewers.

I would agree with whoever referenced Sergeant-gate earlier in this thread, as that was a real turning point in the relationship between the judges and the viewers. Being told who we should be voting for is fatal and only entrenches the public's preferences. We could have been told how brilliant Lisa and Rachel were 52 weeks of the year and it wouldn't have made any difference. The battle lines were drawn.

Series 7 was no better and it took Donnelly's exit to get rid of the notion that telling the public how to vote will give the producers what they want.