Get on. spot the flamin' rhumba in Mark's 'get through' dance.

I'd have liked Pixie and Jake in the final. I could have lived without Mark, goes without saying really, and also, at this stage, Caroline actually, although I've always liked her. I've suddenly realised I can't really rate any of her dances massively, I've been excusing her too long.

Jake's always been a bit dodgy, but goodness he delivers a bit of excitement. I just feel nervous with Caroline.

Pixie, Caroline, Frankie and Simon would be the best final based on dancing. If not Simon, then Jake would be the next best dancer. Thom had a lot of potential and it was a shame he went so early.

Yes, because Mark did such a stunning Cha cha cha didn't he?

I wish Pixie and Thom would have been there, if only to see what Trent and Iveta would have cooked up for the showdances.

I'm less bothered about Jake, but he'd be a lot better than Mark and the abundance of bloody speeches we'll inevitably hear.

..and the best Rumba ever

Completely agree. I see people talking about Caroline 'emoting' and 'feeling the dance' but during her ballroom all I see is her looking nervous, worried and unsteady like she's not confident in what she's doing. Jake never looked worried about anything, which made him so much more enjoyable to watch (just IMO).

Can't waste the energy on what ifs. Those in the final are those in the final. No amount of what ifs will change that. Don't want angst and misery to mar what we'll be watching. What's gone is gone. Time goes forward.

I shall watch the final with the four that are in it and enjoy it. I'll be happy with whoever the public vote as the winner.

I much prefer Strictly when I really CARE about who wins, myself.

This year is dull for me.

I agree, also there seems to be this 'feel sorry for me vibe' around her; the bad costumes, the stumbles, the nerves, the ex boyfriend etc which doesn't endear.

Never care who wins - it's only a TV show and the detail will be forgotten quite quickly by most.

Pixie, Caroline, Frankie and Simon for me.

I ALWAYS want to care, tv show, film, novel whatever. Otherwise why bloody bother?

I only care when I vote and I'm not voting, but saying that I will be annoyed if Mark wins.

Because I have more important things in my life, like my family and friends.

Now I'm retired, the things you mention are just relaxation for me, along with my hobbies.

If I never cared who won, to the extent I felt this disinterested every series, I would have given up watching years ago. Although I'm almost there after last year and this one

Substitute Simon for Thom and either Frankie or Caroline along with Pixie and Jake would have been a dream final.

Oh get on, doesn't everyone?

I'm talking about being INTERESTED and caring about it all.

If a book is crappy and I don't care about the protagonist, I give it a fair chance and then don't bother.

Sometimes programmes just aren't worth it in the same way. This year Strictly is pushing it for me, and the board is helping keep me going.
But the board is a shadow of its former self as well. I've never known it so quiet during the show, and the week up to the final?


Of course if you view stuff routinely as some sort of 'wallpaper' then that's fine.

Same.

I would have preferred to Jake to Mark, because as said the endless bloody speeches.....

Not TOO fussed on Pixie, except Trent's routines were good. Thom went out just on the week where he should/would have started lifting off on a journey, so its very hard to say really.

Apart from Jake, as I liked him and his vibe, I'm quite happy with the final. I'm very pleased Simon and Kristina have clawed their way there, I feel as though they have really EARNED it.

I was thinking the same thing - the board seems to mirror the show. Any excitement or passion seems forced. Where's the joy and passion?

I agree!

It wasn't available for the tour unfortunately.

If you want to be pedantic they've all fluffed at least one dance at some point during the series.

I agree totally with the comments re: Jake being exciting to watch, that's certainly why I wanted him in the final. I always anticipated his performances and that just isn't true of some of the finalists. It only really hit me today but, whilst I like Frankie and think she seems a sweet girl, the only thing I really remember about any of her routines is her being green one week!

Genius!!!

Same here. I started off very engaged but as it's gone on with it's oh-so-desperate-and-earnest celebs; poorly executed 'themes'; dances merged into party latin or it-must-be-ballroom-she's-in-a-long-dress or barefoot arseing about, and spot the celeb among the backing dancers, I've got less and less interested.

And you're right. I've known more activity on these boards in mid-May.