I think the point is she wasn't error free, its just that her errors were ignored. As Kaycee said above, in the CCC there were problems with her technique.

You could well be right.

Although I enjoyed the final, this was probably the worst series for me because the show is now so far away from where it started. I'm aware that I had two choices - adjust my expectations or stop watching. I didn't want to stop watching in case I missed some wonderful dancing and I struggled to adjust my expectations as the series progressed.

In the final though I expect the judges to fawn over the finalists and just put up with it and always have. The scores have been on the far side of stupid since Series 6, so I could ignore that too. This year I was worried Mark & Karen would get through to the last three on the strength of the public vote, so I was quite excited to see what happened. When they went out, I thought it was exciting because all three remaining had performed WOW dances and I could think of a reason why each couple might win - 1. Frankie had never been in the DO, so we didn't know the strength of her public support. 2. Simon finished on a real high with his AT and 3. Caroline was the favourite who performed well on the night (talking about performance, not technique).

I think anyone who didn't watch because they thought the series was a flop missed out on a treat.

I agree with you. I was out last night; the first time since Series 6 when we watched the final immediately we got home. This time I didn't bother watching until this morning; FFd through most of it and haven't bothered commenting until now.

Yeah, Caroline won. I'm not displeased she won; I wanted it to be her or Simon, but so what?

Strictly lost something in the last few weeks and I found I didn't care who won (as long as it wasn't Mark).

It was a foregone conclusion that Caroline won so there wasn't too much of a reaction from people. That is probably why there was a drop in viewing figures in this year's final. I really enjoyed it last night, the final 3 really did deserve to be there and I wasn't too fussed that Caroline won, she did deserve it

I would have been jumping around more though if it had been Simon and Kristina... that partnership was awesome to say the least

Minor errors if at all

Can't say I was thilled with the result either. For me either Simon or Frankie would have been better winners. Although Mark coming fourth I agree with.

Result was predictable to the degree I didnt even bother watching the second show as from the first it was fairly obvious how it was going to pan out. The final was very skewed in Carolines favour not saying thats her fault but it certainly has been the most obvious favouring Ive seen for a while.

Frankie getting the dance that had been considered her worst dance by Craig meant she was already going into that with that in her head which I would imagine would have stuck with her and caused her worry about performing it again. Caroline got a relatively easy repeat dance and mistakes/technique werent picked up on really. For me the judges pick should have been worst dance for all of them to make that fairer.

Showdances again Carolines managed to avoid any actual proper ballroom or latin and played to what could be considered the skills she had already learned during her previous dance training again skews it in her favour add in an emotive song that is already a public favourite and you cant really go wrong.

For me although flawed and not perfect Simon, Frankie and even Marks showdances stayed more true to what the premise of SCD is. As I say haven't watched the second show so cant comment on the routines but as has been said by others having others that are outside of the main 10 and not having to prove any actual ballroom or latin skills and utilising previous skills does make your job a bit easier.

So while I accept she won cant say I think it was fully deserved that fir me would be Simon or Frankie and I say that as someone who unusually has not actually had a set favourite this year so no particular allegiances to cloud judgements.

No.... Oh b****r not enough letters

The ratings were down by almost 3million on 2010 and 1.5million on last year. I think many things were improved in this series, including the presenters and slicker production, but I also think that viewers were less engaged with the final group of celebs, not as invested in who won and far more cynical about the behind the scenes machinations than in previous years. Reality/talent shows need to be very clever about how they are produced, almost making the role of the producers invisible, because once viewers become increasingly aware of how much they and the contestants are being shepherded by the producers these shows lose their excitement.

Totally agree with this. I think it was all a bit too obvious this year, especially with the extremely dodgy music and themes handed out to some couples. I think they could counteract a lot of the accusations of 'fixing' etc. if they got rid of the dance off next year, but I doubt it will ever happen as the producers like the control too much. They can't really argue they have it to keep in the best dancers as the results in non dance-off years have not really produced any more shocks than years with the dance-off.

I would absolutely disagree that people are more cynical now about producer machinations than ever before. You should have been on this board during Series 6, it was like a flipping Truther forum.

She wasn't error free though...not at all. I can't really speak for the contemporary and the charleston, but in cha cha, there was lots of technique errors: incorrect leg action, even extremely basic things like her hand shaping was wrong

However, she delivered on performance, there is no doubt about it

Oh, the Year of the Sergeant. Plus foaming at the mouth inspired by Karen Hardy. Plus Dance Off-gate. Plus Bacofoil.

That was the best Strictly year ever. And they didn't even need props or backing dancers. (And I saw some ballroom. Flounce, flounce.)

I was happy as I bet on Caroline when she was 7 to 1 !!

I didn't say she was error free, just 'Pretty much' error free and in comparison to just about every final I can remember she was way in front on that level.

Errors on strictly are not classed as minor technique issues, they are were the contestant goes wrong and makes a mistake. this isn't a dance competition.

In series 6 I remember being just as cynical about the scoring/leader board manipulation and the dance off, but I don't remember ever feeling that a couple had been deliberately handicapped, the way I did with jake and zorba the Greek. I also don't remember any of the pros on itt complaining that the music they had was hard to choreograph to but they could only deal with what they were 'given'.

Someone should have told the judges that before they marked pixie down for her technique issues in the cha cha the night she went out.

Yeah probably