I will piss people off now by saying that I DID.

The judges were especially vile to him, and if my memory serves me correctly the viewing public for keeping him there. But he wasn't as bad as so they made out and his Charleston was absolutely blooomg brilliant, his showdance was pretty good as well.

It was also the one and only time that Ola seemed likeable.

So shoot me if you like

I'm just taking aim!

Sounds similar to the Anita & Gleb situation .. not the best dancers but the public love them.

There was no free voting in those days and I haven't paid to vote in anything since 2006.

That said, even if there had been free voting I wouldn't have voted for him. Nothing against Chris personally...he just wasn't good enough.

I didn't vote back then but he was my favourite that year.

I did. He and Ola had a fun partnership and great chemistry on and off the dance floor (which I don't get at all with Anita and Gleb, unfortunately). Plus Ricky Whittle seemed like a bit of a ....

I was rooting for Whittle, but can see why the partnership Ola had with Hollins appealed to many.

I can't remember if I actually voted, but I certainly wanted him to win by the final stages. Case of two fingers to the judges (particularly after the debacle of the previous year) and not at all caring for the ringahs - Ricky Whittle/ Natalie Lowe's naked ambition (how I misjudged Natalie!) and the Ali Bastian/Brian Fortuna showmance.

Oh I'd forgotten about Ali. She was like a wet weekend in Rhyl wasn't she? So insipid.

Definitely not , one of the most annoying BBC presenters on TV who has a Massive ego!

Yes, I loved his partnership with Olachops.

Hollins winning was proof positive, if any were still needed, that SCD is not a dancing competition but managed BBC light-entertainment output where the winner just needs to be a bit better than Widdy or Sargeant and Murray and more popular with the great (sic) British public

I did - just because I didn't like Ricky Whittle, thought Natalie was too competitive (and hated their show dance too!

Just loved Chris and Ola, their Charleston and show dance were great fun to watch

Backed him til the final where I had a sudden change of heart. Not quite sure why. Think it was a combination of beginning to see Nat in a new light (I took agin her when she arrived) and the way they suddenly tried to make out Chris was better than he was in the final 'cos they knew he was going to win and felt a need to 'legitimise' it.

Looking back at that Charleston I've not the same affection for it now that I had then. In fact, I'd say I quite dislike it! I suppose the novelty factor's gone and we've seen a zillion better Charleston's since.

I had nothing against him as a person but the PR/Media campaign he ran irritated me immensely. Credit to him though. It was magnificent and people fell for it.

It got so I had to turn off the sound whenever he was on. In fact I didn't watch the final (only time since series 1) as I knew he would win and I didn't want to see it.

They are just sooooooo cuuuuute *bleurgh*

I'm just about over it now. Almost. Sort of.

Imagine caring enough about anything that happened in Series 7 to vote.

Not sure he's got a massive ego really. I saw the Strictly tour he did, some people near the front had a sign with his name on it and at the end he ran to the side and climbed over to speak to them.

He did really badly in the show I saw. Think Kelly Brook may have been on it as well.

I really never understood why people loved Chris...

I understood it but I didn't join in

I did and I loved his showdance!!!

Might of

To my eternal shame RW should have won that series. His QS still remains one of my most favourite ever SCD performances.

I don't think there is any need for that we all vote for different reasons.

Didn't vote back then (No way I'm paying) but definetely wanted him to win that year. Ricky and Ali were both better dancers probably but just were a bit dull.

I also wanted Tom Chambers to win the year before. And don't regret it one bit.
Looking back too I wish I'd enjoyed Rachel and Austin's dances more. And appreciated the artistry of Bacofoil more.

I'll now go into hiding before DS posters come after me with pitchforks.

Voting for Chris was rathrer a sentimental thing for me during a sudden difficult time. My Gran and I were fans of Chris and spoke on the phone after every show in that series. In the first week of December during that year she suffered a serious stroke which left her hospitalised and eventually to her death in the January. In the last two weeks of the series, I would talk to her about the show by her hospital bedside and in particular how I had voted for Chris and of course how he went on to win. Since then I've had no one really to discuss the show with (only on here really) so it's something I solely enjoy on my own really. Six years on and am sure she would be excited to know that I've finally got tickets for the show.

No, but that year I didn't really want anyone to win at all, I didn't feel like I was into any of them and apart from the three in the final, I couldn't tell you much more about


BIB, I agree with and for me was when SCD really started being more fake then it ever was.
For me the 40 was the least deserving one, one that shouldn't of happened, but kind if did to make sure that if he won, well he had that dance and it was perfect.

After that I never really cared about who won too much or even went out, it all felt stage managed and a bit of a farce.

I'm so, so sorry about your Gran CC, your story brought tears to my eyes.

For that reason, I am glad he won it for you both.

Enjoy the show for you both, maybe have a little toast while your there to her.