I think these quotes sum up most of it. I didn't want her to win but wasn't that bothered either way. I think arguably she won by being the "other one" there. The others, at least Natalie and Susannah, provoked quite divisive feelings in viewers/voters. Abbey was decent enough albeit hilariously overmarked but ultimately won by default rather than due to anything great that she did (other than admittedly superb ballroom posture by the end). Incidentally since the OP mentioned it, I think she apparently did have dance lessons as a kid, although I don't know how extensive. I do think the extent of emotion that spills out by some on here regarding particular contestants can be OTT so I can understand why the level of negativity seems odd at times.

Dare I say it but I feel a similar way about Georgia. Not as much as with Abbey but she is also enjoying some overmarking (I suspect we will see more on Saturday) and for me anyway is quite boring to watch. I think she is already better than Abbey but does not stand out among the others this year who all have something interesting to offer. I would not be surprised if Georgia wins for similar reasons to Abbey. If she does I will not be annoyed. As with Abbey I will just think... meh.

This about sums it up for me too, except maybe the 'Natalie was wonderful' bit - I'd substitute 'good' for 'wonderful'.

I remember being shocked that she won. Natalie was the best dancer, Sophie was the forum favourite, Susanna had the popular vote....and Abbey was "the other one", there to make up the numbers (or the "Mark Wright" as I feel it should be called now) And then she won!

Looking back now though it should have been obvious: she was a good dancer, she was more likable (for me) than the other three, she didn't take things (or herself) too seriously, she had the more likable (and much less hyped) new pro, her memorable routines were more fun than the others. Bee Gees Salsa vs Melodramatic Paso vs Prim and Proper Charleston vs Something Wafty.....can only bee one winner (as great as the others were)

The thing with her nerves I only remember in the early days of the competition, if they were there right to the end then I must have blanked it out (oh how I wish I could do the same with some of this year's clichés; Never Danced Before! Thought It Finished In Blackpool! December! Sorry! SHRIEEEEEEEEK! Northener!)

I was the same too!! Yes Abbey's dancing was pleasant enough to watch but nothing out of the ordinary!!
Sophie I found dull as ditchwater most of the time & I could never understand all the furore surrounding how wonderful Susannah was , she was average at best!!
Natalie was head & shoulders above any of the other contestants ( didn't she achieve 3 perfect 40's in the final?) & had been right through the series but it was clear from very early on that she was just too technically brilliant for the public to be interested in her, & she was never in with a shout of winning!! So yes, like you that year, I had lost interest by the time it reached the final except to see Natalie's dances!!

I think Flackers is the only person to have 3 perfect 40s in the final.

Me too!

Her and Aljaz made the most beautiful looking couple, they were an absolute joy to watch. Their Salsa was over marked to be fair but everything else was spot on I thought.

Her and Alesha are by far my favourite winners

My favourite that year was Sophie and then Natalie.

I couldn't take to Abbey at all (the hair tossing, pouting, repeating 'amazing' ad nauseaum, draped all over Alijaz and staring in to his eyes (even when outside the rehearsal rooms!).

IMO she won because of Alijaz and I really felt for her husband and family because her flirty behaviour was disrespectful IMO.

I felt that Sophie was the antithesis to Abbey (very classy and quite modest).

Yes me too, still I just do not see why people carry it on once the series has finished. I have my fav;s and they are all winners to me, I supported Natalie and now Jay and for me these two are the best dancers ever on Strictly and not winning the glitterball is irrelevant as long as I get to see all of their dances.

Abbey got the anyone but Natalie vote

It is impossible to say he is faking being nervous unless you know him personally. Dancing is completely different to singing on stage so it is quite possible that he would be nervous, having a very beautiful young woman wrapped around him cannot help!

I believe he is a drummer as well as a singer, drumming is a good place to hide in a band.

I think she also got the anyone but Susanna vote as well. Basically IMHO she won by default.

I've no idea why people think she was unpopular here. I've just checked the semi-finals and finals polls from that year here and she won both :

Semis

Abbey : 32%
Sophie : 30%
Natalie : 25%
Susanna : 10%
Patrick : 3%

Finals

Abbey : 34%
Sophie : 29%
Natalie : 22%
Susanna : 15%

She was a much less clear-cut board favourite than Jay is, but she was more this forum's darling than anybody else was, except maybe Sophie, although the latter's support started to tail off towards the end and she (and Brenda) had a few...dedicated fans who naturally attracted a negative response. Even a quick scan of thread titles back then demonstrates far more brickbats thrown at Natalie and Susanna than anyone else.

As for why the negativity I found her annoying and her dances mostly bland.

As someone else said, towards the end, she really benefitted from the "anyone but" vote and Aljaz was a huge factor from memory. Much as I love Artem and Natalie individually their chemistry was off and they looked ridiculous as she was taller, plus all of her injury porn seemed to really irritate many.

Natalie was practically a professional before the show began, so I'm not sure how much credit she should receive for being "the best".

I don't think the best dancer should automatically win anyway, as that would make the whole thing rather pointless. I do like a good dancer to win though - Abbey was overrated by the judges, but she was still a good dancer.

I remember her being very popular indeed, with passionate, partisan fans who could hardly brook a word of criticism of her.

I found her very clingy, showy, silly and annoying and her dancing boring, not that great and overhyped by the judges who overmarked her, especially towards the end of the comp.

But it was an odd year. I adored Nat's dancing, but not her partnership, I thought Sophie was overrated as well, and Suzannah was gung ho, but not all that great and a bit damned annoying an' all.

It was my greatest year for annoyance with pretty much all of it including how the board was - more than usually 'reality tv style partisan, and personal'.

Loads loved her though, here and elsewhere obviously. She won.

I thought Artem was a cold fish anyway and he had no chemistry with Natalie. Add to that the injury drama and there wasn't much to cling to. I enjoyed several of her dances and appreciated Natalie's technique, but her dances were often quite meh.

Yes, me too, I only watched to see Natalie.

Abbey did take private dancing lessons before she went on so she wasn't a complete novice.

she altered her persona when she realised she wasn't popular early on. She was gutted that she made a 'mistake' in week one...it showed that she had indeed had hours of dance training, she was also in girlband , something which Frankie and others were picked up on.
I thought she came across as fake...the accent got stronger as the show went on.

Natalie simply wasn't 'popular' enough...she didn't play the 'popularity game' that others including clancy did.

That's why I never judge them by their pro partners because it is the luck of the draw. I never took to Artem either but I loved Natalie's dancing. I agree about Sophie and Suzannah too, both very ordinary but then I thought Abbey was too.

true...in fact susanna went from popular to disliked. .Natalie never recovered from her 'week off'!

IIRC Natalie completely kept her family out of the show, not a gran in sight. Respect.

I liked Abbey and voted for her each week. I remember her from Britain's Next Top Model, she was just the same as she was on Strictly. In BNTM she was put down quite a bit by the posh girls who thought she was common. She did a lovely waltz.

I did also give a vote each week to Nat, but I do remember the outrage on here on her previous dance training.

Did you feel for Abbey when he cheated on her (before strictly). That was apparently what a lovely man he was.

If she won because of Alijaz, why hasn't Alijaz's power lasted with Helen and get her to the final (if it's just him and not the partner that is the voting factor for viewers). I doubt a celeb could win based on just the popularity of a pro, there has to be some mix, otherwise lots of loved pros would have won the show already regardless of their celeb being liked or not.

If you dislike abbey fair enough, it's fair and reasonable not to connect with someone or dislike them, but she was one of the good dancers on the show (she wasn't bad technically by any stretch) and I doubt Alijaz alone was why she (and he won) won. Alijaz was lucky to to have such a good dancer to work with first time out, as he didn't come close to winning with Alison. all the pros benefit from having someone that can actually dance.

I wanted Natalie to win, I love dancers first and foremost, but I can give credit where credit is due and abbey was a beautiful dancer imo and I can happily admit that despite wanting the best dancer to win on the day.

Could happen with Katie! Can't stand Anton but he does seem to appeal to some groups who are voting heavily for them.