I think so many factors play a part and some of them can be manipulated by the producers.

1) Good partner
2) Get the hard Latin dances out early ( what happened to Pixie)
3) Good song
4) Good slot
5) God father as a judge. ( Had to add it in)

I've always been a fan of Aliona but I felt quite upset for Jo reading her Tweets that 'repeating silly kicks' didn't mean more content and that in the dress run the producers had tried the dark wig on Jo to make her look like Aliona.

Aliona really ought to show Jo the professional respect she deserves. Jo sat out last series and was very gracious about it. Now it's her moment, let her have that and her brother be rightly proud without receiving criticism. Jo is a phenomenal dancer and teacher and not only choreographed a content packed, entertaining wow routine but managed to coach Ore to dance it to that level within a few days which was no mean feat.

Well I was not supporting either Jay or Kellie so the person who I thought deserved to win had no chance. I just don't see it and anyway most of the voters have already made their mind up who they want as champ.

It does sound like it's motivated by jealousy. Rather petty really.

The idea that the judges and producers have sat on this show for 13 years and would still feasibly now, after everything that's happened over the years, think "if we give this person the most points in the final they will definitely win, yes, that's how it's always worked" is hilarious.

Jay got the highest average score of the series, and one of the highest average scores for a male celebrity ever, despite starting nervously for the first two weeks, forgetting a routine and (badly) making up the ending, producing really ropey basic ballroom technique as far in as the semi-final and slopping all around the floor with a disastrous quickstep the first time it happened. He wasn't a victim of some sort of grand scheme of persecution because Craig criticised his facial expressions too meanly sometimes and someone else got more points in the last episode.

I know you were a GG fan and I did feel that after the final last year it was all about how KK were robbed and GG were kind of forgotten about. I do wish we knew who came second, I do think it was GG as Kellie didn't seem that popular - until she didn't win

Anyway I know talking about last year's final is off topic and nothing can change what happened.

What evidence have you that she wasn't treated well by SCD production? It may be that outsiders have no idea of what went on behind the scenes and any difficulties which had to be covered up.

I said before on here,he did manage to scam the public with an image of himself far from the truth. I think he and Aliona went along with the whole romance crap which could have been stopped from the very start.Very clever and he was always going to win.

I think you should just outright spit it out and say what you mean

I didn't fancy Jay, not one bit but as the competition was Kellie, who for me was too desperate, danced with little elegance most of time and wasn't very likeable andGeorgia who I thought danced fairly well, had a journey but was a bit wet he was left as my favourite.

There was tension between Aliona and Len for a few seasons, I think, so she would have taken his pointed comments quite badly.

Absolutely agree with you.

There was a year when Aliona's contract was not renewed. She complained about it publicly. Was brought back at the nth hour and given a crap celeb. Might have been Johnny Ball. Then she had a run of poor celebs before Jay.

Matt Baker, Harry Judd, Jay most of the female dancers would have killed for a run like that. Yes she had Tony Jacklin and Gregg Wallace but at least at the Jacklin mansion her golf game improved.

Hard to disagree with any of this, particularly about Jo's good grace last year when she had no partner.

Maybe I'm blinkered to all kinds of nuance. But no matter the controversy (on this forum) surrounding the Cliftons, I don't get any sense of sneakiness or ill will from any of them, least of all from Jo. The feeling I get off both Ore and Jo is that they're seizing the chance and loving it. From here, this could be my favourite ever SCD partnership (alongside/toppling Patrick and Anya). It depends on whether Jo continues to create such dazzling and various routines. And on whether they survive to the final stages of course.

Aliona is a past champion. She won twice. Whatever she thinks about the show, she has benefitted from it in a big way. I don't altogether understand why she's kicking up such a fuss now.

Is it really because a brother tweeted in praise of his sister's jive!?

I'm not defending her - I'M NOT AN ALIONA FAN!

With golden boy half the voters wanted to sleep with him (I've been very polite there 😇 ) , and the other half wanted to be his mummy or daddy and push him over the winning line in his stroller . But it was all a massive facade . That man went in with a plan and fair play to him , many fell for it . Not me, I'm a hard faced cow .🐮

That was due to an injury wasn't it? Was it to Natalie? You have to wonder how Strictly history would have unravelled itself had it not been for that happening. Maybe Jo would have dance with Jay instead...

Len lacked class by bringing a previous Jive in in a negative manner like he did. It was unncessary and just stoked up ill feeling in some quarters. It's probably done Ore and Jo no favours either with some; on the flip side I think Danny and Oti's fan base may have grown slightly after last week.

In relation to the general theme of the thread - of course the producers manipulate to a point; they have to otherwise there would be a lack of storylines and journeys to invest in. Do they care who wins? I think they would have preferred another winner last year so each pro only had one 'main series' victory each but they would hardly look to destroy the show over it (even though the final had a very sour feel about it - Darren was better treated in the series 3 final comments wise when he was by far the worst dancer, even if he did finish bottom of the leaderboard).

I'm sure some of this would irritate and still irritate the pros but they know where their bread is buttered. Aliona, Ola and James no longer have that backing and, to put it politely, as they all have firey personalities they're more likely to make a point about it when they see it happening.

I agree, all very silly and immature when there is no need for any nastiness .

Two celebs Jay and Ore produced excellent dances, just enjoy .

You know Aliona's in the wrong when even the Jalionas aren't on defending her.

Wonder if the rumours are true that she is going in the jungle, trying to cause a stir and raise her profile maybe?
She will have burned her boats with the BBC now anyway. Uneccessarily bitchy and lowering herself to the Jordan's level,shame.

Crumbs it seems to be one thing after another this year.

I think this spat was caused by Lens comments, he went totally OTT and had no reason to drag Jays Jive into it at all. Maybe he felt he had to to justify giving Ore a 10 ( I don't believe he did for Jay?). Whichever anyone prefers is going to be down to personal taste - for me it was Jays, not because I was a Jay fan or that I voted for him but just because I thought the choreography was amazing, so cool and restrained and echoed Pulp Fiction without copying it. I think I have become more of a Jay fan recently though having rewatched his Tango and AT but he didn't grab me at the time. Ores jive got a bit manic for me at times - Jo almost looked like she was sliding into an old fashioned Knees up with her skirt waving - but it was unquestionably very good, well choreographed and well executed, just not sure about three 10's. .

I can understand Aliona being upset though, they didn't get the scores they deserved and now the judges sound like they are trying to push their achievement aside as if it's been bettered now so forget about it. I don't think it's at all fair though to blame Jo or criticize her for Lens opinion - which wavers with the breeze anyway.
Unfortunately this reaction just makes Aliona look jealous whereas I think she is probably hurt.

I've been thinking about this and surprised that a world renowned judge like Len would make such a comment . Remember last year when we learned that a producer sits in with the judges when they're compiling the outline of their critiques . Wouldn't be at all surprised if said producer prompted Len to mention the Jay jive . I wouldn't put anything past those producers to create controversy, headlines and increase ratings .

BiB - That'll all go down the toilet when Danny kicks Jay's @rse with a Blokerumba this week and scores the first perfect rumba score evah .

Now that would be interesting to say the least.

Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh now this is juicy

Hmmmm....I know a lot of people here cant stand the Jordans and trust me I have my gripes towards them but a lot of the things that they say makes sense. It is just that some people dont like them that they dont want to believe that it is true. Aliona is usually or actually tries to be really diplomatic......I knew they were manipulations going on...hell we speculate about this all the time...oh well......

For Aliona to go on and on about this and retweet some of the things she is retweeting... this is pretty serious.......I am a bit shocked tbh.

This year so far has been nothing full of controversies.