That won't happen I am afraid. They would have needed to announce that before now. The only reason they have a 4 couple final is to aviod a 2 couple final if someone drops out.

Yes of course I would have.

However I am eternally grateful to Ellie and others, for having beaten me to it, I started to type before I saw others had clarified and was tying myself in knots with my explanation.

Does it not mean we'll get a 1st 2nd and 3rd this year, They all perform. One goes, two showdances, winner revealed. Or are people saying that may not happen due to it be a one-parter show.

Sorry if I am being thick

Don't they use the showdance as a filler whilst the votes are being counted, it is after voting starts (and perhaps after voting has finished) so they could not have the best dance last because people will be voting on it?

I don't understand the need for a 4 person final in the first place tbh.

No you're not being thick at all ........ that would be the logical way to do it, even to the point of allowing the 3rd placed couple to do their showdance, as there is enough time, with there only being 3 couples in the final.
And then carry on with two couples, to get a winner and 2nd place.

However, I think what they will do is have everyone do their 3 dances and then have just one big reveal at the end - a Winner and Two Runners Up. Which is not great, imo, but I think that is how it will go.

They usually have a singer and a group dance to fill the time.

Series 2-6 had the showdances unmarked (May well have been filler back then to count votes but can't remember), but since then they've been unmarked. I reckon the format will be...

Judges Choice
Showdance

3rd place revealed

Contestant's Choice

Winner revealed.

The final is one big show instead of being split into two this year. That STRONGLY implies that they won't eliminate anyone in third, they'll just announce the winner and have the other two be joint runners-up again.

Seconded.

Was that announced?

Will we finally know this time who came 2nd or 3rd

They could still announce the third place at the end and then the winner.

And a montage of the couples saying how much they want to win, their families saying how much they want them to win, and random Joe- and Jill Bloggses across the country saying they want X, Y or Z to win.

😩😩😂😂😂

It might be that three in the final is what they wanted, and that we've only ever had four because of the "spare" which was introduced after two years of having only two pairs in the final.

The four-couple final was only introduced to ensure Denise made it into the 2012 final and they could take Lisa Riley out by having a semi-final dance-off.

Prior to that they had a double elimination in the semi-final, which was a move introduced in 2010 specifically as a contingency plan in the event of a couple pulling out; if somebody did withdraw they'd have changed it to a single elimination.

No, it doesn't necessarily. It implies that there's a chance that will happen, but equally there's a chance they'll just freeze the vote during the show, count them during a guest act/the returning eliminated celebs' group dance then eliminate one couple and have two go on to compete for the glitterball. They have yet to announce how it will pan out.

I don't think so, think it will be business as usual someone will go this weekend and we will get a 3 person final

Why wouldn't they split it into two shows as usual, then? The only reason I can see for doing what they've done is if they're not going to eliminate anyone before announcing who's won.