No I'm not in agreement at all. Her movement is fine - thanks to the fact that she had appropriate surgery. She does still dance occasionally - as seen in some of the group dances including everyone on the show. However she does not wish to compromise her joints further by continuing to dance regularly. So it's not that her movement is restricted - it's that she chooses to move in ways which are graceful and elegant but which do not needlessly cause her pain or injury. You mention Craig's hip replacement - yes he does have good movement but that is not the procedure that Darcey had done. She had a resurfacing procedure - the benefit of which is that it means that she can put off joint replacement surgery for a few more years.

All she's doing on the judges entrance is a little sashaying move to get her from one place to another after being introduced. The reason she doesn't do more than that is because it's not supposed to be a dance as such - just a little flourish, rather than the judges simply walking on to the set to take their seats.

Darcey is always elegant and fluid. On that basis, you suggesting that she is like a plank of wood is both inconsiderate, untrue and frankly extremely discourteous.

Pro tip - she's not there to dance - she's there as a judge.

I am wondering how the X Factor defectors will vote should they deign to join in. I suspect Danny but some may go for Ore as both will be familiar to the younger demographic due to their work.

I would suspect Louise will suffer as most of them will be too young to remember her singing career. Maybe her husband's fans will go for her?

I've seen some flouncing out there, quite a bit, but not of EPIC quality.

There's petitions mind, and a lot of cross, irrational sort of shouting.

Has Danny's odds of winning changed?

I think it's theirs to lose. But then again sometimes the pros do get over excited in the final. Cough, cough - puppets and foil etc.

BIB the other judges manage more than a little flourish after the introduction.

In disallowing to even acknowledge a difference of opinion you are extremely discourteous.

I disagree with you but recognise your right to express your opinion, perhaps it's time you understood the purpose of a forum; to debate, discuss and accept many differing points of view.

I'm v cross as I spent all the afternoon making tinfoil hats

It doesn't matter what the other judges "manage" to do. It happens to be what Darcey CHOOSES to do. That's choice - not capability. The judges' entrance is not choreographed - they just each do what they feel like doing when they are introduced.

I'm not stopping you from holding a different opinion. It doesn't mean I have to agree with it though and I see no reason not to correct someone who suggests that Darcey is like a plank of wood, when she quite patently is not. Even with her resurfaced hip and her repaired cruciate ligament, I'm sure she's still far more supple and fluid in her movements than you, me and most people on here.

Your insistence on maintaining your own point of view - even in light of clear evidence which refutes it - is just as intransigent as you appear to see mine so that kind of makes us quits, does it not?

Since the untimely demise of Austin (he wozrobbed!) 8 years ago, I have not taken this Strictly malarkey at all seriously, but Saturday night saw me ranting at the TV again so ridiculous was the marking of Louise's second dance (she didn't appear to even know the steps to my admittedly untutored eye) and Ore's standing around whilst Jo AT'd round him.

I won't be watching the final - though only because I'll be on holiday!

I'm truly hoping Danny wins, but seeing as this is Len's last final I think TPTB have made it a Clifton win.

Well it may be the Strictly final next week but Ireland's very own version of Dancing with the Stars starts off in January presented by none other than Nicky Byrne...it's going to be car crash telly at its finest...

As I've said more than once I recognise your right to express your views though what clear evidence you've offered leaves me confused. You have proffered reasons why she is not flexible and such reasonings seem to support my case rather than your own.

I don't expect you to acquiesce to my thinking. This is a debate; a forum where we exchange opinions. Occasionally one person accedes to the other, but this is very occasional.

I think this discussion is best laid to rest.

No, I gave reasons why she might choose not to pirouette and high-kick her way onto the floor. i.e. it's not necessary and these are not particularly dance moves she might choose under the circumstances.

The way you're carrying on, you'd think she was disabled. She isn't - she can still dance - even though she doesn't do so daily any longer and she is every bit as graceful and elegant as always.

I finally managed to track down the article where I had read about her hip surgery, It was from last year but in it you can see for yourself what she says about her movement. This bit is particularly noteworthy

"...half of my injuries are because I am over-supple and the joints could always go that little bit further. But I was happy to push and I have no regrets. That is important to say. It’s not a horror show. My body feels great now,”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...y-new-hip.html

So you see, yes - it may be your "opinion" but it isn't necessarily a reflection of reality".

Well at least she is clever and glad you admit Danny's good each week. Your bias really does show. Is that you Darcey in one of your 10 accounts?

They might come in handy on Saturday Loon - bound to be some folk who will feel aggrieved with the result - whatever it turns out to be

All looking a bit mixed this morning.... some bookies have Danny's odds drifting but others have them shortening .........and the same with Louise.

The one thing that does seem constant is that they have Ore in 3rd place ...though no doubt we will never know that.......he will just be one of the runners up !

Mmmmmm I always said since week one Danny is a good dancer, but he's not my cup of tea.

The only Celeb I have real problems with is Louise, she is way over rated with safe choreography

You say I am bias, I plead guilty...

I am a loyal supporter of Ore and I will defend him if needs be.
Everyone seems to blaming Ore for Claudia's demise & I think that is totally unfair.

Ore does not control the Judges nor their scores.
All he does is go out each Saturday and dance his heart out.

Some of the names Ore has been called especially in the past cpl of days is totally disgusting

Also I wish to add, this "anyone but Ore to win" vote is totally ridiculous.
Even if he dance the best in the final a lot of people wouldn't vote for him in protest of the Judges. So they're gonna punish Ore for something that isn't his fault.
what ever

Would say most people are blaming the over marking of both Ore & Louise by the judges.

A Samba barely of week 3 quality & an AT with Jo flying round Ore like a banshee, both over marked, will not sit well with the public.

& is this Ore's fault

Ore can only dance the choreography given to him and like I said previously, Ore doesn't control what the Judges say and do

I beginning to wish Ore was voted out last nite, because the way some ppl are really laying into him.

I was a Anita supporter last year and I didn't cry foul etc. I just took it as an adult and wished the finalist good luck.

Based on the fact that Louise made top 2 in the public vote off that samba, I doubt they were that fussed.

Not the way the aggrieved Claudia voters will see things though.

Aggrieved Claudia fans couldn't stop her appearing in two dance-offs (including one time from a pretty safe leaderboard position) I doubt they're that numerous or powerful. I guess every little bolt-on to the anti-Clifton coallition adds up...

after the first dance off, Claudia should have been eliminated anyway. Greg out danced Claudia but the Judges saved Claudia instead.

Genuine question: who exactly do you think the PTB are? Because I believe the judges when they say they give the marks they want to, so to me, the only "powers" are the judges themselves.

But if people believe the idea that Len wants a Clifton win over and above what he thinks is fair, then you need to look at the marks he gives them to see if he's favouring them, and so far he's given Danny 116, Ore 116, Louise 115 and Claudia 112. That's pretty damn close don't you think? Unless you think that some of the other couples were better dancers and should have made the final 4?

I especially like the very moving Salsa they do among the barricades in Les Mis.