Very sorry to see the lovely Claudia go out at this stage. If she'd been up against Louise in the dance-off I think she'd have made it through. I quite thought it would have been between Ore and Louise, but not Danny in a million years .. once we knew Claudia was up against him the writing was on the wall.

I just get the feeling that the public don't much care for AJ, but then I think they feel equally negative towards Kevin this year, but he went through OK last night.

Now all my favourite dancers are out I don't really care who wins this year, which is a shame because I usually look forward to the show dances on finals night.

No, I don't for one minute believe she would have survived against Louise. I loved her pairing with the delightful AJ. He's come a long way since being a contestant on BGT

AJ has been excellent, great dancing and perfect behaviour.
and probably severely dented the X factor audience, it's been a win win win for him.

Yes he has worked very hard on Claudia's footwork because he wanted a perfect dance from her. Sadly that wasn't enough for some reason. How could anybody not give them a 10 for that fabulous QS? AJ has really shown what he can do - someone so young but so meticulous.

I hoped Claudia and AJ would win as I thought they were great especially loved their Charleston.

Fraggy has for me improved the most out of the final four. She really stepped it up in the semi final.

At least she can go out with her head held high unlike Ore who had had to rely on being the judges pet.

BIB: THIS all day long.

I wish people would stop mixing up their support for Claudia (or anyone for that matter) with perceived dance ability. Fact is, Louise is way more accomplished than Claudia despite the former having her worst night out on Saturday. Claudia was firmly the underdog going into the semis so why pretend that it is all such a shock that she went out?

Any other result would have had the bookies scrambling...

Yes, she WAS the most improved, but that will never beat above-competent dancing (Louise), outstanding natural ability with added top notch training (Danny) or making it to the semi-final despite having never danced before (Ore).

Sorry jiroos, just can't agree with you. There will be loads of people here who believe Claudia is the better dancer. Trouble is, Louise is taller and therefore the 'lines' she holds look easier and more graceful. Claudia's footwork has always been better than Louise ... but then not agreeing on anything here is the essence of DS.

Good luck to the finalists!

It would have been a great final to watch with Claudia, Danny and Ore. The showdances would have been brilliant with those 3.

You are most welcome to your opinion SepangBlue and I made the very same point about Claudia's lack of height and her lines in another thread last week.

All that said, I just can't agree that Louise was the underdog going into the semi's...


This is Kevin's fourth final - and he has never forgotten Len's "plateau" comment...so I think he is going to throw EVERYTHING at that showdance and then some.

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No one's saying Louise was the "underdog" going into the semi final - just that when it actually came to the semi final, Claudia danced a lot better than her!

I think they have both progressed well on Strictly. A.J. had some adjusting to do and gradually got better at it. I liked that he included a lot of content in several of the dances and they were generally more recognisable as the dance they were supposed to be than most of the other couples.

Claudia has learned well, grown in confidence and elegance, and been a good example of what I like a celeb on Strictly to be.

Looking back, I hope I have learned a bit about shorter people and how they can be by-passed in an 'overlooked' type of way. I think she has shown a lot of fortitude and been very polite.

Each in their own way, her two Semi-final dances showed how much she has progressed.
I think she deserved to be in the final, based on her progress and the attitude she has displayed.

Lovely post fatskia. She had more than most of them to deal with, with being short and having a much taller partner and, of course, being so young. Her attitude was exemplary, no crying, or trying to curry favour, just dancing her heart out every week. She improved the most over the weeks and she should have been in the final.

And Greg danced a lot better than Claudia at Blackpool - so, by rights, we should never have even seen, arguably, three of her best dances - her AT, Salsa and her QS.

I think she can be very satisfied with getting to stay three weeks over her due time...

I think she beat Danny in the dance off but I would not expect the judges to keep her in over Danny who has outdanced every one in the main.

Oi Oi Oi

That's fair enough you think that, but then a lot of people would say the same about last night's dance off.

Precisely this.

Just try guessing before every DO who will go out - I guarantee you will get a win rate of at least 99%. It is NEVER based "on that dance and that dance alone". It is, as you say, about the main. Claudia could have summoned Gene Kelly from the grave and she still wouldn't have been chosen above the remaining three - FACT, whether its a popular view or not.


True, they would - but putting my scenario first, last night's dance off would have been immaterial (as far as this discussion is concerned) - because Claudia would have been watching it at home with her feet up!

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Yes, they saved Claudia over Greg and then saved Danny over Claudia. Still doesn't change the fact that Claudia was the better dancer than Louise on Saturday to anyone with functioning eyes!

True again - but neither will it change the fact that Claudia should have been no where near that semi having been outdanced by Greg three week's previous...

I disagree, I think Claudia was slightly better than Greg, I didn't rate any of Greg's dances and neither did the viewers.

She was no where near better...

BIB Really??? And your first piece of evidence to support that 'sweeping statement' is...???

Week 9 of 12 - that's all I'm saying...

its a sad thing but overall she was the weakest left and they couldn't take everyone through to the final, it was her time to go