Increasingly in recent years the feeling emanating from the final week of training is one of celebration, relief and joy. Satisfaction in knowing the privilege of completing the Strictly journey in full is granted to you and just a few others.
You get to finish the experience on your terms. You know when the last training session starts and ends. Finishing your last session, turn out the light and close the door for the very last time on the main series. Then you do your final 3 dances. With the end of your final routine you know you can do no more. The weeks of toil, struggle, wonder and self doubt seemingly a world away. The pride felt in just getting that far is palpable.
I certainly got that feeling tonight on It Takes Two.
I get the feeling there is relatively little pressure felt now by the celebs other than to try and get the job done for their pro partner.
For the celebs themselves it is the Strictly bug that has gripped them all like nothing else.
Something that by Monday morning will manifest withdrawal symptoms.
First thought of a morning 'Right off to training' followed by realization 'but no, it's done - what on earth do I do now?'.
Taking all this into account I can see how and why the last week is so emotional.
The glitterball feels like a mere cherry with their already iced cake.
A nice bonus but not equal to the feeling of just getting as far as the final itself.
Makes me realize now just how little I mind no matter who wins.
It does seem to matter an awful lot to many folk hence all the fix and bias and conspiracy stuff. But it doesn't really matter that much in the end imo.
The series has done it's job in my eyes. It has kept me watching and the celebs hoping to keep their magical Strictly experience alive.
Some have had their journey cut short outside of their control but that is the nature of the Strictly beast. But by final week it is a beast no more.
Just a beacon of hope and joy for all the couples remaining.
And a beacon of entertainment and joy for all of us.
You get to finish the experience on your terms. You know when the last training session starts and ends. Finishing your last session, turn out the light and close the door for the very last time on the main series. Then you do your final 3 dances. With the end of your final routine you know you can do no more. The weeks of toil, struggle, wonder and self doubt seemingly a world away. The pride felt in just getting that far is palpable.
I certainly got that feeling tonight on It Takes Two.
I get the feeling there is relatively little pressure felt now by the celebs other than to try and get the job done for their pro partner.
For the celebs themselves it is the Strictly bug that has gripped them all like nothing else.
Something that by Monday morning will manifest withdrawal symptoms.
First thought of a morning 'Right off to training' followed by realization 'but no, it's done - what on earth do I do now?'.
Taking all this into account I can see how and why the last week is so emotional.
The glitterball feels like a mere cherry with their already iced cake.
A nice bonus but not equal to the feeling of just getting as far as the final itself.
Makes me realize now just how little I mind no matter who wins.
It does seem to matter an awful lot to many folk hence all the fix and bias and conspiracy stuff. But it doesn't really matter that much in the end imo.
The series has done it's job in my eyes. It has kept me watching and the celebs hoping to keep their magical Strictly experience alive.
Some have had their journey cut short outside of their control but that is the nature of the Strictly beast. But by final week it is a beast no more.
Just a beacon of hope and joy for all the couples remaining.
And a beacon of entertainment and joy for all of us.