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.

I that's a really special way of putting it - Love the positivity and hopefully it radiates onto the screen tomorrow night

That's a nice way of looking at it.

As much as I want a particular celebrity to win, the final three are all winners. They have managed to get to the final and do all of their dances. They have had an amazing experience that loads of people would love to have.

Having said that, I will vote as much as I can for Danny and Oti to win. As far as I am concerned. Danny and Oti deserved that little cherry on top of their cake.

Thank you sambadan for a wonderful post, obviously it was written from the heart

I hope a few more FM reads this

It's a really great post, thanks for that.

Upon reading this I wish more people didn't take it all so seriously.
(haha, who am I kidding, this is digital spy and people here will bear a grudge until judgement day comes again)

Great post and I totally agree.

I've been thoroughly entertained for the past few months, and it really is lovely to watch people find such joy in dancing (as cheesy as that sounds!)

Lovely words sambadan - where have the last few months gone?

I know that most people do naturally have their favourite couples, but let's all enjoy tomorrow night's show, and then starting counting down the days to the beginning of next years series!

A toast to Strictly 2016 🍷🍸🍾

Great post.

It's still the best family friendly entertainment show on TV

Here's to all fellow SCD fans & let's hope 2017 bring us all good times & merriment
🍷🍺👏

Amen to that.
Eager to see who the 2017 cast will be