I honestly don't think so. Darren Gough was always going to win that Final - he ticked all the boxes in terms of the journey he had had, the enjoyment he found, his popularity and chemistry with Lilia.

I didn't like the dummies routine but it was a brave attempt and I could see what she was trying to do. I was sore at that point that Ian and Zoe, with their brilliant West Side Story dance had ben knocked out.

That's bold statement to make to say the least. How was he always going to win? And there is no telling how the voting might have gone IF as I said Erin decided to do as entertaining routine as Darren had done. Yes Darren may have won but there can be no doubt that the final was thrown away by Colin and Erin

Darren was always way ahead in the popularity stakes, and remember, people had been voting all week.
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I don't think Colin or Zoe ever had a chance against Darren. He wasn't my favourite, but I did love him and the chemistry he had with Lilia, and I could see he would be unstoppable on the night. Colin and Erin were good dancers but didn't do the touchy feely charismatic stuff as well.

Again I question how you know this in relation to Colin. As far as I can remember only Zoe had been in the last two (definitely once altho it may have been twice). Colin had never been in the last two at any point during the series and if anything Darren admitted to trying to dance like him. I still maintain that had Erin decided to do an entertaining show dance there might possibly have been a different result...or had Darren still won I would be satisfied that Colin and Erin at least put there best foot forward to try to win which I am far from convinced that they did

I would love to do an entire psephological analysis of the voting figures, but I can't cos we don't have them. I'm not really going on anything other than a total hunch that Darren had the popular vote sown up in the last few weeks. I always thought that if we were voting by preferences, which we can do, I guess, Colin and Erin would have picked up a lot of seconds, but Darren and Lilia would have had most first. I can't prove it, but it's my instinct.

That's alright I happen to agree with you about the popular vote. It's just that I think Colin was a lot more popular than he was PERCEIVED to be (I'll never forget the four pensioners on ITT who were backing Colin), and can't help but feel he (or perhaps Erin) just chucked everything away with that Muppet Dance

Well the final last year ended after the judges vote

1. Zoe =3
2. Colin = 2
3. Darren = 1

After the publlic vote Zoe was eliminated which meant that the public vote had to be Darren first - Colin 2nd and Zoe 3rd

Zoe 3+1=4
Colin 2+2=4
Darren 1+3=4

Zoe was eliminated as in the event of a tie - the pair with the fewest viewer votes goes. On the same basis - I would hazard a guess that Darren was well ahead of Colin at that stage to take the viewer vote as he obviously did - so the final dance was a non event - Darren had won it before he stepped on the floor for the final dance.

However..... had the judges marked the Latin section fairly and given Colin the marks he deserved (they overmarked Zoe's Samba) he would have won as he would have had 3+2=5 as against Darren's 1+3=4.....

Whichever way it went Zoe was always going to be 3rd on the public vote (she had scored poorly in the 2 weeks leading up to the final) counting for more than the judges - so if they didn't want Darren to win - they should have voted Colin first......

Thanks for the analysis CaroUK. But Altho Darren overtook Zoe I wasn't surprised as support for Zoe appeared to be dwindling. That didn't seem to be the case with Colin and as I always bang on about had he decided to put in a good performance who says how results might have turned out

Thanks, Caro Uk

Hallelujah! I'm so glad someone else feels this! I think that Emma, who has a pretty smile, and a nice body and looks the part of a dancer, has been consistently overmarked as a result, above other competitors who are technically better but don't look like dancers. I also think she is being overmarked because of who she is. I thinkthat Louisa's Jive then ALSO had to be slightly overmarked as they had already overmarked Emma, and Louisa's was better. I actually think this overmarking will hinder Emma in the long run and she could make a shock exit.

Brilliant.....Was that before or after Ian fell on his backside ???

Didn't see all your post before. But couldn't help chuckling when I saw the part of your post which said if the judges didn't want Darren to win. Well leaving aside for one moment that judges should be impartial. From what I remember of the night Len seemed to be doing his best to boost Darren and it was the first time I ever heard him be REALLY critical of Zoe (bar her performance in the Cha Cha Cha). Bruno of course was unashamedly in Zoe's corner. Craig was pretty even handed on the nite. Arlene I would say leaned just a whisker towards Zoe.

I think Emma has potential, but she just isn't able to relax yet. Louisa doesn't have the pressure on her at the moment that Emma has had, and apart from the the fact that the dance was altogether better, she is just enjoying herself, which always goes down well with the public.

Ok I'm preparing to eat my words.

Said earlier that I couldn't warm to Peter but after seeing him on ITT, I think he's a poppet.

Totally agree Spider9, Peter was fab tonight and has really made it up my list of favourites. how good was he saying it was not right to show Jan crying and getting upset, what a gent, still can't stand Man U.

Emma grew on me tonight, her hair looked loads better instead of whispy horrible bits around her face it actually looked as though it had some body and condition.

Wasn't the bit with his shoes sweet?

Yes, very