Your nagging feeling is probaly right because it was eveident that they wanted Gareth out that night even though his solo skating was far superior to Zaraahs but that is life. I felt the final was poorer because of their decision I have no doubt he would not have been in the final 2.

That said Suzanne raised her game and Chris sadly didn't. Both worthy winners but only one could be

The public also voted so were they in on this conspiracy too.

Gareth couldnt get enough votes last week to stop in but you seem to think he would have got more votes than Suzanne in the first phase of the final....how?

Actually I thought the week Gareth went was the only week that Zaraah had managed to outskate him. Much as I loved Gareth and thought he was a sweetheart, semi-final week Zaraah just pipped him for me and I do think the right decision was made ... which surprised me at the time because I honestly had expected that Gareth would go through. Zaraah just managed to pull out that little extra - much as Suzanne did last night.

Someone leaked on this forum that Gareth was second in the public vote ahead of Suzanne but behind Chris. Gareth had been in the top two of the public vote every week bar one where he was first. The fact that he was last with the judges meant the chances of avoiding the skate off were slim.

If this information is correct it would have been a close vote for the final two.

I was happy with the result and do think Suzanne edged it last night.

What I was not happy with was all the 6's Where did they come from especially on the re-danced routine - no way. Also Robin's clear dig at Chris. Very badly timed and terribly unsporting, I thought.

and I dont recall there being much of an outcry on here after he went out so maybe the judges saved the celeb who skated best in the skate-off and not the celeb who was the most threat to their "favoured winner".

The judges marking has been a bit hit and miss throughout.

Chris clearly struggled with the flying routine where I thought Zaraah did really well yet they both scored some 5.5s. I dont think you could put Chris' version as the equal of Zaraahs....

Last night I watched DOI for the first time. I had no idea who any of the finalists were, and the only people I recognised were T&D, Robin, Karen and Nicky. I was watching the show as a completely neutral member of the public. And for me the winner was Suzanne.

She had real connection with her partner - it wasn't a case of two people dancing together, and I thought that her performances flowed. OK there were one or two movements that perhaps were jerky, but overall IMO she fully deserved to win last night.

I read that too - but as you say according to the leak Chris led the public vote every week, bar one - so if Suzanne could make inroads into Chris's vote, I think she could have done the same over Gareth's.

I was sorry to see Gareth go - but I honestly can't buy into the conspiracy theory - what does it matter to ITV who wins, what purpose does it serve? They've attracted the viewers, got the money for the votes etc.

Until last night the general opinion was that it had been set up for Chris - after Jason's remarks there was an outcry because he was favouring Zaraah - now we're told that it was all geared to Suzanne winning.

Why can't we just accept that Suzanne delivered on the night - Chris was at a disadvantage with the first routine, flying, and perhaps that put him under pressure, perhaps it was nerves, but whatever - he was just short of his best though he did achieve three 6's for CMAR - perhaps someone forgot to tell those judges about the conspiracy. I was pleasantly surprised by his Bolero, more emotional and more connection with Frankie than I'd expected - although I thought Suzanne and Matt edged it. I don't agree that Bolero is more suited to the female though; we don't just remember Torvill in that routine - we remember Dean as well.

I actually think there should be a male and female champion to bring a more level playing field into the competition - not sure how it would work though.

Aside from the fact that Suzanne was truly amazing last night, I think she probably picked up more votes than Chris from the fans of those who had gone out and also because of her performance last night probably those who wouldn't necessarily have voted in previous weeks but did for the final.

The way Suzanne performed last night I don't think it would have made any difference to the results if Gareth HAD been in the final. He would have been in third place, where I think as a fan of his he deserved to be taking into account the whole competition and not just last weeks routine. That was his first slightly under par one, whereas Zaraah had had a couple of near misses previously.

As a Gareth fan also I agree he would not have been in the final 2. I think as Suzanne had the edge in 2 of the dances so she will have picked up lots of votes from those gone out.

It was a great series and I really enjoyed it even if I had the odd gripe