Yea I'd second that. Rachel could have made it through this week and given a much better final (unless Sam goes up a gear), but I think Jodie's right on course to win it - and if that's actually the truth, then in that sense they are a bit out of touch, since they don't seem that enthused with her.

I totally agree with you. They made their preference for a raw, younger Nancy so abundantly clear last night (lest we were in any doubt throughout the series, which let's face it, we weren't ). And their sustained attempts to damn Jodie with faint praise have simply not paid off.

Maybe Jodie's crowning will teach them a lesson about trying to buy yourself masses of publicity with a show of this nature. They should never have let 'traditional' Nancy types through if they didn't want them to be picked. And they don't get more traditional than Jodie. You can practically see her heaving that bosom around a bar with large jugs [scuse the pun] of ale for her Bill.

Jodie isn't just like the Nancy of the film, she's like every busty tart with a heart who's ever graced the screen. If ALW and CM wanted something different, then as you say, they should have made their job spec a lot clearer from the get go and kept repeating it over and over and over again. They didn't and they're now in danger of coming unstuck.

I think that we all can see that CM and ALW does not have their finger on the pulse of British Culture. They are both public school boys who have been sheltered from the world. Their opinions are based on Caricatures. I think that they are being led by box office and not artistic influences. I think that they have decided that lookers get bums on seats.

I think this may be the first time, they won't get who they want in one of these shows.

I think they want are not in touch with who the people want. I think they could fanagle a Sam win somehow although it would spark controversy and an inquest

I don't know if they are even in touch with eachother. any truth to Cam walking out when ALW saved Sam.

bad actors and singers dont...............

If only they had a flair for musical theatre, they might have been quite successful!!

Sounds interesting...do you mean a previous Rachel sing off or have you got the names mixed up?

Yet they are both very successful at what they do

Hang on a sec... whilst I do think they've dropped the ball in letting the public cast a show for which they have a very clear idea of what they wanted, I think it's a pretty big leap in illogicality to say they don't have their finger on the pulse.

How you can possibly say that about two of the most legendary musical theatre personalities is beyond me. ALW alone will go down in history as absolutely bringing the masses to the theatre. His background is utterly irrelevant, as proven by the gazillions of pounds he's managed to make. His commercial and artistic abilities have proven, quite literally, bang on the money for decades now.

Let's not get carried away here. (Unless you're joking, in which case, nice irony. )

woopsy! I meant saved Sam. thanks.

Fair play!

In response to the post about CM and ALW not having their fingers on the pulse of British culture - that's a little unfair. They obviously thought that the time was ripe to branch out with a different type of Nancy and hadn't bargained on a large proportion of the voters digging their heels in and saying, in effect,
"I knows what I like and I likes what I'm used to."

I seen the last CM production of Oliver! and if you call that successful. It also depends on how you measure success. I am sure they have been blessed with casting teams and not getting desperate at the dropping theatre sales. Desperate times resluts in desperate measures.

They gave us the choice of young or experienced........they wanted young...public are voting for experience.........looks like they have it wrong...

I saw on another thread that people who are involved with the voting say Jodie has been way out in front for weeks now...........makes you think

What I do worry about for Jodie if she wins is her knowledge that CM does not rate her and it could be disasterous for her.

It was indeed - although I really felt sorry for Rachel tonight. The clips at the start of the show from just after she performed last night showed how excited she was that she thought she was in with a chance. I hope she picks her self back up again soon.

oh he will have a great change of heart......

I feel sorry for anyone, when they know deep inside, they are the more talented one.

She'll do what he wants and she'll be a great success.

It is a win win situation now though for CM, as Sam will go out first next week and it won't matter to CM whether he gets Jessie or Jodie as they will both put bums on seats.

I agree, she seems quite insecure and I don't think knowing that the boss doesn't really rate you is something even the most confident individual could easily overcome.

I do worry that if she does win the role she will wilt under the pressure and get savaged by the critics.

she has handled worse........im quite sure when the public start rolling in....Cameron will be fine...........

I agree Rowan Atkinson has a large fanbase and I believe Torchwood and Bleak House have given Burn Gorman quite a following

That was amazing tonight!
The panel is asked who is NOT Nancy and they all say the two girls who end up in the sing-off!

The Great British Public have spoken and do not agree... Lordy!

Don`t you just love it when a plan comes together

Im sure she would fit in fine with them all....I see no problems with Jodie getting Nancy