So, we probably won't know whether there will be a semi-final dance-off until the quarter-final is over. I realise that there was one last year, but I had a look at the programme info for the semi-final, and it says this:


Each of the past info sections has made it clear that there will be a dance-off, but not this one.

It might of course be an omission (notably, it says that there will be four remaining couples, which is obviously untrue), and I'm probably making something out of nothing, but I sincerely hope it's true.

I also hope it's true - if it's the dance off the judges can easily eliminate their least favourite, even if they get the highest vote.

See now, if there WERE a semi-final dance off, how could J and K have POSSIBLY got past that? So that would have made J's fear that he might win pretty unfounded (although IMHO there was no reason why he shouldn't - I used to be on the pro-good-dancing side of the argument but I've moved over into the engaging performance camp this year)

If there were four in the semi-finals, J&K could have escaped the dance-off by getting the highest vote, I think? It's technically possible, but a little unlikely; it would require the highest on the leaderboard to be lowest with the public, I believe. But I'm admittedly not great with numbers and odds, so I may be wrong.

Because, acording to The People, J&K were the leaders with the public vote and, therefore, could potentially have got directly into the final avoiding the dance-off.

I guess I should have said "if they were in the danceoff" of course... I was also assuming they'd get the lowest judges score...and that by that time they'd be unable to claw back enough on votes....perhaps more people would start to vote for the dancing by then???

Didn't Craig make a comment on ITT that this year the public will be more involved in picking a finalist, or words to that effect?

I hope the dance off is scrapped before the final 3, as a dance off at that stage makes no sense. In TXF where there isn't even a judges' leaderboard, the sing off has been scrapped from the quarterfinal onwards.

I completely missed that; that would be excellent.

Semi-final dance-offs are a bit ridiculous. If the judges put through the least popular celebrity, they don't really have much chance of winning.

Is there a Sunday results show scheduled?

..and if so, does it mention a dance off?

I thought last year it was a joke to have a dance off with three contestants remaining.

I think when it gets down to the last three (even the last four) it should go down to the public vote + judges scores combined.

The judges power should end with the top 4 - even on X Factor the judges voting stops with the Final 5

The two shows are essentially under the Saturday night heading; the press office does not mention every programme. All the Strictly information for that weekend is in my first post.

I think they should drop one program so that the semis are with 4 couples.

And next year schedule the semis for the stage when there are 5 couples left and drop 2 of them - then if one pair drop out we don't end up with 2 pairs only in the final

Thanks daisy.

The 1st line is interesting then -

"Tensions reach fever pitch in tonight's penultimate show,"

If there were a Sunday show then the Saturday one couldn't be the penultimate one.

Also there is Sports Personality of the Year is on the Sunday night, so that could be the reason for there not being a Sunday show that week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pro...un_personality

..and as you say, different wording to the Quarter final-

"The quarter-finals bring the remaining five celebrity couples to a showdown on the dance floor this week, as they vie to become Strictly Come Dancing champions. With renewed vigour, the heat will really be turned up as the contestants fight for their place in the semi-final.

As usual, Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly preside over the glittering spectacle, while the contestants put themselves in the line of fire from judges Arlene Phillips, Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman. Once again, it's the all-important audience vote, combined with the judges' scores, which save the couples from elimination. The lowest-scoring couple will return for the Sunday night dance-off to fight for their survival in the competition. "


So hopefully just the top 2 in the public vote in the semi-final through to the final.

Certainly a fairer way to do it.
No chance of a repeat of last year where the person who received the highest public vote (Gethin) is thrown out by the judges.

The penultimate could be encompassing both shows, using the results show as a second part, or not counting the results show, but I think (or hope) the omission of the dance-off might be telling.

The wording on the BBC Strictly site suggests the judges will continue to have their say until the final, but the press office release may be more up to date.


How do you know Gethin got the highest public vote? As far as I know the BBC have not released any voting figures.

Let's hope so

Where does this information come from?

Well you can never know for sure, but he was bottom with the judges, which always gets peoples fans voting, He was incredibly popular and had never been bottom 2 before, unlike Alesha and Matt.

Unless you believe Alesha topped the public vote in the semi, then Gethin must have done.

It's common sense.

But you stated that he'd received the most public votes as fact, which is what I was questioning.

The votes on RTV do not always follow a set pattern, as everyone knows, so no-one can assume anything without evidence. For e.g. Letitia, Kenny and Jodie were in the dance off in their first weeks but subsequently managed to outlast many others.

All we know is that Gethin got more votes than Alesha in the quarterfinal. But so did Matt and she beat him in the semis and final...

Ok, apologies for that. I should have said 'almost certainly'.

As for Letitia, Kenny and Jodie doing better as the show went on, that's easily explained by people building up support as the show progresses.

Do you honestly believe Alesha was top?

But that should apply to everyone, since from a Strictly point of view they all start with no clear support. My point is there are too many variables for any of us to say with any certainty that x got more votes than y in any given week in the absence of clear evidence.


I have absolutely no idea who got the most votes that week.

I'm sure you have an opinion though paso.

As for everyone gaining support. Not sure that's true at all. Some people lose it.
I rather liked Dom Littlewood and Gabby Logan before the show, but that previous positive view of them turned negative as I saw more of them.

and yes there are plenty of variables, but some very definite patterns on all of these shows.
Ones which if you understand, then more often or not you should be able to pick the winners, or atleast those who will do well and those who are likely to struggle.