I'm feeling cautiously optimistic that the BBC has learned from last year's cock up in the 3 couple semi and the set-up has changed.

I agree pasodabble that we don't know who came top in the public vote in last year's semi but I remember lots of seemingly impressive stuff on the Gethin threads (horribly biased of course) explaining how internet hits etc. showed Gethin had the momentum and public support.

It's academic now and if it had been Gethin and Alesha in the final Alesha might well have won but, in the minds of Gethin fans, there's always been that nagging disgruntlement that Gethin was robbed in the semi.

As a Tom fan, I don't want to feel that again but, from what's been said about no dance-off in the semi-final, maybe the Apricot drum can be put away.

I was one of those disgruntled supporters of Gethin....and though I feel he almost certainly topped the public vote in the semi that dosen't mean the vote in the final would have gone the same way.
We'll never know.

As for this year, no dance off would certainly be good news for Tom and Austin and bad news for Rachel and her supporters.

It seems your numbers come from nowhere. Common sense is not an argument when we are discussing the number of votes. However, the poll taken on this forum after their victory showed that Alesha had more supporters than Gethin and Matt TOGETHER.
I think the poll is more indicative of public opinion than your vague "common sense" or "almost" conjectures.