Obviously Darren Gough was a complete joke, but It's obvious Tom or Austin would win. However they are nothing special and would not have made the final in other series bar the Darren Gough year

So its safe to say this would be the 2nd worst ever champion

Why obvious?

Their dancing is very good. It's their personalities that don't cut it (Tom too reserved and Austin too arrogant).....but then as the Gods keep saying 'It is a dancing competition'

As time goes on I love the fact DG won. That was the spirit of SCD that I loved. Now someone like him will be hounded out (if they even decide to join in) by the Gods rigging it using their new rule 'three bottoms and you're gone'.

Did you see the voting count leaked? Have you seen the bookies odds? No one can touch them. I favour and prefer Tom though.

it'll only be the worst if Christine or Lisa to some extent when.
The other 3 are just as good as any of the other winners we've had. I think they could have won other series.

That would be the 'complete joke' who won two Christmas specials along with the main series in 2005 would it?

I think it's difficult and perhaps unfair to compare winners. Natasha, for example, looks very ordinary now by recent Strictly standards but it may be they weren't taking it as seriously back then. Then you have someone like Mark (my personal favourite) who was top class at Latin but never quite mastered ballroom.

I'm almost afraid to say this but face aside, I think Tom is better than Mark Ramprakash.

Personally I think Tom & Austin are better than Mark R, or maybe they don't bore me as much. I wasn't as overwhelmed by Mark's dancing as others were, although he was definitely the right person to win that year.

They're certainly not as good as Jill or Alesha.

Umm it depends who wins. But no matter who wins this year, they will not be able to touch the dizzy heights of the Champions of SCD 2, 4 and 5. Well if Tom wins maybe.

I have seen last weeks vote count leaked. Means nothing with JS still in it. Have you seen more recent vote counts?

i still don't think it's fair that the men and women are directly compared. the women have a completely different task to the men!

also the jills and natashas had far fewer dances to learn, as well as less expectation from the judges and the public than there is now.

Im actually quite bored with this series, if it wasnt for the pro dances it would be decidedly average.
Im not sure that the celebs they have this year are very good, average yes but not very good. Im not impressed so far.

What?!!! Are you well ?

Whoever wins this series will be deserved I think. Those who are left are all pretty brilliant (maybe Christine to a lesser extent, but she is lovely...). & How was Darren Gough a complete joke? He was bloody brilliant. Maybe he was not the best technical dancer, but he did encompass what the show is about. The only winner I never really liked was Ramps... (But that may be to do with his pro partner, I'm afraid... eek. *hides*)

I thought I detected the bum factor (a la Andrew) in his tango last night.

re: Darren - he may have started as a joke - he himself certainly thought so. Remember this exchange between him and Lilia. I don't quote verbatim but it went something like this:

Darren: I can't do that - what will my mates say?
Lilia: It's too late to worry about your mates.

And eventually he did forget about his mates and even Craig was won over.

I won't argue with those who felt Colin should have won - favourites will always be subjective, but by the end of the series his dancing was no longer a joke.

Alesha did nothing for me. Maybe because I was rooting for Kelly Brooke But SCD 5 had the best competition.