Strictly Come Dancing--am I on my own here?

I don't think it's anything to do with Sergeant. Once he left, the BBC planned to have only two couples in the final. It's just that - live show and everything - someone didn't notice what had happened until after the phone voting started.

Agreed. They've not had a three-contestant semi-final before, and so they hadn't thought through all the potential outcomes. So as soon as Tess said "To SAVE TOM, vote..." or whatever it was, they were left with no choice.

What they could have done: open the phone lines for Rachel and Lisa only, or return to the judges for a casting vote between R&L before opening all three lines.

We watched all of this unfold in Tom's village pub (as featured on the show the week before), with his Dad in attendance - so we went from resigned acceptance (OK, Tom's out, no point voting) to complete and utter euphoric screeching UPROAR on the turn of a dime. Even 15 mins before the result was announced, Tom was texting his Dad to say: that's it, dance-off, probably won't get through. And now he's the obvious favourite to win! As embarrassing farces go, this was an uncommonly enjoyable one.

It was on the level of "the winner is...2 Up 2 Down (APPLAUSE, HOWLS drowning out the "NOT")."

They have had a three contestant semi-final before, last year and the year before.

I love how NO-ONE in my work, or indeed, no-one who writes for/checks facts in the Metro, understands what went on. I had it very carefully explained to me that it was because nothing could separate the girls because they were tied. I pointed out it was exceptionally unlikely that they would tie on the phone vote so one was bound to get more than the other, and therefore more than Tom, but was told that was wrong, and referred to the Metro which explained that voting was suspended becase it was very likely that all contestants would get four points. Um, no. How fucking hard is it to work out, really?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/news/december/wk13_news_update_151208.shtml

Everyone with a shred of common sense who realised it was pointless voting for Tom is going to be well fucked off now that the BBC have decided to add Tom's vote to his score for next week.

I mean his vote for this week + his dance score for this week, then use that as the basis for the starting point for next week. Or something.

nothing could separate the girls because they were tied

*insert next Sunday's News of the World/Mail on Sunday front page headline of your choice*

anybody else watching this?

Never in doubt.

ar.

Felt sorry for Lisa - getting 80 out of 80 and still getting knocked out first :-(

Have watched Tom's showdance approx ten times already this morning, and still smiling every time I see it. Lisa's showdance gave me the creeps, and I spent the whole thing watching through my fingers in case Brendan dropped her and broke her neck or something - that rolling-her-up-his-body thing was horrible.

Amazing scenes in our village pub on Saturday night, especially when Strictly Our Tom gave us a shout-out during his acceptance speech. Grown men were weeping!

(And now that the cat's out of the bag, the stats on our village blog have gone mental...)

Aye, your village blog got a mention on Digital Spy as well, which can't have done it any harm. Or has done it lots of harm, if the hamsters in the wee wheel that operate it can't run fast enough to keep up with pervy interweb creeppoid mentalists.

Lisa and Brendan's showdance gets funnier every time I watch it. What was he thinking?

Right then.

It appears I am on my own here.

i will try and watch because of ALIONA. wowza.

wow @ Martina Hingis being in on this...

Joe Calzaghe is rubbish, and Richard Dunwoody will be even rubbisher. Ali Bastian for the win, based on one dance.

Not a big fan of Alesha Dixon's role as Strictly's Cheryl Cole so far.

Chris Hollins <3

lol at his mum and dad turning up

Also <3 Ricky Groves.

OMG GREAT BRITISH PUBLIC ARE MENTAL

SUPER MENTAL

Seriously, what is WRONG with people?

Drawing on the voting patterns of last year, the public would seem to prefer blokes with comedy balloon muscles.

Are you talking about Rav or Joe? Either way, fuck 'em. It usually takes me a few weeks to get pissed off with this thing, so fair play to the Beeb. I sort of assumed they'd keep Martina in to justify whatever they paid her to appear (Rav's a BBC employee anyway).

Talking about both of them! I was hoping for a Rav vs Joe dance off, but when they said Joe was safe, I really wasn't surprised.

Ali or Chris ftw out of this lot (though Ricky G seems very popular). Next week's lot, I imagine the other Ricky will get the balloon muscle vote, and I have no idea about the rest of them. Laila Whatsit, maybe, just because Anton has mad fans.

I had a sneaking suspicion this would happen. Putting a furren Wimbledon winner on the show was just rubbing thr GBP's nose in it.

But keeping in a big plank of wood over her in the dance-off was just insane. Thread obviously now needs Marcello to bang on about the half-Mauritian guy and the other foreigner being in the dance-off thanks to Racist Great British Public.

(they were really in the dance-off because the two worst dancers are insanely popular in real non-Strictly TV/sport terms)

This thread hasn't been posted to in a while, but I just want to revive it to say this: Great British Public, what the eff-ing blazes are you thinking? Ali and Zoe in the bottom two? You're all crazy for guys with comedy muscles and cheeky chappies, that's the only explanation.

I have mostly been communicating with people by non-ILX means due to no seeming interest in this part of the world, but, honestly, people, whoever you are, STOP FUCKING VOTING FOR CRAIG. HE IS SHITE.

Hopefully he will go to Blackpool, and then his mammy can nip along the road and take him away back home again and we can get on with the real stuff.

I do secretly find it quite funny that it's always James Jordan who ends up the victim when PUBLICVOTEGATE rears its ugly head.

Whoa Ailsa - I thought you didn't mind Craig?!? Nevertheless, last night was utter bollocks - how the feck did Ali and Brian get in the bottom two? I can *sort of* see why Zoe doesn't get votes - she is a decent dancer, but a bit characterless - but Craig, Laila, squeaky Hollins and Tuffers are all worse. Oh and Eastenders Ricky. Good to see Johnny Hollins though(cue chants of Johnny H's Blue Army, Johnny H's Blue Armeeee!). Anyway we're slowly coming to a household concensus that Ali n' Brian are the best. I do NOT like Ricky Whittle!

Having said all of that, Len's meltdowns everytime the public come up with a vote like last night's are pretty tiresome.

I like Craig a lot, but I don't want to see him dance any more to know that he really can't do it very well. Also, am fed up of Flavia's "wtf am I doing still here" not-even-very-convincing-any-more fake grin.

So yeah.....poor old Ali out and the gurning Hollins through to the final. A less than vintage year for Strictly. Better celebs needed next year, and please no Alesha or Darcey.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/49021000/jpg/_49021946_bbc_daniels_widdecombe.jpg

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/49021000/jpg/_49021946_bbc_daniels_widdecombe.jpg

Ugh. Do not want.

The large version I meant to paste in is even worse.

*Ann Widdecombe
*Felicity Kendal
*Gavin Henson - Welsh rugby player
*Goldie - what would a celeb talent show be without Goldie?
*Jimi Mistry - the obligatory "actor who used to be on Eastenders"
*Kara Tointon - the obligatory "actress who used to be on Eastenders"
*Matt Baker - ex Blue Peter presenter
*Michelle Williams - one of the two people in Destiny's Child who wasn't Beyonce. This year's "foreigner who gets voted out in the first week by an intolerant Great British Public".
*Pamela Stephenson - AKA Mrs Billy Connolly so expect the Big Yin to be seen in the audience a few times.
*Patsy Kensit - what would a celeb talent show be without Patsy Kensit?
*Paul Daniels - "you're going to like this... not a lot but... oh who are we kidding, you're not going to like this at all". They should pair him with the tallest dancer.
*Peter Shilton - ex England goalkeeper.
*Scott Maslen - used to be on The Bill.
*Tina O'Brien - as a daring innovative ground breaking etc. twist this year, an actress who used to be on Eastenders

duh I mean Coronation Street

Scott Maslen is ex-Stenders as well (in fact, he's actually current Stenders, isn't he?)

hope he dances in character

Anyway, am not excited. Calling Kara Tointon or Matt Baker ftw, without actually seeing any of them dance.

xpost aye (for non-Stenders-watchers, his character is in a wheelchair)

possible winners: Felicity Kendal, Peter Shilton, Matt Baker

runners-up: Pamela Stephenson, Patsy Kensit, Goldie

kept in despite no dancing ability due to looks/comedy balloon muscles: Gavin Henson, Scott Maslen (twice, see below)

kept in despite no dancing ability due to soap association: Jimi Mistry, Kara Tointon, Tina O'Brien, Scott Maslen (twice, see above)

no chance: Ann Widdecombe, Paul Daniels, Michelle Williams (due to being a "furriner")

Sounds about right, but I think Kara Tointon will be best out of the soapies.

Going to stick my neck out and predict that Brendan will get Patsy Kensit.

We are about to find out.

I don't like this meeting up bit. It's like one of those awful charity auctions.