Strictly The Final: 6pm tonight (new thread)

I believed, all along, that Chris and Diane would win on the popular vote and always gave them my vote. I know that Anton said that Tasha was probably the best dancer they'd ever had on Strictly, and Craig was lavish in his support of her. but this, as we all know, is not what it's all about. Shirley referred to Pete as 'Mr Strictly' because of the progress he made, but might have said the same of Chris whose progress was stunning and whose personality captivated the audience - well, me, for one -not to mention Diane. I can't think of another pro dancer who could have related to Chris the way she did.

I wanted Chris and Diane to win because it’s amazing what he did (including always perfect heel leads) and how Diane managed to teach him, but I really enjoyed many of the other performances and the programme wouldn’t be the same without the brilliance of Tasha and Aljaž.

Tasha has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She has had plenty of training over the years so she ought to have been good (like Layton last year).

Chris had never danced at all, and couldn't see - no comparison.

I think the winner should rightly be the celebrity who has made the most progress, which this year is Chris.

Totally unexpected, as he said himself he expected to go out very early on.
No-one could possibly have foreseen this amazing outcome, and all credit to Dianne🕺💃

As has been said before, a whole program of novice dancers would be too boring, we do need to see some amazing dancing.
Tasha was good. better than good, but for me she lacked something the other three finalists had, she just always seemed to go through the motions without any passion or emotion.
I think JB was the best, but Chis and Diane, definitely worthy winners.

I think Dianne should have some official recognition for all her hard work.
I don't think "Dame Dianne Buswell" would go amiss, especially as Queen Camilla enjoys Strictly.

I came across these Strict results figures online. What a huge majority Chris and Dianne had.

Chris and Dianne 63.81% (2396 votes)
JB and Lauren 17.15% (644 votes)
Sarah and Vito 11.74% (441 votes)
Tasha and Aljaz 7.30% (274 votes)

Strictly not Strict

What interests me the most is the progress that some of the dancers make during the curse of the series and Chris definitely made the most.

I recently saw a clip of Fred and Ginger and wondered why more of the Strictly choreographers don't use their pieces for ideas. Then we had Tasha and Aljaz - a brilliant performance.

It's good to see some excellent dancing on tv. For those who may be interested BBC or 4 sometimes show films of the Royal Ballet such as Alice in wonderland. If you haven't that, it's a must. Also other companies. Worth looking out for.

I would love for there to be more dance programmes, of all types on tv, but we have to very realistic here. Strictly is successful and popular for many reasons:

- the dynamic of professional dancers teaching
inexperienced celebrities
- the different dance types attempted
- the special effects and costumes
- the back stories and practice videos
- the judges, the presenters
- the studio audience
- etc.

The list is endless, and in this way Strictly has artificially inflated the public's perceived fondness for dance shows. But this isn't always sustainable. Other dance programmes have struggled to gain such longevity and popularity, mainly because dance is underrated in general.

I think that is why the GN Strictly thread is always successful. It draws in posters who are passionate about dance, whether experienced or not, but it also draws in posters who want to discuss it for the entertainment value and the pleasure it brings.

* we have to be realistic

It was a total waste of time for the other three dancer to perform as it was known from day 1 that McCausland would win.

I recently saw a clip of Fred and Ginger and wondered why more of the Strictly choreographers don't use their pieces for ideas. Then we had Tasha and Aljaz - a brilliant performance.
That's a good point, and I agree. The trouble is that in the modern dance world, such numbers are considered "old-fashioned" and even sometimes "boring". If they are performed well they are excellent, but otherwise, in my experience, they can appear hackneyed.

mabon1

It was a total waste of time for the other three dancer to perform as it was known from day 1 that McCausland would win.

It wasn't a waste of time for Tasha. Financially she will be the winner. 💰

I don't know if this has been mentioned but Chris will not be participating in the Strictly tour next year

Louella12

I don't know if this has been mentioned but Chris will not be participating in the Strictly tour next year

The Strictly Tour clashes with some of his own Comedy Tour dates, he had already rescheduled many dates to fit Strictly in.

escaped Back in the 70s I went to an all nighter Fred and Ginger show at the NFT. I managed not to fall asleep. They are still my favourite dance films to watch.

mabon1

It was a total waste of time for the other three dancer to perform as it was known from day 1 that McCausland would win.

Well, I must be the only person on the planet who didn’t think Chris would get so far.

Never thought he would make the final until a couple of weeks ago, and still thought JB stood a good chance of winning.

JB got all my votes.

I used to watch the show avidly, but I enjoyed this year after not having bothered watching over recent years. I mainly watched as I knew Wynne Evans ( and his brother and family) as a young boy and young man, but found I enjoyed the show for its own merits again.
My opinion for what it’s worth… the result was the best it could be under the circumstances…the other 3 were much the better dancers, but Chris was pretty good considering his disability, showing really marvellous progress and commitment.
Like many others I couldn’t warm to Tasha as she was professionally trained and in my view shouldn’t have been allowed to compete, but her Fred and Ginger dance was superb.
JB showed the best progress and ended up a super dancer, but Sarah, at 53, was superb …stunning I thought, and not given enough credit for her ability and courage! Wish my legs (& body!) had ever looked that good, let alone at that age!
As dancers it would have been difficult to separate Tasha, Sarah and JB…so best all round to give it to Chris!

Clawdy

I loved Craig, he was kind and funny, and also more sensible with his voting. Got a bit tired of all the shrieked "TEN!"s.

100% agree with you, Craig is the only sensible judge, the others are all ov er the place with their voting. How can Tasha and Christ both get a 10 score if you are judging the dancing there is no comparison. If you judge the achievement there might be. By the way this is what it says about Tasha if you Google it:- Ghouri trained in ballet as a child, and later attended Creative Academy in Slough. She has competed in major dance events and performed in music videos. What she had to learn on Strictly was completely different, she is also deaf which lots of people appear to forget that.

The Irish have their version of this show. I heard today that the winner is blind. As Chris won the UK show it makes me wonder if its fair on the others.

It's interesting that we've now had 2 winners with a disability.

If there was a sort of Strictly "paralympics" would this be seen as patronising?

I'd like to see those with some sort of disability compete together and not get lost in a sea of able bodied contestants. It would also stop the accusations of the sympathy vote.

I am truly interested in how the teaching style has to be adapted - I think all the pros who have had a disabled partner have been brilliant in adapting the choreography, and I think it must be very inspiring and encouraging for some struggling to come to terms with a disability of some sort.

Ferry Thats a good point.
They were both deserving winners, but it could get to the point where saying those with professional training have an unfair advantage will change.
It will still be partly a popularity contest too.

I loved watching Tasha dance, she's a beautiful girl and a great dancer, but I didn't want her to win becuase of all her previous dance training. I'm so glad the public always seems to be on the 'underdog's' side. Those who progress from complete beginners to proper dancers deserve our support.

That's thought-provoking ferry23.
I wouldn't count Rose in that category, though, as she was by far THE best dancer in the competition that year anyway.

Chris was a different case, and though I wouldn't want to take anything away from his marvellous achievement, the competitors this year were not judged for their dancing on a level playing field.
What I'm trying to say, (probably clumsily), is that if we ended up with say Usain Bolt in the 100 metres alongside Jonnie Peacock, and Bolt won way out in front, how would it then be if Jonnie were voted for the Olympic Gold medal by those in the audience?

escaped

That's thought-provoking ferry23.
I wouldn't count Rose in that category, though, as she was by far THE best dancer in the competition that year anyway.

Chris was a different case, and though I wouldn't want to take anything away from his marvellous achievement, the competitors this year were not judged for their dancing on a level playing field.
What I'm trying to say, (probably clumsily), is that if we ended up with say Usain Bolt in the 100 metres alongside Jonnie Peacock, and Bolt won way out in front, how would it then be if Jonnie were voted for the Olympic Gold medal by those in the audience?

I do agree with what you're saying escaped.

But we, the public, are a fickle lot, and we judge to our own personal criteria, not as a professional.

Many moons ago I was part of a quiz team at a pub quiz where the landlord was a miserable so-and-so. We won three times in a row, so at the next quiz he gave us a 10 point penalty. We still won. Then he wanted to give us a 20 point penalty.

At that point I asked him if someone had won the 100m in the olympics 4 times consecutively would he cut one of their legs off the next time?

He promptly banned us