Strictly Come Dancing

The public are definitely not voting on the quality of the dancing. Sorry, but Susanna should have gone out. IMO of course.

What a fiasco! What on earth were Natalie and Artem doing in the dance off?? A perfect score by the judges (who we presume actually know something about dancing!) for one of their dances?

Susannah and Patrick should have been in the dance off.

It's the same every year, though. People vote for the person they like best, which is not necessarily the person who has performed the best or improved the most.

Well, if they (Susanna and Patrick) had been......the result would have been the same!

Meant to add that I don't think the public has warmed to Natalie at all, and the fact that she was already a trained dancer put them off her even more!

Too smug by half!

She does deserve her place in the final. She has progressed wonderfully since the competition started. It's obvious that the public has suspicions about Natalie who has been the judges' front runner all the way. Having said that, the other finalists have all started from a much lower base and proved themselves worthy of a position in the final. Sad about Patrick, but someone had to go.

If the person who has performed the best or improved the most should win, then it certainly isn't Natalie who has remained consistently near perfect right from the start, and that's why the public do not like it or do not vote for her.
The winner could be any one of the remaining four, my bet is on Abbey, I just wish she didn't act so childishly. Personally I admire Sophie, she is so modest in her achievement. Well done of course to Susanna and the best of luck next week. Lets hear it for the older woman. Yay!!

Oh grandmaminey - do you have any fingernails left? I think it was absolutely right that Patrick went this week, he escaped by a whisker last week when only Len out of all of the judges preferred Ashley's performance.
Susanna is way better than Patrick who I have found a bit clod-hopping .(Sorry that is a bit of a back-handed compliment, but I am sure you know what I mean!)
When you have so few couples left and all of a high standard there are always going to be some regrets about the couples who don't make it - that's competitions!

'older woman'? My sons are about Susanna's age! Oh, wait, they are now middle aged...

I think it was right that Patrick went. If you compare the girls with the professional dancers they compare well. Whereas Patrick really is not a patch on the professional men. Congratulations to Susanna. She is such fun and has improved so much. I think it may well be Abbey that wins but I would prefer Sophie.

I put 'older woman' in inverted commas (goodness, how old fashioned and grammatical that sounds!), as I was meaning that DD is 9-16 years older than the other finalists!
Oh for the lithe figure of 27yr old Abbey-- (dream on) but then I wouldn't have a comfortably padded 'G'ma lap' for my grandchildren, and even DD's cat loves to curl up on.

I don't think the public have forgiven Natalie for what she did to Tyrone

Phew! I feel quite limp after that. Sorry to see Patrick go, he has done so well - but somebody had to. Who knows what will happen next week? My money would probably be on Abbey with her beautiful lines; but Sophie or Susannah can both be brilliant with the right dance. Natalie may not get the public vote even if Artem gets his shirt off.
Susannah is such a good example of "Look where hard work and enthusiasm can get you" and she shows that hard work can be fun. Kevin is such a sweetie too, I think it's great that they've done so well in his first year.

I had mixed feelings because I do like Patrick, so was sad to see him go.

Great that Susannah is through, she gets an A for Attitude (in a good way!) She was clearly not well, so, what a trouper. I noticed that Deborah Meaden is rooting for her on Twitter.

I think the dance off should have been between Susannah and Patrick, and I am of the opinion that Patrick would have been the judges choice because I think he is a much better 'mover' than Susannah. Being a man in this competition is more difficult than be the lady, because the men lead, so the women with the professional partners really have a head start. It has, once again all boiled down to personalities rather than dancers which is a pity, because it is as I have said before supposed to be a Dance Competition, not 'who do you like best'. Of course it is entertaining, and life has never been fair, and I look forward to next week.

I think that all the couples in the final deserve to be there. Natalie may have had training as a a youngster, but she has worked just as hard as anyone else in the competition. Suzanna is definitely the most improved and both Abbey and Sophie have natural grace and elegance. The final winner will come down to who the public like the best on the night I think.

But in the end it isn't just a dance competition is it? There would be no point having celebrities in it at all if it was. They might just as well gather a dozen people from Ballroom Dancing Classes and let us vote for the best ones. You just have to hope that most people will strike a balance between their liking for a particular celebrity and their appreciation of the actual dancing.

I can't believe DD is working this week--but I've just seen her, so I know she is. I know she is totally committed to her 'day job' even though it means two more great chunks of training time 'sacrificed' in a week when there are two dances to recall and polish.
AND--a Show Dance to learn from scratch.
I'm amazed she can still dance at all--let alone carry on the same rate of 'improvement' as in the earlier one-dance weeks.
But she obviously wasn't a Girl Guide for nothing 'DYB,DYB,DYB'!
Susanna is still absolutely loving the dancing--and doing her absolute best on this amazing journey. I think this really is what SCD is all about.
As Deedaa wisely says:
" It isn't just a dance competition is it? There would be no point in having 'celebrities' in it at all if it was ."
Good luck to all the Ballroom Belles on Saturday

I was also amazed to see her on the box this morning. I hope she is feeling better GM, though I thought she still sounded a bit congested. I will have everything crossed on Saturday and hope that my GC will 'allow' me to have the TV on.

I also thought that Susanna would have had a "holiday" from early morning TV this week at least. Good luck to her this Saturday. She has done so well to reach the final. My head tells me that Natalie should win but my heart tells me otherwise. I think that she is too smug by half.

Thanks for the "wisely" comment GrandmaMiney it's not something I hear much at home

Follow your heart Charleygirl. I know I'm following mine

All the contestants in it [from now on] are all good dancers so anyone could win the final; it's a mix of things, who the public like, the dance itself, the costumes and even the choice of music.I also think even the colour of the dresses could come into it.Also, even the best dancers can make mistakes. I would like Susanna to win, but if she doesn't , then Abbey.

Stress levels very high. I have learned so much from this whole experience--from the names of some dance steps, to a heightened awareness of a wide range of feelings and reactions.
It is only an dancing entertainment show. But I have a tinsy insight into what parents of competitors in hugely bigger, highly skilled events must go through, time after time. I apologise to Judy Murray for ever thinking that her 'performance' was over the top. I have had a tiny taste of what it must be like. And I am full of admiration.
That said, dear gransnetters DD and I do need your support tomorrow night x2. Please.