Strictly Come Dancing 2010 - The Result!

I'll have to go back to having a social life after tonight (well on my one day off anyway!).  It's been one of the best series of Strictly ever and any three of these finalists would have been deserved winners.

The phone lines are closed...the hearts are beating...either way Artem's going to cry!

It's the moment of truth...


The Strictly Come Dancing champions of 2010 are.........Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev.

Well deserved and a brilliant end to the best series ever!

Go on Artem, have a cry, you know you want to!

Did the best couple win, would you have given it to Matt or Pamela, how about Ann?

Until next year (or the Christmas Special next week anyway), just remember KEEEEEEEP DANCING (PS contact us for details of our classes in the New Year lol)

Strictly Come Dancing Final - Saturday 18th December Final Leader Board

1. 150 points - Kara & Artem
2. 144 points - Matt & Aliona

I do think that Kara is a better dancer than Matt, but something tells me Matt might just win the audience vote though...who do you want to win?

Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev - American Smooth

Kara has a dodgy arm, and Artem probably still a dodgy neck, it's going to be an interesting American Smooth!

I can see now what Emma saw in her arms earlier, she's doing extremely well to keep smiling.  It's going really well but then it's head down just before the standing slide and a very shaky section.

A true professional to keep going but unfortunately not perfect, just a 9.

Craig: 10 "I would kill to be able to dance like that"
Len: 7 "Hint of Tango, bit of Foxtrot...unfortunately should be a certain amount in hold...think your dancing is brilliant"
Alisha: 10 "You have been a delight...I think you are a beautiful woman...together you are first class"
Bruno: 10 "Whatever happens, this was an inspired performance...blend of what you did in this dance was incredible"

Total Score: 37

Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani - Viennese Waltz

I wasn't entirely sold on this first time round, if I remember correctly (haven't time to go back and look).  Shoulder line loses it a little bit, and it's a bit too clipped at times.  Can't quite tell if they miss a hand at the end or not.

Another good performance, but not perfect, just a 9.

Craig: 9 "Thank you darling for those thumbs, gorgeous, unlike your head placement"
Len: 9 "Excellent ballroom dancer...little pickle with your fleckerl"
Alisha: 10 "A beautiful performance...impressive from the very beginning"
Bruno: 9 "Dashing, elegant...very nice Waltz."

Total Score: 37

Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev - Waltz

I still wish Kara would keep her head up during spins, she always looks off balance, and this is a very shaky start, there doesn't appear to be any confidence there.  She keeps dropping her head.

As Emma puts it, there's just something not quite right there, she injured her arm in the Show Dance and Emma can see she's just throwing the arm out rather than placing it.  The look on Artem's face at the end suggests things were not quite to plan and Kara was obviously dancing through the pain.

I didn't enjoy the performance like I thought I would, and actually think I can only give it an 8.

Craig: 9 "An occasional wobble...missing most, if not all of your heel leads...spot the floor [during turns] which is a no-no"
Len: 9 "Such musicality when you dance...truly lovely to watch...few foot things"
Alisha: 10 "Constantly pushing yourself...so relaxed and at ease watching you dance"
Bruno: 10 "It's quality, quality of movement...a pleasure to watch."

Total Score: 38

A bit too high if you ask me.

Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani - Paso Doble

Some nice strong Spanish lines at the start, there's a bit too much posturing around, even for Paso if you ask me, and the Chasse Capes look a little awkward.  I'm not sure on the rolling hands from Matt during Aliona's back bend, that's usually the girls role.

A very good Paso, not perfect so just a 9.

Craig: 9 "Actually I rather liked it...wonderful Flamenco"
Len: 8 "I liked it, but I wasn't over struck on it...kept getting your chin down...ok but wasn't fantastic"
Alisha: 9 "I think this dance was made for you...for me a solid performance"
Bruno: 9 "It had the aggressive power, it was flamboyant...lose artistry...good but not brilliant"

Total Score: 35

Strictly Come Dancing Final Part 2, first out - Saturday 18th December

So our third place couple is Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan, can't say I'm surprised as the voting was unlikely to go with her, but I still think she deserved to win it.

It's a real shame but you can't say either of the other two finalists don't deserve to be in the top two.



So we have two more dances to see before our 2010 winner is announced.  First up (again) Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani.

Strictly Come Dancing Final - Saturday 18th December Leader Board

1. 77 points - Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan
2. 75 points - Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev
3. 72 points - Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani

So Pamela has ended up on top so far, as I predicted, though I think her Show Dance was possibly over marked.  It's up to the viewers to decide who stays for the final two dances though...who gets your vote?

Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan - Show Dance

I must admit this dance has me worried but I'm hoping Pamela pulls it out of the bag like she's done so many times this competition.

We have the theme from Dirty Dancing, and most of the moves...shame that James just catches himself on Pamela's foot.  A slight slip getting up from the floor spin and James appears to knee Pamela in the back when they get up off the floor.

A bit of a mixed bag but just an 8 from me I'm afraid.

Craig: 9 "Big old stumble...extremely natural dancer and so watchable...fantastic"
Len: 9 "Little element of Waltz, bit of Salsa, little touch of Foxtrot...very very good, charming"
Alisha: 9 "You've sparkled every week...perfectly played for you...most dance content of all the Show Dances"
Bruno: 10 "A truly terrific uplifting tribute to a movie classic...showcased her ability...after this hard to beat"

Total Score: 37

Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev - Show Dance

I actually think these guys could produce the best Show Dance tonight, but let's see what happens.

I LOVE QUEEN!

A bit of a strange section after Kara's backflip with Artem randomly sliding across the floor, but they soon get back on track.  A missed hand during one of the final lifts and another couple who's end timing was all wrong.

Better than Matt's Show Dance but only a 9 for me.

Craig: 9 "Sadly you missed a lift...timing at the end looked like it was off...courage to do a routine like that"
Len: 9 "Routine did have the potential to get top marks...just one or two little incidents"
Alisha: 9 "Fantastic combination of dance...think you're a true athlete"
Bruno: 9 "Going beautifully...some incidents, you lost timing...work you did was splendid"

Total Score: 36

Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani - Show Dance

Traditionally the one dance that can truly make or break you (think Lisa Snowdon or Colin Jackson) the Show Dance is always a toughy.

Not sure on the outfit choices but Matt's revers handstand is amazing.  Not sure on all the pauses though and the Cha Cha portions aren't great to be honest.  Looks knackered near the end and I don't think they finished quite on time.

It's always a difficult dance to judge as it really comes down to personal preference.  The acrobatics were amazing but the dance portions a little lacklustre.  I feel I can only give it an 8 I'm afraid.

Craig: 7 "Too static in places...amalgamations did not flow together very well...whole idea and concept didn't completely come together"
Len: 9 "You want a routine that makes you feel good, music that inspires you...overall that's exactly what you did...few too many stunts and tricks"
Alisha: 9 "I like the tricks...loved break dancing section"
Bruno: 9 "Gymnastic extravaganza...sometimes the links between the sequences...not quite as slick as they could have been"

Total Score: 34

Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan - Viennese Waltz

Pamela is still for me the most consistent, and entertaining, of all the competitors - Emma can't stop laughing every time she sees the Salsa stumble.

We're in for another treat with this Viennese Waltz I hope.

I'm ashamed to say I have a little tear in my eye, whether it's the music from Ghost, or their storytelling I'm not sure but this is still one of the most beautiful Viennese Waltzes I've ever seen.

I wish now that I'd given the other two 9's as this is just a step above.  In light of that I'm going to have to give it an 11!

Craig: 10 "Simple, effective...another remarkable performance"
Len: 10 "I think the correct three have got into this final...you'll have to wait and see if you did it [maintained your standard, in the marks]
Alisha: 10 "Even more emotional...true star...invitation into movie magic"
Bruno: 10 "Beautiful acting, beautiful dancing, completely focused, simply brilliant"

Total Score: 40

A beautiful dance and fully deserving of a perfect score.

Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev - Rumba

Kara struggles to get through her opening VT discussing Artem, so it's fitting that they have the Rumba to perform tonight, a beautiful dance we got to watch first hand last week.

Kara's looking a bit emotional at the start, most likely as she's just had to watch that whole first VT on a massive screen above the band.

There's a few wobbles but it's another excellent performance.  Can't be less than a 10!

Craig: 9 "Bruno is absolutely right...was an illegal lift in their sadly"
Len: 10 "The more you see it, the better it gets"
Alisha: 10 "I need a tissue...I think you just raised the bar even more"
Bruno: 10 "Glorious Rumba of hypnotic beauty...sensuous, romantic, technically always pushed to the limit"

Total Score: 39

Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani - Samba

Hearing the screams last week (at BBC TV Centre) every time Matt was announced/appeared I know he has a strong audience backing but to be honest any one of the three finalists would be a worthy winner of the glitter ball trophy, and I'm pretty sure it's the best final line-up we've ever had.

Matt & Aliona are going to start with their highest marked dance of the series, the Samba, though personally I didn't rate it quite as highly as the judges and I'm sure Matt & Aliona would have preferred a different dance too.

I'm starting to see the attraction the judges had the first time round though, I think Matt is performing this much better than the first time around and aside from the back flips at the end I really can't fault it.

It's going to have to be a 10!

Craig: 9 "All good I'm afraid...more confident than last time...bit ropey last time"
Len: 9 "You came out, full on"
Alisha: 10 "Best Samba of the series"
Bruno: 10 "That really got everybody going...even better this time"

Total Score: 38

Strictly Come Dancing Final - Saturday 18th December

So an intense week of teaching kept me from blogging about last week's experience of being live at the semi-final, and a combination of the weather, and a bout of flu, have kept us from hijacking a friend's party and turning it into a Strictly party.

However I've been to Tescos and stocked up, the tank in my car's full, and my gorgeous wife has just made the dinner so it's time to settle down and watch the final.

Right at the start of the competition (the launch show) I predicted Matt & Pamela [ok AND Felicity if you're being pedantic] to do well and looks like I was pretty much spot-on.  For me I'm predicting Pamela, at the moment anyway!

First up in this year's final is Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani.