Series 7, Week 14 - Final
Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 11:52PM After fourteen weeks of competition, it was at last time for the final of series seven, but with two one hour programmes to fill and only two couples competing, there was bound to be an awful lot of filler, so it was no surprise that after the usual "joke" from Bruce (tonight Ali & Brian were the subject), the football pundits got in on the act to show how the two couples were shaping up to lift the trophy.
| We got to the dancing soon enough though, and Ricky & Natalie started the ballroom round with the return of their quickstep danced to "Down With Love". Darcey started by saying "Wowee, Mr Whittle", and that he'd set the standard for tonight, with his athletic frame he made a hard dance look easy. Len said tonight is about great dancing, great entertainment and great expectations, and being honest about it, his expectations for this quickstep are the highest, but this quickstep was the best from a male celebrity in all seven series. Alesha called it an incredible opening to the show, and she loved it the first time round and if it's possible, she loved it even more tonight and will go down as one of the greatest dances in Strictly history. Bruno exclaimed it was major league quickstep danced like a champion and that Ricky moved around like a professional and had the ability to interpret every nuance in the music. Craig called it polished, slick, sophisticated and he was really out there leading the dance and it blew him away - it was spec-tac-u-lar! I loved this dance the first time, and I loved it again tonight. Fantastic choreography, beautiful musicality and phrasing, it was just wonderful - 10. |
Scores: Craig Darcey Len Alesha Bruno Total |
10 10 10 10 10 50 |
| Chris & Ola had chosen to dance their foxtrot again tonight, which they performed to "I Could Have Danced All Night". Alesha said it was a magical moment when he performed it in Blackpool, and was a defining moment for them, and he's been on an incredible journey and improved so much and it's been a pleasure to watch. Bruno wanted to take the moment to congratulate Ola for turning a frog into a prince, because it was elegant, charming, beautifully danced, no mistakes, not too many funny faces, and what she's done is brilliant. Craig said the timing and footwork is very difficult in this dance and he thought Chris did that very well, however, his hands are still a problem and it lacked swing and sway, but, for him it was a lot better than Blackpool. Darcey said Chris showed the best of his dance ability and he looked comfortable and it looked like he enjoyed it. Len told him he had turned into a prince, Prince Charming, and this foxtrot had travelled well, as he thought it was top notch in Blackpool and back down in London, it was top notch again. These two are such an endearing couple to watch, and I thought Chris had improved from the first time he danced it with a more natural head position, little face pulling, and even the hands had improved! His timing was better and it was a lovely routine to watch - 9. |
Scores: Craig Darcey Len Alesha Bruno Total |
9 9 9 10 9 46 |
Time for some of the eliminated couples to return to the floor, with Martina & Matthew dancing their rumba again, Richard & Lilia having another go at the cha cha cha, Rav & Aliona reprising their tango, Lynda & Darren performing the foxtrot, and Joe & Kristina showing us their jive again. I always like this bit of the final, and with sixteen couples in the competition this year, it was nice to split them up into groups. I still think it was a shame that Martina went out in the first week, and although she didn't dance as well tonight (understandable with only a couple of days training after so many weeks away) I think she was one of the celebrities who had potential to get better over the series.
Back to the competitive dances and it was time for the lindyhop. Both couples danced at the same time to "Sing, Sing, Sing" (which actually put me off slightly, as I can only picture Denise & Ian's fabulous quickstep from series two whenever I hear that song), with some synchronised sections and some solos from the individual couples as well.
| Judges comments for Ricky & Natalie: Craig said it was a dance for hobbits on the smaller end of the spectrum because the length of bone needed for getting from one place to another makes it more difficult for the taller person. For the timing, he felt Ricky & Natalie was fantastic, but they did miss the split lift at the end, sometimes it looked a little bit laboured, but for a trust exercise they did well. Darcey said it was very cleanly executed, but there was a little fluff up on a lift, but she also agreed it does suit the more compact body and it lacked bounce, but sold brilliantly. I liked it, but there was almost a disaster with one of the lifts which required Ricky to retreat to the back of the floor to recover from, and it felt a bit placed at times, and needed to be freer - 8. |
Scores: Craig Darcey Len Alesha Bruno Total |
8 8 9 9 9 43 |
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| Judges comments for Chris & Ola: Len thought it was a great opportunity to be able to see both couples together, and he'd thought that for Chris it was going to be awful, but he actually thought Chris held his own very well, Ricky was bit sharper and more rhythmic, but overall there wasn't anything between them, it was fantastic. Alesha thought both couples did really well, but Chris was well controlled, funny and entertaining. Bruno told Chris he really cracked him up, it was like watching a cheeky, frantic monkey, and he loved it! It was like a scene out of the jungle book, and he nearly threw him a banana, and it was wonderful. Another dance to suit these two down to the ground, it was full of bounce and energy, completely entertaining, and I felt they captured the spirit of the dance better of the two couples - 9. |
Scores: Craig Darcey Len Alesha Bruno Total |
8 9 9 9 9 44 |
Time for some more of the eliminated couples to return to the floor, with a Viennese waltz from Jo & Brendan, an American Smooth from Zoe & James and a waltz from Craig & Flavia, although Phil Tuffnell had the flu so wasn't able to perform tonight. The treat of the night was the opportunity to get Jade & Ian to return from Jade's injury to dance their much anticipated tango to "A View To A Kill". Although I detest the green lighting effect that has been employed to create drama this year, the dance itself was awesome - sharp, clean and dramatic, and I have no doubt would have put them at the top of the leaderboard if they'd been able to perform.
To round of the first programme, it was the annual attempt at singing a song from Bruce, although at least this year, Alesha made it a duet, with the pair singing "Something's Gotta Give" with Alesha completely outshining at singing, dancing and performance levels generally, it was much more enjoyable than other years!
When we returned for the second show, it was the final set of eliminated couples who danced first, with Ricky & Erin dancing a cha cha cha, Natalie & Vincent and their quickstep, and the beautiful Viennese waltz from Ali & Brian. There was another no show, this time from Laila, although no reason was given, which seems odd to me, as I thought the celebrities were contracted to perform in the final unless injured (or ill as in Tuffers case), so I'm not sure why Laila wasn't present, but no doubt the forums and message boards will be full of speculation as to the reason!
| Back to the competition and it was time for Chris & Ola to reprise their Charleston, dancing to "Fat Sam's Grand Slam". Bruno said it was exhilarating, uplifting, exciting and the look on his face as Ola was riding him and taking him to the realm of ecstasy is Strictly Come Dancing classic. Craig called it quirky, dynamic, animated and actually Chris's mouth being open so wide really suited the whole thing and he loved it. Darcey said she was transported to the golden era of movies, and that he and Ola are so perfectly in tune in it, it was made for them. Len proclaimed it was turning into the best final ever - a classic confrontation between the dancer and the entertainer, and it was fantastic entertainment. An absolute delight! 10. |
Scores: Craig Darcey Len Alesha Bruno Total |
10 10 10 10 10 50 |
| Ricky & Natalie's turn next with their cha cha cha which they performed to "Sunshine Of Your Love". Alesha called them a sexy couple to watch dance, and yet again Ricky had not disappointed, with one of the best dances she's ever seen on Strictly Come Dancing, and he's in a league of his own. Bruno told Ricky that this is a dance competition, and boy can he dance, he's so slick, and the finish he puts in every move is fantastic, sexy, cool and always in control - he nailed it. Darcey was slightly taken back, as he was good last time, but came back even more polished, and she wouldn't mind doing a cha cha with him. Craig had only good things to say, still masculine, still sexy and still turned out. I still think Ricky has a lazy free arm at times, which spoils the overall dance for me, so despite the improvement in his pigeon toes in the latin dances, I wish Natalie had worked more on that arm - 9. |
Scores: Craig Darcey Len Alesha Bruno Total |
9 10 9 10 10 48 |
| Straight on to the show dances next, starting with Chris & Ola dancing to "Do You Love Me". Darcey said it was great partnering, his timing and technique was perfect, and there was no strain on his face in every lift. Len joked that there was a bit of strain on his own face, as Chris had a little split in his trousers when he jumped up on the judges desk. Some peoples journeys are tougher than others, some weeks good, some weeks bad, and even some ugly, but he always comes out full of get up and go, and really giving it 100% and this was no exception. Alesha liked that they combined different styles in there, with jive and cha cha, and some classic Chris pivots, and didn't disappoint, and the song says "Do You Love Me" and the answer is yes. Bruno asked Chris where he got the strength from, and if he'd been on spinach for a month, as Ola was flying and he can't believe what he did, although a couple of missed hands, but a great performance. Another fun entertaining routine, with some nice latin steps and pivots thrown in, and some very brave lifts for Ola to incorporate, although there were a couple of stumbles, I loved it - 9. |
Scores: Craig Darcey Len Alesha Bruno Total |
9 9 9 10 9 46 |
| So the final performance of the night was from Ricky & Natalie, who danced to "Last Dance". Len said in week one, Ricky was the one to beat, and in week fourteen he's still the one to beat, and maybe tonight he will be beaten but he should go away knowing he is the best dancer. Alesha said in all honesty she would have liked to see more dances thrown in from previous dances just to showcase how good he is, but that's not a criticism of this dance as she loved the contemporary feel at the beginning, the superb lifts which blew her away, and he's been an absolute joy to watch. Bruno told us we had no difficult it is to do that series of lifts of that difficulty and make it look so easy, and then go back and going into seamless, slick latin steps, he should be proud of himself. Craig said it was lift-tastic, and his jaw was dropping during the series of four lifts and spinning at the same time, it was incredible. I'm not a fan of the contemporary show dances, so I wasn't keen on the opening, and I didn't really like the lifts in general, which felt too much like a show of strength rather than anything to do with dance. Not really my cup of tea on the whole, I'm afraid, but technically performed well - 9. |
Scores: Craig Darcey Len Alesha Bruno Total |
10 9 10 10 10 49 |
The final judges leaderboard put Ricky & Natalie at the top with 190 points, and Chris & Ola second with 186 points, but to leave time for everyone to vote it was time for another recap of the second programmes dances, before a bit of filler with some of the Strictly competitors of previous series picking their standout, memorable moments, and then Brian & Kristina danced a cha cha cha to "Just Dance" (which I'm sure we heard the music department say in an It Takes Two segment that it couldn't be used because the electronic sound couldn't be reproduced by the Strictly band and wouldn't suit their style of music).
A quick chat with Tess, and Chris and Ricky's parents in the audience before it was another opportunity for the rest of the professionals to show us what they can do next, with a mixture of cha cha cha and tango, with special guests, last years finalists, Lisa Snowdon and Rachel Stevens. Back to Tess in the audience, this time chatting with last years champion Tom Chambers, plus boxer David Haye and Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles - two of next years celebrities, perhaps?
Then the voting closed, so while the votes were being counted, it was another one of those video fillers with the two couples telling us what it would mean to win the competition, before we finally got to the results and Tess eventually announced that CHRIS & OLA were the series champions. Ola was in tears, and I joined her, and Bruce actually did something I approved of, by handing Ola a hanky, and Tess had a quick chat with Ricky & Natalie to give Ola a chance to compose herself, but I think they'd have needed another hour to do that!
And so ends another series of Strictly. Despite being a two couple final, I actually think this was a very enjoyable night, with two extremely entertaining programmes, and a great finale for the series.
Series 7, Series 7 - Reviews in Strictly Come Dancing
Reader Comments (2)
Thank you for the reviews, Claire.
What a great final!
I thought Jade and Ian's Tango was the best of this Series even with a strangely wide open mouth of hers.
Chris and Ola's Charleston was legendary! Those two were having a ball and it showed, made me want to join them, unlike Ricky, everything he did just looked unsincere and labored, despite his rhythm.
You're welcome, effy - I enjoy writing them, so I'm glad you like reading them.
I suspect that Jade was just out of practise with performing, resulting in the open mouth look, but I agree, it was the best tango of the series; Ian certainly knows how to choreograph that dance!