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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Strictly Come Dancing winners are chosen from the outset?

80 replies

AndreaMarvell · 20/10/2025 00:21

Actually I am a bit disingenuous here because I don't think that myself, but have been party to a lot of grumbling on Facebook page for SCD about it from others who think it is.

This started after moaning that La Voix avoided the dance off last night when the dance was apparently terrible (I've not seen it yet). La Voix and Aljaz avoided the dance off because people voted for them, I imagine. They were all screaming FIX! and saying that the winner is already chosen, and it will be Ellie.

What would be the benefit of picking a lineup and then choosing a winner at the beginning? Did they really nail on Natasha Kaplinsky all those years ago? If it was fixed for disabled contestants to win, why didn't Lauren Steadman, Will Bayley, Jody Cundy or Jonny Peacock do better?

Has the public been gaslit for 21 years? Really?

OP posts:
LBFseBrom · 21/10/2025 23:20

I waa surprised, not bitter. A mild surprise too though I suppose one shouldn't be, so many marriages and relationships break up, even with couples who really loved each other for quite a while and had kids.

Bitterness is an extreme and ugly emotion. I have known people who are bitter about things that have happened, they can't let go, it eats away at them. I would consider bitterness to be far too strong a feeling about people we only know from television. Disappointed would be more understandable.

However it's up to you.

StrictlySequinsandStiIettos · 22/10/2025 19:12

Thanks for the Hamza info guys, I shall watch him in a bit. I still watch his Lion King routine. Loved that one so much.
I think there's some pedantry going on with bitter vs disappointed tbh. It's just semantics. I thought Danny was robbed (and Austin!) as he clearly trained as hard if not harder than the others. That said, I liked many of Ore's routines, especially his paso.

Original poster
AndreaMarvell · 23/10/2025 01:57

StrictlySequinsandStiIettos · 22/10/2025 19:12

Thanks for the Hamza info guys, I shall watch him in a bit. I still watch his Lion King routine. Loved that one so much.
I think there's some pedantry going on with bitter vs disappointed tbh. It's just semantics. I thought Danny was robbed (and Austin!) as he clearly trained as hard if not harder than the others. That said, I liked many of Ore's routines, especially his paso.

I don't think it's just semantics. Disappointment is often fleeting. Bitterness lingers long after whatever the person is disappointed about.

OP posts:
FancyBiscuitsLevel · 23/10/2025 07:21

I don’t think they fix the votes, but they do have a rough idea who they want in the final from the outset, they get better music and often good other media coverage/interviews to get votes on side, make sure the public knows their “story” etc.

that said, if the public turns against someone /doesn’t warm to them, they are quick to turn on them.

DoraSpenlow · 23/10/2025 08:53

TheGoddessAthena · 20/10/2025 10:25

Also agree that you need some people who are fairly decent because who wants to watch 15 contestants in week 1 or 2 who all dance like Anne Widdicombe or Ross King. But the people who have a lot of previous dance experience rarely win - like that Layton guy from a couple of years ago, or Tasha from last year - both people who had previously given their occupation as "dancer". Or the odious Debbie McGee who spent her entire time on Strictly trying to gaslight the audience that actually being a professionally trained ballerina was actually a hinderance to her dancing as it was all so different. Aye right.

The public want to see someone not previously known as a dancer who has a shaky start and goes on to do really well. Like Rose Ayling-Ellis, Louis Smith, Hamza Yassin.

See also Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakash.

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