how do you solve a problem like maria

[vitomum]

does anyone know why emily, the gobby one, no longer is appearing in the final 10 line up for the live shows? she seems to have been replaced by siobhan, the gorgeous one who blew it by having a cold all week. I liked emily!

[roisin]

Hooray for Connie!

I've never watched Strictly Come Dancing .. but have heard Mark Ramprakash is going to be in it, so I'm tempted this time.

[Molesworth]

Strictly is brilliant.

But you can't beat a good show tune on a saturday night. Sigh!

[multitasker]

Whos Mark Rampracash?

[Olihan]

Cricketer I think.

[Tommy]

Olihan - not that I'm disputing what the Daily Mail would say but how could that be true? They are all good actresses but surely they are not that good to pretend they didn't know what was coming?

[mckenzie]

does anyone else think that Connie looks just a tad like Maureen Lipman? (I can see the Frenchie likeness as well)

[Molesworth]

Yes, she looks like both of them!

[unicorn]

er, yes me!

[acnebride]

Totally ML and Frenchie, but i think she's great and glad she won.

[Olihan]

Tommy, I know, I thought that but I think there always has to be some kind of conspiracy theory around these things. Wasn't there one over Fame Academy or X Factor last year? I suppose the TV companies want to improve the ratings and drop little hints to the media?!!!!!!

[mazzystar]

i actually don't think connie came across as very likeable. a consummate professional, yes, but a bit too crazedly determined. i really warmed to helena in the end.

[Tommy]

I garee mazzysatr - I was warning to Helena as well - not least because I found out this week that she went to the sixth form college I used to teach at - didn't do my subject and I didn't know her though

[auntymandy]

Plastic Maria!!!
I dont like connie..she doesnt appear natural to me!

[Molesworth]

She is the safe choice really isn't she?

I think Abi could've been good as far as naturalness goes.

[binker]

bah ! didn't want Connie - also,why did she have to bring her old granny into it ?

[Molesworth]

yeah blatant attempt to grab the sympathy vote with lovely old nanna dot

[LIZS]

I'd be surprised if Connie's voice holds out for the run, even ALW said she had oversung and he could hear it in the Hills are Alive performance. She also didn't do so well in the fitness course. Feel she is a very self conscious performer and lacks charisma, but, heigh-ho , it was a fairly forgone conclusion.

[Molesworth]

She sounded a bit husky at the end, although that could have been partly down to the emotion of the occasion I thought.

[marthamoo]

I was avoiding this thread last night as I had to record it (dh was at work). Was glad Connie won - I think Helena had come on enormously but she just didn't look right (it's that square mouth when she sings...)

The first thing my kids asked this morning was who had won - they were quite pleased it was Orange Maria (ds2 was really sad when Green Maria went out last week - he liked her the best, and ds1 liked Blue Maria. No-one liked Prima Donna Purple Maria).

[emsiewill]

Just to add a bitchy note here, did anyone notice how chunky Aoife's legs are? We only noticed it last week, and from then she has been known in this house as "ham legs Maria".

[SamsMumLou]

hi all

new to this thread but on others. I didn't manage to tape the final and gutted would anybody be willing to send it to me i would pay p&p upfront. Have watched all way through - i know the result but my mum says apparently i have to see Helena do cabaret!

[Molesworth]

emsie, I thought the same (about Aoife's calves). When she was walking down the staircase next to Siobhan it was particularly evident LOL!

[Beetroot]

Is it common knowledge yet that they have already employed a Maria and this 'tele' one will be doing jsut two shows a week?

[Molesworth]

SamsMumsLou - sorry, I didn't record it

Beety, I thought that was just tittle tattle being put about by the Daily Mail?

[Beetroot]

well I work in teh business!!!