SCD '23 #17: Semi finals — double the dances, triple the scores, quadruple the 10 paddles? (NO SPOILERS)

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

SPOILER-FREE THREAD PLEASE

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Spoiler thread.

I usually hate the gushing but I think that the bond between Annabel and Johannes was special .

I did think Bobby’s dance really highlighted the lack of a traditionally dancing male celeb. He appeared to be leading and doing proper couple dancing, and it feels like ages since a celeb has done that!

I think she will be. This looked like it gave her a lift

her children are so lovely. Having this to focus on will have helped a wee bit

Bobby earnt his place.
Annabel sadly had Party Latin.
Layton has worked hard.
Ellie's vote held. I can't believe they had gone for CC for the DO.

@MouseMinge - Motsi voted for B+D

@Ibizabar - your comment suggests she's been trading on that in some way, which is far from the case

I'm just thankful we didn't have to see Ellie's CC again.

Next week she gets to chill, get ready for Christmas, see all the rest of the cast on the night and watch the show without any pressure, have a proper farewell on ITT and apart from the actual winner, the other two finalists don't get any more £, so I think she'll be fine/was already resigned to it.

Annabel is such an utterly delightful woman. She's finished on a high and can be proud of herself. Johannes has been so sweet with her too.

I'm happy to see Bobby through. He's suddenly bloomed the last couple of weeks and while Annabel is a beautiful ballroom dancer, he is more rounded.

Layton was never going to not make the final and Ellie was a clear contender from very early on.

I think Bobby has demonstrated real respect and effort each time he’s learned a dance over the weeks, and that quickstep showed just how far he’s come. I’m really impressed, tbh.

Agree
Bobby is a delightful young man

I didn't realise until now how much I hoped Annabel would win, or at least get to the final

What a lovely, dignified woman, and a proper novice in true Strictly way.

Having been with a friend through the death of her husband which is now nearly three years ago and almost exactly three years before we learned that treatment wasn't working and it was terminal I have to say that Annabel's fortitude was an absolute inspiration. I'm sure she'll have a bit of a difficult time after this because she'll be back to normal life but even if she'd gone through to the final and even if she'd magically won the glitter ball that would be the case. I shall miss her a lot because she moved me more than any other dancer this year. I'm sure Amanda would have done if she'd stayed on but she didn't. My friend became something closer to herself earlier this year and it was a delight. She's still grieving and there are bad days but she was finally living and laughing again. Not praying, thankfully! Annabel has a lot more grief go to through and I hope the lovely memories of this show and how gentle and kind Johannes was to her will help her through. I'm so glad she got him as a partner. If she'd had a hot straight dancer the "are they at it?" from the press would have been sickening.

Bill Bailey and Hamza were both atypical winners but Bill was in a year with a reduced cast and Hamza was in a year when the two ringers were both really unpopular with the audience. I just miss the days when the lack of the dance-off made the odds better for the journey contestants. The finalists this year seem fairly samey.

@EsmaCannonball bill Bailey won it in recent years so the people you refer to as not getting a look in actually do.

Sometimes!

I don't think she went through with much serious expectation of getting this far or to the final and has just enjoyed the journey and accepted every week as it came.

I think Annabel was becoming a rounded dancer, too. She was written off before her jive, samba and paso but managed to pull them all off. Her paso was my favourite this series (preferred it even to Ellie's, and I really liked Ellie's).

I know it was only last year. But who were the ringers??

You’re full of compassion aren’t you. It’s been mentioned probably four times in 12 weeks and why shouldn’t she? The woman was widowed at the beginning of the year. Would you tell a friend that was grieving Yes, I think we all know that by now.

Molly and Fleur. Molly, especially.

I agree with this. I think she has been incredible.

I forgot molly

Molly's styling was often very twee.
Her yellow suit was gorgeous though.

I liked Fleur, particularly her CC in bacofoil 😂

So what dances do we think they'll all be doing?

Ellie - Paso and AS
Layton - AT and ?? I'd quite like to see the salsa again, but maybe they'll give him the QS to brush up.
Bobby - a ballroom (maybe AS), and I have no idea. I hope he doesn't go for the couple's choice.

I didn’t realise the winner by totally decided by the public, that’s Ellie winning then.

Speaking of Bacofoil. I stumbled on Lisa Snowdon and Brendan Cole's show dance, with very funny comments on it.

I will put the link to the video in the videos thread, and it will put a smile on people's faces hopefully. I laughed out loud.