SCD '23 #19: In which we're crowning our Strictly champion!

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Previous thread here.

Video thread. Please post videos on that thread, then link across to here to avoid buffering issues with this thread.

Aww wanted Layton and Nikita to win.

Vito is a brilliant pro. As is Nikita.

Hopefully next year Nikita gets a celeb who gets him just as fired up but isn't so obviously a ringer. He deserves a win...I imagine it was a struggle trying to reign Layton in at times.

Same.

I voted for Karim as well.

I think Kai deserves to get a good celeb; two years with the seniors!

Layton was the best dancer but he started as a great dancer.

I was happy Ellie and Vito won.

Shame that it isn’t a dancing competition and not a popularity contest.

Layton brought out the best in Nikita. I've never seen him dance so well.

I gave all my votes to Layton as I enjoyed his performances best tonight, but don't mind at all that Ellie won. She's well and truly earned it.

I still don't think they're an item though.

I will never get over Kai and AJ having to pull out just before the final in his first year. They were such a good pairing.

They were all good but my vote would’ve been for Layton and Nikita

FFS it's a light entertainment programme. The nastiness and name calling because your favourite didn't win is pathetic.

They were all brilliant and any one of them could have won.

I'm not sad that Layton and Nikita didn't win (knew they wouldn't and am happy for Ellie & Vito). I'm sad that I won't get to see any more of their dances or tweets or IG posts or ITT interviews. I've absolutely loved their friendship and will really miss them.

Yep that it a personal campaign against Leyton rather than following a long Strictly tradition of ringers not winning. Danny Mac is my favourite ever contestant but I didn't vote for him, or Ashley Pusscat.
If James Jordan or Brendan Cole were announced as a contestant next year would you think it was OK or would that be a step too far for you? We all have a line that tips over into too much experience and for lots of people Layton was over that line. It doesn't they don't like him, just that it's not in the spirit of Strictly for them.

They were my favourite that year. Such a good pairing and devastating they didn't make the final.

Well done Ellie, I am so pleased for you.

I saw Aljaz and Jannette at Sadlers' Wells,, and it was only then I realised how much the pros dumb down their skills, so as to not show up the celebs.

I would like Kai and Johannes to get ringers next year, so we can see their best skills. Also Karen ( if still there).

I made my peace with the fact that Ellie would win - she is the girl next door type that has the broad appeal

I prefer the spiky excellence of Layton but he was way too divisive to ever win. Admittedly he's not a warm and cuddly character and has way too much of an edge to win the majority vote

All the Pros “dumb it down” with their celebs otherwise they’d just make them look bad all the time! Nikita didn’t have to tone it down quite as much with Layton which allowed him more freedom.

I want Neil to get a (decent) celeb next year

He's the new Anton, he won't.

Which is why they were so good to watch.

I wanted Kai to get Layton and I think that's what Layton wanted as well before the series started, but it was a brilliant partnership and I am now totally converted to Nikita fandom. Still want Kai to get a ringer next year though. He's too young and talented to be cast as the Designated Anton every year.

I think I enjoyed all of Layton's dances. I didn't even find him irritating, even though I thought he would get annoying very quickly after I saw him in the every first show!

but... he didn't have to learn how to move, he didn't have to learn how to pirouette or how to spot or how to learn a dance routine or how to move with the music....

I judge these things based on DD. She's been doing tap/ballet/jazz/modern for 13 years. She would have a huge advantage over someone who hasn't danced at all and she hasn't been doing it as a job.

Maybe they could do what they do with MasterChef and have a Professionals version - fill it full of professional (non-ballroom or Latin) dancers?