Week 14, and we finally got there - the GRAND FINAL.  Tonight Ricky and Chris will battle it out with their Lindy Hop and Show Dance for the honor of lifting that glitter ball.  Who will it be?

You may notice that I am NOT watching this live.  I'm currently in Manchester with my family, and woe betide anyone who tries to come between my six year old neice and her barbie videos.  So I will be watching the Final on the BBC iplayer - which doesn't go live on the website till about 7pm!   Come back then to catch up!

7.45pm - still waiting for BBC iplayer to put it up so I can watch it.  Horay, we're there!  I'll go as fast as I can.

8.35pm - I'm up to date so the second show will be typed live!  Apologies for any spelling errors I'll try and pick them up during the filler sections!

Tess is wearing a dress that looks unfinished to me.  Crumpled one shoulder knee length non-descript colour with a black belt and 'something' hanging down behind her.  I don't like it.

Chris & Ola

Slow Foxtrot
Costume: the dress looks familiar but I don't recognise (or like) the banded cage design on the bodice of this.  Love the lightweight chiffon float skirt though! 8
Performance: I  could have danced all night I'll be honest and say I don't remember this from the first time around either - I'll have to look back and see if they used a different tune.  Comfortable and relaxed peformance from Chris. 9
Technique: lovely technique of the feet, nice lines, shoulders a little hunched and the most 'natural' face we've had yet I think.  Nice timing. 9
Overall: not seen yet

DTNA Score = 26,  Strictly Score= (my score out of 10) 9 (judges scores) 9, 9, 9, 10, 9 (total 46)

Charleston
Costume: A gold version of the outfits they wore just a couple of weeks ago for their original routine in white. 9
Performance: great.  more polished and relaxed than last time 10
Technique: not much improved from the first time to be honest, still missing a bit of swivel and a touch timing in a couple of spots but still very nice. 9
Overall: cute

DTNA Score = 28,  Strictly Score= (my score out of 10) 9 (judges scores) 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 (total 50)

Show Dance
Costume: now leggings in navy blue, pink top.  grease feel.  like the top not sure about the legs 9
Performance: Now that I can Dance. A latin based show dance with some great lift combinations.  Lovely entertainment and I loved the ending! 10
Technique: A little bit 'stand still and Ola dance around, but lovely technique for what was there. 9
Overall: fantastic routine.

DTNA Score = 36,  Strictly Score= (my score out of 10) 9 (judges scores) 9, 9, 9, 10, 9 (total 46)

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Ricky and Natalie

Quickstep
Costume: a reworking of her original quickstep dress in a soft skin tone rather than white, and feather layes rather than fringing, and only one slit.  I prefer the original dress to be honest. 6
Performance: Down with Love was used again (of course) and this performance was much better and much more relaxed and comfortable than the original.  I just wish he would have shut his mouth once! 10
Technique: fab.  Great floor coverage, great timing, great technique, great lead.  There was one point where the chassis were a fraction skippy but I really can't deduct a whole point. 10
Overall: great job

DTNA Score = 26,  Strictly Score= (my score out of 10) 10 (judges scores) 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 (total 50) about bloody time!

Cha Cha
Costume: Blue and silver dress - much nicer htan her original, covered in bugle bead fringing. 9
Performance: nice relaxed performance, with huge amounts of fun.  odd ending. 9
Technique: I glanced down to type and glanced up again to see what looked like a massive mistake? given the judges don't mention it I guess not Great technique again. 10
Overall: great,

DTNA Score = 28,  Strictly Score= (my score out of 10) 10 (judges scores) 9, 10, 9, 10, 10 (total 48)

Show Dance
Costume: purple and silver swimsuit.  She as great legs but still! 8
Performance: Last Dance. Another latin based routine. Great lifts - but we were expecting that. 10
Technique: again I felt it was a bit dependant on lifts and not enough dance content.  The lifts were amazing though. 9
Overall: I found this a bit dull overall

DTNA Score = 27,  Strictly Score= (my score out of 10) 9 (judges scores) 10, 9, 10, 10, 10 (total 49)

Head to Head Lindy Hop

A genuine chance to see the two couples perform the same routine simultaneously and do a proper comparison.  How exciting!

Costume for both couples:  High waisted loose leg trousers with braces for the guys, super short skirts (blue for Ola, red for Natalie) with tie front shirts for the girls.  Both girls in flats (mostly because of the aerial steps and I love the fact Chris has matching blue spats on his shoes.  Neither girl looks particularly good in the costume though.

The music is Sing Sing Sing (or Sing me a Swing Song) one of the greatest swing tracks there is.

Chris & Ola
Performance: great performance 8
Technique: not quite as polished as Ricky's and Chris was missing some of the really impressive lifts which made his routine feel somewhat lesser (unfairly  I thought).  However his movement overall was better and more 'lindy' with a looser movement and better connection with his partner.  He also bent over more on the moves that required it. 8t

DTNA Score = 16,  Strictly Score= (my score out of 10) 8 (judges scores) 8,9,9,9,9 (total 44)

Ricky & Natalie
Performance: nice performance with some very nice moments. 8
Technique: slightly more polished but lacked something because of that.  movements were a little more tense.  Lifts good (apart from the one that went wrong at the end) but I felt that gave Ricky an unfair advantage on the public vote as it made him look more advanced than Chris. 7

DTNA Score = 15,  Strictly Score= (my score out of 10) 8 (judges scores) 8,8,9,9,9 (total 43)

For me is was a very close run thing, but Chris had the fractional edge for enjoyment of watching and dancing actual Lindy rather than filling with flash lifts.  Great ending though.

Final Ranking
(The costumes were swaying the final ranking so much I’ve taken them out, and will leave them out of the total from now on. First mark is the total I scored; the bold is the performance and technique score. Where there is a draw I’ve taken into account the total score to arrange them)

Professional Performances & Group performances

Modern Tango, Jade and Ian

Despite me thinking she wouldn't be ready in time, Jade has healed enough to perform her tango tonight.  Great routine that shows Jades natural ability.   I would have liked to have seen it to a proper tango, View to a Kill wasn't quite right for me.  Nice to see her fully recovered.

Cha Cha, Brian & Kristina

Just Dance by Lady Gaga forms the music for a showcase Cha Cha which is nicely danced by the pros.

Rumba and yet more Cha cha, Lisa Snowdon and Rachel Stevens guest with the Pros

Lisa was just as heavy and as clompy as I remember her. Rachel as gorgeous as they danced to Sisters are doing it for themselves.   Much preferred Rachels understated elegance and ease to Lisa's stumbling around the floor.

Final Result

I've ranked Chris slightly higher (mostly down to pure entertainment value), the judges the other way around - it's down to who impressed the public the most this week.  As I've already said I'm not too much fussed to who actually wins this overall - either way we get a winner!

Chris and Ola win - again the one with the more impressive journey lifts the trophy.  I don't think Ricky looses out here as he has obvious skill, and though he is technically the better dancer, Chris winning is deserved.