Did Bill Bailey deserve to win Strictly?

BILL BAILEY went from being a novice dancer to winning Strictly Come Dancing’s glitterball trophy. He really did shine with genuine delight as he became more proficient through the series and it was a pleasure to share his joy. He could articulate his feelings because he has a wide command of language — no repeated cries of ‘amazing!’ for him — and a great sense of humour. Bill showed that youth is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to Strictly. He was a breath of fresh air as well as a remarkable dancer. I voted for him.

SUE BOURNE, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.

YET again the best dancers did not succeed. Yes, Bill Bailey and the professional dancer Oti Mabuse were light on their feet, but his fellow celebrities Maisie Smith and HRVY were even better. The result was predictable because an older audience voted. This competition is a slog over many weeks and while all involved are well paid, it is also a measure of the professional dancers’ ability to get the best out of their sometimes useless partners. The judges clear out the dead wood, leaving the best dancers in the final, but deciding the winner is down to a biased TV audience. Forget the toothy smiles and compliments, it’s a popularity competition.

JON COLE, Portsmouth, Hants.

IS IT a coincidence that most of those complaining that the Strictly result was a fix are young people? I think Bill Bailey deserved to win and voted for him all the way through. It’s not easy for older people to learn to dance to such a high standard. He deserves credit for the way he performed. It’s just sour grapes because someone over 21 won the competition.

MADELINE BATES, Southport, Merseyside.

I THINK I would stand a good chance of winning Strictly if my sister was a judge.

IAN ATKINSON, Oldham, Gtr Manchester.