Joe is Strictly the final favourite
Finalists says BBC should not release voting figures ‘as it wouldn’t be fair’
As the most successful series of Strictly Come Dancing in 14 years reaches its grand final tonight, contestant Debbie Mcgee has revealed she agrees with the BBC’S policy on not releasing voting figures for the hit show.
The radio presenter and former magician’s assistant will take to the dance floor alongside fellow celebrity finalists Gemma Atkinson, Alexandra Burke and Joe Mcfadden.
All four finalists said they were happy for the percentages each couple had received in the public vote not to be released, with Mcgee saying it may leave some contestants “upset”.
Asked what the celebrities thought of the BBC’S policy at a press conference ahead of the final, she said: “I don’t think it would be fair on people to release the voting figures because it would make some people feel really unpopular.
Mcgee added: “I don’t see why we need to know as long as you know you get through.”
Holby City actor Mcfadden, from Glasgow, echoed her comments, saying: “It’s sort of irrelevant. The important thing is that you’re still here. It doesn’t really matter about numbers.”
Earlier this year, as part of an interview with the Radio Times, judge Craig Revel Horwood called for the figures to be released “to stop any talk of the show being fixed”.
He added: “But if one celeb gets 13 million votes and another gets two votes, it might not go down well.”
A BBC spokeswoman said: “Releasing voting figures could affect the way that people vote and also have an impact on the participants.”
All four celebrities and their professional dance partners will take to the floor three times each in tonight’s grand final in a bid to win the show’s 15th series and the prized glitterball trophy.
Each couple will perform a dance picked by their judges, a previous routine of their choice and a brand new showdance. Mcgee and partner Giovanni Pernice will perform a salsa to Boys Town Gang’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You for their judges pick, and showdance to One Day I’ll Fly Away by Vaults. Burke and Gorka Marquez will dance an American smooth to Wouldn’t It Be Lovely from My Fair Lady and showdance to Ethel Merman’s There’s No Business Like Showbusiness.
Mcfadden and Katya Jones will Viennese waltz to Somewhere My Love from Dr Zhivago and showdance to Hall and Oates’ You Make My Dreams.
Atkinson and Aljaz Skorjanec will perform a paso doble to Coldplay’s Viva La Vida and showdance to Show Me How You Burlesque by Christina Aguilera.