Who will win STRICTLY?
Tomorrow evening, ‘Strictly’ reaches its breathlessly awaited climax. Michael Hogan assesses the finalists’ chances
As befits this year, it has been a strange series of Strictly Come Dancing. It was shorter than usual (nine weeks rather than 13) with a smaller field (12 celebrities rather than 15). Bruno Tonioli has been stuck in America, chipping in via Zoom. Motsi Mabuse also took two weeks off to self-isolate. The contest’s first same-sex couple, Nicola Adams and Katya Jones, had to withdraw when Jones tested positive. The show went on, though, and now the choreographic climax is upon us. After 75 routines, seven eliminations, one Covid dropout and several million sequins, just four celebrities are left standing. And two of them (Bill Bailey and Jamie Laing) are Telegraph diarists.
Tomorrow at 6pm sees the pro-celebrity hoofathon’s grand final, with that garish glitterball trophy up for grabs. But who will take the bauble home for the festive season? Well, it’s up to us viewers. The judges’ scores are just for guidance and the result will be solely decided by the public vote. Let’s run the rule over the quartet doing ballroom battle…
BILL BAILEY: THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION
Who: Award-winning West Country comedian, 55, and classically trained multi-instrumentalist.
Looks like: A Hairy Biker or supporting character from The Hobbit. Pro partner: South African reigning champion Oti Mabuse, 30, who won with Kelvin Fletcher last year. She’s bidding to become the first pro ever to retain the glitterball trophy and only the second to win it twice.
Strictly journey: Many assumed he’d be the comedy contestant but Bill took the contest seriously. His musicality, timing, fast feet and eagerness to learn soon made him a dark horse. Creative choreography and bold musical choices (a Metallica tango, anyone?) secured his cult hero status.
High point: His streetdance to
Rapper’s Delight in week four, which scored his only 10 – and which he’ll be reprising in the final.
Low point: The past fortnight has seen a slight dip in form. With his scores stuck on 24, Bill has been second bottom of the scoreboard but saved by viewer votes.
Most likely to: Surprise the judges with a razzle-dazzle routine, then drop in some dance trivia to demonstrate that he’s done his homework. Might also mention woodland animals. Chances of winning: High. He’s the bookies’ favourite and, although Bill might be outscored by the youngsters, the public will decide. He would become Strictly’s oldest ever champion.
MAISIE SMITH: THE LAST LASS STANDING
Who: Actress, 19, best known for playing Tiffany Butcher-baker (but not Candlestick-maker) on Eastenders. Looks like: A pouting member of a chart-topping girl band.
Pro partner: Spanish dancer Gorka “The Corker” Márquez, 30, who has reached his second final in four years. He lives with former Strictly finalist Gemma Atkinson and they have a oneyear-old daughter.
Strictly journey: The youngest ever finalist has had a rocky road here, despite being a superb dancer and the highest average scorer. Her stageschool training has led to accusations of being a ringer, online trolling and two shock appearances in the danceoff. Head judge Shirley Ballas has been critical of her footwork but admits Maisie has now “tamed her toes”. High point: Last week’s semi-final when she only dropped one point across two dances, topping the standings with 59 points from a possible 60. She’s never scored lower than a seven.
Low point: Week five, when she was subjected to her second consecutive dance-off, despite being second on the scoreboard.
Most likely to: Nail a complex routine brilliantly but somehow still get slated for being too good.
Chances of winning: Slim. The fact that she’s tumbled into the bottom two twice indicates she’s not popular with viewers, although they’ve warmed to her in recent weeks.
HRVY: THE VOWEL-AVERSE PRODIGY
Who: Pop star and Youtuber Harvey Cantwell, 21, who dropped the vowels from his name because he thought it looked cool but now secretly regrets it.
Looks like: An adolescent swan.
Pro partner: Cuban pocket rocket Janette Manrara, 37, who has reached her first final in eight series on Strictly. Winning would give her equal bragging rights at home, since she’s married to fellow pro Aljaž Škorjanec, who won in 2013 with Abbey Clancy.
Strictly journey: HRVY impressed immediately, topping the scores in week one. He expected to be a Latin boy but blossomed in ballroom, where his long neck and sloping shoulders are the perfect body shape. Remarkably consistent, he’s never been close to the bottom two. High point: Scoring this year’s first perfect 30 for his contemporarymeets-streetdance routine to Coldplay – then notching another maximum with last week’s La La Land Charleston.
Low point: His cha-cha disaster in Movie Week, while dressed as a garden gnome for extra humiliation. Most likely to: Be told he looks like a professional, then get sweetly weepy about a supportive family message. Chances of winning: Medium to high. He’s second favourite behind Bill and the in-form finalist, having topped the leaderboard twice in the past three weeks.
JAMIE LAING: THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
Who: 32-year-old Made In Chelsea socialite, reality TV stalwart and heir to the Mcvitie’s fortune.
Looks like: His partner. They’ve got matching peroxide crop haircuts and will hope that twinning is winning. Pro partner: Venezuelan firecracker Karen Hauer, 38, Latin specialist and ex-wife of former champ Kevin Clifton. She reached the 2014 final with Mark Wright.
Strictly journey: “Jamie Biscuits” withdrew from last year’s contest before it started after injuring his foot in the launch show. Given a second chance, he’s grabbed it with both hands. High on puppyish enthusiasm if not always technique, Jamie has boinged up and down the leaderboard like a bouncy glitterball. Veritable hoofing Houdinis, Strictly’s resident escape artists are the first ever couple to survive four danceoffs and still reach the final.
High point: His bewigged Hercules Charleston in Movie Week. It proved Jamie’s breakthrough dance, propelling him into the top half of the standings for the first time.
Low point: Week two’s dance-off. After waiting a year, Jamie thought it might be over already.
Most likely to: Yell with jubilation after a roof-raising routine. Get praised for his energy but marked down for footwork.
Chances of winning: Very slim. He’s the most improved dancer but still the lowest average scorer.