SCD Final result (spoiler)

[jenniren]

YEAH Abbey and Aljaz Absolutely delighted, she's shown incredible progress for someone who started out with no musical/dance background

Yes Natalie is the better dancer overall, but with her quite extensive training that's not surprising. She just didn't move me, very little emotion and connection. Susanna, well not in the same league.

A very good final

[Rodo]

Where did this story come from that she has had extensive training? It just isn't correct.

[Diflower]

Natalie was undoubtedly the best dancer, but she was at week 1, and until tonight just seemed to be going through the motions, learning her steps as she would her lines
I really liked Sophie, but she was the right one to go out.
Susannah has done well I think, she seems to have just shown her professional, ambitious, 'I must do well' side until tonight when she was very emotional. I didn't really like her much, but have warmed to her a bit.
Abbey is what Strictly is all about, isn't she, like Darren Gough and others. And you can't put on an act all those weeks, she's a lovely girl and has improved week by week

[Diflower]

Where did this story come from that she has had extensive training? It just isn't correct.

I didn't think that Rodo, I thought it was just that she (Natalie) had had dance training in her background. But I don't read the papers, or read the gossip columns. I only meant that from week 1 it was obvious she had had some kind of experience.

[TheOstrich]

We didn't see the first part, only the second part. And I must say, wasn't Robbie Williams superb!!

I guess I wasn't surprised the popular vote knocked Sophie out first. Of the final three dances, I thought Natalie's was technically excellent, I loved Kevin from Grimsby's almost Cossack flair in the paso, and Abbey's quickstep was fast but just a bit sloppy - GAPPING, dahling!

If Susannah (whom I've never liked) had won it, I would have consoled myself that Kevin deserved it; if Natalie had won it, I would have consoled myself that she was the best overall performer; but Abbey winning it left us both a little bit flat, to be honest.

But overall, we thought it was a fantastic series, with contestants like Deborah Meaden, Dave Myers, Mark Benton, Ben Cohen all contributing to the entertainment in spades ......

[Rodo]

Yes, Abbey winning has left me a bit flat too! One newspaper called it a compromise result.
Yes she did well I can't deny that but she looked gawky. I didn't find her graceful.
It was a wonderful wonderful final and such a good series. Only two things spoilt it for me -

Bruce who doesn't know when to stop
Abbey who won but wasn't the best

[jenniren]

This is on Natalie's CV rodo.....

MUSIC AND DANCE
* = Highly Skilled

Cabaret Dancing*, Contralto*, Jazz Dancing*, Latin American*, Tap*

http://unitedagents.co.uk/natalie-gumede

I have it on good authority she attained advanced standard in all of the above, she also studied ballet. Actually it didn't bother me over much, in fairness she's not the only person to compete with a dance background.

Like Di, for me Strictly is all about seeing someone with no previous experience progress.

[miasmum]

At least Susanna didn't win

Would have preferred Sophie to go through than Susanna, but I did love their paso, so it was nice to see it again

I knew Susanna would do the paso, I knew Sophie would do her charlston and Abbey had lots of great dances to choose from, her viennese waltz to Delilah, her quick step, her salsa when she got the 10's, but Natalie, I couldn't remember one single dance she had done. That is how I found her all series, technically good, but cold and boring. Her show dance proves she has dance training, none of the others could have included tap.

[Rodo]

Yes I see what you mean Jenniren. I hadn't seen any of that. Hey ho.

[Osc]

I read somewhere (sorry, can't remember where) that Natalie trained extensively until she was 19, when an injury prevented her progressing further.

I'm afraid this season left me rather cold, I found it hard to get involved with any of the contestants and wasn't particularly bothered about who won. Fastforwarded through most of it when we got back from Blackpool yesterday and we both felt very ho hum about it