Chris Hollins can't dance

Good of him to admit it

Thought he was great last night

He was being too modest.

He can dance - possibly not to the 'stilted' stylings of the professional B&L dancer - but he can move his body rhythmically to music in a natural way, revealing emotion, enjoyment and musicality - and he did it better than most anybody else in the competition with him.

From day one, Chris was always "too modest". His refusal to budge from what he saw as his rightful place of being the underdog played a big part in his victory IMO.

Well, that and put a vest on you strumpet's catsuits...

He never prentended to be something he wasn't and was very 'likeable' I wasn't too keen on Ricky but thought he was a talented dancer. Didn'r realy mind which one of them won in the end.

I think a big key to Chris and put a vest on you strumpet's success last year is their great friendship and chemistry which could still be seen on the sofa last night. They just seem really in tune, very comfortable together and both seem to know how to get the best out of each other. This translated into their dancing and what the audience saw was their fun and energy and trust in each other. Oh, and though they are both quite modest about it, an awful lot of hard graft.... A great team. And I think Pam and James may have a similar teamship/chemistry going on which may stand them in good stead with the viewers. (I loved Ricki last year - one of his few followers - but his relationship with Natalie was not comfortable viewing. They either smouldered - giving the impression they had just got out of bed together to do their dance - or else they seemed indifferent. Natalie came across as hard and ambitious and Ricki- actually I can't remember why a lot of people didn't like Ricki, but they didn't. And that's why they didn't win... But Natters and Sssssssssscott seem to be doing better on the chemistry front).

I'll stop burbling now...

I think you've got it exactly right, Diamonds!

Chris consistently undersells his actual ability to dance, and all the hard work they put in, but the winning factor was the brilliant relationship between him and O la.

For me, it was similar with Darren Gough and my lovely missing L ilia. Even though DG wasn't the most consistently technically competent (tho' he did a pretty mean quickstep and paso), the sheer enjoyment he showed, when dancing (and rehearsing) came through and was a winning combination.

James definitely has same chemistry with Pam and that shows. I've just been on the 'Invisible Lady?' thread, about Kara, and the consensus there is that she is brilliant technically, looks good etc. etc. but lacks that sparkle and personality which, along with true chemistry with her partner, would be an absolutely winning combination.

Now its my turn to stop burbling

Morning all

I think perhaps Kara suffers from dancing with a newbie and I haven't made up my mind about Artem yet. I'm warming to Robin though and I think him and P.atsy definitely have good chemistry.

Good partnerships always have a big appeal factor. Chris H wasn't the best, but, as has been said, the relationship between the two was a likeable factor in itself. They were good value as viewing goes, entertaining and a decent dance effort. Ricky, a better dancer but a touch arrogant about himself, lost to fan appeal. I doubt anybody being fair would have begrudged Chris's win, I certainly didn't. For me, that's the big bug about Tugboat, a: I don't particularly like the woman's attitude and b: their routines smack of desperation and there isn't even a hint of dance in it, it's pure slapstick.

Arsey? Maybe it will be considered so by some, but there's no comparison with Chris Hollins's dance. Every dog has its day, but that day also ends somewhere. We'll never have a world (thank The Lord,) where everybody likes the same thing. Planet Boredom.

I also wanted Chris to win last year over Ricky, even though I knew R was a better dancer. We all know that this show is not just about dance- and Team Cola's relationship, chemistry and sheer enjoyment coupled with a great improvement in mr hollins' dancing over the series summed up what SCD is all about. I still think their Charleston was so cleverly done- I loved it.

I like Chris and voted for him. He worked hard and he and O.la were entertaining. Ricky w may have been the better dancer but he was, in my mind, arrogant with it. I think the GBP prob felt the same - unlike our American cousins we're not so keen on the 'I'm good, I am' attitude. At least not in the way RW did it.

Or is it just me that thinks that way?

I voted for Chris last year too. I was not keen on Ricky I am not sure if it arrogance, but I do have a problem getting excited about celebs who are good from the start. I prefer to see them gradually improve and see them grab the chances as they come. To me Chris and O.la captured what made people vote for them and built on that whilst also using dance technique. No he wasn't the best dancer, but he could do it and could produce something that fulfilled the brief.

I two supported Chris and put a vest on you strumpet over RW and its the same this year for me about K.ara and Sssscot.
I know they're both great, and are working their socks off - but its the likes of G.avin and P.atsy who appeal more. That said I do have a real soft spot for Matt and Aliona who also seem to have a great rapport

I am liking Artem more and more. He seems to be a natural gentleman & steps back to applaud Kara along with the audience.

No doubt the cynical will see this as a ploy but it seems genuine to me.

Not a ploy - he's a thoroughly nice bloke. I hope they win but I'm sure they won't!