And that’s the end of another Strictly year – my eighth or ninth on this liveblog, I’ve lost count. It’s been a great series, made all the better by the brilliant Strictly community down below who make me laugh every week, and make writing this blog an absolute pleasure. A huge and heartfelt thanks to you all.
I’m all finished with liveblogging for this year, but as usual we’ll open a thread on Christmas Day for the Strictly Christmas Special, so you can chat amongst yourselves in the comment box. In the meantime you can find me on Twitter @heidistephens if you’d like to say hello.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2019 – see you next September and we’ll do the whole thing all over again. Keeeeeep dancing!
Stace and Kevin take to the floor to ‘Simply The Best’ by Tina Turner, which I’m not sure is technically true but now is probably not the time.
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‘It’s a Christmas miracle!’ yells Kevin. DRINK.
Time to crown a winner, HOORAY!
And the winners of Strictly Come Dancing 2018 are…STACEY AND KEVIN!
Well that’s rather wonderful, even though tonight wasn’t their best night. After all those years in the final, Kevin finally gets a win, so hopefully will stop banging on about it.
Stacey has been wonderful, and any one of the final four couples would have been a worthy winner. What a fabulous series, I’ve loved every minute.
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Final montage from the judges. Don’t drink any more, I fear for your liver. Have a peppermint tea.
CAN WE JUST CROWN A WINNER.
Christmas Special promo! DRINK! I won’t be liveblogging, but we’ll open a thread so you can all play in the comment box.
That’s a bingo full house!
Time for a final dance with all the contestants! It kicks off with a Vick/Graziano lift, then Dr. Ranj bopping about in his white coat. Graeme is bench pressing Oti, and Susannah’s dress has about eight people camping in it.
Daughter and I have stopped watching to reminisce about what a banger ‘The Boy Does Nothing’ by Alesha Dixon is.
OK, we’re back. Well that was fun.
Former contestant montage! DRINK. Just need a mention of Christmas and it’s a full house.
Bonus dancing from Aljaz and Janette, who are the most adorable couple on and off the dancefloor. Aljaz’s sparkly jacket is outstanding, all men should have one.
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Time for a musical interlude, courtesy of Canadian Croonmeister Michael Buble. I love him, and anyone who doesn’t get an unexpected festive frisson in their tinsel region whenever he cracks out “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” is clearly dead inside.
He’s not singing that this evening, however, he’s gone with ‘Such a Night’. But he’s still Michael Buble, so DRINK.
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Fan montage! DRINK!
I feel like I’ve been liveblogging for decades. Honestly, just hand someone the glitterball. Don’t care who. My hands are like claws.
Stacey and Kevin at the bottom of the Irrelevant Leaderboard, which is unexpected - their Showdance was a huge risk that may have misfired.
Still think Joe and Dianne are going to grab this, but it’s a really tough one to call at this point. I’d argue Faye and Giovanni did the best dances, but Stacey and Joe have both had an epic journey and Ashley and Pasha have consistently delivered the highest quality since week one. What a series, I’ve loved it.
Cue endless recap! DRINK!
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Scores: 9,9,10,10 - a total of 38 for Joe and Dianne. The scoring ceased to have any meaning about two hours ago, and has been entirely bonkers since September.
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Darcey thought Joe is the big surprise of this series, and Shirley agrees - Joe is what this show is all about. Bruno thought Joe has always been bright eyed, bushy tailed and full of energy. Craig bitches about Joe’s swivel but he loved the dance and loves Joe.
I know Thatcher Joe isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I think he’s been a breath of fresh air this series – fearless, bags of fun, and entirely charming. Whether you like it or not, he’s a new breed of celebrity that isn’t going away, and anything that gets more kids and teens watching the telly with their parents is absolutely fine by me. A great dance to end this series.
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And FINALLY, it’s time for JOE AND DIANNE! Their final dance is their week 2 Charleston to ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ by Rednex. It was Joe’s biggest crowd pleaser, and I’m delighted he’s doing it again – will be great to see how much they’ve improved.
Montage DRINK!
Scores: 10,10,10,10 - DRINK.
Craig love love loved it, and Darcey thought it was one of her favourite dances of the series. Shirley thought Faye has blossomed, bloomed and grown, and Bruno gets the whole crowd in a chorus of A-MAY-ZING.
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I actually prefer this without the scary makeup, it was quite a distraction. Now it’s super classy and stylish, enjoyed that SO much more this time round.
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Time for FAYE AND GIOVANNI! This week they’re dancing their Couple’s Choice from Halloween – a Jazz dance to ‘Fever’ by Peggy Lee. I wasn’t a big fan of this on the day, but watching it back, it was a real showcase of what a great dancer Faye is. Montage DRINK.
Scores: 9,10,10,10 - a total of 39 for Stacey and Kevin. I feel like Craig is trolling Kevin now.
Bruno thought it was an authentic Paso, which Stacey danced with bonus sass. Craig thought it was powerful and driven, and Darcey thought it was fierce, with power and drama. Shirley thought it was a perfect finale, and Kevin has done an amazing job with Stacey.
This is still a banging Paso, but definitely not one of their most memorable dances for me. I’m really surprised they’ve chosen it for their final dance, it’s a risky move. Bit of a wobble from Stacey at the end there, oops.
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Next up it’s STACEY AND KEVIN! Their final dance is their Week 10 Paso to ‘Malaguena’. Montage DRINK. Crying DRINK. Saying lovely things about each other DRINK.
Scores: 10,10,10,10 - DRINK. A perfect score for all three dances.
Shirley thought it was another extraordinary performance, and Bruno loved how Ashley keeps raising the bar. Craig loved the character and Pasha’s belly, and he wishes he could dance like Ashley. Darcey thought it was a great showcase of what a versatile dancer Ashley is.
“Please tell me you’ll never stop dancing” says Darcey. Literally Ashley’s job, Darce.
Time for the final dance! First up it’s ASHLEY AND PASHA, who are dancing their Trolls Charleston from Halloween Week. It remains a wonderfully goofy and charming performance from Ashley, and a love contrast to the passion and drama in their Showdance. Also Pasha’s troll belly is glorious.
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So Stacey and Kevin are at the bottom of the irrelevant leaderboard, which is a guaranteed way to ensure people vote for them. Time for another recap! DRINK.
Scores: 9,10,10,10 - a total of 39 for Joe and Dianne.
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Darcey thought Joe was a wild beast, and Joe kept it together when it could have got out of control. Shirley thought it was absolutely brilliant and Joe didn’t miss a beat. Bruno loved bad boy Joe and Craig really enjoyed it too - it was fantastic.
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Joe and Dianne are atop some giant speakers, and Joe is playing Dianne like a guitar. There are trampolines, ridiculous breakdancing moves, velvet trousers, high energy swing, frantic lifts, and Joe basically having the time of his life. He smashes a guitar at the end, and I’m really not sure what just happened. Strictly has definitely entered a new era.
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And finally for the Showdances, it’s JOE AND DIANNE! They’ve chosen ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ by Arctic Monkeys for their Showdance. I’ve loved their music choices this season, always with one eye on Joe’s younger fanbase and plenty of tongue in cheek. Hopefully this will be a cracker.
Scores: 10,10,10,10 - DRINK.
Craig thought it was FAB-U-LUSS, and Darcey loved it too - it was clean, stylish and sophisticated, Faye looked like a movie star. Shirley thought the choreography was outstanding, and Bruno thought Faye was the embodiment of all those Hollywood goddesses - he loved it.
Faye’s gold gown is top notch Broadway glamour – they’re dancing on a giant top hat, and it’s as fabulous as you might expect. Old school style and elegance which brings out Faye’s incredible levels of performance and detail. I think that might be one of my favourite Showdances ever – incredible.
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It’s time for FAYE AND GIOVANNI! Their Showdance to ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. This is from 42nd Street, and I think it’s safe to assume that Faye and Giovanni’s showdance is going to be full on musical theatre jazz hands.
Scores: 8,9,9,10 - a total of 36 for Stacey and Kevin.
“I expect it from Craig in every final” says Kevin. And this is where Kevin throws it away by being uppity.
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Bruno says it was a medley of “Stacey’s Greatest Tits” and the studio falls apart. Craig wasn’t that keen, it was too bitty and there was too much running around - for him it didn’t work. Darcey thought it was high-energy mash up of all their greatest dances, and Shirley thought Stacey pulled off a great routine.
“Bruno definitely said greatest hits” says Tess. No he didn’t, and we love him for it.
Stacey is giving it all the hairspray, and they’re telling the story of their journey to the Strictly final. It’s ambitiously bonkers, but I love it - just full of joy and the perfect showcase of their incredible partnership. It’s all a bit busy and lift at the end was all over the shop, but I don’t care. Love the madness, anything else just wouldn’t have been Stace and Kev.
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Next up it’s STACEY AND KEVIN! They’ve chosen ‘Land of A Thousand Dances’ by Wilson Pickett for their Showdance. This is a rock ‘n’ roll classic, lending itself to a jive-driven routine. Their Minion Jive in Movie Week was one of my favourite dances of the series, so I have high hopes for this.
Apparently this has moving sets, and elements that have never been done on Strictly before. I’m worried Kevin might have over-egged this out of desperation to not be the bridesmaid for the 97th year running.
Scores: 10,10,10,10 - DRINK. I’m 40% proof right now.
Ashley is the epitome of extraordinary, says Shirley, and Ashley has stretched herself to new limits in this competition. Bruno thought it was sensational, with passion, storytelling and artistry. Craig had a small problem with Ashley’s right toe, but then decided to get over himself. Darcey thought it showcased all of Ashley’s strengths, and they didn’t miss a beat.
Bare feet! Floaty frock with matching knickers! Fog! Mostly this is a re-run of their couple’s choice on a revolving plinth, but Ashley is an extraordinary dancer and is giving this everything she’s got. Outstanding.
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Showdance time! First up is ASHLEY AND PASHA! They’ve chosen ‘Keeping Your Head Up’ by Birdy for their Showdance. I LOVE this song, and it feels fitting for Ashley’s rollercoaster journey on Strictly. Have very high hopes for this being lift-tastic barefoot contempo-waft of the highest order.
Am pretty sure Claudia just told a really filthy joke about blowing Dave Arch in the band pit. LOL.
I forgot to mention all the other contestants, obviously they’re all in the Clauditorium so you should be thoroughly drunk by now.
Not much variation in the Irrelevant Leaderboard. Alan Carr is doing the Terms & Conditions, and is giving it all his best moves. “What is he DOING?” I ask the daughter. “He’s crunking, mum”. Every day is a school day.
THE VOTING IS NOW OPEN. First recap of the evening, but it won’t be the last. DRINK.
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IRRELEVANT SCORES: 9,10,10,10 - a total of 39 for Joe and Dianne.
What a comeback, says Darcey - his command and focus is much improved, they nailed it. Shirley loved the knee walks and his progress in this competition has been extraordinary. Bruno thought Joe’s Paso was incandescent, and he loved the matador stance. Craig thought the shaping was a bit forced, but he loved the heart and soul commitment from Joe.
Come on Joe, do it for Wiltshire and the nation. His lunges are definitely more assured, and his armography is WAY better than last time. He’s never going to be the best dancer in this competition, but that was a much improved performance, really enjoyed it.
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And finally in this round, it’s JOE AND DIANNE! For their first dance, the judges have chosen their Paso Doble to ‘Pompeii’ by Bastille. I loved this Paso from Week 7, but Joe lacked strength in places and his arms went a bit awry. Hopefully a few extra weeks of dance training will mean he looks more in control.
Scores: 10,10,10,10 - DRINK.
Craig loved the drama, and loved it even more the second time round. Darcey describes Faye as the best ballroom dancer in the competition, and Shirley felt Faye has really worked on her technique. Faye never fails, says Bruno - it was sensual and dramatic, and he’s never seen a Viennese like it.
Ooh yes, five Giovannis! I remember now. This was, and still is, rather fabulous, with a lovely top line from Faye and some lovely pacing and characterisation. A dramatic change from your usual sugary Viennese, enjoyed that very much.
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It’s time for FAYE AND GIOVANNI! The judges have chosen their Viennese Waltz to ‘It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World’ by Seal. This was from way back in Week 2, and was quite an angsty and intense affair, if I remember.
Scores: 9,10,10,10 - a total of 39 from the judges.
Bruno loved how Stacey brought the character to life, and Craig thought Stacey had really worked on her frame. Darcey could see a real difference in Stacey’s top line - it had charm and elegance. Shirley was impressed with Stacey’s musicality and style - what a magnificent journey.
This is a great singalong Foxtrot, with noticeably less gapping from Stacey and Kev. Whether they win or not this evening, they’ve been one of my favourite Strictly partnerships ever. Lovely stuff.
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Next up it’s STACEY AND KEVIN! For their first dance, the judges have chosen their Week 4 Foxtrot to ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ by Jeff Beck. I think this was probably one of my favourite dances of theirs – just full of charm and style, and Stacey absolutely nailed the 1960s vibe.
Scores: 10,10,10,10 - DRINK. Pace yourselves, it’s going to be a very long night. Tiny, tiny sips.
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Shirley thought that was taken to the next level, and it was a wonderful way to open the show. Bruno loves Ashley’s passion for dance, and Craig agrees - Ashley made that dance live and it was A-MAY-ZING. Darcey thought the lift was a wow, and she loved Ashley’s fearless determination.
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So off we go again - that dress of Ashley’s is still divine. This still lacks Salsa softness through the knees and definitely needs more hip action, but the lifts and spins are incredible. Ashley definitely looks like she’s having the time of her life.
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First up it’s ASHLEY AND PASHA! For their first dance, the judges have picked their Movie Week Salsa to ‘(I’ve Had The) Time Of My Life’ by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. It was great, but still the dance from the film that we’ve all seen a zillion times before, and without any of the Baby/Jonny chemistry that made it so special first time round. Not massively fussed about seeing it again.
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Out come the judges! Shirley has gone full Disney princess ballgown, and I love her for it.
Out come the stars! This is the last time you’ll hear “social media star Joe Sugg” like that’s a perfectly normal job. Good to see Joe has dyed his hair, as promised. It’s actually not too hideous.
It’s our final TESS AND CLAUDIA DRESS WATCH of the season! They’re going out with a bang, with Claudia in a glitter-tastic blue sequin pantsuit, and Tess in a tablecloth held on by a curtain ring.
Buble mention! DRINK!
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Pro dance time! Giovanni and Graziano have both lost their buttons AGAIN, and it’s minimal coverage all round. ‘This is It’ by Melba Moore is an absolute banger.
Ashley, Faye, Joe and Stacey descend from the heavens, and this is all rather fabulous. Can Johannes have a partner next year please?
And we’re off! Let’s get this Grand Final party started. Time for a flashback to the first interviews, from way back in September when this madness started. What a phenomenal journey it’s been. I think this definitely counts as a montage. DRINK.
This year’s FINAL Strictly Come Bingo – a slug of sherry for any occurrence of the following:
- Recaps and montages
- Four tens
- Mentions of Christmas
- Previous contestant sightings
- Michael Bublé
High likelihood that we’ll all be a trifle by the end.
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I’ve got the daughter with me this evening – her job is to keep me stocked with snacks and booze over the next few hours. She thinks Stacey and Kevin are going to take the glitterball, I’m leaning towards Joe and Dianne, because Maths.
So for me this year’s glitterball is a tussle between Stacey and Kevin and Joe and Dianne. Both couples have had a brilliant Strictly JourneyTM and have been wonderful to watch; Stacey is undoubtedly the better dancer, but Joe has a fanbase the size of Jupiter and knows how to put on a crowd-pleasing show.
I think it’s going to come down to the Showdance from these two, and how many of Joe’s YouTube fans actually take the time to vote during the allotted window. This is not a variable we’ve ever had to consider on Strictly before, so who knows what might happen.
On paper it should be Ashley and Pasha for being brilliant dancers and giving us some absolute showstoppers. Which of course means they won’t win because the best dancer rarely does – see also Faye and Giovanni, who have been consistently excellent and wonderful to watch since the beginning, which is the kiss of Strictly death. If we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that pretending to be a bit shit in the early weeks goes a very long way.
So who’s going to win this year? As usual I did a highly scientific survey on Twitter and the results were pretty conclusive – it’s a landslide win for Stacey and everyone else is just making up the numbers. The poll was bang on about Joe and Katya last year, but I don’t think things are quite that simple this time round.
So who is going to win this year's Strictly? (NB 64% of you were right last year, but you all bombed the year before).
— Heidi Stephens (@heidistephens) December 12, 2018
Welcome to the Strictly Grand Final!
Evening all, and a very warm and sparkly welcome to the 2018 Strictly Come Dancing Grand Final liveblog! After three months of quality dance and a touch of high drama, we’ve whittled our original 15 couples to a final four – Ashley and Pasha, Faye and Giovanni, Stacey and Kevin and Joe and Dianne. I’ve ranked them in order of dance ability there, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t where the glitterball is going, because that isn’t how Strictly works. That said, this series has gifted us a few surprises, so let’s see how the final three dances play out.
So here’s the plan for tonight’s show – all four couples are dancing three routines back-to-back – a dance picked by the Judges, an anything-goes Showdance and each couple’s favourite dance of the series. As in recent years, there is no elimination after two dances, and no break before the winner is announced, so buckle in for a 150 minute sparkle marathon. Mostly this will be padded out with pro dances, montages, musical interludes, more montages and plenty of recaps, but we’ve done it before and we’ll do it again.
Kick off is at 6.30pm – it’s the last Strictly before Christmas and I have high hopes for it being an absolute cracker, so bring snacks, booze and your most glittery dancing shoes. See you shortly!
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