BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2008 - Week 11, Christine Dances out

The Public alas failed to save her from the bottom two and after performing two dances and the subsequent dance off, Christine becomes the 11th person to be voted out of Strictly Come Dancing.

The One Show Presenter landed in the bottom two against the impressive Rachel Stevens, who had already scored a maximum. With Lisa Snowdon finishing top of the Leaderboard, Christine must have known that the end was inevitable.



Rachel danced brilliantly once again in the dance-off to survive to the last 4 and Semi-finals. This is the Second time Rachel Stevens has landed in the bottom two despite brilliant scores. It may show that she does not have much Public voting support. This could be crucial if she makes the final.



Christine Bleakley's happy personality will be missed from the show, but it was the right decision for her to go. The Judges votes were unanimous in keeping Rachel in.

There are just four people left in who can win now. They are Austin Healey, Tom Chmabers, Rachel Stevens and Lisa Snowdon. Austin is still the favourite to win, but this year it looks very close and unpredictable to call. If Lisa Snowdon takes it from where she started in Week 1, it would be an amazing achievement.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 8, Who is going out now?

Ruth Lorenzo is the Evan money favourite to go out this week. It is certainly not a bet I will be placing.

If she finds herself in the bottom two sing off against JLS, I think she could blow them away with her power. The only way perhaps JLS could survive in this situation is if the Judges took it to deadlock with the decision resting solely on the Public Vote. JLS are seemingly more popular than Ruth.

Here are the full current odds on each acts chances of being voted out the X Factor this week.

Ruth Lorenzo 1/1
J L S 15/8
Alexandra Burke 5/1
Eoghan Quigg 12/1
Diana Vickers 14/1

The Market looks as if its shaping up to price a final of Diana Vickers verses Eoghan Quigg. There are still a few fences to be jumped yet, and anyone can take a tumble before the final run in.

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2008 - Week 10, John Sergeant out with Dignity intact

Who will ever know exactly what went on behind the scenes this week on Strictly Come Dancing? Not me, that's for sure.

Anyway, its seems like John Sergeant has done the right thing by opting to pull out of the competition. He will retire undefeated with his popularity as high as it can perhaps possibly go and his dignity firmly intact. This week he performed a farewell dance with dance partner, Kristina Rihanoff.

It was Kristina's first foray into the world of Strictly and she did a fantastic job with John.



John Sergeant was a breath of fresh air for Strictly Come Dancing and will be one of the most remembered celebrities that the show has ever had. He did the right thing to retire the show. It had got to a point where News reporters were camped in his front garden each day and he was making headline news just for being in a dance contest. When he pulled out, he even had to call a Press Conference. John was fully aware that the whole situation was getting well out of control and he had to put a stop to it.

Respect to John on this tricky but correct decision.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 7, Rachel Hylton goes out

X Factor 2008, Week 7, Rachel Hylton was the odds-on favourite to go out and that's exactly what happened. A fantastic raw talent, but she never really gained a great deal of popularity with the British voting public. She has the power, determination and talent to match any of the contestants out there, but just didn't have enough general appeal.

After the Public votes were totalled up, Rachel found herself in the bottom two sing-off with Louis' Boyband, JLS.

A very impressive powerhouse display from Rachel, but this was her third time in the sing-off which I think was her eventual undoing. Lets face it, in terms of record and Album sales, JLS are hugely more commercially viable. Simon Cowell struggled with the final decision on who to send home, but eventually he had to be a realist. It was goodbye to Rachel.

Hopefully this is not the end for Rachel Hylton, but in this ruthless cut throat entertainment industry, it very well could be. I hope I'm wrong.

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2008 - Week 9, The Curse of the Latin

There is perhaps no doubt, when it comes to Strictly Come Dancing, the Latin dances are always a lot harder to perfect than the Ballroom. Because of this fact, the Ballroom dances always score a bit higher.

If your favourite celebrity in the show is dancing a Latin performance, then be worried. It is probably time pick up the phone and get voting. This week the bottom two finishers, Cherie Lunghi and Lisa Snowdon, both were engaging in Latin dances. Coincidence? I think not.

Cherie Lunghi eventually went out after the Judges decision, but you couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for her. Cherie definitely deserved to progress a little further in the contest. She had struggled with the Latin side, but this was one of her better attempts at the genre.

Of the original performance an animated Judge Bruno said, "What a pair of pins! This is a breakthrough - you can do Latin. I loved it!"

Judge Craig added, "You're magnificent to watch and you're beginning to conquer Latin".

Good comments, but not enough votes I'm afraid. Judge Arlene said she felt she wasn't Judging a Dance off, but instead a Final. Who will be in the bottom two next week? Well... it could be anyone! The least likely is probably John Sergeant.

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2008 - Week 9, Shock: Cherie Lunghi Out !!!

Cherie Lunghi had a serious chance of winning Strictly Come Dancing this year, but now shockingly, after landing in the bottom two with Lisa Snowdon, is out of the running.

When Cherie danced Ballroom she was outstanding, maybe the best in contest. Unfortunately, the latin side let her down slightly and this sadly was her eventual undoing. Still... she probably deserved to progress further than John Sergeant, but this is what we have come to expect of these types of public vote orientated TV competitions.

Lisa Snowdon was a tad better in the dance off and based on that alone, deserved to stay in with professional dance partner, Brendan Cole. The decision was not unaninmous however,

This would have been a scare for Lisa & Brendan who have before finished top of the Leaderboard. Stictly Come Dancing is now wide open.

Can John Sergeant now get to the final? I can see him avoiding the bottom two for a few more weeks, which would see him pick off Christine Bleakley, Jodie Kidd and Lisa Snowdon. Sometimes you don't know whether to laugh or cry... maybe a bit of both is appropriate.

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2008 - Week 8, Rachel Stevens 35 points = Bottom Two Dance Off

So... these days in Strictly Come Dancing, 35 points from the Judges can leave you ending up in the bottom two dance off. What a joke this is and not a very funny one.

Professional dance partner, Vincent Simone, choreographed a brilliant American Smooth routine and wouldn't have believed what happened with the voting public. This was Rachel's best performance week so far and she was rewarded with this travesty of events. It appears she must have very little support with the viewers at home which is a bit of a mystery. Has something gone wrong with the vote counting system?

One thinks that maybe it has.

Thankfully Rachel survived the dance off this week, but it was to the detriment of Heather Small, who also danced well. Truth be told, neither of the women should have been there.

Head Judge Len Goodman said of Rachel's original routine, "Diamonds come in small packages and that was a gem of a performance."

Bruno added, "it was Fred and Ginger for me tonight, so elaborate and demanding... you did that effortlessly."

It is perhaps impossible to fathom. Bruno said he felt as if he were in the Twilight Zone. In a week where a score of 35 out of 40 can land you in the bottom two, the dance part of this competition is becoming less and less relevant.

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2008 - Week 8 - Heather Small leaves

Shocks aplenty on UK television voting competitions this week. This time on Strictly Come Dancing, singer, Heather Small, was the one to go. It was the fourth time in the series she had landed in the bottom two and this one, by far, was the most unfair.

And who was in the dance off with Heather?

Rachel Stevens of course.

What??? How did this happen? Rachel scored 35 out of 40 with the Judges, just 5 points short of a maximum score! There's something very odd going on this week. Maybe someone should check the water supply.

Heather's Tango was the best she had danced so far and she didn't really deserve to be in the bottom two either. Judge Craig described the result as a travesty.

The Judges voted unanimously to keep Rachel in the competition. Having originally scored her a whopping 35 points, there was little much else they could have done. Public voting figures for Rachel must have been ridiculously low which does not bode well.

John Sergeant must genuinely be feeling a bit guilty this time. Maybe he should invent a fake illness and drop out. At this rate, there is a distinct possibility he could reach the final. This week, John scored a meagre 12. That is 23 points less than Rachel Stevens.

Strictly Come Dancing is in danger of becoming a bit of a mockery. A dance competition where you don't have to be a good dancer. Next year my money is on Stephen Hawking to win.

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X Factor 2008 - Major Shock! Laura White is Out !!!

Laura White is out of X Factor 2008. How on Earth did this happen? This is a major shock and probably one of the biggest upsets in the competition I have ever seen.

Second favourite and 3-1 to Win, Laura looked destined for the final, but sees her self go out as early as Week 5. On Mariah Carey song night she sang, "Endless Love", played the piano and surely deserved to go through to week 6.

All comments from the Judges were positive apart from those of Simon Cowell and yet after the viewers votes were finally counted, she found herself in the bottom two.

It perhaps goes to show, the X Factor isn't just about having an amazing singing voice. It's also about image, style, likability and overall popularity with the public. Despite being exceptionally talented, Laura has failed to connect with those watching at home which is a bit of a shame.

Rank outsider, Daniel Evans escaped yet again, and Laura was in the dreaded bottom two sing off with the awesome and massively underrated, Ruth Lorenzo.

As before, Ruth Lorenzo gave an awesome performance in the sing off. She sang Knocking On Heavens Door which was absolutely amazing. Laura sang, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.



To be honest, neither girl should have been voted out. This shock result shows, that in the X Factor, no one is safe.

Laura was faultless this week, but still goes out. Maybe Cheryl Cole's acts are not such a dead cert to win after all, with Laura White eliminated and Diana Vickers suffering from Laryngitis, the competition has been thrown wide open.

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing - Week 8, Who will be Eliminated this time?

As Strictly Come Dancing 2008 forges through to the second half, the competition from here on in increases to tighten up. The real battle perhaps starts from this week onwards.

Here are the latest odds on who will leave the competition this Saturday,

Heather Small 11/10
John Sergeant 7/4
Jodie Kidd 9/2
Christine Bleakley 12/1
Lisa Snowdon 16/1
Cherie Lunghi 25/1
Rachel Stevens 33/1
Tom Chambers 100/1
Austin Healey 100/1

The Market seems to think its all about Heather Small and John Sergeant.

John could start to be in a bit of trouble here. He has progressed much further than his dance talent really should have allowed and if he ends up in the bottom two dance off with anyone, the Judges will surely vote him out. John can ill afford to end up in the bottom two. Such is his popularity with the public, he is not without a chance of escaping it, but it looks as if he'd have to displace either an improving Jodie Kidd or a competent Christine Bleakley.

Heather Small has survived three dance offs and looks as if she may be headed for a fourth unless she and professional dance partner, Brian Fortuna, can come up with something pretty good.

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing - Andrew Verses Heather

After the completion of this weeks Strictly Come Dancing performances, we are down to just nine remaining couples.

In the bottom two dance off this week were former Tennis star, Andrew Castle and singer, Heather Small. Here's how the four Judges presided.

A unanimous decision and Heather Small survives the dance off for a third time. Small and professional dance partner, Brian Fortuna, are starting to become dance off specialists. Heather's Cha Cha Cha was deemed to be better than Castle's latin Samba. It was the right decision.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 4 - Austin Drage is out !!!

Well, this is certainly a result that not many people could have expected. Austin Drage is out of the X Factor !!!

I thought Daniel Evans would be a dead cert to go out this week, but he didn't even land in the bottom two. His rendition of, "Don't Leave me this way." was enough to see him through. Louis didn't like him and said he was the perfect pub singer. Simon Cowell also described the act as hideous. That damming summing up of course, was enough to get everyone voting at home and Mr Evans proceeds safely to Week 5.

Austin found himself in the bottom two surprisingly with Rachel Hylton. No one could have predicted that these two would have finished here. When the going gets tough, you can always expect Rachel to come out all guns blazing and this is exactly what she did. Austin was the one to go and Simon Cowell loses his second act from the competition. He had Louis now just have one act left.

Rather unfortunate that Austin should go at this stage. He had a good voice and didn't really put a foot wrong. Maybe he didn't fully connect with the viewing public, but as mega band Queen once said, Another one bites the Dust.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 4 - Who will be Eliminated ?

Week 4 is Disco Week on the X Factor 2008. Here is how the betting market views each acts chances of being voted out the competition.

Daniel Evans 8/13
Ruth Lorenzo 4/1
Rachel Hylton 6/1
J L S 11/1
Eoghan Quigg 14/1
Austin Drage 25/1
Alexandra Burke 25/1
Laura White 100/1
Diana Vickers 100/1

Daniel Evans seems a dead cert to go out. He is odds on at 8/13. With the talented Ruth Lorenzo and Rachel Hylton next behind him, I'm afraid I'm inclined to agree. So strong are this years acts, its hard to envisage any other outcome.

It's tough to guess who will feature in the bottom two sing off against Daniel this week, but Cheryl Cole's acts should be safe. Burke, White and Vickers are all rank outsiders to go.

Group mentor, Louis Walsh, will be praying once again his sole remaining act manages to stay in. If they land in the bottom two, this is the one act that Daniel Evans perhaps has a chance of beating.

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing - Week 6, Mark Foster Out

Swimmer, Mark Foster, has become the sixth celebrity to be voted out of Strictly Come Dancing 2008.

He and professional dance partner, Hayley Holt, finished bottom after the Judges initial votes and this time the added Public vote was not enough to save them from the dance off. Here they faced former tennis star, Andrew Castle and dance partner, Ola Jordan. Andrew was a little unlucky to be in the dance off as he perhaps gave his best performance of the contest so far.

When the dance off was complete, Craig, Arlene, Bruno and Len all agreed, Mark should be the one to go.

Mark Foster is the most successful swimmer Britain has ever produced. Six times a World Champion, with 10 European Champion medals and two Commonwealth Champion medals, he has also broken eight world records in his career. This accounts for nothing on the dance floor however and when all is said and done, I think he had a pretty good run.

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