The Finals

It seems they are like buses you have to wait a whole nine weeks and then two finals come at once. This is the kind of weekend words like bonanza were invented for! So get out your diaries, cancel your appointments and pencil them in; for this Saturday and Sunday at 7pm you should be curled up on the sofa, with the remote poised, ready to watch the Dancing on Ice and Let’s Dance for Comic Relief Finals! Over the last few weeks celebrities, from the boxer Ricky Hatton to the Queen of Clean Kim Woodburn and the TV chef Rosemary Schrager, have been producing their own individual takes on famous dance routines to raise money for Comic Relief. Once again we’ve seen Lady Gaga’s meat dress and the fabulous Outcast’s tartan pants and riding hat combination. Although I think Basil Brush’s guest star performance during Vanessa Feltz’s rendition of Cher, If I Could Turn Back Time was not given the recognition it deserved. Now under the watchful eyes of the ‘expert’ judges, Jo Brand, Greg Davis and Frank Skinner, heat three winner West End star Jodie Prenger and runner up comedian Lee Nelson will be joining the other finalists in strutting their stuff on Saturday. Alongside them, prepared to boogie for your donations, will be the comedian Tim Vine, the Soap Stars, Coronation Street actor Anthony Cotton and comedian Katherine Ryan. In addition there will be music from Taylor Swift and Bruno Marz. So expect to see Justin Timberlake, Nicki Minaj and the Swan Queen Odette or at least somebody who looks and dances just like them! Then on Sunday night, in order to fortify you for the week ahead, it is essential you turn the TV on to ITV1 for the Dancing on Ice final. After Gareth Thomas unfortunately had to withdraw from the competition, due to acute motion sickness, Eastender’s star Matt Lapinskas, Olympic boxer Luke Campbell and Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle will be skating into the final. Gareth Thomas has thankfully made a full recovery and will be returning for the final, although he is no longer competing. Series 8 has had it all; love, injuries and plenty of falls with perhaps the most spectacular of all being Joe Pasquale falling on his face during his Flash routine. From professional Mark Hanretty’s dislocated shoulder to Pamela Anderson’s wardrobe malfunction it has been a dangerous road but now we have reached the final. This week the contestants will be required to produce another aerial routine as well as a showcase piece. The final two will then attempt Torvill and Dean’s signature Bolero. With Matt and Beth neck and neck as the favourites to win it all hangs on tomorrow.

As you can see there is no other option, you are going to have to clear your schedule and get your dancing fix . For those who simply can’t wait until then here is Torvill and Dean’s definitive Bolero performed at the 1984 Olympics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2zbbN4OL98