Strictly final is just a two-horse race: says Alesha Dixon

As the youngest contestants in this year’s competition, they may not have the experience of their rival for the glittery trophy.
But Harry Judd and Chelsee Healey will leave Jason Donovan in the shade at the Strictly Come Dancing final, according to judge Alesha Dixon, who has predicted it will be a youthful two-horse race.
Judd, 25, drummer with the pop band McFly, is the bookies’ favourite to win tomorrow night – despite the fact that his competition, actress Miss Healey, 23, and singer Donovan, 43, achieved perfect 40 scores for dances last week.

The finalists: Harry Judd, Chelsee Healey and Jason Donovan will compete for the Strictly Come Dancing trophy this weekend

Miss Dixon said: ‘It will either be Chelsee or Harry. Chelsee is a brilliant dancer but I think a lot of women have a soft spot for Harry.’

 

More...

• Turning wine into water: Alesha Dixon is back drinking on The Graham Norton Show... but this time it's water
• It's not your birthday Billie! TOWIE star upstages her sister Sam by wearing ill-fitting dress to her 21st birthday party
• Strictly's stolen my life: DAN WOOTTON joins Harry Judd for the day... and discovers the bruising truth

Prediction: Alesha Dixon appeared on the Graham Norton show where she said either Harry or Chelsee would win

In an interview for Graham Norton’s BBC talk-show, screened tonight, she also defended her criticism of Nancy Dell’Olio earlier in the series. The Italian-American lawyer has threatened to sue her over her comments.
Miss Dixon claims the former partner of Sven Goran Eriksson had taken it more ‘personally’ because she was also a woman.  
She said: ‘My criticism wasn’t personal, it was funny...She was upset I think because I am the female judge.’
Miss Dixon claimed she could tell when couples had ‘crossed the line’ on the show when it came to chemistry. The singer added: ‘When they are right in front of you, you can read the way they look at each other.
‘I love that bit of it. I loved it when Kara and Artem got together. They were the real deal, genuinely falling in love.’

Fury: Nancy Dell' Olio has allegedly threatened to sue over comments Alesha made

Out of the running? Jason with Partner Kristina during last week's show

She said Strictly’s popularity was down to the fact it was ‘warm and fluffy’ escapism.
And Donovan said yesterday that the show’s success was ‘all about the cast’, saying it was like a ‘soap opera’ and a ‘panto’.

Tipped: Aliona Vilani and Harry Judd (left) are the bookies’ favourite to win tomorrow night followed by Chelsee Healey and Pasha Kovalev

This series, the formula appears to have worked as the show has frequently pulled in bigger audiences than its Saturday night rival, ITV’s The X Factor.
The hotly awaited finale is expected to achieve record ratings, with the BBC optimistic that it can break the 14million mark for its average audience – and more at its peak.

Silverware: The three finalists and their partners pose with the coveted trophy

Gruelling: Jason described the competition as 'the hardest thing I have ever done'

Sunday’s X Factor final had an average audience of 12.9million viewers.
Yesterday, the Strictly finalists spoke in London ahead of the show at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom.
Judd admitted that he had become a fan of fake tan during his time on the show, saying it put him in the ‘mood and mind-set’ to dance.

The finalists attended a press call in London ahead of Saturday night's final in Blackpool which is expected to achieve record ratings of around 14m

Once it was over, though, he said he was ‘going to go home and see my mum and dad and just hibernate for the winter’.
Donovan said that he too would be dedicating time over Christmas to his family after weeks of gruelling rehearsals.
Describing Strictly as ‘the hardest thing I have ever done’, he added: ‘I feel like I have aged. I would love to see a photograph of me day one and a photograph of me now.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2074834/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2011-Alesha-Dixon-says-final-horse-race.html#ixzz1fM9fui6S