Flack earns two perfect Strictly scores

TV presenter Caroline Flack has secured two perfect 40 scores in “one of the closest finals in Strictly’s history”.

Flack earns two perfect Strictly scores

TV presenter Caroline Flack has secured two perfect 40 scores in “one of the closest finals in Strictly’s history”.

The curtain will fall on Strictly Come Dancing later when the winner of the 2014 series is announced on the results show.

Along with her partner Pasha Kovalev, Flack scored 40 for her cha cha cha, with Darcey Bussell hailing it as “fabulous”, and Len Goodman describing it as “24 carat”.

Bruno Tonioli described the hot favourite, who wore a gold shimmery dress, as “my golden sex goddess”, adding: “The earth was moving. I’m still basking in the afterglow.”

Craig Revel Horwood said the pair’s showdance – which also scored a perfect 40 - was “full of risks” and praised the “amazing lifts”.

Bussell said it was “like watching a contemporary ballet”, adding: “I was really touched.”

Goodman hailed the dance, which featured a wind machine, as “wonderful”, adding: “You don’t need wind machines, you’ve got huge fans up here.”

Coral Bookmakers said Flack, a former Xtra Factor regular, is the hot favourite at 8-13 to be crowned this year’s winner.

But Frankie Bridge is not too far behind at 7-4, ahead of Simon Webbe at 14-1 and Mark Wright at 20-1.

A Coral spokeswoman said: “This is one of the closest finals in Strictly’s history, with Caroline and Frankie battling it out at the head of the betting.

“Caroline is edging ahead but after so many shocks throughout the series, we’re bracing ourselves for a shock.”

The Saturdays pop star Bridge and her partner Kevin Clifton got off to a “fantastic start” scoring 39 out of 40 for their samba.

Goodman said she brought both quality and quantity, while Tonioli exclaimed: “The holiday season starts right here!”

He told Bridge she was “saucy” and said the performance was full of “exuberance”.

Revel Horwood deemed it “absolutely fantastic”, as Bridge’s bandmates Una Foden and Mollie King looked on from the audience.

The couple scored 38 for their showdance performed to Get Happy, but Revel Horwood said: “I wasn’t completely taken. It did look a bit like you were trailing a horse around.”

But he said other parts of the dance were “absolutely tremendous”.

Bussell said: “You have grown into such a stylish, sophisticated dancer.”

Tonioli said Bridge was “absolutely radiant”.

Former Towie star Wright and his partner Karen Hauer scored 35 for their cha cha cha.

Tonioli said Wright was a “cheeky chappy with a lorry load of charm”, while Revel Horwood said his confidence was “extraordinary” and said he had progressed to the final “from the dance gutter”.

As Wright’s fiance Michelle Keegan and sister Jessica looked on, the former reality TV star was told by Goodman that his caterpillar move was “coming along a treat”.

The couple’s showdance to Don’t Stop Me Now also scored 35 and Goodman said Wright had turned into a “dancing prince”.

Revel Horwood said it was full of energy and athleticism, saying: “I did feel for a moment I was in a Jane Fonda aerobic class.”

Tonioli said he was like a “crazed cricket”, adding: “How many coffees have you had?”

Blue pop star Webbe and his partner Kristina Rihanoff scored 39 for their Charleston, with Bussell telling the singer he was “still shining”.

Goodman said he “brought everything”, while Tonioli said he had the “winning formula”.

The couple’s showdance to A Little Less Conversation also scored 39, with Bussell saying: “That was a showdance we will never forget.”

Goodman said it was “a trip down memory lane” full of “Simon’s greatest hits”, while Tonioli said it was “packaged to perfection”.

The results show is at 8.50pm and the fourth-placed couple, after viewer votes are counted, will be eliminated and the remaining three will run through their favourite dance.

Flack’s favourite will be Charleston to Istanbul (Not Constantinople), Bridge’s favourite will be a West Side Story-inspired Paso Doble, Wright’s favourite will be a Samba to That’s The Way I Like It, and Webbe’s favourite will be an Argentine Tango to Roxanne.

Veteran boyband Take That will play while the competition’s eliminated celebrities will return to perform a group number to a medley of songs.

Mark and Karen were the couple with the lowest viewer votes and therefore in fourth place.

“It’s going to be sad to go,” he said, adding that it has been the “best experience of my life”.

The radio DJ, who has been known to break down in tears throughout the series, kept his emotions in check.

“I’m never going to forget it, ever,” he said.

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