As predicted since
the second episode of
Strictly Come Dancing 4,
Isidingo star
Emmanuel Castis will face off against comedian
Trevor Noah in the season finale next week, after model
Tanya van Graan was eliminated last night.
Despite being the most improved dancer this season Tanya was unable to stave off the inevitable, losing the final dance-off of this season to Trevor after Emmanuel and
Lindsey easily made it through to the finale after the audience round of voting.
We have to say, and few would argue: the two most deserving celebs won through to the final, unlike some of the previous years when the best dancers were eliminated earlier than expected.
Trevor and partner
Hayley Hammond were initially the strongest, but Emmanuel and Lindsey soon took over. The two couples have consistently been in the Top 3 each week.
Last night's live spectacular saw the couples each dancing twice and once again Emmanuel was the hot favourite, scoring a 38 for his second dance, the Rumba.
It was Tanya and her partner
Brandon Eilers who kicked off the evening, however, performing the Foxtrot.
Salome Sechele thought it was well executed. "That Foxtrot was effortless, fully jam-packed full of technical skill", she gushed.
Tanya and Brandon scored 33 for the dance.
Emmanuel and Lindsey were next up with their Viennese Waltz, for which they received (by their standards) a rather modest 33. "The only thing that bothered me was your left arm, but well danced," said
Dave.
Trevor and Hayley's first dance was also a Foxtrot.
Tyrone complimented Trevor on his improved focus during the dance.
"I must say it was a well executed slow Foxtrot," he said. "I think what I enjoyed today was to see the focus of what you brought to the dancefloor."
The judges scored the dance 32, setting up a tense second round of dances as the three contestants were only separated by one point after the first round.
Whoever creamed the second round was almost certain to make the final, and first to try their luck were Tanya and Brandon.
Their Paso Doble seemed to excite Tyrone. "When I see you I see the passion, I see the presence, I see the precision and very importantly I saw how you persevered even when your dress got caught in your heels, that’s very important."
The judges scored it one better than the first round: 34. This gave Tanya a total score of 67 after two rounds, which was the score the others needed to beat.
And beat it he did. Who else? Emmanuel, of course.
His Rumba scored two perfect 10s (from
Lilian and Dave) and two 9s, from Tyrone and Salome, for a score of 38. Tyrone was short and very, very sweet. "Poetry in motion," was all he said. No more was needed.
Emmanuel and Lindsey ended up with a total score of 71, four points higher than Tanya.
That left just Trevor and Hayley's Paso Doble, which scored them a creditable but not good enough 33, putting them in last place with 65 overall.
Salome turned out to quite the prophet when summing up Trevor's Paso. "I saw the shapes, the dedication, the fire in your eyes," she raved, her eyes flashing. "You wanted it, you wanted to be in that final and I’m convinced you will be in that final."
And so it came to pass.
Trevor ended up in the dance-off against Tanya, and despite Tyrone once again going against the crowd by choosing Tanya to go through to the final, common sense won out with the other judges who unanimously voted Trevor through to face Emmanuel in the grand finale next week.
The two most consistent dancers made it all the way, which is how it should be.
Who has what it takes to win the competition? Tune in next week to find out.
TVSA Blogger
Toxic attended last night's live show - catch her exclusive coverage of the event later on TVSA.