Strictly Come Dancing final: Stars back BBC's decision to keep voting figures private as celebrities 'might get upset'

Francesca Gillett16 December 2017

Strictly Come Dancing finalists have backed the BBC on its policy of not releasing voting figures ahead of the competition’s grand finale.

All four of the dance show finalists said they were happy for the percentages each couple had received in the public vote not to be released, with Debbie McGee saying it may leave some contestants "upset".

Radio presenter and former magician's assistant Debbie will take to the dancefloor alongside fellow celebrity finalists Gemma Atkinson, Alexandra Burke and Joe McFadden on Saturday night.

Asked what the celebrities thought of the BBC's policy at a press conference ahead of the final, 59-year-old McGee said: "I don't think it would be fair on people to release the voting figures because it would make some people feel really unpopular.

Strictly Come Dancing does not release the number of people who voted.
BBC

"I don't see why we need to know as long as you know you get through," she added.

Holby City actor McFadden echoed her comments, adding: "It's sort of irrelevant.

Finalist Debbie McGee earlier this week as the stars prepare for the final.
PA

"The important thing is that you're still here, it doesn't really matter about numbers."

Earlier this year, judge Craig Revel Horwood called for the figures to be released "to stop any talk of the show being fixed", in an interview with the Radio Times.

"But if one celeb gets 13 million votes and another gets two votes, it might not go down well," he added.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Releasing voting figures could affect the way that people vote and also have an impact on the participants.

"We therefore do not disclose the exact voting figures."

All four celebrities and their professional dance partners will take to the floor three times each on Saturday night's grand final in a bid to win the show's 15th series and the prized glitterball trophy.

Each couple will perform a dance picked by their judges, a previous routine of their choice and a brand new showdance.

McGee and partner Giovanni Pernice will perform a salsa to Boys Town Gang's Can't Take My Eyes Off You for their judges pick and showdance to One Day I'll Fly Away by Vaults.

Burke and Gorka Marquez will dance an American Smooth to Wouldn't It Be Lovely from My Fair Lady and showdance to Ethel Merman's There's No Business Like Showbusiness.

McFadden and Katya Jones will Viennese Waltz to Somewhere My Love from Dr Zhivago and showdance to Hall and Oates' You Make My Dreams.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures

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Atkinson and Aljaz Skorjanec will paso doble to Coldplay's Viva La Vida and showdance to Show Me How You Burlesque by Christina Aguilera.

The couples' own choice of dance is being kept a surprise until the live show.

Strictly Come Dancing's grand final airs at 6.30pm on BBC One.

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