Strictly Come Dancing

This Saturday is the final of Strictly Come Dancing. Louis Smith has been fancied for the majority of this over long dancing saga and it’s hard to see him beaten in these latter stages. His dance partner Flavia has already promised Smith’s admiring female fans that he’ll be dancing topless at some stage, surely a move to pick up votes, and the competitive edge of the final will play to his strengths, allowing the Olympic silver medallist the opportunity of pull off some spectacular stunts. The general 8/11 about him seems reasonable

Kimberley Walsh has momentum from the last two weeks and appears to be the judges’ chosen one but, having already been awarded maximum scores, she might have peaked too early, but 15/8 does look an alternative value bet with Betfred, considering the rest of the opposition. The Louis/Kimberley straight forecast is a value bet with Boyles at 13/8

As the outsider, Denise van Outen is way off the pace. Her price has been way too short throughout but consecutive bottom two finishes have set that right at last to leave her as the rag. The Daily Star is normally a reliable source and readers have her struggling on the viewers’ vote and back of an envelope calculations confirm she was bottom with the public on the semi-final show too.

Last weekend saw Bradley Wiggins crowned a justified Sports personality of the year as at last we were handed a sports person who is a real personality as well as a good sportsman. Prices of 3/1 and 5/2 taken in the summer were well rewarded.

Christmas Number One looks to be a match between the X factor winner, James Arthur and the The Justice Collective and sadly, as has been the case recently, not much of a betting opportunity, with the charitable song hot favourite. 5/1 could be good value about James Arthur but looks to have peaked last week with record sales.