My Strictly Winners

Those of us who watch Strictly Come Dancing usually have our favourites from across the series'. I confess to only having watched series four, five and six. Here are my favourites (in no particular order) from those three series.

Alesha Dixon

Of all the women in the three series I've watched, Alesha has stood out by a mile. Whilst Rachel Stevens and Lisa Snowdon may have been topping the judges leader board week after week after week and breaking Strictly records left right and centre, neither seemed to give off the spark as Alesha. From week one of series five, Alesha lit up the stage. She may not have been as technically accurate as Rachel or Lisa, but the combination of her technique with her exceptional performance is what made her stand out so far above the crowd.

Austin Healey

It was disappointing to see Austin and Erin voted out in the quarter-final stage. From the very beginning they, along with Cheri and James, were the couple to beat. Whilst never achieving the scores of Rachel and Lisa, Austin's performances were always more engaging and entertaining. His technique was very good and helped mark him as one of the best male dancers on Strictly. And that paso doble...

Mark Ramprakash

Series four was the first time I watched Strictly and from start Mark Ramprakash was the one to watch. He and Karen Hardy, whilst not the most consistent of couples, came up trumps when it was needed. Their salsa is one of the most memorable dances, a brilliant combination of performance and technique. The performance which marked them as one of my favourite couples was their Argentine tango in semi-final week. It had all the ingredients needed for a superb dance. Since that tango, no other couple has performed one as good as that (not even Rachel Stevens).

Gethin Jones

He may not have been the best dancer in series five, that was Alesha, but he was always fun to watch. His breakout week towards the end of the series showed him as being the most improved performer on the show - that salsa was awesome! He and Camilla were one of the most entertaining couples in the three series I've watched.

The Dances

Not only do most Strictly viewers have their favourite couples but also their favourite dances. Each series has at least one dance which stands out and is remembered from one series to the next. Despite not having watched the second series Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett's jive is one which will not be forgotten as it is often shown and quoted on Strictly as having been one of the best dances. Here are my favourites from the last three series (in no particular order).

Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy's Salsa

Highly entertaining - technically brilliant - all that a salsa should be. And, of course, extremely hot! The song and Karen's choreography were more than well suited providing the best salsa of series four, five and six.

Alesha Dixon and Matt Cutler's Cha Cha Cha

By far the most consistent performer in series five, this cha cha cha to Crazy in Love summed up Alesha's Strictly achievement. It may not have been technically perfect, but the sheer energy and vibrance has made this one of the most memorable Strictly performances yet. As memorable as Jill Halfpenny's jive.

Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy's Argentine Tango

The Argentine tango, along with the paso doble, is my favourite dance. I was at first a little sceptical about the music, but by the end I was not at all. The dance was, for me, the dance of the series. It was full of passion, raunchiness, drama and technique, altogether successfully conveying the dark and seedy nature of the Argentine tango. As of yet, the best Argentine tango I've seen.

Austin Healey and Erin Boag's Paso Doble

In series six I watched week after week waiting for a striking performance. Whilst Rachel and Lisa produced very good dances there still seemed to be a spark lacking. The paso dobles' of the series had been disappointing and the only I could think of which had been any good since series four was the one Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy performed. I was unsure whether Austin and Erin could pull it off. But, with an electric opening, they performed the dance of the series. Full of passion, control, drama and energy this paso matched upto the likes of the series four Argentine tango and the series five cha cha cha. One definitely to be remembered.