Strictly Come Dancing (series 6)


Strictly Come Dancing returned for its sixth series on 20 September 2008 on BBC One. Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returned as co-presenters of the main show on BBC One, whilst Claudia Winkleman returned to present spin-off show on BBC Two. Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges.
The show featured 16 celebrities who were paired with 16 professional dancers. The new professionals were Brian Fortuna and Hayley Holt, who had previously appeared in the American and New Zealand versions of the show respectively, and Russian dancer Kristina Rihanoff, who had taken part in the Dancing with the Stars tour. Nicole Cutler was the only professional from the previous series not to return.
On 20 December 2008, actor Tom Chambers and his professional partner, Camilla Dallerup were crowned series champions.
This was the last series to feature Phillips on the judging panel, as she was controversially replaced by series 5 winner Alesha Dixon for the seventh series.

Format

The couples dance each week in a live show. The judges score each performance out of ten. The couples are then ranked according to the judges' scores and given points according to their rank, with the lowest scored couple receiving one point, and the highest scored couple receiving the most points. The public are also invited to vote for their favourite couples, and the couples are ranked again according to the number of votes they receive, again receiving points- the couple with the fewest votes receiving one point, and the couple with the most votes receiving the most points.
The points for judges' score and public vote are then added together, and the two couples with the fewest points are placed in the bottom two. As with the previous series, the bottom two couples will have to perform a dance-off on the results show. Based on that performance alone, each judge then votes on which couple should stay and which couple should leave, with Goodman having the last and casting vote.
However, the situation was different on 13 December 2008, the semi-final, when it was announced in the live results show that all three remaining couples would be going through to the final, regardless of the judges' scores and the public vote. This was due to a tie at the top of the leaderboard, which made it mathematically impossible for Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup to avoid the dance-off. Despite this, viewers were encouraged to vote, although the problem was noticed by the start of the results show, which was shortened by 10 minutes. All phone votes cast were carried on to the following Saturday, the final. Since then, the system has been modified, so instead of having a traditional tie structure for points, such as 3–3–1, the system 3–3–2 is now used. This therefore ensures that each couple can mathematically avoid the bottom two.

Couples

This year there were 16 couples: 8 male celebrities and 8 female celebrities.
CelebrityKnown forProfessional partnerStatus
Phil DanielsTelevision & film actorFlavia CacaceEliminated 1st
on 21 September 2008
Gillian TaylforthFormer EastEnders actressAnton du BekeEliminated 2nd
on 28 September 2008
Gary RhodesCelebrity chefKaren HardyEliminated 3rd
on 5 October 2008
Jessie WallaceEastEnders actressDarren BennettEliminated 4th
on 12 October 2008
Don WarringtonTelevision & film actorLilia KopylovaEliminated 5th
on 19 October 2008
Mark FosterFormer Olympic swimmerHayley HoltEliminated 6th
on 26 October 2008
Andrew CastleGMTV presenter & former tennis playerOla JordanEliminated 7th
on 2 November 2008
Heather SmallM People lead singerBrian FortunaEliminated 8th
on 9 November 2008
Cherie LunghiStage & screen actressJames JordanEliminated 9th
on 16 November 2008
John SergeantFormer chief political correspondentKristina RihanoffWithdrew
on 23 November 2008
Jodie KiddFashion modelIan WaiteEliminated 10th
on 23 November 2008
Christine BleakleyTelevision presenterMatthew CutlerEliminated 11th
on 30 November 2008
Austin HealeyFormer England rugby playerErin BoagEliminated 12th
on 7 December 2008
Lisa SnowdonTelevision & radio presenterBrendan ColeThird place
on 20 December 2008
Rachel StevensFormer S Club 7 singerVincent SimoneSecond place
on 20 December 2008
Tom ChambersHolby City actorCamilla DallerupWinners
on 20 December 2008

Scoring chart

Average chart

This table only counts for dances scored on a traditional 40-points scale
Rank by
average		PlaceCoupleTotalNumber of
dances		Average
12Rachel & Vincent5731635.8
23Lisa & Brendan5571634.8
31Tom & Camilla5521634.5
34Austin & Erin4141234.5
58Cherie & James227732.4
65Christine & Matthew2841028.4
76Jodie & Ian220827.5
89Heather & Brian149624.8
912Don & Lilia74324.7
1015Gillian & Anton22122.0
1110Andrew & Ola107521.4
1216Phil & Flavia20120.0
1311Mark & Hayley79419.8
147John & Kristina138719.7
1513Jessie & Darren39219.5
1614Gary & Karen35217.5

Highest and lowest scoring performances

The best and worst performances in each dance according to the judges' scores are as follows:
DanceCelebrityHighest scoreCelebrityLowest score
American SmoothRachel Stevens36Andrew Castle17
Argentine TangoRachel Stevens39Tom Chambers34
Cha Cha ChaLisa Snowdon40John Sergeant12
FoxtrotRachel Stevens
Lisa Snowdon		40John Sergeant20
JiveAustin Healey34Gary Rhodes18
Paso DobleAustin Healey38Mark Foster16
QuickstepLisa Snowdon40Jessie Wallace19
RumbaRachel Stevens39Jodie Kidd22
SalsaTom Chambers38Jessie Wallace20
SambaTom Chambers35John Sergeant16
TangoRachel Stevens39Andrew Castle
John Sergeant		22
Viennese WaltzLisa Snowdon36Andrew Castle24
WaltzRachel Stevens
Lisa Snowdon		39Phil Daniels20

Heather Small, Cherie Lunghi, Don Warrington, Christine Bleakley and Gillian Taylforth are the only celebrities to not land on this list.

Weekly scores and songs

Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1

Musical guest: Bette Midler—"Wind Beneath My Wings"
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Tom & Camilla28 Cha-Cha-Cha"Nowhere to Run"—Martha and the VandellasSafe
Phil & Flavia20 Waltz"I Have Nothing"—Whitney HoustonEliminated
Don & Lilia19 Cha-Cha-Cha"Let's Groove"—Earth, Wind & FireBottom two
Austin & Erin32 Waltz"The Rainbow Connection"—Sarah McLachlanSafe
Mark & Hayley22 Waltz"Tennessee Waltz"—Patti PageSafe
Gary & Karen17 Cha-Cha-Cha"Hippy Hippy Shake"—The Swinging Blue JeansSafe
John & Kristina22 Waltz"Come Away with Me"—Norah JonesSafe
Andrew & Ola23 Cha-Cha-Cha"Mercy"—DuffySafe

;Judges' votes to save
Musical guest: Sugababes—"Girls"
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Jessie & Darren20 Salsa"Hey Mambo"—Barry ManilowSafe
Christine & Matthew27 Foxtrot"The Way You Look Tonight"—Frank SinatraSafe
Lisa & Brendan22 Salsa"Rhythm Is Gonna Get You"—Gloria EstefanSafe
Jodie & Ian25 Foxtrot"I've Got the World on a String"—Frank SinatraBottom two
Heather & Brian26 Salsa"La Banda"—Willie ColónSafe
Gillian & Anton22 Foxtrot"Razzle Dazzle"—Richard GereEliminated
Rachel & Vincent31 Salsa"Can't Buy Me Love"—The BeatlesSafe
Cherie & James33 Foxtrot"Sweet About Me"—Gabriella CilmiSafe

;Judges' votes to save
Musical guest: Andrea Bocelli—"Canto della Terra"
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Austin & Erin34 Jive"You Can't Stop the Beat"—from HairspraySafe
Mark & Hayley24 Tango"Tanguera"—Sexteto MayorBottom two
Gary & Karen18 Jive"Lipstick, Powder and Paint"—Shakin' StevensEliminated
John & Kristina22 Tango"Boulevard of Broken Dreams"—Tony BennettSafe
Andrew & Ola22 Tango"20th Century Boy"—T. RexSafe
Tom & Camilla33 Jive"Black and Gold"—Sam SparroSafe
Don & Lilia30 Tango"Whatever Lola Wants"—Gotan ProjectSafe

;Judges' votes to save
Musical guest: Simply Red—"Something Got Me Started"
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Christine & Matthew26 Quickstep"She's So Lovely"—Scouting for GirlsSafe
Jodie & Ian22 Rumba"I Just Can't Stop Loving You"—Michael JacksonSafe
Heather & Brian23 Quickstep"Old Man Time"—Jimmy DuranteBottom two
Cherie & James35 Rumba"Songbird"—Eva CassidySafe
Jessie & Darren19 Quickstep"Help!"—The BeatlesEliminated
Lisa & Brendan32 Rumba"Suddenly"—Billy OceanSafe
Rachel & Vincent33 Quickstep"Little Green Bag"—George BakerSafe

;Judges' votes to save
Musical guests: Alesha Dixon—"The Boy Does Nothing"; Katherine Jenkins and Darcey Bussell—"Viva Tonight"
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Rachel & Vincent30 Samba"Hips Don't Lie"—ShakiraSafe
Lisa & Brendan35 American Smooth"It Happened in Monterey"—Frank SinatraSafe
Heather & Brian23 Samba"Lola, Lola"—Andy FortunaBottom two
Cherie & James34 American Smooth"Layla"—Eric ClaptonSafe
Mark & Hayley17 Samba"Spice Up Your Life"—Spice GirlsSafe
Don & Lilia25 American Smooth"Can't Smile Without You"—Barry ManilowEliminated
Austin & Erin32 Samba"Move Your Feet"—Junior SeniorSafe
Andrew & Ola17 American Smooth"You Know I'm No Good"—Amy WinehouseSafe
Christine & Matthew30 Samba"Baila, Baila Conmigo"—Rubén GómezSafe
Jodie & Ian30 American Smooth"Witchcraft"—Frank SinatraSafe
John & Kristina16 Samba"Papa Loves Mambo"—Perry ComoSafe
Tom & Camilla35 American Smooth"Chicago "—Frank SinatraSafe

;Judges' votes to save
Musical guests: Enrique Iglesias—"Hero"
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Lisa & Brendan29 Paso Doble"Eye of the Tiger"—SurvivorSafe
Andrew & Ola24 Viennese Waltz"Annie's Song"—John DenverBottom two
Christine & Matthew22 Paso Doble"Fighter"—Christina AguileraSafe
Austin & Erin34 Viennese Waltz"Send in the Clowns"—Stephen Sondheim and Glynis JohnsSafe
Cherie & James31 Paso Doble"Amparito Roca"—Jaime TeixidorSafe
Heather & Brian27 Viennese Waltz"Vision of Love"—Mariah CareySafe
Mark & Hayley16 Paso Doble"Since U Been Gone"—Kelly ClarksonEliminated
Tom & Camilla32 Viennese Waltz"Can't Help Falling in Love"—Elvis PresleySafe
John & Kristina21 Paso Doble"Concierto de Aranjuez"—Joaquin RodrigoSafe
Rachel & Vincent32 Viennese Waltz"Everybody Hurts"—R.E.M.Safe
Jodie & Ian26 Paso Doble"Song 2"—BlurSafe

;Judges' votes to save
Musical guest: Stereophonics—"Handbags and Gladrags"
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Austin & Erin36 Quickstep"S'Wonderful"—George GershwinSafe
Heather & Brian23 Cha-Cha-Cha"American Boy"—EstelleBottom two
Jodie & Ian31 Waltz"Sandy's Song"—Dolly PartonSafe
Andrew & Ola21 Samba"Ain't It Funny"—Jennifer LopezEliminated
Lisa & Brendan35 Tango"La Cumparsita"—Gerardo Matos RodríguezSafe
Cherie & James26 Salsa"Oye Mi Canto "—Gloria EstefanSafe
John & Kristina20 Foxtrot"I Wanna Be Loved by You"—Marilyn MonroeSafe
Tom & Camilla34 Paso Doble" Died in Your Arms"—Cutting CrewSafe
Christine & Matthew29 American Smooth"Singin' in the Rain"—from Singin' in the RainSafe
Rachel & Vincent32 Jive"Sweet Soul Music"—Arthur ConleySafe

;Judges' votes to save
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Tom & Camilla36 Quickstep"Town Called Malice"—The JamSafe
Jodie & Ian23 Samba"Help Yourself"—Tom JonesSafe
Heather & Brian27 Tango"Rebel Rebel"—David BowieEliminated
Austin & Erin29 Rumba"When You Tell Me That You Love Me"—Diana RossSafe
Cherie & James36 Waltz"I Wonder Why"—Curtis StigersSafe
Christine & Matthew31 Jive"Jailhouse Rock"—Elvis PresleySafe
Rachel & Vincent35 American Smooth"I Got a Woman"—Ray CharlesBottom two
John & Kristina12 Cha Cha Cha"Twist and Shout"—The BeatlesSafe
Lisa & Brendan36 Viennese Waltz"Bed of Roses"—Bon JoviSafe

;Judges' votes to save
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Jodie & Ian33 Quickstep"Mr. Pinstripe Suit"—Big Bad Voodoo DaddySafe
Lisa & Brendan30 Samba"Rock the Boat"—The Hues CorporationBottom two
Christine & Matthew34 Waltz"See the Day"—Girls AloudSafe
Cherie & James32 Cha Cha Cha"Play That Funky Music"—Wild CherryEliminated
Austin & Erin38 Tango"Libertango"—Ástor PiazzollaSafe
Rachel & Vincent39 Rumba"You Do Something To Me"—Paul WellerSafe
John & Kristina25 American Smooth"True Love Ways"—Buddy HollySafe
Tom & Camilla35 Salsa"Pa Gonza Con Fruko"—Fruko y sus TesosSafe

;Judges' votes to save
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Lisa & Brendan35 Quickstep"Yes"—Merry ClaytonBottom two
Christine & Matthew27 Cha Cha Cha"I Like It Like That"—Pete RodriguezSafe
Jodie & Ian30 Jive"Great Balls of Fire"—Jerry Lee LewisEliminated
Tom & Camilla36 Tango"Please Mr. Brown"—Alma CoganSafe
Rachel & Vincent40 Foxtrot" Close to You"—Matt MonroSafe
Austin & Erin35 Cha Cha Cha"It's Raining Men"—The Weather GirlsSafe
John & Kristina*Not scoredWaltz"Come Away with Me"—Norah Jones

*John & Kristina withdrew from the show earlier in the week, and therefore only appeared on the show to say farewell.
;Judges' votes to save
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Rachel & Vincent39 Waltz"Angel"—Sarah McLachlanBottom two
Rachel & Vincent32 Paso Doble"The Final Countdown"—EuropeBottom two
Lisa & Brendan39 Foxtrot"Walkin' My Baby Back Home"—Nat King ColeSafe
Lisa & Brendan37 Cha-Cha-Cha"Tears Dry on Their Own"—Amy WinehouseSafe
Christine & Matthew28 Tango"Addicted to Love"—Robert PalmerEliminated
Christine & Matthew30 Salsa"Cosmic Girl"—JamiroquaiEliminated
Austin & Erin36 Foxtrot"L-O-V-E"—Nat King ColeSafe
Austin & Erin38 Paso Doble"España cañí"—Pascual Marquina NarroSafe
Tom & Camilla35 Waltz"Moon River"—Audrey HepburnSafe
Tom & Camilla35 Samba"Mr. Melody"—Natalie ColeSafe

;Judges' votes to save
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Austin & Erin34 American Smooth"The Best Is Yet to Come"—Frank SinatraEliminated
Austin & Erin36 Salsa"Johnny's Mambo"—from Dirty DancingEliminated
Lisa & Brendan39 Waltz"He Was Beautiful"—Shirley BasseyBottom two
Lisa & Brendan33 Jive"Crocodile Rock"—Elton JohnBottom two
Tom & Camilla39 Foxtrot"Here You Come Again"—Dolly PartonSafe
Tom & Camilla34 Rumba"You Needed Me"—BoyzoneSafe
Rachel & Vincent39 Tango"Here Comes the Rain Again"—EurythmicsSafe
Rachel & Vincent37 Cha-Cha-Cha"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"—Stevie WonderSafe

;Judges' votes to save
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Lisa & Brendan35 Argentine Tango"Infiltrado"—BajofondoSafe
Lisa & Brendan40 Quickstep"Dancing in the Dark"—Frank SinatraSafe
Tom & Camilla33 Jive"Waterloo"—ABBASafe
Tom & Camilla34 Argentine Tango"Por una Cabeza"—Carlos GardelSafe
Rachel & Vincent39 Argentine Tango"When Doves Cry"—PrinceSafe
Rachel & Vincent36 American Smooth"Mandy"—Barry ManilowSafe

Week 14: The Final

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Rachel & Vincent40 Foxtrot" Close to You"—Matt MonroRunner-up
Rachel & Vincent39 Rumba"You Do Something To Me"—Paul WellerRunner-up
Rachel & VincentNot scoredShowdance"Flashdance... What a Feeling"—Irene CaraRunner-up
Tom & Camilla35 Foxtrot"Here You Come Again"—Dolly PartonWinner
Tom & Camilla38 Salsa"Pa Gonza Con Fruko"—Fruko y sus TesosWinner
Tom & CamillaNot scoredShowdance"If My Friends Could See Me Now"—from Sweet CharityWinner
Lisa & Brendan40 Foxtrot"Walkin' My Baby Back Home"—Nat King ColeThird place
Lisa & Brendan40 Cha-Cha-Cha"Tears Dry on Their Own"—Amy WinehouseThird place
Lisa & BrendanNot scoredShowdance"I'd Do Anything for Love "—Meat LoafThird place

Dance chart

Weekly ratings for each show on BBC One. All numbers are in millions and provided by BARB. Series average excludes the launch show.
EpisodeDateOfficial rating
Weekly rank for BBC OneWeekly rank for all UK TV
Launch show13 September6.22614
Live show 120 September8.4837
Results 121 September8.6125
Live show 227 September9.0225
Results 228 September8.4438
Live show 34 October9.6615
Results 35 October8.6039
Live show 411 October7.79412
Results 412 October7.68513
Live show 518 October8.99310
Results 519 October9.3228
Live show 625 October9.7525
Results 626 October9.9514
Live show 71 November9.7915
Results 72 November8.79513
Live show 88 November10.0414
Results 89 November8.98411
Live show 915 November10.0335
Results 916 November9.7659
Live show 1022 November10.7512
Results 1023 November10.5125
Live show 1129 November10.5113
Results 1130 November9.9527
Live show 126 December9.7516
Results 127 December9.6827
Live show 1313 December10.3713
Results 1314 December9.5848
Live final20 December12.9711
Live final results20 December12.0322