I tend to agree with you. I think the unknown factor is the spread of votes and thus the impact of various levels of apathy. If the votes are close then even low levels of leaderboard induced apathy might prove significant.

(The efficient market hypothesis bookies analysis project is not looking good by the way.)

I think most people would expect the impact of popular hoofers to even out and for a combination of dance leaderboard placing and the judges final decision to mean that the finalists are more or less whom you would hope and expect in a competition that is largely about dancing. My observation is, that with a couple of jokers, we could see a situation again where potential finalists are put up against each other and the final ends up being misshapen as a result. Well, misshapen in my view.

I am, for the record, not finding Dave that amusing any more. Even Darcey’s reaction to Dave and Mark is no longer raising a smile.