Strictly Come Dancing 2012: the final, BBC One, live 20.35 A few more Tweets... @caitlinmoran Nice to see Tess dressed as a salmon @garylineker Nervously looking at Tess Daly's dress. It reminds me I'm in charge of the turkey this Christmas @unrealitytv Was trying to work out my favourite judge tonight. Couldn't. They're all brilliant. Great chemistry this year on the panel 20.30 After their formidable feats of strength during the showdances, Louis Smith and James Jordan must be exhausted. They're both professionals, in their different fields, but will that affect performance in their third routine, should they make it that far? 20.20 Well, my family and friends are saying things like, "Dani's got to go." Dani Harmer has been the weakest by far tonight, but I wonder if her fanbase - and indeed Vincent Simone's - will see her through to the last three? Denise Van Outen has been in the dance-off for the past two weeks and is clearly unpopular but will her performance tonight - especially that gravity-defying showdance - haul her up a place or two? 20.10 Word from Strictly HQ is that if some of you are experiencing problems while trying to vote, don't worry - it's not a technical issue, the lines are just very busy. 20.06 And a tweet from a lady who knows a thing or two about Olympians... @clarebalding Louis' showdance was absolutely beautiful. Never seen a Strictly dance like it. Incredible 20.05 Email just in from reader Suzanne Aldridge... Am an avid Strictly fan and loving this final so much, but Brucey is terrible. 20.00 So a fast, frenetic 80 minutes of grand final action there. The showdances were all great , with every available gun blazing, and the judges' request routines all showed an improvement from the first time they were performed. But right now, leaderbaord notwithstanding, it looks like Louis Smith out in front, followed by Kimberley Walsh and Denise Van Outen, with Dani Harmer way back in fourth. On tonight's performance alone, Dani deserves to be eliminated when we return at 8.50pm. But will she be? 19.57 Now a few of your Tweets... @brookekinsella Cheap trick getting Louis Smith to take his shirt off. I definitely won't be falling for that one *reaches for phone to vote* @strictlyblog Oh Louis, if you go out first now, you'll feel daft standing there without your vest on. @oh_morris That was a bit gymnastical - that's right, Len. It was 100% gymnastical 19.49 First up, this from my Telegraph colleague Rachel Ward... Santa's come early, ladies. Louis not only did his Dirty Dancing routine again but got his top off for a spectaclar showdance *fans self with nearby copy of the Telegraph's Christmas TV guide* 19.49 At this stage, it's Louis Smith and Denise Van Outen joint top of the leadebaord, with Kimberley Walsh close behind and Dani Harmer trailing in fourth. But that's just for guidance - there's an hour's break for phone voting now, but please stay rght here as I recap what we've seen and report some of your comments... 19.48 Balletic and brilliant. Scores are in: perfect 40 for Louis who currently looks glitterball-bound. 19.46 Len thought it was tricksy but liked the tango section and lift, if I understand his Cockney grunting corectly. He ends by saying it was "magical." Bruno purra with delight: "Move like an angel with diablical flexibility." I'm peering into my crystal glitterball and seeing another 40 here. 19.45 "You blew me away," drools Darcey. Grace, fluidity and sensual as well. 19.44 Another great lift to finish and a standing ovation and some "look look" from Brucey. It's a disease. 19.42 Here we go. Leggings only for Louis and a handstand on a globe to start. Rule the world, see? Then a spectacular lift and... god, this version by Dave Arch and his band is awful. Focus on the dancing. 19.41 Fourth and final showdancers are Louis and Flavia who'l be dancing to Rule The World by Take That. Expect gymnastics, tricks and NO SHIRT. That's NO SHIRT, ladies. And some of the fellas. And judges. 19.40 Scores are in and it's a near-perfect 39 points for Nimble Kimble, leaving her one point behind current pace-setter Denise. Well, so far... 19.39 Is it hot in here or was it that showdance? Tens all round, do we reckon? 19.37 "Indecent, improper, absoute filth," says Craig. "Wild!" says Darcey, who also loved it. Len says it was "Kimberley's greatest hits, full-on, flat-out, fabulous." Bruno yelps a series of adjectives and declares it "a hit." 19.36 Yes she's disrobed to reveal a small piink crystal-studded frock. Great finish there. "Look, look," says Brucey YET AGAIN. 19.35 Black catsuit for Nimble Kimble but that might come off. Slightly wobby lift to start but a sexy blend of salsa, samba and cha-ha. 19.34 Third to bust out their showdance are Kimberley and Pacha. They're dancing to r'n'b anthem Crazy In Love by Beyonce, so expect booty-shaking aplenty 19.32 Scores are in and it's 35 points for Dani. I wonder if that will be her last dance or whether her popularity with the audience will see her into the final three? 19.31 "Lumpy transitions but extraordinary content," says Craig. Darcey agrees but says she coped incredibly well with the choreography. "You may be small but your talent is huge," says Len. Cocktail analogy this time, rather than poker. Nines, maybe a ten or two? "Ambitious with interesting content," says Bruno, damning it with faint praise, adding that she was nervous and not as slick as usual. 19.28 Black and white outfits for the hobgoblins, then a frock removal. Not as spectacular as Denise and James but packed full of content and creative choreography. Good but not great, I'd say. 19.26 They're dancing to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen - Dani's faovurite song and one with lots of changes of pace, so this should be a proper mixed bag. Expect a collision of paso doble, rumba and tango with some lifts thrown in. Can you do the fandango? Hope so. 19.25 Next showdancers are Dani and Vincent. They lagged back in fourth place after the first round, so need to nail this. 19.24 Scores are in and it's a perfect 40 - Denise's first ever and what a time to pull it out of the bag. But is it too late? 19.21 Len does a clunky poker analogy and says "you deserve to be in this final" again, which seems a bit like stating the obvious. "Incredible level of difficulty, like professional exhibition dancers," shouts Bruno. "I cannot believe what your body did," says Craig who agrees that it was professional standard. "Flashy, wow, you made that look far too easy," drawls Darcey. I smell some seasonal 10s. 19.19 Denise is in a slinky black lace catsuit and they open with a spectacular crucifix lift. Then some disco spins and samba and tango moves. More lifts. Kicks. Kneeslide! An even more dangerous lift and the splits to finish. Wow. How very Lisa Riley. That was indeed spectacular. 19.18 First with their showdance, it's Denise and James. They're dancing to the mighty Flashdance by Irene Cara and have promised to incorporate their favourite bits from previous weeks - inclusing the salsa step that James famously forgot. 19.16 Right, now it's showdance time. Anything goes. Lifts, tricks and topless Olympians positively encouraged. This might not be strictly ballroom but it's bound to be spectacular... Gird your festive loins, people. Lock up your plum duffs. It's about to get serious. 19.14 Louis' mum is in the crowd. Aww. He really is going all out to take the glitterball trophy, isn't he? Scores are in and yep, it's 39 points - the same as Denise and Kimberley, three ahread of Dani. 19.11 "100% better," says Darcey, who loved the armography and upper body work. "Flav-ulous," says Len (catchy) who appreciated the increased salsa conrnt. "You've gone from budgie to eagle," he adds. Bruno hisses at him flirtatiously and Louis does his best not to look unnerved. "I didn't like the shoulder roll with the big old pout," says Craig, who gets panto booing for his trouble. 39 points again? 19.09 Great leap from Louis there. "Took off like Concorde" as Bruno put it last time. And that lift to finish. Crowd go wild. 19.08 They'll be reprising their Dirty Dancing-themed salsa from Hollywood Week to The Time Of My Life. Cue Swayze leaps and that lift... 19.06 Now it's our fourth and final pair, hot favourite Louis Smith and his partner Flavia Cacace. 19.05 Scores are in and it's a near-perfect 39 points, with Craig Revel Horwood the paddle-wielding party-pooper as always. 19.03 "Much stronger topline and core," says Craig. Darcey says she's a "true actress and you moved me." "Last time i liked it, this time I loved it," says Len. Bruno rises out of his chair shouting. That makes a change. "Timeless elegance, perfection," he says when he sits back down. She couldn't get another perfect 40... could she? 19.02 "Look!" says Brucey. 19.01 Kimble is sporting those floaty arm things (I never know what to call them) and this seems a great improvement to me. Still tender and romantic but tighter. Endless spins and lovely shapes. 19.00 They'll be reprising their Viennese Waltz to A Thousand Years by Christina Perri It was floaty and romantic last time but she needs to tighten up her top line, not wobble and crack those elusive heel leads. 18.58 Next up are Kimberley Walsh and her partner Pasha Kovalev, the main threats to Louis Smith in my opinion. Nimble Kimble has clocked up a perfect 40 for the past two weeks. Can she make it a hat-trick tonight? 18.57 Scores are in and it's a clean sweep of nines for a total of 36 points. That wobble cost her. 18.56 Bruno says the attitude and character was improved but the technicalities wobbled. Craig agrees. Darcey saw no moody teenager but a "sophisticated woman" and lots of attack. Len wheels out ye olde "you're what this competition's all about" hoary chestnut. Hmm, I think nines all round? Eight from Craig, even? 18.53 They finish nose-to-nose like two affectionate otters. Of all the finalists, they have the best chemistry as a couple. 18.52 "Messin' abaht" with a phonebox again to start, then into hold for a nice, precise and compact tango. Dani does seem to have matured in her attitude and certainly has in her dancing ability. This is polished stuff with great footwork, swivels and flicks. 18.50 Team Smurf aka The Dark Ponies be dancing their tango from week six to Rumour Has It by Adele. It's Vincent's speciality, of course, but last time Darcey told Dani that she needed to be more like a feisty lady and less like a mardy teenager. 18.48 Second couple out on the famous floor tonight are Dani Harmer and her partner Vincent Simone. 18.47 The first of many soppy interviews tonight, no doubt, and plenty of uses of the word "amazing." Scores are in and it's a near-perfect 39 points. Again, the first of many we'll probably see tonight. 18.45 "Fantastic combination of athleticism and artistry," says Len Goodman. "Wicked and premium grade," shouts Bruno Tonioli. Limp, lame... I'm joking, it was great," drawls Craig Revel Horwood. Darcey Bussell loved it too, yah? Nines and tens ahoy, do we predict? 18.44 Brucey does his tedious "look at that" schtick as they get a standing ovation. 18.43 Fast and frantic with lots of spins and Denise's skirt twirling up nicely, but the odd bit of off-timing too, I thought. 18.41 They'll be performing the judges' pick first and it's their jive to Tutti Fruitti from week two. It was fast and high energy last time. Can they add that extra bit of polish? 18.40 First couple tonight will be Denise Van Outen and her partner James Jordan. They started the show strongly dominated the middle of the series but Denise has proved unpopular with viewers and appeared in the dance-off for the past two weeks running. She's the bookies' tip to be first out tonight. Can she defy the odds? 18.39 Brucey compares Tess to a Brillo pad and then we meet the "superstars of our show." Louis Smith has his shirt on... at the moment. 18.38 It's been an eventful and emotional three months, hasn't it? Those wacky VT skits haven't got any more amusing, though. 18.35 It's our votes alone that decide tonight's result, the judgely scores are just for guidance. The couples dance twice apiece, then there's an hour's break for voting and Merlin. We then return for a results show at 8.50pm, when the fourth-placed couple will be eliminated straight away. The remaining three will dance a third time for the glitterball trophy. Clear as mud? Excellent. Forget about the details and enjoy the first of many montages. 18.34 Here's Sir Bruce and Tess Daly. She's in a very on-trend metallic sequinned frock. He isn't. 18.32 And there are the four finalists, shooting up from the floor in a shower of glitter. How very modern. Reminder from announcer Alan "Deadly" Dedicoat aka The Voice Of The Balls that this is the last ever edition to come from BBC Television Centre. Sniff. 18.31 Group dance by the professionals to start, intercut with some series highlights. Exciting stuff. Altogether now: it's the final countdown... 18.30 And we're off! Cue credits and people we'd forgotten ever competed! The other lady! That bloke! 18.29 Nearly there. I can almost hear the roar of the orange greasepaint. It's going to be emotional. I might cry. OK, I won'y cry. But you're very welcome to. 18.26 Five minutes until showtime. Accordging to bookmakers, Louis Smith is hot favourite to win, followed by Kimberley Walsh, then Dani Harmer, while Denise Van Outen is the rank outsider. Will that be reflected on the dancefloor? 18.22 I'm getting strangely fixated on Alexander Armstrong's ears. In 10 minutes time, I'll become fixated on Vincent Simone's. Maybe I should seek professional help. 18.21 The "coveted Pointless trophy" there. Not glittery and ball-shaped enough for my tastes. 18.20 Four couples remain. Only one can lift that fabled glitterball trophy. We'll get our first clues soon. In the meantime, let's feverishly speculate and get strangely drawn into Celebrity Pointless. Isn't Jamie Theakston tall? Aren't Xander Armstrong's ears sizeable? I'm Michael, your Strictly liveblogger tonight and this is the big one. It rarely gets bigger, in fact. I'll be accompanying you through the live grand final of this year's pro-celebrity hoofing smackdown and I'd love to hear your opinions. So please grab a glass of something cold or mulled, deck the halls with spray tan and sequins, and watch along with us as the last four couples battle it out to become champion. Gift-wrapping and tree-dressing can wait. This is serious ballroom business.