My father in law pointed out something very odd regarding the recent controversy about the BBC letting all three contestants go through without any having to face a dance off.
Normally, if there are three contestants, they get 3, 2 and 1 points for being ranked 1st 2nd and 3rd by the judges. They then get the same depending on how they are ranked by the public. The bottom two then face the dance off and the couple ranked lowest in the dance off by the judges is eliminated.
This time, the judges scored the top two equally, so the scoring was two threes and a one.
But it then became clear that there was no point in the public voting to "save" the bottom contestant from the dance off, as they would inevitably face the dance off.
This is the reason why the BBC said all three should go through (and the votes carried over to next week).
But here is the oddity: even if each couple gets either 3,2 or 1 from the judges, the bottom couple cannot avoid the dance off anyway. Do the maths and you'll see. So the reason the BBC gave for letting all three couples through would have applied anyway, whether or not the top two couples tied. That the top two couples tied in the judges' vote is irrelevant. No one seems to have noticed this (or have they)?
S
Normally, if there are three contestants, they get 3, 2 and 1 points for being ranked 1st 2nd and 3rd by the judges. They then get the same depending on how they are ranked by the public. The bottom two then face the dance off and the couple ranked lowest in the dance off by the judges is eliminated.
This time, the judges scored the top two equally, so the scoring was two threes and a one.
But it then became clear that there was no point in the public voting to "save" the bottom contestant from the dance off, as they would inevitably face the dance off.
This is the reason why the BBC said all three should go through (and the votes carried over to next week).
But here is the oddity: even if each couple gets either 3,2 or 1 from the judges, the bottom couple cannot avoid the dance off anyway. Do the maths and you'll see. So the reason the BBC gave for letting all three couples through would have applied anyway, whether or not the top two couples tied. That the top two couples tied in the judges' vote is irrelevant. No one seems to have noticed this (or have they)?
S
Comments
So, yes, it's theoretically possible for the last placed couple to be saved in these circumstances.
Apparently they'll be talking about this on Radio 4's "More or Less" this afternoon (always a good listen).