Strictly Come Dancing series 7

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its seventh series on 18 September 2009 on BBC One. Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returned as presenters of the main show on BBC One, while Claudia Winkleman presented the spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on BBC Two. Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges. Series 5 winner Alesha Dixon joined the judging panel as a replacement for Arlene Phillips. Darcey Bussell, who later became a permanent judge from 2012 to 2018, served as a guest judge beginning with the quarterfinal.
Camilla Dallerup, Karen Hardy, and Hayley Holt were replaced as professional female dancers by Natalie Lowe, Aliona Vilani, and Katya Virshilas. The show on 7 November was filmed from the Blackpool Tower Ballroom for the first time since the finale of series 2.
Due to illness, Bruce Forsyth did not appear on the show on 14 November. Tess Daly served as main presenter for the episode alongside the "surprise" addition of Ronnie Corbett, while Claudia Winkleman took over Daly's normal role. Daly and Winkleman both later held these positions permanently from 2014 to 2025.
BBC Breakfast sports presenter Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan were announced as the winners on 19 December, while Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe finished in second place.

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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. If two couples have equal points, the points from the public vote are given precedence. As with the previous series, the bottom two couples 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 Len Goodman, as head judge, having the last and deciding vote.

Couples

This series featured sixteen celebrity contestants.

Celebrity	Notability	Professional partner	Status
Martina Hingis	Professional tennis player	Matthew Cutler	Eliminated 1st on 19 September 2009
	Jockey	Lilia Kopylova	Eliminated 2nd on 26 September 2009
Rav Wilding	Crimewatch presenter	Aliona Vilani	Eliminated 3rd on 3 October 2009
Lynda Bellingham	Actress & Loose Women panellist	Darren Bennett	Eliminated 4th on 10 October 2009
Joe Calzaghe	Professional boxer	Kristina Rihanoff	Eliminated 5th on 17 October 2009
Jo Wood	Model & entrepreneur	Brendan Cole	Eliminated 6th on 24 October 2009
Zöe Lucker	Footballers' Wives actress	James Jordan	Eliminated 7th on 31 October 2009
Craig Kelly	Coronation Street actor	Flavia Cacace	Eliminated 8th on 7 November 2009
Phil Tufnell	England cricketer	Katya Virshilas	Eliminated 9th on 14 November 2009
Jade Johnson	Olympic long jumper	Ian Waite	Withdrew on 21 November 2009
Ricky Groves	EastEnders actor	Erin Boag	Eliminated 10th on 21 November 2009
Natalie Cassidy	EastEnders actress	Vincent Simone	Eliminated 11th on 28 November 2009
Laila Rouass	Footballers' Wives actress	Anton Du Beke	Eliminated 12th on 5 December 2009
Ali Bastian	The Bill & Hollyoaks actress	Brian Fortuna	Eliminated 13th on 12 December 2009
Ricky Whittle	Hollyoaks actor	Natalie Lowe	Runners-up on 19 December 2009
Chris Hollins	BBC Breakfast sports presenter	Ola Jordan	Winners on 19 December 2009

Scoring chart

The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger, while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger.
Color key:
;Notes

Average chart

This table only counts for dances scored on a traditional 40-point scale. Darcey Bussell's scores from Weeks 12-14 have been removed accordingly.

Couple	Rank by average	Total points	Number of dances	Total average
Ricky W. & Natalie	1st	682	19	35.9
Ali & Brian	2nd	512	15	34.1
Zoë & James	3rd	220	7	31.4
Chris & Ola	4th	588	19	30.9
Jade & Ian	5th	247	8	30.9
Natalie & Vincent	6th	310	11	28.1
Laila & Anton	7th	362	13	27.8
Phil & Katya	8th	240	9	26.7
Ricky G. & Erin	9th	258	10	25.8
Lynda & Darren	10th	93	4	23.3
Martina & Matthew	11th	46	2	23.0
Craig & Flavia	12th	168	8	21.0
Rav & Aliona	13th	61	3	20.3
Richard & Lilia	14th	38	2	19.0
Jo & Brendan	15th	113	6	18.8
Joe & Kristina	16th	92	5	18.4

Weekly scores

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

Week 1

Musical guest: Katherine Jenkins — "I Believe"
Only half of the couples performed this week, and they performed once each on two different nights. On the first night, they performed either the tango or the waltz; and on the second night, they performed either the cha-cha-cha or the rumba. The couples who did not compete this week performed a group merengue that was not scored. One couple was eliminated after the second night. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
;Night 1

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music
Rav & Aliona	19	Tango	"Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing" — Chris Isaak
Ricky G. & Erin	21	Waltz	"What'll I Do" — Irving Berlin
Chris & Ola	26	Tango	"Sharp Dressed Man" — ZZ Top
Jade & Ian	25	Waltz	"Weekend in New England" — Barry Manilow
Martina & Matthew	22	Waltz	"Jesse" — Roberta Flack
Lynda & Darren	21	Tango	"Under Pressure" — Queen & David Bowie
Ali & Brian	30	Waltz	"Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" — Diana Ross
Joe & Kristina	16	Tango	"Cité Tango" — Astor Piazzolla

;Night 2

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Jade & Ian	27	Cha-cha-cha	"Ain't No Other Man" — Christina Aguilera	Safe
Ali & Brian	30	Rumba	"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne Warwick	Safe
Lynda & Darren	23	Cha-cha-cha	"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" — Elton John & Kiki Dee	Safe
Rav & Aliona	22	Rumba	"Temptation" — Tom Waits	Bottom two
Chris & Ola	30	Rumba	"Don't Know Much" — Linda Ronstadt	Safe
Joe & Kristina	16	Cha-cha-cha	"Chain of Fools" — Aretha Franklin	Safe
Martina & Matthew	24	Rumba	"Alone" — Heart	Eliminated
Ricky G. & Erin	26	Cha-cha-cha	"Jump (for My Love)" — The Pointer Sisters	Safe

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Martina & Matthew
Dixon: Martina & Matthew
Tonioli: Rav & Aliona
Goodman: Rav & Aliona ''''

Week 2

Musical guest: Jamie Cullum — "I'm All Over It"
The format this week was the same as last week. The half of the couples who did not perform last week performed once each on two different nights. They performed either the tango or the waltz on the first night, and either the cha-cha-cha or the rumba on the second night. The couples who did not compete this week performed a group merengue that was not scored. One couple was eliminated after the second night. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
;Night 1

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music
Natalie & Vincent	24	Tango	"Spider of the Night" — Pedro Manilla
Zöe & James	30	Waltz	"Some Day My Prince Will Come" — Adriana Caselotti
Craig & Flavia	22	Tango	"Jai Ho" — Pussycat Dolls
Richard & Lilia	19	Waltz	"Truly" — Lionel Richie
Laila & Anton	30	Tango	"El Choclo" — Ángel Villoldo
Phil & Katya	29	Waltz	"Sam" — Olivia Newton-John
Jo & Brendan	18	Tango	"Let's Dance" — David Bowie
Ricky W. & Natalie	33	Waltz	"It Is You " — Dana Glover

;Night 2

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Phil & Katya	22	Cha-cha-cha	"Daddy" — Della Reese	Safe
Craig & Flavia	22	Rumba	"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" — Amy Winehouse	Bottom two
Laila & Anton	25	Cha-cha-cha	"Sway" — Rosemary Clooney	Safe
Zöe & James	31	Rumba	"Out of Reach" — Gabrielle	Safe
Jo & Brendan	18	Rumba	"Fallen" — Lauren Wood	Safe
Richard & Lilia	19	Cha-cha-cha	"I'm Your Man" — Wham!	Eliminated
Ricky W. & Natalie	32	Rumba	"Stepping Stone" — Duffy	Safe
Natalie & Vincent	26	Cha-cha-cha	"Bang Bang" — David Sanborn	Safe

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Craig & Flavia
Dixon: Craig & Flavia
Tonioli: Craig & Flavia
Goodman: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Richard & Lilia''

Week 3

Musical guest: Andy Williams — "Moon River"
Couples performed either the paso doble or the quickstep, and are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Ali & Brian	32	Quickstep	"I Get a Kick Out of You" — Frank Sinatra	Safe
Lynda & Darren	25	Paso doble	"Devil Woman" — Cliff Richard	Bottom two
Chris & Ola	23	Quickstep	"Dancin' Fool" — Barry Manilow	Safe
Zöe & James	31	Paso doble	"You've Got the Love" — Florence and the Machine	Safe
Rav & Aliona	20	Quickstep	"We Go Together" — John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John	Eliminated
Natalie & Vincent	28	Paso doble	"Malagueña" — Connie Francis	Safe
Craig & Flavia	21	Quickstep	"Peroxide Swing" — Michael Bublé	Safe
Ricky W. & Natalie	35	Paso doble	"Spanish Gypsy Dance" — Pascual Marquina Narro	Safe
Jade & Ian	31	Quickstep	"Fascination" — Alphabeat	Safe
Joe & Kristina	19	Paso doble	"Livin' on a Prayer" — Bon Jovi	Safe
Laila & Anton	30	Quickstep	"Strike Up the Band" — Tony Bennett	Safe
Jo & Brendan	20	Paso doble	"Because the Night" — Patti Smith	Safe
Phil & Katya	24	Quickstep	"Put on a Happy Face" — Tony Bennett	Safe
Ricky G. & Erin	29	Paso doble	"One Vision" — Queen	Safe

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Lynda & Darren
Dixon: Lynda & Darren
Tonioli: Lynda & Darren
Goodman: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Lynda & Darren.''

Week 4

Musical guest: Dionne Bromfield — "Mama Said"
Couples performed either the foxtrot or the salsa, and are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Zöe & James	33	Foxtrot	"This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" — Natalie Cole	Safe
Chris & Ola	25	Salsa	"Micaela" — King Bongo	Safe
Lynda & Darren	24	Foxtrot	"Calendar Girl" — Neil Sedaka	Eliminated
Ali & Brian	32	Salsa	"Quimbara" — Celia Cruz	Safe
Jo & Brendan	20	Foxtrot	"Crazy" — Patsy Cline	Safe
Natalie & Vincent	29	Salsa	"You'll Be Mine (Party Time)" — Gloria Estefan	Safe
Joe & Kristina	20	Foxtrot	"Feeling Good" — Michael Bublé	Safe
Laila & Anton	34	Foxtrot	"Just in Time" — Frank Sinatra	Safe
Ricky W. & Natalie	32	Salsa	"Dancing Machine" — The Jackson Five	Safe
Craig & Flavia	24	Foxtrot	"Sometimes When We Touch" — Dan Hill	Bottom two
Jade & Ian	29	Salsa	"La Isla Bonita" — Anna Book	Safe
Ricky G. & Erin	28	Foxtrot	"All of Me" — Frank Sinatra	Safe
Phil & Katya	24	Salsa	"Long Train Runnin'" — Doobie Brothers	Safe

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Lynda & Darren
Dixon: Lynda & Darren
Tonioli: Craig & Flavia
Goodman: Craig & Flavia ''''

Week 5

Musical guest: Spandau Ballet — "Gold"
Couples performed either the jive or the Viennese waltz, and are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Ricky G. & Erin	25	Jive	"The Boy from New York City" — The Manhattan Transfer	Safe
Jade & Ian	35	Viennese waltz	"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" — James Brown	Safe
Ali & Brian	29	Jive	"Tutti Frutti" — Little Richard	Safe
Jo & Brendan	23	Viennese waltz	"Trouble" — Ray LaMontagne	Safe
Zöe & James	30	Jive	"Tainted Love" — Gloria Jones	Bottom two
Ricky W. & Natalie	36	Viennese waltz	"How Can I Be Sure" — David Cassidy	Safe
Craig & Flavia	20	Jive	"It Takes Two" — Marvin Gaye	Safe
Joe & Kristina	21	Jive	"Rock This Town" — Stray Cats	Eliminated
Natalie & Vincent	27	Viennese waltz	"At Last" — Etta James	Safe
Laila & Anton	22	Jive	"Modern Love" — David Bowie	Safe
Phil & Katya	27	Viennese waltz	"Mad About the Boy" — Dinah Washington	Safe
Chris & Ola	22	Jive	"Roll Over Beethoven" — Chuck Berry	Safe

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Zöe & James
Dixon: Zöe & James
Tonioli: Zöe & James
Goodman: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Zöe & James''

Week 6

Musical guest: Harry Connick, Jr. — "The Way You Look Tonight"
Couples performed either the American Smooth or the samba, and are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Jade & Ian	32	Samba	"Independent Women" — Destiny's Child	Bottom two
Chris & Ola	28	American Smooth	"Jimmy Mack" — Martha Reeves and the Vandellas	Safe
Phil & Katya	25	Samba	"Daddy Cool" — Boney M.	Safe
Zöe & James	33	American Smooth	"My Girl" — The Temptations	Safe
Craig & Flavia	18	Samba	"Give It Up" — KC & The Sunshine Band	Safe
Ricky G. & Erin	29	American Smooth	"Chim Chim Cher-ee" — Cliff Richard	Safe
Ricky W. & Natalie	32	Samba	"Good Lovin'" — The Young Rascals	Safe
Natalie & Vincent	29	American Smooth	"Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" — Dean Martin	Safe
Jo & Brendan	14	Samba	"Superstition" — Stevie Wonder	Eliminated
Ali & Brian	37	American Smooth	"A Foggy Day in London Town" — Michael Bublé	Safe
Laila & Anton	28	Samba	"He's the Greatest Dancer" — Sister Sledge	Safe

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Jade & Ian
Dixon: Jade & Ian
Tonioli: Jade & Ian
Goodman: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Jade & Ian''

Week 7

Musical guest: Bee Gees — "You Should Be Dancing"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Natalie & Vincent	30	Jive	"Good Golly Miss Molly" — Little Richard	Safe
Ali & Brian	33	Paso doble	"El Gato Montes" — Ramon Cortez Pasodoble Orchestra	Bottom two
Craig & Flavia	24	Waltz	"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" — Elton John	Safe
Chris & Ola	29	Cha-cha-cha	"Shake Your Groove Thing" — Peaches & Herb	Safe
Jade & Ian	35	Foxtrot	"A Recipe for Making Love" — Harry Connick, Jr.	Safe
Zöe & James	32	Samba	"Boogie Nights" — Heatwave	Eliminated
Ricky G. & Erin	24	Rumba	"Licence To Kill" — Gladys Knight	Safe
Laila & Anton	33	Viennese waltz	"Once Around the Block" — Badly Drawn Boy	Safe
Phil & Katya	30	Tango	"Back to Black" — Amy Winehouse	Safe
Ricky W. & Natalie	39	Quickstep	"Down With Love" — Holly Palmer & Michael Bublé	Safe

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Ali & Brian
Dixon: Zöe & James
Tonioli: Ali & Brian
Goodman: Ali & Brian

Week 8: Blackpool Week

Musical guest: Rod Stewart — "It's the Same Old Song"
This week's episode was staged in the Tower Ballroom at the Blackpool Tower in Blackpool, Lancashire. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Ricky W. & Natalie	35	Tango	"You Really Got Me" — The Kinks	Safe
Natalie & Vincent	31	Quickstep	"Tu Vuò Fà L'Americano" — Fiorello	Safe
Jade & Ian	33	Jive	"Flip, Flop, Fly" — The Blues Brothers	Safe
Ali & Brian	40	Viennese waltz	"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" — Etta James	Safe
Ricky G. & Erin	25	Salsa	"Acuyuye" — D.L.G	Bottom two
Laila & Anton	30	Paso doble	"Layla" — Derek and the Dominos	Safe
Phil & Katya	28	Rumba	"Maybe I'm Amazed" — Paul McCartney	Safe
Chris & Ola	34	Foxtrot	"I Could Have Danced All Night" — Frank Sinatra	Safe
Craig & Flavia	17	Cha-cha-cha	"Easy Lover" — Phil Collins	Eliminated

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Ricky G. & Erin
Dixon: Ricky G. & Erin
Tonioli: Ricky G. & Erin
Goodman: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Ricky G. & Erin''

Week 9

Musical guest: Cast of Jersey Boys — "Beggin'"
Bruce Forsyth did not attend the live show due to influenza; Ronnie Corbett stepped in as guest host.
Laila Rouass only performed half of her rumba due to a backstage injury. The judges scored the dance only on what they saw. Jade Johnson also suffered a knee injury during dress rehearsal and was unable to perform on the live show. Under the rules of the show, she was granted a bye to the following week.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Phil & Katya	31	American Smooth	"Come Fly with Me" — Frank Sinatra	Eliminated
Ricky W. & Natalie	35	Jive	"Rip It Up" — Little Richard	Safe
Ricky G. & Erin	29	Viennese waltz	"Nights in White Satin" — The Moody Blues	Bottom two
Chris & Ola	30	Paso doble	"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" — The Darkness	Safe
Laila & Anton	22	Rumba	"Rule the World" — Take That	Safe
Natalie & Vincent	34	Foxtrot	"Magic Moments" — Perry Como	Safe
Ali & Brian	35	Cha-cha-cha	"I Gotta Feeling" — The Black Eyed Peas	Safe

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Ricky G. & Erin
Dixon: Phil & Katya
Tonioli: Phil & Katya
Goodman: Ricky G. & Erin ''''

Week 10

Musical guest: Dame Shirley Bassey — "This Time"
Jade Johnson withdrew from the competition earlier in the week due to her prior injury.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Ali & Brian	35	Foxtrot	"Haven't Met You Yet" — Michael Bublé	Safe
Natalie & Vincent	26	Samba	"Holiday" — Madonna	Safe
Chris & Ola	29	Viennese waltz	"A New Day Has Come" — Celine Dion	Safe
Ricky W. & Natalie	36	American Smooth	"Over the Rainbow" — Eva Cassidy	Safe
Laila & Anton	29	Waltz	"Fascination" — Nat King Cole	Bottom two
Ricky G. & Erin	22	Tango	"U Got the Look" — Prince	Eliminated

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Laila & Anton
Dixon: Laila & Anton
Tonioli: Laila & Anton
Goodman: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Laila & Anton''

Week 11

Musical guests: James Morrison & Nelly Furtado — "Broken Strings"
Each couple performed either the Charleston or rock 'n' roll, and then all couples participated in a group Viennese waltz for individual points. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Ricky W. & Natalie
Dixon: Ricky W. & Natalie
Tonioli: Ricky W. & Natalie
Goodman: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Ricky W. & Natalie''

Week 12: Quarter-final

Individual judges' scores in the chart below are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli.
Musical guest: Bette Midler — "The Rose"
Each couple performed two routines, and are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Ali & Brian	42	Tango	"Born to Be Wild" — Steppenwolf	Safe
Ali & Brian	44	Samba	"Change" — Daniel Merriweather	Safe
Laila & Anton	33	American Smooth	"My Kind of Girl" — Matt Monro	Eliminated
Laila & Anton	26	Salsa	"Cogele el Gusto" — Wayne Gorbea	Eliminated
Chris & Ola	41	Waltz	"At This Moment" — Billy Vera and the Beaters	Safe
Chris & Ola	39	Samba	"Cuba" — Gibson Brothers	Safe
Ricky W. & Natalie	48	Foxtrot	"Too Marvelous for Words" — Frank Sinatra	Bottom two
Ricky W. & Natalie	47	Cha-cha-cha	"Sunshine of Your Love" — Spanky Wilson	Bottom two

;Judges' votes to save

Horwood: Ricky W. & Natalie
Bussell: Ricky W. & Natalie
Dixon: Ricky W. & Natalie
Tonioli: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Ricky W. & Natalie
Goodman: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Ricky W. & Natalie''

Week 13: Semi-final

Individual judges' scores in the chart below are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli.
Musical guest: Lily Allen — "Not Fair"
Each couple performed two routines, one of which was the Argentine tango and the other of which was selected by the judges. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Chris & Ola	38	Rumba	"Total Eclipse of the Heart" — Bonnie Tyler	Safe
Chris & Ola	42	Argentine tango	"Bust Your Windows" — Jazmine Sullivan	Safe
Ali & Brian	42	Argentine tango	"Pa Bailar" — Bajofondo Tango Club	Eliminated
Ali & Brian	50	American Smooth	"Come Dance with Me" — Frank Sinatra	Eliminated
Ricky W. & Natalie	47	Waltz	"Kissing You" — Des'ree	Safe
Ricky W. & Natalie	49	Argentine tango	"Verano Porteno" — Astor Piazzolla	Safe

Week 14: Final

Individual judges' scores in the charts below are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli.
;Show 1
Musical guests: Alesha Dixon & Bruce Forsyth — "Something's Gotta Give"
Each couple performed one routine, and then both couples participated in a group Lindy Hop for individual points. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music
Ricky W. & Natalie	50	Quickstep	"Down with Love" — Holly Palmer & Michael Bublé
Chris & Ola	46	Foxtrot	"I Could Have Danced All Night" — Frank Sinatra
Chris & Ola	44	Group Lindy Hop	"Sing, Sing, Sing" — Louis Prima
Ricky W. & Natalie	43	Group Lindy Hop	"Sing, Sing, Sing" — Louis Prima

;Show 2
Each couple performed two routines, one of which was their showdance routine and the other of which was either their highest-scoring ballroom dance or their highest-scoring Latin dance, whichever they had not performed the night before. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Couple	Scores	Dance	Music	Result
Chris & Ola	50	Charleston	"Fat Sam's Grand Slam" — Bugsy Malone	Winners
Chris & Ola	46	Showdance	"Do You Love Me" — The Contours	Winners
Ricky W. & Natalie	48	Cha-cha-cha	"Sunshine of Your Love" — Spanky Wilson	Runners-up
Ricky W. & Natalie	49	Showdance	"Last Dance" — Donna Summer	Runners-up

Dance chart

The celebrities and professional partners danced one of these routines for each corresponding week:

Week 1: Cha-cha-cha or rumba tango or waltz; group merengue
Week 2: Cha-cha-cha or rumba tango or waltz; group merengue
Week 3: One unlearned dance
Week 4: One unlearned dance
Week 5: One unlearned dance
Week 6: One unlearned dance
Weeks 7–10: One unlearned dance
Week 11: Charleston or rock 'n' roll group Viennese waltz
Week 12 : Two unlearned dances
Week 13 : Argentine tango & judges' choice
Week 14 : Highest-scoring ballroom dance, highest-scoring Latin dance, group Lindy Hop & showdance

Reception

In September 2009 Strictly Come Dancing earned a place in the Guinness World Records as the "most successful reality television format", with licensing rights sold to broadcasters in 38 countries. Nonetheless, the sixth series' audiences had suffered as a result of direct clashes with ITV rival The X Factor. The BBC's decision in August 2009 to screen the seventh series on Saturday nights only was partly an attempt to reduce conflict with the rival talent show, as ITV had hinted that The X Factor's results show would be broadcast on Sunday evening. Sources at the BBC described the move as "better for the viewers... people at home lose out if things are competing against one another... We wanted to make Strictly Come Dancing an unmissable TV event".
However, the BBC still came under intense criticism when the extended Saturday show, initially running from 7–9pm, clashed almost entirely with The X Factor's main show. ITV sources accused the BBC of "effectively splitting the audience". Writing in The Guardian George Dixon, head of scheduling for BBC One, argued that "the ability of viewers to see programmes again, whether via personal video recorders like Sky+, online catch-up services including iPlayer or on channels such as E4 or ITV2, the notion of 'forcing' viewers to watch... outdated", adding that "There are around seven repeats of The X Factor on ITV1 and ITV2 each week".
The scheduling conflict ended with The X Factor securing a higher audience throughout the series. On 22 October 2009, the BBC rescheduled the Saturday show, now down to eight contestants, so that the overlap between the two programs was only 45 minutes. The BBC denied that the move was in direct response to the success of its ITV rival, saying instead that the move was to accommodate a new series with impressionist Jon Culshaw. Strictly Come Dancing's runtime, previously fixed at two hours, was also expected to decrease as contestants were progressively eliminated, leading to a further reduction in overlap.

Ratings

Weekly ratings for each show on BBC One. All ratings are provided by BARB.

Episode	Date	Official rating	Weekly rank for BBC One	Weekly rank for all UK TV
Week 1		8.92	2	6
Week 1 results		8.43	5	9
Week 2		8.10	6	12
Week 2 results		8.68	2	7
Week 3		9.06	2	6
Week 4		8.82	4	11
Week 5		8.44	4	11
Week 6		8.88	5	12
Week 7		9.14	2	8
Week 8		9.46	2	7
Week 9		10.10	1	4
Week 10		9.59	3	11
Week 11		9.73	1	6
Week 12		9.43	1	7
Week 13		8.94	2	8
Week 13 results		8.47	4	12
Week 14		10.50	2	2
Week 14 results		11.29	1	1
Series average	2009	9.22