2013-05-21T06:30:06-04:00 Jon Connell http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=jon-connell Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Jon Connell Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2174410 2012-11-22T19:00:00-05:00 2013-01-22T05:12:01-05:00

Jon Connell http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-connell/ X Factor has been dominated by shocking eliminations. But amid the contentious results, one man has emerged as an unlikely hero - loveable Liverpudlian crooner Christopher Maloney. Excluding the criticism he has received from the judges, press, Twitter users, internet forums, Facebook groups, bloggers, Simon Cowell, production crew, studio audience, past winners and his fellow contestants, Christopher has been this year's most universally popular X Factor hopeful. Victory may be on the horizon, but it is vital that his huge fan base continues to vote as he heads towards the final stretch. For the benefit of the uninitiated, here are 10 reasons why Christopher Maloney should win X Factor 2012:

1. He's the People's Choice.
   Christopher is unique amongst this year's X Factor finalists in that it was the public - not the judges - that voted him into the live shows. In a moment of madness and uncharacteristic misjudgement, Gary Barlow had forgotten to include Chris in his original selection of Over 28s. Thankfully, he quickly realised his error and put Christopher forward for the wildcard public vote. The poll was a foregone conclusion - sense prevailed and Christopher was awarded his rightful place in the top 13. It would be a victory for 'people power' and democracy if Christopher - the people's choice - were to be crowned X Factor champion.



2. He's conquered his nerves.
   In his seminal first audition, we saw Christopher struggle to keep his anxieties at bay, visibly trembling as he sang for the judges and 10,000-strong crowd at Liverpool's Echo Arena. Contrast this with his week three performance of Waiting For A Star To Fall and it's clear that we have witnessed a miraculous transformation. The quivering caterpillar has metamorphosed into a confident, beautiful butterfly - and we've followed him on this inspirational journey together. Christopher gives hope to those suffering from confidence issues, proving that nerves can affect anyone, no matter how huge their talent, but can also be overcome.



3. His song choices are timeless.
   While other acts exploit the popularity of current hits to boost their votes, Christopher delves into the chart archives, adding his own contemporary twist to 1980s classics. Throughout his time in the competition, Chris has never performed a song released within the last 20 years. In doing this, he gives the audience a rare aural treat, allowing older viewers a nostalgia trip, as well as educating youngsters in musical gems from long before their time. You can listen to Call Me Maybe on your radio all day long. You have to tune into a Christopher Maloney performance to enjoy All Out Of Love.



4. He's doing it for his nan.
   Many contestants enter X Factor for selfish reasons, with no thought for anybody but Number One. Christopher's motives are selfless - he is doing it for his Nan. This altruism is enough to bring a tear to a glass eye. Perhaps such a family-orientated role model is what's needed in today's fractured society. And how lovely it would be to give Christopher's Nan the Christmas present of her life - her grandson's winning single in her stocking.



5. He's fashionable.
   Like Lady GaGa, Madonna and Rick Astley before him, Christopher Maloney has become something of a fashion icon. He takes pride in his appearance and knows his own image, achieving a balancing of style and warmth, donning his trademark overcoat for performances and trendy fingerless gloves in his downtime. It's almost impossible to find 'Maloney couture' on the rails of high-end clothing stores these days, no doubt because the garments have been snapped up by early adopters keen to latch on to the trendsetter's elegance.



6. He has pop star support.
   In addition to being mentored and endorsed by Gary Barlow - the UK's premier singer-songwriter - Christopher has been described by Rita Ora on Xtra Factor as "something fresh" and "breathtaking". Cheryl Cole, the queen of strong vocals, admired the "power" of his voice at Judges' Houses and accurately prophesised "the public will love him". Even Tulisa, who has been slow to succumb to Christopher's charms, last week gushed, "Your vocals are always amazing so tonight I decided to admit defeat, sit back and enjoy your voice and I think you sounded really good". The support of these influential contemporary pop stars should stand him in good stead for the industry. Who knows, maybe a duet with one of the above could be on the cards one day?



7. Gary Barlow deserves it.
   Having carried out such a wonderful job in masterminding the Diamond Jubilee Concert this year, it would be fitting to end 2012 with a victory for Gary Barlow and his protégé Christopher. With his tireless charity work and immeasurable contribution to music, Gary has given so much to this country - it is time for us to repay our debt to him by voting for Christopher. Receiving an OBE must have been nice, but an X Factor triumph would no doubt be even sweeter.



8. Liverpool deserves it.
   From The Beatles in the 1960s to Frankie Goes To Hollywood in the 1980s to Atomic Kitten in the 2000s, Liverpool is a city with a rich musical heritage. But one prestigious accolade has as yet eluded the city - being the hometown of an X Factor winner. The Guinness World Capital Of Pop has produced runners-up in Ray Quinn, Rebecca Ferguson and Marcus Collins, but is yet to claim pole position. Liverpool has been the bridesmaid three times - Christopher Maloney would make the perfect bride.



9. He's resilient.
   "And did you think this fool could never win? Well look at me, I'm coming back again," Christopher declared during his defiant week six performance of I'm Still Standing - a subtle but direct message to his detractors that his feathers will not be ruffled by the minority. Such resilience is always to be applauded - Christopher represents the stiff upper lip that made Britain Great.



10. He's passionate.
    Insiders claim that Christopher spends every weekend repeatedly dialling his own X Factor voting number. "I've voted for myself a few times," admits Chris. This serves to demonstrate his passion, determination and ambition - admirable traits that should be encouraged. "He must have a very expensive phone bill!" confirmed fellow contestant Kye Sones. One must speculate to accumulate and Christopher's investment can be paid off when he receives the royalties from his first album.

James Arthur may be raw and original, Jahmene Douglas may be a superb singer, Rylan Clark may be entertaining, and Union J may have commercial appeal - but none quite encapsulate the unique qualities of Christopher Maloney. If the Mayan prophecies prove true and the world does indeed end on 21 December, then the swansong of human achievement must be sung by Christopher Maloney - X Factor champion 2012.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1973976 2012-10-17T19:00:00-04:00 2012-12-17T05:12:02-05:00

Jon Connell http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-connell/ X Factor live shows roll around, controversy is always guaranteed. At the heart of the hullabaloo this series is the one man who, despite the perpetual game of musical chairs that plays out in the tabloids all year round, refuses to be budged from his seat - Louis Walsh. But I believe the recent criticism for the twinkly-eyed Irishman has been grossly unfair. It's time to pay homage to the fairest, finest and most charismatic talent show judge of them all. Here are 10 reasons why I love Louis:

1. His pop credentials are unrivalled.
   His illustrious CV speaks for itself. In his management career, Louis has notched up 28 No. 1 singles, a mammoth figure that dwarfs Simon Cowell's 17 pre-X Factor chart toppers and makes Gary Barlow's tally of 14 look positively paltry. In the 80s, he unearthed Johnny Logan, whose three Eurovision wins make him the most triumphant act in its history. In the 90s, he tapped into the zeitgeist, creating Boyzone and then Westlife, the most successful group since The Beatles. And in this century, he gave us Jedward, whose everlasting appeal is proven by their ubiquity. There's no doubt about it - Louis Walsh is a bona fide pop guru.



2. He's the most effective mentor.
   There's a reason why Louis is the longest-serving judge on any TV talent show in the world. Not only was he the first X Factor mentor to win the show twice (in 2005 with Shayne Ward, swiftly followed by Lucy Benjamin in 2006's Battle of the Stars), the X Factor acts he has coached have gone on to achieve greater post-show success than those of any other judge. After Louis led him to victory, Shayne Ward shifted 750,000 copies of debut single That's My Goal in five days - a record unsurpassed by any subsequent talent show winner. From G4 to JLS, Jedward to Mary Byrne, acts mentored by Louis Walsh have achieved a combined total of 13 Top 40 albums, compared to Simon Cowell's 10 and Cheryl Cole's eight. The proof of the pudding is in the eating - and Louis Walsh's mentoring skills are certifiably delicious!



3. He embodies the spirit of the show.
   Bringing a carefree sense of fun and mischief to a judging panel that can otherwise take itself too seriously, Louis's cheery demeanour and puppyish enthusiasm balance out the dour judgements of Gary Barlow. He can take anything the other judges throw at him and cut them down to size with his trademark one-liners. He says what he thinks, is honest to a fault and knows how to generate moments of pure TV gold. Let's face it, if you don't have humour or fun on your judging panel, you end up with The Voice UK.



4. He gets better with age.
   Time waits for no man and age catches up with all of us in the end - unless you're Louis Walsh! As each year passes, Louis looks ever more youthful and fresh-faced. The bags under his eyes have spontaneously vanished and his hair has flourished, in opacity, colour and sheer lushness. The man is a medical miracle, aesthetically and follicly. What is your secret to eternal youth, Louis? He must surely have a portrait in his attic.



5. He's conquered America.
   Many have tried and most have failed (mentioning no names, Gary Barlow) but Louis proved his transatlantic appeal with his recent appearance on X Factor USA. Our American cousins enjoyed the cheeky Irish talent-spotter's stint behind the X-adorned desk, with co-judge Britney Spears gushing "I love Louis, he's absolutely adorable". Demi Lovato agreed "Louis killed it," and L.A. Reid gave his seal of approval: "I find him fascinatingly quick and remarkably entertaining". Audiences loved him too, his debut appearance breaking ratings records for the show, making him the most popular home-grown export since Piers Morgan.



6. He discovered Cheryl Cole.
   Today Cheryl Cole is the nation's sweetheart but, until Louis Walsh came along, she was just a humble girl from Newcastle. On Popstars: The Rivals, we saw him spot her indefinable gifts and pluck the pretty Geordie from obscurity, creating and guiding Girls Aloud to enormous success. Without Louis, Cheryl's talents may never have come to the fore and the world would have been deprived of her sparkling personality and unique singing voice.



7. He's a Good Samaritan.
   When Made In Chelsea's Diego Bivero-Volpe was mugged outside a Mayfair nightclub in May, SuperLouis came to the rescue. He called a taxi for the shaken victim, paid the cab fare, tipped the driver and managed to note down the details of the muggers' vehicle - a rare act of heroism that proved angels do exist down here on earth.



8. He spanked the Banker.
   Over 2000 people have taken on Channel 4's Deal Or No Deal over the last seven years, including Sarah Millican, Jimmy Carr, McFly and Olly Murs (twice), but few have handled it with such aplomb as Louis. When he took the Walk Of Wealth, Louis well and truly spanked the Banker, playing a perfect game and scooping £70,000 for charity ISPCC Childline, putting him in the top 2% of all winners on TV's toughest game show.



9. He married Caroline Flack.
   Many of Britain's most eligible bachelors have tried their hand at wooing Miss Flack - from Prince Harry to Harry Styles - but it took Louis to finally put a ring on it, quietly marrying the Xtra Factor host in Las Vegas this summer, taking the 48th sexiest woman in the world off the market in the process.



10. He believes in democracy.
    In the first X Factor results show of the series, Louis had the chance to overrule the public and unjustly eliminate Rylan Clark over lowest vote-getter Carolynne Poole. Other judges in his position may have chosen to defy popular opinion but he heroically and selflessly put the decision firmly in our hands. The public spoke, Carolynne was eliminated, and this victory for democracy was rewarded the following week with one of the most glorious performances in X Factor history - Louis's decision was vindicated.

While other judges may come and go, X Factor without Louis Walsh would be like peaches without cream, Laurel without Hardy, John without Edward. Louis, you really are what the X Factor is all about - I salute you!]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1433312 2012-04-19T19:00:00-04:00 2012-06-19T05:12:01-04:00

Jon Connell http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-connell/ Mirror, dubiously qualified judge of talent on both sides of the pond, and successor to the braces of Larry King - is a divisive figure. He has been described as an obnoxious idiot, an odious windbag, a pompous cretin, and an arrogant, smarmy, egotistical, self-satisfied, droning buffoon. His critics have been less kind.

In light of Piers's new series of Life Stories on ITV1, I believe it is time for a re-assessment of the much-maligned Mr Morgan. Here are 10 reasons why you should love the man people hate:

1. He is a bona fide brilliant interviewer.
   This last month alone, two of Piers Morgan's Life Stories interviews provoked front page headlines, eliciting brand new quotes from TV icons Bill Roache (who claimed a jaw-dropping 1,000 notches on his bedpost) and Dennis Waterman (brazenly confessing to punching ex-wife Rula Lenska).
   His days as a newspaper editor may be in the past, but Piers still has a nose for a scoop, utilising his journalistic rigour to coax fresh revelations out of countless famous names and political figures, from Peter Andre and Cheryl Cole to Rick Santorum and Christine O'Donnell. He is fearless, he listens, and he never shirks his responsibility to ask the tough questions that people really want answering. As an interviewer, Piers is genuinely one of the best there is.



2. He honed his craft and did the graft.
   Despite his posh name and plummy accent, Piers wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. After an ordinary upbringing and comprehensive school education, he started as a junior reporter on the Streatham and Tooting News, hauling himself up the ladder in the years that followed. He is a self-made man who didn't get a shortcut to the top thanks to daddy's connections or some old boys' network. Everything he's achieved has been through hard work, grit and determination.



3. He's entertaining and interesting on Twitter.
   From entertainment to news to politics to sport, not a day goes by without Piers opining on a smorgasbord of topics. Whether you agree with him or not, he always has something to say and his views often provoke healthy debate. His 'Twanter' with Lord Sugar, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Lineker is always an amusing highlight of my Twitter day. Articulate and erudite, Piers sets a linguistic example with his meticulous spelling. He's also interactive, reading, replying and retweeting fans and critics alike.



4. He discovered Susan Boyle.
   One of the biggest stars of the 21st century, the multi-million-selling global phenomenon SuBo was found under Piers's watch on Britain's Got Talent. Indeed, Susan is on record as saying that "Piersy baby" was one of the reasons she auditioned on that fateful evening in Glasgow. "He is dead handsome," Susan said of Piers in 2009, "I used to put the show on to see him." Through America's Got Talent, Piers also championed ventriloquist Terry Fator, who became the most successful talent show winner in history when he signed a $100,000,000 contract to headline at The Mirage in Las Vegas.



5. He won Celebrity Apprentice USA.
   Anyone who watched the 2007 star-filled season of the Donald Trump reality show saw that Piers was a deserving winner. Thanks to his ferocious work ethic, intelligent-thinking and phenomenal drive, he stormed his way through the competition, winning 11 tasks out of 13, and raising over $750,000 for charity in the process.



6. His wife is way out of his league.
   Have you seen his missus? Is it any wonder the man always looks so smug? Cambridge graduate Celia Walden is intelligent, beautiful and 12 years his junior. Piers serves as an inspiration for all pudgy-faced, slightly tubby men of a certain age with ambitions of punching well above their weight.



7. He launched First News.
   In 2006, a newspaper entered the market that was designed to get children interested in current affairs. The editorial director behind this venture was Piers Morgan and the publication currently enjoys sales figures of around 40,000 a week. Making the news appealing and accessible for this many 7- to 14-year-olds can only be a good thing.



8. He's more popular than Simon Cowell.
   Yes, hard as this may be to believe, when Americans want an obnoxious Brit critiquing their prodigies, they prefer to watch Morgan over Cowell. America's Got Talent, on which Piers served as a judge, enjoyed its best audience figures ever in 2011, securing an average of 11.8 million viewers across the season and 14.4m for its finale. By comparison, Simon Cowell judging the new US version of the X Factor was only able to entice a 10.9 million average, and 12.6m for the finale - around 10% less than Piers attracted.



9. He has a superhumanly thick skin.
   Attenborough was wrong - the creature with the toughest skin on the planet is not the whale shark, it is the greater spotted Morgan. No matter what gets thrown at him on Twitter or in the media, it all bounces off Teflon Morgan. That shell of steel has to be admired.



10. He provided the world with this endlessly entertaining clip.
    After bombastically declaring George W Bush an idiot for falling off a Segway in 2003, karma paid Piers a visit and four years later he too achieved the near-impossible, toppling over the self-balancing scooter. As a bonus, Piers's tumble was caught on camera, allowing us to relive the moment again and again thanks to the magic of the internet. The comments left by YouTube users underneath the video are testament to how much pleasure it has brought people.

So there you have it - 10 reasons to think differently of Mr Marmite Morgan. And that's just for starters. I'm sure there are many more reasons to like Piers Morgan - just ask the man himself...]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1133728 2011-12-08T19:00:00-05:00 2012-02-07T05:12:01-05:00

Jon Connell http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-connell/ X Factor champion 2011.

That's right. ONE act. ONE champion. ONE 'life-changing record contract'. ONE winner.

But as each December passes, the real world value of the title X Factor Winner seems to diminish at a rate as exponentially high as the interest in Simon Cowell's bank account. Indeed, for four years running, the elected 'winner' of each series of the X Factor has been eclipsed in record sales by the runner-up.

So is winning more a curse than a blessing? Let's take a look at the stats...

Poor Leon Jackson was dropped from his record label just 14 months after romping to victory in the X Factor final of 2007. The Scottish crooner amassed sales of just 150,000 for his debut album Right Now, and his single Don't Call This Love was humiliatingly beaten by Peter Kay's spoof talent show winner, Geraldine McQueen. Runner-up Rhydian, meanwhile, outsold Leon threefold, shifting over 450,000 copies of his self-titled first album, with a follow-up taking him over the half million threshold.

The sales of 2008 champ Alexandra Burke have been more than OK.com, racking up 800,000 units of her debut album Overcome, but even she comes up short against serial hit-makers JLS. The London foursome have sold over two million albums to date, notching up eight No.1 singles along the way. By comparison, Alexandra, who hasn't released an album in over two years, is beginning to feel like a distant musical memory (save for her ill-conceived, best-forgotten and unlikely to be repeated appearance as a guest judge earlier this series).

Joe McElderry charmed X Factor phone voters in 2009 but only 100,000 were willing to pick up a copy of his album Wide Awake the following year. His defeated adversary Olly Murs has gone on to dominate the charts ever since, racking up four No.1 singles and combined sales of almost one million for his two album releases. Third place finisher Stacey Solomon also enjoys a high profile, carving out a niche for herself as a TV personality and appearing as the face of a ubiquitous festive advertising campaign, the soundtrack to which, Driving Home For Christmas, featuring Stacey's velvet vocals, is released 18 December.

Not even 12 months on from Matt Cardle's X Factor triumph, he is already being overshadowed by those he outpolled this time last year. One Direction almost doubled Matt's debut week album sales of 70,000, with Up All Night shifting 138,000 units in its first seven days. Runner-up Rebecca Ferguson is on course to replicate the boy band's success with Heaven, released this week, selling 47,000 copies on its first day, besting the 28,000 achieved by Cardle's Letters. Rebecca is also establishing herself as a critics' darling, earning four and five star reviews across the board, a level of acclaim uncommon amongst X Factor alumni.

And talent show runners-up outselling winners is not a uniquely British occurrence. Across the pond, recent American Idol champions have suffered the same fate as their British counterparts, with 2010 runner-up Crystal Bowersox outperforming winner Lee DeWyze, and second place finisher Adam Lambert outselling 2009 victor Kris Allen.

These numbers paint a stark picture for winners of the X Factor. Not since Leona Lewis in 2006 has the result of the phone vote been reflected in real world music industry sales. So is winning all it's cracked up to be? Should Little Mix, Marcus Collins and Amelia Lily really be pleading for your vote this weekend or praying they finish second best?

When it comes to the X Factor, maybe the mantra that was drummed into us at school sports days is true after all - it's not the winning that counts, it really is the taking part...]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1114943 2011-11-29T10:09:34-05:00 2012-01-29T05:12:01-05:00

Jon Connell http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-connell/ Big Brother (in the days when people actually watched) on its spin-off show Big Brother's Big Mouth. Using meticulously accumulated data from an abundance of carefully compiled sources, I was able to forecast the results of nominations, evictions and finale nights. Some of these predictions even proved to be correct.

But Big Brother is not an anomaly. It is my belief, based upon the hypothesis that history repeats itself, that the outcome of any reality TV phenomena can be predicted scientifically. Allow me to demonstrate my theory by using a methodology that studies past form, extrapolates historic Dancing data, and applies identified trends to this year's cast, in order to predict the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2011.

Age

All Strictly champions thus far have fallen into a fairly narrow age range of 27 to 38, the average winner being 32 years 5 months. The profiles that best fit the bill this year are 34 year old Alex Jones, and Robbie Savage, whose 37 years on the clock make him the same age as fellow sportsman Mark Ramprakash when he claimed the title in 2006.

Older competitors seem particularly handicapped when we reach the business end of the competition, with no one over the age of 38 ever making it to the final two. This could spell eleventh hour trouble for the show's last remaining elder statesman, 43 year old Jason Donovan.

Advantage: Alex, Robbie
Disadvantage: Jason

Occupation

Actors are the clear winners in the occupation field, with thespians Jill Halfpenny, Tom Chambers and Kara Tointon all claiming victory in their years of competition. An actor has reached the final two in six out of eight series, favouring 2011's stars of stage and screen Chelsee Healey and Jason Donovan.

There was a time when sportsmen reigned supreme on Strictly, with cricketers Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakash hoisting the trophy in successive series. In recent years, however, they have fallen out of favour, with no sportsman reaching the final since 2006. Footballers especially seem destined for early exits, with Peter Shilton, John Barnes and Peter Schmeichel all failing to make a big impression in their respective series, worrying news for bad boy of the pitch, Robbie Savage.

Advantage: Chelsee, Jason
Disadvantage: Robbie


It's not where you start...

Significantly, no week one leader board topper has ever won their series of Strictly Come Dancing, with most early frontrunners, including Matt Baker, Ricky Whittle and Emma Bunton, falling at the last hurdle, and some, such as 2008's Cherie Lunghi, not even reaching the final. This cannot be a good omen for this year's week one favourite, Jason Donovan.

Disadvantage: Jason

Improvement

Indeed, the key to Strictly victory is improvement and peaking at the right time. Winners, on average, have shown an increase of 27% in their judges' scores by this point in the competition. From the class of 2011, this most closely correlates with Chelsee Healey and Harry Judd, who have both shown mark-ups of 30% since week one, the same as 2005 champion Jill Halfpenny and 2007 victor Alesha Dixon.

Jason, meanwhile, has only mustered a 9% uptick in his scores, mirroring third place finishers Emma Bunton and Zoe Ball, a stat unlikely to inspire confidence in a Donovan victory.

Advantage: Chelsee, Harry
Disadvantage: Jason


First dance

Superstition rather than science but a significant trend nonetheless, the first celebrity to take to the floor in the first episode that sees all competitors dancing together has never failed to reach the final of each Strictly series. This year the honour fell to Waterloo Road's Chelsee Healey, who, if history repeats itself, may follow in the footsteps of 2010's debut dancer, and eventual winner, Kara Tointon.

Advantage: Chelsee

Height

In six out of eight Strictly finals, the shortest contender has triumphed. David does usually beat Goliath, with diminutive Jill Halfpenny and Chris Hollins taking down their taller adversaries Denise Lewis and Ricky Whittle respectively.

At 6'0'', Jason Donovan is of similar stature to past champs Tom Chambers and Darren Gough, but no female over 5'6'' has ever lifted the glitter ball trophy. This will be music to the ears of pint-sized Chelsee Healey but may not bode well for this year's longer-limbed ladies Holly Valance and Alex Jones.

Advantage: Chelsee, Jason
Disadvantage: Holly, Alex

Birthplace

Contestants from the south-east reign supreme in this category, providing 5 out of 8 winners and over half of all finalists, giving Essex boy Harry Judd the edge. New Zealand-born Pamela Stephenson may have finished second runner-up in 2010 but no international contestant has managed to go further. This could present a problem for antipodeans Jason Donovan and Holly Valance.

Advantage: Harry
Disadvantage: Jason, Holly

He may have spent much of this series as a favourite but Jason Donovan simply has too much stacked against him to secure victory - the 43 year old could still make the final but his lack of momentum and Aussie roots will prevent him being first over the finish line. South-eastern Harry Judd has shown significant enough improvement to score runner-up status but falls into the dangerous middle-ground in too many areas to go the distance.

Having entered all available, measurable and observable data into a complex algorithm, I can confidently predict (with well-defined error bars) that the winner of this year's Strictly Come Dancing will be Chelsee Healey. Showing a marked improvement in judges' scores and gaining momentum at exactly the right time, the pint-sized actress ticks all the right boxes to be crowned the 2011 Dancing champion. Not my opinion, ladies and gentlemen - it's Strictly Scientific Fact.]]>