All three couples in BBC's Strictly Come Dancing semi-final have gone through to the grand final.

In a surprise twist, Lisa Snowden, Rachel Stevens and Tom Chambers will all appear in the final show after producers decided to put everyone through with two of the couples tied after the judges' scoring.

That meant that whatever happened in the audience vote, Chambers and his dancing partner would have had to face the dance-off and that was deemed as "unfair".

Viewers were assured the votes they cast last night would be included in the final show next Saturday.

The BBC released a statement following the live show last night clarifying the situation.

"Due to the unprecedented outcome of the judges' vote... the audience vote could not have saved one of our couples from the dance off," the broadcaster claimed.

"We took the decision that all the votes cast tonight should stand and be carried through to next week's final.

"So the audience has had the usual chance to vote on the performances of all our semi-finalists. All the votes cast tonight will be rolled over. Tonight's vote has been independently verified."


14/12/2008 08:49:34