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For the last thirteen weeks, sixteen celebrities and their professional dance partners have battled it out to be crowned Strictly Come Dancing champions 2008.

The Strictly Come Dancing scoring works on a points system which combines the scores from our panel of professional dance judges - Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli - and the result of the viewers' phone vote.

Each week, the judges' scores are translated into points with the maximum points available being dependent on the number of couples left in the competition. For example in Week 10 when we had 6 couples competing, the maximum points available were 6 with the scores going down to 1.

This week, as we have 3 couples remaining in the competition, the maximum points available are 3, then 2, then 1.

In a similar way, the results from the viewers' phone vote are also translated into points with the couple receiving the most viewer votes receiving the maximum number of points. So, in Week 10 when 6 couples competed, as with the judges' votes, the maximum points available were 6 going down to 1. Therefore, this week for the Final, the couple who receive the most viewer votes will receive 3 points, the couple in the middle receiving 2 and the couple with the lowest points receiving 1.

At last week's semi final, a scenario arose due to the judges' scores (3,3,1) where one couple would always have been put forward for the Dance Off regardless of the result of the viewer vote. This is because even if the couple with one point received the highest number of phone votes and was awarded the maximum three points, they would still have been at the bottom of the combined leaderboard. It was therefore felt that the fairest decision under the circumstances was to allow all three couples to go forward to the Final. We also felt it fair to reflect the decision of viewers during the semi final who had voted without knowing there was a problem and so, as promised, we are carrying the combined results of the judges and viewer vote forward to the start of the final.

However, it is important to note that this week for the Final, we are looking for the top two couples and there is no Dance Off between the bottom two couples. Therefore, we can assure you that regardless of the points from the judges, there will always be a clear result and that the viewer vote can always affect the final result. On the one hand, no couple is safe, and on the other, any couple could be saved by the viewers. All possible combinations of scores have been carefully considered and the outcomes have all been checked against this principle and independently verified.

This week, the points that the couples obtained from the judges during last week's semi final will be combined with the points resulting from the viewers' votes during the semi final and this combined leaderboard will be revealed at the start of the final.

The 3 couples will then perform 2 dances each and will be scored by the judges as normal. Once the judges have revealed their final scores, those scores will be translated in the usual way into points.

If there is a tie at the top of the leaderboard, the tied couples will each get 3 points (and the remaining couple (if applicable) will get 1 point). If there is a tie at the bottom of the leaderboard then the tied couples will each get 2 points, with the top couple receiving 3 points in the usual way.

The judges scores will then be added to the combined leaderboard from the semi final revealed at the top of the show and this will be translated (in the usual manner) into points of 3, 2 and 1 for each couple and this will be the final leaderboard.

Finally, the points from the viewer vote will be added to the final leaderboard and the lowest scoring couple will be eliminated at the start of the second part of the final.

In the event of a tie in the final combined points total between any or all of the three couples, then the results of the viewer vote will determine which couple is eliminated (with the couple with the least viewer votes being eliminated). In this way, the viewer vote will always be able to determine the final outcome regardless of the points situation prior to the phone vote.

However, in the extremely unlikely event of 2 or more couples receiving exactly the same number of actual phone votes as the other, the lines will close at the time indicated in the first part of the programme. There will then be a clear announcement in the second part of the programme after which the lines will be reopened for a fixed period to enable a clear result to be obtained. The votes cast in this reopened period will be added to those already cast.

After the elimination of one couple at the start of the second part of the final, the phone lines will be reset to zero and reopened as the 2 remaining couples go head to head to decide who will be the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2008.

The voting system and principles has been independently verified and the phone results on the night will also be independently verified.

Please note that there are a number of contingencies which could occur on or before the night since this is a live television programme. The Ö÷²¥´óÐã reserves the right to amend the voting system accordingly and if it does so, clear announcements will be made on air explaining the changes and the reasons for them.

Voting is by telephone only. The numbers for each couple dancing will be given out during the live show.

Vote lines are opened and closed at the times specified on the programme. Please do not call before the lines open or after the lines have closed as your vote will not be counted, but you may still be charged. Please be aware voting times may change.

If you are watching Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer or any other time shift or catch up service you should not vote since the lines will have closed.

Each phone vote costs 15p from a BT landline. Other networks may vary. Calls from mobiles will be considerably higher.

Telephone charges - for indicative purposes only

Premium Rate Number	Tariff	02	Orange	T-Mobile	Vodafone	3	Virgin
0901	15p from a BT landline	50ppc	50ppc	75ppc	80ppc	70ppc	50ppc

ppc = pence per call

This table is provided for indicative purposes only. Information provided by mobile network operators (08 December 2008). For up to date information it is always advisable to check direct with your network operator.

Voters must obtain permission from the bill payer before voting and phone voters under the age of 12 should obtain parent/guardian consent before voting. Make sure you carefully dial only the number of the couple you wish to vote for. The Ö÷²¥´óÐã reserves the right to disqualify votes if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that fraudulent voting has occurred or if it considers there has been any deliberate attempt to manipulate the result. We reserve the right to cancel or suspend or alter voting at any time.

The Ö÷²¥´óÐã, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem with any telephone network or line, system, server, provider or otherwise which may result in any vote being lost or not properly registered or recorded. Please note that you cannot vote by email, red button, text or via this website.

The voting in this programme accords with the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's Code of Conduct for Competitions and Voting.

Please note that if you are directly connected in any way with the production of the programme or the provision of telephony services to the programme you are not eligible to vote.