Tonight’s Dancing With The Stars Grand Finale is set to be spicy.
According to judge Mark Wilson, this season’s crop of celebrities have been extremely competitive.
“This is one of the best series of DWTS to date. It has been such a tight race,” he said.
Facing judges Wilson, Craig Revel Horwood, Sharna Burgess and Todd McKenney, the six grand finalists will hit the ballroom, going head-to-head with their professional dance partners by their side.
Singers and actors have seemingly triumphed the original group of 14, with the inherently creative ready to battle it out for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.
Wilson said it would come down to three couples.
He described Emily Weir and her partner Lyu Masuda as “risk takers with connection” and called Phil Burton – dancing with Ash-Leigh Hunter – the “best man ever in the competition”.
However he firmly believes one celebrity has it in the bag.
“Ms Showbiz”, Virginia Gay, he said – the “most consistent” and “most skilled” alongside her partner Ian Waite.
Emily Weir and Lyu Masuda
This Summer Bay starlet showed up for every single dance – scoring perfect 10’s for her contemporary performance.
But, even with a vulnerability like no other – Wilson wonders if Weir can hold on.
“This vulnerability takes a lot of energy,” he said.
“Is there a question over being able to continue?”
Christie Whelan Browne and Craig Monley
Whelan Browne put her acting skills to work playing Barbie in a high energy Cha Cha.
Despite being injury-ridden, the star’s storytelling saw high scores from the judges – although her semi-final dance did divide though.
Wilson said Whelan Browne can dance, but needs to “find the ‘X-Factor’.”
“Grace and elegance is the pathway for her,” he said.
Phil Burton and Ash-Leigh Hunter
This singing sensation has been a favourite from the beginning, barely putting a foot wrong.
McKenney believes Burton is the whole package, while Wilson labelled him “the big mover” in this year’s competition, describing his semi-final Foxtrot as “graceful and skilful”.
Mary Coustas and Aric Yagudkin
It was no laughing matter when this comedian copped a hammering from the judges in episode one.
But with a special cameo from Effie, Coustas wowed the crowd in her comedic Paso Doble.
“She needs a Steve Bradbury moment to win but is a huge improver,” Wilson said.
Virginia Gay and Ian Waite
This flamboyant firecracker has been a front-runner since day dot.
She nailed her evil queen Paso Doble, twisted her timing in the Quickstep, but found her mojo again in Monday’s semi-final with a perfect-scoring foxtrot.
Burgess called Gay “damn sexy”, while Wilson said she “has one hand on the trophy and will be hard to beat.”
Paulini Curuenavuli and Igor Ifliand
A powerhouse performer, Curuenavuli’s spicy Samba topped the leaderboard on night one.
But her semi-final jive left the judges disappointed, with Burgess saying it was “missing a little flavour” and McKenney criticising the choreography.
Wilson, however, had some good advice for the singer heading into the finale.
“Take a chance and dance a raunchy power number,” he said.