TONIGHT is the night.

After three long months of training, learning every dance move from a lock step to a New Yorker, the final of Strictly Come Dancing is upon us.

The series has gripped the nation since September and now with just four couples left, the climax of the ballroom battle will commence to see who walks away with the glitter ball trophy.

Millions will tune in tonight to watch the much-anticipated show dances of Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Abbey Clancy, Natalie Gumede and Susanna Reid, in what is Strictly’s first all-female final.

But while all eyes are on the celebrity girls, winning the final will be extra special for whichever of the male professionals fighting in the final.

If Sophie or Natalie win it, partners Brendon Cole or Artem Chigvintsev will become the first professionals to get their hands on the trophy twice.

But if Susanna or Abbey are crowned queen of the dance floor, it will mean glory for Aljaz Skorjanec and Kevin |Clifton during their first series.

So to find out what to look out for, we asked Southampton’s very own Strictly couple Melanie Adams and Gordon Simpson, who were taught the ultimate wedding dance by Strictly professional Natalie Lowe, to cast their eye over the contenders and give us their views.

Melanie and Gordon’s verdicts

Daily Echo:

Natalie and Artem
They have wowed since week one but having been in the bottom two last week, it is clear that they simply haven’t got the public vote.
This is not unusual for Strictly as the viewers love a “journey” and unfortunately for Natalie she has just been too good from the beginning.
They will really have to pull something spectacular to steal the trophy from the other girls.

 

Daily Echo:

Abbey and Aljaz
With a strong Paso/tango styled show dance to Sweet Child of Mine in their locker, we cannot wait to see what these two have in store.
Abbey has improved through the series and Aljaz has endeared himself to the audience during his first series, making them the couple to beat in our eyes.
 

Daily Echo:

Susanna and Kevin
She is not the best dancer technically but Susanna and Kevin have won over the viewers and there is one thing about her – when she dances, she loves every minute and that’s something Strictly fans love.
She is the bookies favourite but the better dancers do normally win. However, if they pull an amazing show dance out of the bag, there could be no stopping them.
 

Daily Echo:

Sophie and Brendon
These two are definitely the dark horses of the competition and having watched them live in the semi-finals, they have become our favourites.
She is so elegant and classy when she dances and having blown everyone away with her Charleston in week two, everybody cannot wait to see it again.
With a show dance to I Wanna Dance With Somebody, it’s not impossible that they could sneak off with the glitter ball.