I'd Do Anything Results Show, Week 9

Nancy and Olivers reprise: Food Glorious Food - I noticed Jessie’s interaction with the boys there for the first time.

The Task: Living in a hovel for the night, no mods cons, to put them in the mood for ‘speaking’ Nancy - As Long as he Needs Me, to Barry, who rated the girls thus: Jessie - heartfelt, convincing; Rachel - commanding leading lady quality; Jodie - emotional, not sure re the sense of courage; Samantha - initially disappointed then “here was an actress”. Rachel won his vote overall but then he said he couldn’t predict.

Group Song: ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ - Jessie stood out for me, a real presence on stage.

The Olivers: ‘Where is Love’. Very sweet, without any sickiness.

It’s coming close to decision time. The panels choice of who isn’t Nancy: John - Jessie (too young) Denise - Jessie (same reason) Barry and Cameron - Jodie (to boos from the audience).

I was fair tingling with excitement! No, really, I was.

Jodie - safe! She blubbed big time, like the wet weekend we’re having. Rachel - sing off! She knew, as soon as Graham said her name. John and Denise were clutching each others arms - desperate for Sam to be safe, probably, and not Jessie. Unlucky then you two, the public aren’t listening to you - Jessie is safely through. Both the panels choices of who isn’t Nancy - safe. Andrew’s worse case scenario was having to choose between Samantha and Rachel;neither Jodie nor maybe even Jessie would have been saved over either of these two. I’m shocked Samantha was in the sing off, the unknown solo song did her no favours - or are we seeing another ’She’ll be safe’ attitude from the audience who wanted to ensure Jessie made it through?

Memory: Samantha all the way for me. Beautiful tone, so clear - that on top of last weeks show song says Samantha should be Nancy. If she’d had this in the solo section, she wouldn’t be in the bottom two, I’m sure. Showed the vulnerability they were looking for earlier, stunning vocal and presence. Rachel looked and sounded desperate, even stealing a glance at Samantha towards the end. If Andrew had chosen Rachel I’ll have been gobsmacked. Rachel out - and Sam will have won more fans with that song, so don’t count on her being the first out next week. The connection issue showed most strongly, a real distinction between both girls - Sam held the gaze of the camera all the way through; Rachel looked above it at nowhere in particular, doing the eye thing again. She did the same with ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ - not the strongest I’ve heard of the girls to leave.

Now then - I have to trust my brother in law to tape the final for me to view at some godforsaken hour! Shocking, isn’t it, that I have a life and will be OUT next week. Another Gethin’s Girls Grand Gathering, no less: If we can find a TV we will watch en masse, but it’s likely we’ll cancel out each others votes, so ’Good Luck’ to Jessie, Jodie and Samantha and here’s to a wonderful final.