A modern and entirely unexpected success on our TV screens in the last four years has been the phenomenon of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ which has then sparked a great deal of interest for bets being placed in the betting market. Following the ignominious demise of the outdated ‘Come Dancing’, a show watched by half a dozen ageing couples reliving their golden years at the Hammersmith Palais, it must have been a brave and visionary controller that gave this show the nod.

Followers of sports betting will have spotted one or two of their sporting heroes flinging themselves about the place on the show. Darren Gough, of all people, is credited with moving the show up a gear.

It’s a hair-raising process to engage in online betting for this event, now termed “strictly come dancing betting“. For all its veneer of civility there underlies a fierce competitiveness spiced with a satisfying undertow of cattiness. Bloggers record their frustration as talented competitors lose to popular TV faces. Judges impartiality is drawn into question wholesale and it’s a rare sports betting talent that can navigate these muddy waters and land the winner.

It’s all good fun and, after weeks of tears and tribulation, the show draws to a close this coming Saturday. Alesha is the bookies fave and will surely take the tiara. Matt D’Angelo lies a distant second in the bookies view - but then what do they know? In this melee of flamboyant emotional extravagance anything can happen.