Strictly Week One: Leader Board
The series kicked-off on Friday night with the first six nervous celebrities entering the hallowed Strictly Ballroom, and it was down to EastEnders favourite Kellie Bright and her Pro Dance partner Kevin Clifton to open the show - and they didn’t disappoint! Their swinging 60s inspired Tango to the Kinks’ classic ‘You Really Got Me’ had everyone, including the Judges, rocking and rolling, with Craig declaring that the routine was “absolutely marvellous”. They received a stonking 27 points for their efforts, setting the bar extremely high for the following couples.
But we didn’t have to wait very long for their score to be topped! Call the Midwife star Helen George and partner Aljaz Skorjanec performed a breathtakingly beautiful Waltz to ‘With You I Am Born Again’ by Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright. Darcey was particularly taken with the performance, saying it had “such grace and romance” and that Helen had “glimpses of Ginger Rodgers”. The Judges awarded them a brilliant 29 points, taking them to the top of the leader board on the night.
Unfortunately, not everyone’s Strictly debut went as well as Helen and Kellie’s, and for the lovely Carol Kirkwood it was a night to forget. The BBC weather presenter’s Cha Cha with Pro Dancer Pasha Kovalev was a stormy affair, and the Judges couldn’t ignore the mistakes in the routine, with Bruno saying that she “combined a flood of errors with a total technical drought”. They were only awarded a mark of 16, which left them rock bottom of the leader board.
A nervous Jay McGuinness and partner Alion Vilani opened the second night with a crowd-pleasing Cha Cha. Although Craig seemed impressed, his score of 5 came as a surprise. However, Jay and Aliona still earned themselves a very respectable 27 points.
BBC presenter Jeremy Vine was looking fine on the dance floor with a charming Cha Cha with Karen Clifton. Dancing to Earth, Wind and Fire’s September, Len suggested there were improvements to be made but that “this underdog’s got some bite!” We’re inclined to agree. The Judge’s awarded the pair 19 points with a measly 2 from Craig. The audience however loved it, giving the couple a standing ovation!
Team GG hot-footed their way across the dance floor with an energetic Jive to Dear Future Husband by Meghan Trainor. Darcey was a fan, claiming that Georgia was “moving fast as lightning”. Highlighting the incredibly high standard of dancers, Georgia and Giovanni were awarded 27 points, leaving them in joint third place on the leader board with 3 other couples!
Katie Derham and Anton Du Beke hit all the right notes with their Jive to Roll Over Beethoven by The Beatles. The audience loved it and even Craig had good things to say, claiming it was “the most sophisticated and stylised Jive they’ve had.” Len couldn’t help poking fun, commenting that this would be the first time Anton realises Strictly continues up to Christmas! Could this finally be Anton’s year?! We hope so! The Judges awarded them 26 points.
Iwan and Ola put the ‘go’ in Tango with a running track themed dance. Unfortunately The Judges felt it was a little lack-lustre with Craig claiming Iwan’s sprinter’s bum protruded too much!… The couple were given 17 points, placing them just one point above Carol and Pasha at the bottom of the leader board. Len gave good advice, telling Iwan: “You’re going to work on it, and come back stronger because that’s what athletes do.”
Lastly - but certainly not least - were Peter and Janette who wowed the audience and Judges with their show-stopping Cha Cha to Ain’t No Other Man by Christina Aguilera. Their high energy moves placed them top of the leader board with an incredible 30 points. They’ve set the bar high, so what will next week bring?
As there was no voting this weekend, the Judges marks will now be carried over to next weekend, where the competition will suddenly get very serious for our 15 celebrities.
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