1 month ago
52
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Alex and Jojo’s Viennese waltz
Dogs are the new nans, as Alex’s pooch appears in the training VT. Actor Alex Kingston and much-loved pro Johannes Radebe – a classy and loveable pairing if ever there was one – take to the floor for the first Viennese waltz of the year. Dramatic, almost Bond-like. Excellent characterisation from such a fine actor. Spinning around romantically. Floating and twirling, The judges will have be looking out for fleckerls and classic contra checks. Swishy skirt-ography, plenty of pizzazz, major drama. Strong finish. She’s loving it. So am I.
Song: Cry Me a River by Michael Bublé. See what they did there? One of Alex’s best-known roles was River Song in Doctor Who. Mickey Bubbles’ version of the 1950s jazz ballad charted in 2009 but not as high as Denise Welch’s rendition, weirdly.
Ginger Neil gets his moment
Benched pro Neil Jones gets to read out the voting Ts and Cs, like a competition winner. Aww, look at his little face.
Judges’ scores: 3, 4, 3, 4 for a total of 14 points. He needs to “be more duck”. “A week one score,” says Claudia sweetly.
Judges’ comments: Motsi says “intention like a captain, recognisable steps but work on the fundamentals”. Shirley says “you’ve got the frame of a ballroom dancer but there were timing issues, no heel leads, weight too far back and flat-footed but you show promise”. Anton says “good effort and focus, you’ve got the samba out of the wat, hooray”. Craig concludes “lacked fluidity, bounce and hip action, quite disconnected m sort your arms out, heavy and stiff”. Fours and fives, do we think?
First “They’re on their feet!” of the year from Tess.
Chris and Nadiya’s samba
On a big day for England’s rugby union teams, can former men’s captain Chris Robshaw loosen up his hips and travel from Twickenham to Brazil? High pressure to open the series. Rugby ball-graphy to start. Partner Nadiya Bychkova is doing her best, dancing around him gamely, but he lacks rhythm, bounce and fluidity. Better in partner work than solo. Not quite a dance-dis-ah-ster but definite dad-at-a-disco vibes.
Song: Unbelievable by EMF. Not what you’d call a traditional samba tune but certainly an early 90s indie-dance banger.
Our Strictly stars™
Alan “Deadly” Dedicoat, voice of the balls (no sniggering at the back), announces our couples for the first time this year. They emerge blinking at the top of the staircase for a mildly terrified wave. Fancy dress includes masses of fringing and see-through shirts for the boys. Karen and Carlos in a football kit. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in Chelsea blue. It’s like Match Of The Day around here.
A shout out to Dani Dyer in her surgical ankle boot. Get well soon.
Motsi looking amazing. GREAT HAIR.
Judges are in the house
Here comes the quartet of Judgey McJudgefaces, aka Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas. Spins, side-to-side steps, sparkle and…. a synchronised sit-down.
Frockwatch
Here come our presenting pair, so time for our finery face-off. Tess Daly is dressed as an asymmetric Quality Street. Claudia Winkleman in monochrome with a silk shirt and cigarette trouser. Claud clearly wins.
A good opener with a whiff of Butlin’s/a cruise ship.
Now we’ve moved into the Noughties, with Motsi Mabuse dancing a rumba to Alone by Heart. Tune. Not enough wind machines and dry ice for my liking, though.
And now we’ve moved into the 80s with “the Queen Of Latin herself”, head judge Shirley Ballas. This is quite fun, albeit a tad self-indulgent.
Group number from the pros and judges
We open with the Strictly troupe showing the stage-frightened celebrities how it’s done. It’s a 70s Come Dancing theme with Craig and Anton in period fancy dress.
New-look titles
Our first look at this year’s title sequence. Rictus grins and novelty dance moves all round. You’ll be slightly sick of these by Christmas, especially Thomas Skinner’s finger guns.
