Strictly Come Dancing, week eight: 6 talking points, from Ashley making Shirley cry to Danny coming last on the leaderboard
Stacey Dooley, Faye Tozer and Ashley Roberts look firm favourites to make it through
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Your support makes all the difference.Another week, another display of stunning routines on Strictly Come Dancing.
Glossing over the obsession with Blackpool, there was lots to enjoy tonight (10 November), and it was heartening to see Lauren and Charles climb the leaderboard, mixing up the competition.
We had tears from the judges, Rylan Clark Neal announcing the Ts and Cs, and more mentions of the Tower Ballroom than even the tourist board would think reasonable. Here’s what happened…
Ashley makes Shirley cry…
…in a good way of course! Ashley has, perhaps unfairly, received a lot more stick than Faye for being a trained dancer. That’s probably because Faye is fizzing with excitement to be on the show, whereas Ashley can come across as rather blasé.
Not tonight though. She shared the story of her recent bereavement and dedicated her breathtakingly emotional couple’s choice contemporary routine to her late dad. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house and even Shirley was blubbing. The routine still didn’t get a full 40 though, Craig is still looking for his ten paddle…
Faye and Joe come crashing down to earth
By this stage in the competition, we can usually predict which couples will sail through the judges’ comments without any serious putdowns. Faye and Joe both have a foot in the final already, but it wasn’t the best week for either of them.
Yes, Faye finished second on the leaderboard but Shirley really went to town with her critique, telling the Steps star that all the other couples looked like they were fighting much harder than her. A bit of a kick in the teeth for a woman who has spent a big chunk of the week in physio because she’s training so hard.
Golden boy Joe couldn’t nail the samba either and finished fourth from last. You can bet your Facebook password he’ll be back on the show next week though.
Graeme channels Mr Motivator
There should have been a ‘do not adjust your set’ warning for Graeme and Oti’s fluorescent aerobics-inspired routine, complete with treadmill choreography, tiny shorts and impressive lifts.
Entertaining and energetic, the judges mostly just looked shocked at what they had witnessed and couldn’t help but smile. It didn’t translate into amazing marks though – they’re third from bottom and with one dance-off under their belt could be about to face another.
Charles nails the Charleston
Every year there’s a celeb who faces the humiliation of repeated dance-offs. This series it’s Charles and his partner Karen, who have survived it three times. I’ll be surprised if they’re back there tonight though – their window-cleaning themed Charleston (yes, really) earned them a whopping 35/40 and helped them finish third on the leaderboard. Strong work.
Danny’s in danger
Oh, how the tide has turned since Danny wowed us in the early weeks. He’s been the subject of headlines after a training room spat with Amy, and must be worried he’ll face trial by media as happened to Sean(n) and Katya. We’d all hoped his fall to the bottom of the leaderboard last weekend was a one-off but he’s back there again tonight after the judges found his samba too spiky. Will the public still be supporting him?
Something’s happening in Blackpool
Yes, the annual Tower Ballroom spectacular is on the horizon next week and all the couples are desperate to take part. They only mentioned it 6000 times. Claudia mocked the obsession and recommended strong black coffee for anyone who had been taking a shot for every mention.
Still, Strictly faces the strong possibility that everyone is now bored of Blackpool already. But much fun can be gleaned from watching rich celebs pretend they’re desperate to visit the British seaside in November rather than jet off to Barbados.
The Independent live-blogged along with all the action. Catch up on everything that happened, moment-by-moment, below.
Catch the Strictly results show on BBC One at 7.50pm.
Wow, Ashley talking about her dad passing away is the first time I've ever seen her show any genuine emotion on this show, that will help her connect with the audience, many of whom I think find her quite distant. As for the routine itself, Ashley is so well suited to this style, the lifts are fluid and easy just like they should be, and she's feeling every moment of the music. The Strictly traditionalists will find it hard to accept contemporary routines in the show, but this routine should help win them round. As always when Ashley and Pasha perform, it's difficult to spot which of them is the pro...
Craig says Ashley is 'super, incredible' but makes some convoluted point about Ashley's breathing. Darcey loved it though and surely she's the judge you want to please with a balletic routine. She says they took her breath away.
Shirley is reduced to tears, Ashley's crying too. Bruno calls it 'hauntingly beautiful and flawless.' It's all getting a bit emotional...
Ashley and Pasha: Couple's choice contemporary scores
Craig: 9
Darcey: 10
Shirley: 10
Bruno: 10
Total: 39
Oh Craig, I love you but really? Nine? Still, great news for Faye, she could still be the one to snag the first 40.
Faye said the B word again, make it stop! Time for Graeme and Oti! They loved their emotional waltz last weekend, but apparently this week’s salsa is at the opposite end of the Strictly spectrum. No sentimentality, pure sass. Graeme calls it ‘spicy, bonkers and one of the craziest dances the judges have ever seen’. He’ll be playing a fitness instructor in too-short shorts. I think the idea is to get us excited, instead I’m anticipating trauma.
Wow, that's a terrifying sight. I can only imagine what Graeme's cricket mates are making of this Mr Motivator-inspired routine. Lovely arm-ography and treadmill tricks there but this is just bringing back bad memories of cringe aerobics classes. Also were the band singing 'I love Gorka'? Surely not. Oti's brilliant hip action is making Graeme look a bit stiff. Not my favourite, but crowd-pleasing.
'I strangely loved that,' says Darcey, complimenting the concept, she calls it a fearless routine. Shirley dismisses the mistakes because she says it was jolly. Seems a slightly odd approach to judging. Brrrrrruno wants to buy the DVD and says Davina McCall should be nervous. Craig brings us back to earth calling it one of the oddest salsas he has ever seen.
Graeme and Oti: Salsa scores
Craig: 7
Darcey: 8
Shirley: 8
Bruno: 8
Total: 31
'I'm really happy!' says Oti, that's a great score for them.
We LOVE Faye and Giovanni, can't wait for this jive. Gio calls this his favourite dance (although he definitely said the same about the tango last week), but Faye's not so sure, she's spent every spare moment in physio this week. I'm expecting this to be sensational.
A lot of faffing around at the start, seems unnecessary for a couple this good, but look at Faye out there on her own, she's taking everything in her stride. This is a very composed jive and Faye doesn't look like she's able to give it quite the same level of attack as Gio, but this looks like a clean, polished and fun routine. Personally I miss the drama of their tango though, it was a very saccharine number...
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