Strictly Come Dancing, week two – as it happened: Latest scores and leaderboard as voting opens
Fifteen couples go full pelt to avoid the first dance-off this series
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Strictly got serious this week as voting lines officially opened, leaving one couple at risk of being unceremoniously eliminated from the competition before it has truly begun.
Nobody wants to be the first to go home, so the stakes are high – especially with movie week on the horizon next weekend.
Comedian Seann Walsh and his partner Katya jived to Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” while YouTuber Joe Sugg and his partner, Dianne, performed a Charleston set to wedding disco favourite “Cotton Eye Joe".
Follow the latest updates below
Remember the final leaderboard is decided by combining last week’s scores with tonight’s marks.
Strictly Come Dancing airs every Saturday on BBC One
Shirley says Stacey has 'so much talent' and will 'keep improving'. Talk about damning with faint praise. Brrrrrrruno says she's scatty, but he is standing up and waving his arms around so it doesn't feel quite so harsh. Craig says it's stiff. Ouch. Poor Stacey.
Stacey and Kevin: Cha Cha scores
Craig: 4
Darcey: 5
Shirley: 5
Bruno: 6
Total: 20
'I just couldn't get to grips with it' says Stacey.
Onwards and upwards.
Meh. Cool to have Rob Beckett until you remember Mary Berry once read out the Ts & Cs.
Time for Karen and Charles and their hotly anticipated quickstep. Karen said she's packed this full of classic steps after the judges had a pop at her last week for making the cha cha too much of a disco routine. This could be brilliant.
Really helps to have old school music to sell these big ballroom numbers. And a large CGI trumpet projected onto the floor obvs. Charles performing beautifully and they look pretty light across the floor to me, lots of Charleston basic as promised. Shame they messed up the timing at the end there.
Brrrruno just compared Charles to a hovercraft. Apparently it was a compliment.
Charles and Karen: Quickstep scores
Craig: 5
Darcey: 6
Shirley: 7
Bruno: 7
Total: 25
'I had no idea that it went wrong,' lies Charles. Very smooth.
Time for lovely Katie and Gorka with a paso! Who doesn't love a paso? Desperate for this to be amazing, but is Katie too sweet? She said she's been trying to get in touch with her inner tigress. Gorka has promised 'skirt-ography'
A bit stompy, but a strong top line from Katie, she's going for it. Gorka obviously born for this dance, he's even pulling off the silly little paso jacket that appears to be made from my gran's sofa upholstery dipped in glitter.
Craig says the jawline was too high and calls it a 'plank-ish' routine. Tess attempts some banter in return, best avoided in future. Darcey tries to be nicer, but tells Katie she needed to bring more drama and theatricality.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments