Strictly Come Dancing live: Blackpool week sees Sarah Hadland wow with powerful Couple’s Choice
Only eight couples remain in the BBC dance competition
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Your support makes all the difference.Strictly Come Dancing‘s eight remaining couples headed to the legendary Blackpool Tower ballroom for week nine of the series.
The show is usually held in the Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. But for one week each year, the show moves up north to the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool – an iconic and historical dancing venue.
The episode featured a number of impressive routines with Sarah Hadland performing a powerful Couple’s Choice and Tasha Ghouri taking on the Paso Doble. Both dances received totals of 39 from the judges and the two stars are sharing the top spot on the leaderboard.
While he didn’t score too well, Pete Wicks certainly delivered a dose of entertainment with his “I’m Too Sexy” Cha Cha. Another star who struggled was Wynne Evans, who performed a Charleston with his partner Katya Jones.
Blackpool Week followed last Sunday’s elimination of X Factor star Shayne Ward and his partner Nancy Xu, who faced singer Wynne Evans and pro partner Katya Jones in the dance-off.
Shirley is lost for words
She’s in stitches. “You had a very clean neckline,” she told Pete, struggling for words. “Your hips were swinging from left to right... It was very entertainining, I don’t think I’m going to forget this evening for as long as I live.”
Pete’s too sexy for his shirt
Pete’s Couple’s Choice impressed the judges and saw him land joint third place on the leaderboard last week (by far his best finish). And now, after such an emotional performance last week, he’s doing a Cha Cha to “I’m Too Sexy”. God, I love this show.
This routine is quite simple fo this stage in the competition but you know what, it is one of the campest things I’ve ever seen and that surely deserves some extra points. Also, what are they doing with the pink fur coat after this week because I would quite like to own it.
Wynne’s scores are in...
It’s a 7 from Craig and 8s from Motsi, Shirley and Anton, giving him a total of 31.
Craig gives his verdict on Wynne’s swivel
“It was very flat-footed,” he said. “Your swivel was actually ok to start with, the left foot doesn’t work by the way, but you were getting there. What you lacked in technique, you made up for in entertainment.”
I think Wynne is going to need a fair few votes from viewers to make it through to next week.
Wynne’s up next with a Charleston
I do love a Blackpool Week Charleston.
Wynne was second from the bottom of the leaderboard last week and almost left the competition after a tightly fought dance off against Shayne Ward.
He needed to pull something special out of the bag tonight and that was certainly quite something, though there were a few mistakes and it seems the Charleston isn’t necessarily Wynne’s dance. Did he master the swivel? I’m not 100% sure and will defer to Craig on this one...
Sarah’s scores are in...
A 9 from Craig and 10s across the board give Sarah a total of 39, putting her top of the leaderboard (for now at least!).
Sarah performs a Couple’s Choice
A Couple’s Choice to Padam Padam? This is the dance I’ve been looking forward to most tonight and, quite frankly, what I pay my license fee for.
That was absolutely sensational. Sarah looks stunning and she was brimming with confidence.
Craig’s critique has the audience in stitches. “That’s my only gripe... it was a little bit too perfect,” he said. “It lacked attitude in those still moments to bring you out of the crowd.” I’m guessing his 10 paddle will remain untouched.
The other judges have heaped praise on the routine though, Shirley says it’s Sarah’s best dance yet and Motsi has labelled her “iconic”.
“You had perfect timing, you had perfect co-ordination,” said Anton. “It was extraordinary.”
Montell’s scores are in...
She’s received an 8 and three 9s, for a total of 35 — making it the highest scored Salsa of the series.
The judges are (mostly) loving Montell’s Salsa
“I mean... I just kept on saying ‘woah’,” Motsi said. “[You’re] the biggest showgirl ever tonight. You looked so at ease with so much joy, your improvement has been consistant, that was amazing.”
Shirley has paid the ultimate compliment: “You looked like one of the professionals to me.”
And Craig? “I felt like you needed to engage your body a little more,” he said. “It needed to be a little more seamless than it was. But all that being said, you have the most incredible rhytym and you sell a number 100%.”
Montell and Johannes perform a Salsa
Montell has been consistently improving as the series has gone along, clearly taking on the judges’ comments and loving every second she has on the dancefloor with Johannes.
Last week, they ended up joint third on the leaderboard and have started to look like they could be in with a place in the final.
This is a really fun Salsa. Montell and Johannes both look amazing, the Gladiators star has a lot of natural rhythm and she’s totally unfazed by dancing solo, away from her partner.
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