Strictly Come Dancing week 1 summary

If you missed my comments on the show you can catch up below!

Felicity Kendal & Vincent Simone - Cha Cha Cha

Felicity was struggling in training with wearing high heels, and they did appear to be particularly high in the vids, but I'm hoping she's got past that.

Felicity is definitely more flexible than I was first expecting, but there's an awful lot of time wasting at the start and she does look a little uncomfortable.  I would prefer to see a bit more hip action and some thought to what she is going to do with her hands when not in hold, as they tend to just be held not really doing much.

I've seen worse first dances but I do feel there could have been a bit more there.  Would have to give it a 6 I think. 

As I mentioned in the training video I do think Vincent had his hand too high on Felicity's back during the Natural Top (probably to have greater control over her) and Craig picks up on the raised shoulder in his comments.


Judges scores are:


Craig: 4
Len: 5
Alisha: 7
Bruno: 7


Giving a first dance score of 23 (just shy of an average 6 - I'm off to a good start this year it seems!)

Scott Maslen & Natalie Lowe - Waltz

We might not be able to see it, but Scott has purportedly got a two-tone nether region, thanks to a spray-tan g-string malfunction.  Let's hope it doesn't affect his Waltz abilities too much!

The start looks a little wooden in terms of the interaction between them - Scott's doing the actions but I don't feel any emotion behind them.

However he does have a very good shoulder line once they're in hold but I just don't like it, it doesn't feel like a Waltz to me.  There just appears to be a bit too much running around and not enough actual Waltz for my liking, also there's a start, middle and finish out of hold...something I don't think Len will appreciate.

Not a bad start though, much better than I expected and I'm going to give it a 7.

Judges scores are in:

Craig: 6
Len: SE - VEN
Alisha: 8
Bruno: 8

Total score: 29

Goldie & Kristina Rihanoff - Cha Cha Cha

Goldie spent a lot of time in training playing around, now's the time to see whether he's taken things a bit more seriously for the live show.

Not a bad use of hips at the start, and though it's not really a Cha Cha I kinda like it.  A bit too Disco all round though really but it does show that Goldie has a little bit of potential.

Whilst Goldie can move and shake it I think he'll only get a 5 due to the un-Cha Cha-like choreography.

Judges appear to agree with me, now let's see how they score it:

Craig: 3
Len: 6
Alisha: 6
Bruno: 5

Total score 20

So three for three on my score predictions so far, let's see how long I can keep this up!

Patsy Kensit & Robin Windsor - Waltz

So our first chance to see what one of the new boys can achieve in the show, training looked promising so let's see what they can produce.

Liking the lighting options, and song choice.  Girls always have it better dancing Ballroom with a pro dancer and straight away this looks better than Scott's, though Patsy's shoulder line needs some work.

She didn't look entirely confident at the start, and the slip during the pivots certainly didn't help.  Overall a nice start but severely lacking in confidence, made to look much better by Robin.  Work on the posture Patsy and we should see significant improvement.

A shame but I think I can only give it a 6 this week I'm afraid Patsy.  Interesting to see her fall up the stairs to Tess's area, Emma thinks maybe the skirt has something to do with it.

Craig: 4
Len: 6
Alisha: 6
Bruno: 6

Total Score: 22

Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani - Cha Cha Cha

Matt's gymnastic history should give him a distinct advantage, and his training video looked very promising.

Oh and there's the gymnastics already making an appearance, shame he's not as steady on his feet when crouching before Aliona!  Nice hip action though.

For me the hands are a little too 'flung out' though there's some nice finishing at times.  Definitely the best Cha Cha we've seen tonight though he should probably keep palms facing downwards rather than upwards - makes it look a little 'here's my chest ladies' and the shoulder movement makes it look a bit dad dancerish!

However a very impressive first dance, too early for an 8 personally but a high 7!

Judges are going to like this I think...

Craig: 7
Len: 8
Alisha: 8
Bruno: 8

Total Score: 31

Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan - Waltz

I was very impressed with Pamela in the launch show and I'm expecting great things tonight.

Emma likes the dress, and apparently grey's a good colour on James...I don't know, I'm just looking at the dancing!

Impressive to see them starting the movement out of hold, and Pamela looks good.  I think her chin's just a little too high but this is looking to be the best (and a very impressive) Waltz.

I don't like to hand out high marks too early, but I can't give that anything less than an 8!!!

I've felt in the run-up that this could be one of the best Strictly's yet and I'm so glad that no-one is leaving this week as everyone is looking really good!

I like it, Emma likes it, Judges like it, but what do they score?

Craig: 7
Len: 8
Alisha: 8
Bruno: 8

Total Score: 31

Paul Daniels & Ola Jordan - Cha Cha Cha

Out of the starting line-up for tonight I'm afraid Paul has me the most worried, I'm hoping he can prove me wrong, but I doubt it...

Quote of the night - Emma "Ah, he's not doing awfully".  I must admit it's no John Sergeant and for 72 he's definitely not putting on a bad show.  I do think he's been brought in for the sympathy vote though.

Not an embarassment but by no means the best Cha Cha tonight.  Lucky to get 5's I think.

Craig: 2
Len: 5
Alisha: 5
Bruno: 4

Total Score: 16

Jimi Mistry & Flavia Cacace - Cha Cha Cha

One of my front runners based on the training videos, let's see if he can live up to my expectations.

Bit of a strange shirt choice, looks a little too big for Jimi and does nothing for his movement.  He can certainly move but I'm not happy with his hands and I think his shoulders need to be looked at.  Overall I'm a little bit disappointed but it wasn't a bad performance.

I think he will probably get 7's though.

Craig: 6
Len: 7
Alisha: 6
Bruno: 7

Total Score: 26

Peter Shilton & Erin Boag - Waltz

Peter needed to work more on his shoulder line in training so I'm hoping Erin has drilled it into him.

Peter needs to keep his bum in, and try to keep his feet in contact with the floor when he opens to promenade - seems to have a tendency to life his foot quite high off the floor.  Much better shoulder line, though he looks a little bit awkward at times.

A better performance than I expected but I think it'll only get a 6 I'm afraid.

Craig: 4
Len: 6
Alisha: 6
Bruno: 5

Total Score: 21

Michelle Williams & Brendan Cole - Cha Cha Cha

We didn't really see much of Michelle's dancing during the training videos so will be interesting to see what Brendan has come up with.

Interesting to see them starting on the new bridge...though I have no idea what Michelle is wearing!  I feel Michelle looks a little brittle and could do with straightening the knees more.  There was energy there but it just seemed a little messy.

I'm going to say a 6, but with potential for improvement.

Craig: 5
Len: 6
Alisha: 7
Bruno: 6

Total Score: 24

I know why they've brought Alisha in for a specific reason, but dancing know-how it ain't!  No offence to Michelle but that performance was not worth a 7.

Gavin Henson & Katya Virshilas - Waltz

Gavin should perform better at Ballroom than Latin and the beginning (albeit looking like he's trying to break Katya's neck) looks calm and controlled. However Katya is right, there isn't much emotion showing, though it's good to see him smiling throughout.

A sweet performance that I'm struggling to mark, not quite a 7 but a high 6 I'd say.

Craig: 6
Len: 8
Alisha: 7
Bruno: 7

Total Score: 28

Maybe I was a little harsh but it does bode well for the future Gavin.

Tina O'Brien & Jared Murillo - Cha Cha Cha

I'm hoping Jared has settled in now as he looked completely out of place in the launch show.  A very strange start and I'm not a big fan of all the props in week one.  Some quite nice leg action but the routine isn't really doing it for me and Tina needs to use the floor more to generate better hip action.

An ok start but disappointing overall, just a 6 really and I think that's being generous.

Craig: 5
Len: 7
Alisha: 6
Bruno: 6

Total Score: 24

I'm sorry Len but I think you're being overly generous with that 7.

Ann Widdecombe & Anton Du Beke - Waltz

Most people have put Ann & Anton in the comedy act pile and I think the height difference is definitely going to be an issue.  Interesting to see Ann wearing what appear to be practice shoes with laces, should give her a bit more stability.

Ann needs to keep her head up, and her feet down but it is a sweet performance.  Her Latin will be interesting but a good performance, far above I think most people's expectations.

Only a 5 I'm afraid but I think it could go downhill from here a la John Sergeant.

Craig: 2
Len: 5
Alisha: 5
Bruno: 5

Total Score: 17

Craig very harsh there, I don't think that deserved a 2.

Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev - Cha Cha Cha

The tipped 'hot couple' there should be lots of chemistry there, and Artem impressed me in the training videos so I'm expecting great things, even if there is a dominatrix theme apparently going on there.

A fall there from Kara, I hope she hasn't injured herself,  she does look in a lot of pain.  Good to see that Artem has worked on her arms and they look a lot better.  She needs to keep her neck straighter, she seems to be sticking her chin a bit forward near the end.

A good performance though and I think she'll get 7's.

Craig: 7
Len: 8
Alisha: 8
Bruno: 7

Total Score: 30

Strictly Come Dancing - Saturday 2nd October Leaderboard

Combined leaderboard for both nights therefore is:

1. 31 points - Matt & Aliona
1. 31 points - Pamela & James
3. 30 points - Kara & Artem
4. 29 points - Scott & Natalie
5. 28 points - Gavin & Katya
6. 26 points - Jimi & Flavia
7. 24 points - Michelle & Brendan
7. 24 points - Tina & Jared
9. 23 points - Felicity & Vincent
10. 22 points - Patsy & Robin
11. 21 points - Peter & Erin
12. 20 points - Goldie & Kristina
13. 17 points - Ann & Anton
14. 16 points - Paul & Ola

Overall the scoreboard is as expected, though I wouldn't have put Goldie down there before the show started, it was a pretty awful excuse for a Cha Cha Cha I'm afraid.

Some work required there if some of those down the bottom want to remain in the competition.