Strictly Come Dancing - Saturday 20th November

Ok so it's a little bit late, but we've been working out in St Lucia so I'm sure you'll forgive us a small delay!

I have a confession though, I already know who went home on both of the two weeks that I missed (pretty difficult to avoid the whole internet and all our students in a 3 week period!), however I will endeavour to comment accurately and without prejudice.

First up on the show tonight is Patsy Kensit & Robin Windsor

Those in the know will realise that I link my images straight into the BBC mini-site so it's lucky I know who went last week otherwise this would've been a massive clue (the greyed out image!)

Patsy has Samba tonight and I've always been concerned about her energy so not expecting much tonight.  It's not a bad start though her legs are a little messy looking.  As Emma points out though, she does have good hand shaping.

The second half of the routine goes a little astray at times and her hips could feature more but overall not a bad start to the show.

One of her better dances but I'm only going to give it a 7.

Craig: 6 "Besides the obvious wrong footwork, did lack hip action...could be a little bit free-er"
Len: 7 "Lot of nice basic steps...got on the wrong foot somehow...trying to [forget it]"
Alisha: 8 "Stunning, like a real showgirl...captured the feel of the Samba"
Bruno: 7 "Glitzy and sexy...because of the impetus you missed some steps...willing to give it all"

Total Score: 28

Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev

Kara & Artem have American Smooth this week, and a serious injury in training could have prevented them from performing tonight, however Artem performs anyway as that's what us professionals have to do!

It seems they're doing a Tango/Paso American Smooth...and the offending lift goes by without a hitch...and it's actually a Foxtrot now it's kicked in.

Not really seeing anything in hold though, I'm pretty sure 30%-40% is supposed to be in hold.  It's an excellent routine but I only saw one section in hold.

Will they be penalised for that, who knows, for me it's excellent but have to penalise for the rule breaking, but still a 9!

Craig: 9 "I can only agree...gorgeous lines...arm placement is absolutely beyond...Fab-u-lous darling"
Len: 6 "I don't want to be the party pooper...confused as a baby in a topless bar...you didn't take up hold once...I loved the routine, fabulous routine...[but] it wasn't a Foxtrot so how can I judge it as a Foxtrot"
Alisha: 10 "Seductive, smooth, intense...mystical feel...so brave to come out and do [the lift]"
Bruno: 10 "Truly inspired and inspiring American Smooth...fluid...dramatic...star turn"

Total Score: 35

I think 6 was harsh Len

Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani

They have Samba tonight and I'm not sure about the hips in the VT.

Great song, hips are quite good at the start, though hands are a little strange.  Some nice lines and there's a nice amount of bounce, not too much.

Finishes with a few backflips, which Len is not going to like I imagine.

Really nothing for me to criticise on so I think we could be seeing their first 10!


Craig: 9 "Thought your hip action was very good, thought your bounce action was very good"
Len: 9 "I'm almost in agreement with Craig...wasn't too keen on those flip-flops at the end...because you can do something doesn't mean you can put it in the routine...I had a boy that could fart God Save The Queen!"
Alisha: 10
Bruno: 10 "I've never seen a competitor (who wasn't a professional)...moving his bum in that way"

Total Score: 38

I wonder if he hadn't done those backflips whether Len would've given a 10...?

Felicity Kendal & Vincent Simone

I think American Smooth could definitely be nearer Felicity's abilities than Samba would have been.  They start with a very Hollywood scene and then their Foxtrot starts.

I'm afraid to say it's a very pedestrian and boring start and doesn't pick up until their first lift.

Except for the lifts the only time the routine picks up is when Felicity starts kicking her legs up in time to the music.  For me the rest of the routine was completely uninspired.

I really can't give this a high mark and I think it's a 6 from me.

Craig: 7 "I would've liked to have seen a little bit more rise and fall throughout the routine"
Len: 7 "Lifts were excellent...lacked movement"
Alisha: 8 "I like the lifts...I think that was your best dance"
Bruno: 8

Total Score: 30

Personally a little high if you ask me.

Gavin Henson & Katya Virshilas

Quite a scary lift they have planned for this American Smooth.  A bit of Tom Jones which doesn't quite scream "Foxtrot" if you ask me.

The lift goes by almost without a hitch, Katya looks positively petrified and very obviously tries to steady herself.

Gavin looks uncomfortable out of hold at times, especially spinning from side-to-side, but actually it's a commendable performance, and infinitely better than Felicity Kendal's.

Improving all the time, and starting to show some personality, but just a 7 this time.

Craig: 4 "Lame and lacklustre"
Len: 7 "What Craig's just said is totally incorrect...parts of that were excellent dancing...overall a very good performance"
Alisha: 8 "Don't let this knock your confidence...brave to do those lifts...moving in the right direction"
Bruno: 8 "Why do you get nervous...some of the sequences...were very very good"

Total Score: 27

Scott Maslen & Natalie Lowe

Ok not a bad start, though far too bouncy for my liking and the hips look a little wooden at times and there's a slight slip in the shadow voltas.

Not a bad Samba, though not as good as Matt's. 

I'm going to give it an 8 I think.

Craig: 6 "You tried hard, without success"
Len:8
Alisha: 9 "You really gave it a good go Scott...right up there with the rest of them."
Bruno: 9 "You always perform, you always deliver"

Total Score: 32

Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan

Another scary looking lift in this one it seems.

Pamela's facial expression is a bit disturbing at the start, but they look good once they start, though they've changed the lift for an easier (and less likely to hospitalise Pamela) one.  Shoulders look a little uncomfortable at times.

A nice fish lift too.  A slight stumble by James as he goes in for the final lift but they manage it without incident.

A good dance, not quite perfect but definitely worth a 9.

Craig: 8 "Very well structured routine...do need to keep the shoulders down"
Len: 9 "Best American Smooth of the night"
Alisha: 10 "Queen of Blackpool tonight."
Bruno: 10 "Come up and see me some time...American Frisky...fantastically danced"

Total Score: 37

Finally we've got Ann Widdecombe & Anton Du Beke with their [attempt at] Samba...

Aside from Ann looking like a big yellow canary I actually think Anton's outfit is worse.

There's definitely an attempt at basic there but most of the routine (unsurprisingly) consists of Ann walking around.

Anton then chucks Ann, spins her around on the floor, spins her just off the ground, then drops her with Ann's bum to camera which she hastily drops her dress back down to cover.

Not as entertaining as some of her previous dances for me, just a 5.

Craig: 1 "Overwhelmingly awful"
Len: 5 "It's like hemorrhoids, keep coming back more painful than ever...did make me laugh"
Alisha: 4 "As bright as your outfits"
Bruno: 3 "Like a canary that was trying to take flight...never took off"

Total Score: 13

Leader Board

1. 38 points - Matt & Aliona
2. 37 points - Pamela & James
3. 35 points - Kara & Artem
4. 32 points - Scott & Natalie
5. 30 points - Felicity & Vincent
6. 28 points - Patsy & Robin
7. 27 points - Gavin & Katya
8. 13 points - Ann & Anton

Even though I know Felicity went home this week I would still have predicted her to go home, with Patsy joining her in the bottom two.

Results

So the bottom two went as I predicted, and Felicity went home as I already knew...now to watch the following week's before tonight's show.