Saturday 1st October - Leaderboard

So combined leaderboard for the weekend is as follows (my scores in brackets):

1. 32 points - Jason & Kristina (7)
2. 28 points - Holly & Artem (6)
2. 28 points - Anita & Robin (7)
2. 28 points - Harry & Aliona (7)
5. 27 points - Rory & Erin (6)
5. 27 points - Chelsee & Pasha (8)
7. 24 points - Dan & Katya (6)
8. 22 points - Alex & James (6)
9. 21 points - Russell & Flavia (6.5)
10. 20 points - Audley & Natalie (6)
11. 19 points - Robbie & Ola (5)
12. 17 points - Lulu & Brendan (4)
12. 17 points - Edwina & Vincent (5)
14. 12 points - Nancy & Anton (-)

I would personally have Chelsee level with Jason, if not slightly above, but the table is fairly accurate.  A shame for Nancy and Anton, they're going to have to really work hard next week - especially as it's Salsa.

Do you agree with the judges scores this weekend, who would be top of your table?

Jason Donovan & Kristina Rihanoff - Cha Cha Cha

I've often considered acquiring a neck brace to torture my students with, Jason's performance tonight may make my mind up for me.

Russell may have performed 'the campest Cha Cha Strictly's ever seen' but Jason wouldn't be far behind after that start.  Some nice hip action though, but he does get out of step on his Natural Top.  His backward locks could be a bit softer but there's a lot of energy there and a very good first dance.

I'm going to give him a 7.

Craig: 8 "Bonsa, beauty" and a few other Aussie phrases that I couldn't quite understand!
Len: 8 "Best dance of the night"
Alesha: 8 "Fantastic"
Bruno: 8 "Jason Donovan is in Cha Cha Charge...now Strictly's in business"

Total Score: 32

So top score of the weekend, don't quite agree with it myself but Jason has definitely come out of the blocks flying.

Nancy Dell'Olio & Anton Du Beke - Waltz

Two big egos, one dance, plenty of humour, though I don't think the feather boa was part of the routine and unfortunately it's pretty much ruined the whole performance.

A complete mess I don't feel it's fair to even give it a score, I think Craig especially will be harsh.

Craig: 1 "A word of advice darling, forget props all together"
Len: 4 "Too long messing about on the settee...the actual bit of dancing is good...do a straight dance with her"
Alesha: 3 "You are the glamour puss on Strictly this year...we've all been there, you go wrong, you carry on"
Bruno: 4 "I was looking forward to the story telling...turned into a disaster"

Total Score: 12

Edwina Currie & Vincent Simone - Cha Cha Cha

Edwina had quite a good hip action developing in training so I hope to see more of that tonight, not sure on the outfit they've put her in though.

She needs to avoid picking her feet up quite so dramatically, and the floor spin for Vincent is definitely a departure.  A lot of repetition in the routine which is a shame.  It's a little bit forced at times but you can't compare her to Ann Widdecombe thankfully.

It was fun but only a 5 from me I'm afraid.

Craig: 2
Len: 5 "Great fun and you danced it with full-on confidence"
Alesha: 5 "Pitched that perfectly...actually quite a good bit of rhythm"
Bruno: 5 "The old cougar got to dance with the toy boy...bit flat footed and messy, but fun"

Total Score: 17

Chelsee Healey & Pasha Kovalev - Waltz

After seeing her initial training video Chelsee was my early front runner, please don't let me down tonight!

So far so good, there's just something about the way Chelsee holds herself when she dances, and she has a wonderful top line.  A few stumbles here and there but this is one of the best first dances I can remember, so far she's living up to my early expectations.  Very well done Chelsee, almost perfect but the few stumbles force me to give you an 8.

Craig: 7 "The whirling dervish...slightly frenzied...phrasing absolutely excellent...few balance issues throughout"
Len: 6 "Started off with great elegance...don't expect from a young girl...near the end turned a bit manic"
Alesha: 7 "Beautifully feminine...still kept the romantic side of it...probably more of a booty shaker"
Bruno: 7 "I know there were a few stumbles...you have the ability naturally to extend your line...takes people years...you do that beautifully"

Total Score: 27

Very surprised by that, I thought she was by far the best dance so far this weekend, and the 6 Len...hmmm!

Alex Jones & James Jordan - Cha Cha Cha

So no explanation for the change in dance order, maybe the BBC just decided they fancied a change (Alex and James were originally scheduled to dance last night but were swapped with Holly and Artem at the last minute)?

Not sure on the 'sexy' start, doesn't strike me as Alex's personality and actually this routine's start shares a lot with James' Rumba routine with Cherie Lunghi (only notice because I recently helped a wedding couple recreate it for their first dance).

Alex's leg action doesn't look as sharp as it could be and she's taking too big a step for my liking, there's also a bit too much of her standing around rather than dancing.  Just a 6 from me.

Craig: 4 "One foot should remain on the floor at all times...looked incongruous...very starchy, very stiff"
Len: 6 "Parts that were really good...few that were nearly good...first time out, excellent job"
Alesha: 6 "I thought it was fun and flirty...got the package, just got to really believe in you"
Bruno: 6 "Believe in yourself, go for it all the way"

Total Score: 22

Rory Bremner & Erin Boag - Waltz

Rory looked really good in the launch show and in training, he has a bit of a Tony Blair smile on him tonight, and he could lower his shoulders to make his frame look a lot more relaxed.

I love this track for a Waltz, I'll have to find a suitable version to add to our playlist.

Overall an accomplished Waltz but he was a bit ahead of Erin at times, and some heel leads look a bit too obvious, just a 6 from me.

Craig: 6 "Make sure your head follows your body...heel leads slightly exaggerated...danced with elegance"
Len: 7 "First class impression of a Waltz...bum sticks out a bit...heel leads a bit too deliberate"
Alesha: 7 "Little bit rough around the edges...just got to watch your posture"
Bruno: 7 "Wasn't bad at all...relax because you're good"

Total Score: 27

Harry Judd & Aliona Vilani - Cha Cha Cha

Harry's the only celebrity competitor with prior Strictly experience, but Paso is completely different from Cha Cha so I don't think it's a massive advantage.

I'm liking this Argentine Tango inspired start, Harry's definitely looking good and it's a massive improvement over any of Friday's Cha Cha's.

A bit too much 'arm on the waistcoat' positioning, obviously he wasn't confident having his arms out, or Aliona decided he really didn't look good doing it.

Harry suffers from the same ailment as the girls from last night, spending a bit too much time looking at the floor.  Hips are a little rigid but leg placement and sharpness is good, I can see why the bookies have Harry down as the favourite.

A very good Cha Cha from Harry.  I'd like to see a bit more from his arms and hips so not quite an 8 for me but definitely a 7.

Craig: 6 "For me too placed, too clean, too straight...lacked any real forward and back hip action"
Len: 7 "Little bit mechanical but I'll tell you what...good you are"
Alesha: 8 "I love how focused you were...working the sexy, seductive look...Latin really suits you"
Bruno: 7 "Very fit, tight, muscular & masculine performance...could be a little bit more sinuous"

Total Score: 28

A much more realistic 8 this time Alesha

Strictly first night leaderboard

So the first show draws to a close and the leaderboard is as follows:

1. 28 points - Holly & Artem
1. 28 points - Anita & Robin
3. 24 points - Dan & Katya
4. 21 points - Russell & Flavia
5. 20 points - Audley & Natalie
6. 19 points - Robbie & Ola
7. 17 points - Lulu & Brendan

I'd have put Anita & Robin on their own at the top but otherwise I think the leaderboard is a fairly accurate reflection.

You don't have to wait long for my next round of critiques, just got to press play on the recorder and carry straight on with the blogging...watch this space!

Russell Grant & Flavia Cacace - Cha Cha Cha

I wonder if all of Russell's songs will be astronomically based...?

A surprisingly good start from Russell with good rhythm and hip action and definitely some sass (though that's normally expected from the girl Russell!)

Needs to be a little less violent with his arm placements in the New Yorks, and he looks a little puffed out though that's purely because he's putting so much energy into it.

I'm actually rather impressed with his Cha Cha, much better than I was expecting!  I don't quite know how to mark this one, a lot more energy than any of the other Cha Cha's but can I really give it a 7...I'm going to cheat and say 6.5!

Craig: 4 "definitely the birth of something...certainly wasn't Venus"
Len: 5 "don't worry about Robbie Savage and Audley, this is macho!"
Alesha: 6 "let's go clubbing together...he's the man to get the party going"
Bruno: 6 "it's like watching Frankie Howard doing banarama...couldn't be camper if you tried"

Total Score: 21