Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Frontrunner Aston Merrygold brings 'Despacito' to the ballroom in week 2
Standing ovations and dance disasters were peppered throughout the evening’s performances
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The stakes are rising at a breathless pace in this year's Strictly Come Dancing just one week after this year’s crop of celebrities dusted off their sequins for the very first time.
Week two saw high scores, standing ovations and dance disasters peppered throughout the evening’s performances in a show which saw the frontrunners for 2017 emerge.
Setting the tone for the rest of the show, former JLS star Aston Merrygold impressed judges and audiences alike with a neon festival-themed salsa.
Although he worried fans by dropping partner Janette Manrara on her head during rehearsals, the risks paid off in a jaw-dropping lift sequence which earned the first 'Nine' score of this series so far.
Dancing to "Despacito" - officially one of the world's most listened to songs - Merrygold’s performance introduced an unusually eclectic mix of pop songs to the ballroom.
Maroon 5’s "Sugar" sadly couldn’t help Charlotte Hawkins’ dance branded a “complete dance disaster” by in-house Grinch Craig Revel Horwood.
Holby City actor Joe McFadden - ever likeable but with perhaps too much attack - danced a tango with partner Katya Jones.
While head judge Shirley Ballas gave McFadden a standing ovation last week, it was singer and stage actress Alexandra Burke who blew the judges away with an explosive Paso Doble on this occasion.
After last week's emotional routine, Alexandra and partner Gorka Marquez scored 36, just behind Debbie McGee who lived up to last week’s expectations by delivering a gliding Viennese waltz.
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Showing off a brand new blade and a fast-paced jive, Paralympic gold medallist Jonnie Peacock proved he’s here to stay alongside the frontrunners, with some impressive hat tricks and Shirley-approved kicks and flicks.
There’s no murder, but the drama is certainly high on the dancefloor already, as the voting opens for the series tonight.
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