Strictly Come Dancing live: Paul Merson’s Vindaloo nightmare leaves fans divided over week one dance
The pressure is on as celebrity contestants perform live for the first time this season
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Strictly Come Dancing has returned to our screens for the first live show of the series.
The new season kicked off last week with a dazzling pre-recorded show to mark the beginning of its 20th anniversary series after months of scandal surrounding the programme’s professional dancers.
However, the pressure will rise this week as the 15 celebrity contestants perform live for the first time before the voting – and first elimination of the series – happens next weekend.
This week’s routines include three cha chas, two foxtrots, two tangos, two sambas and a Viennese waltz.
Comedian Chris McCausland and his partner Dianne Buswell perform a cha cha to “Twist and Shout”’ by The Beatles, with TV doctor Punam Krishnan and Gorka Márquez performing the same style to Kylie Minogue’s “Love at First Sight”.
Former Love Island contestant Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec danced a cha cha to Sabrina Carpenter’s summer anthem, “Espresso”.
As announced last week, former Arsenal/England player Paul Merson paid homage to his sport by performing the intriguing combination of an American Smooth to the popular football chant song “Vindaloo” by Fat Les.
Gladiators star Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe foxtrotted to “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby?” by Dinah Washington, while Olympic Hockey player Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin also performed a foxtrot to The Supremes’ hit “Where Did Our Love Go”.
Tango-ing this week Olympic swimmer Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova danced to Harry Styles’s “Golden”, while Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones performed to Madonna’s “Ray of Light”.
In the samba corner were Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu, dancing to Stevie Wonder’s “Do I Do”, and Wynne Evans and Katya Jones performing Tom Jones’s “Help Yourself”.
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TOWIE’s Pete Wicks and his partner Jowita Przystał performed a paso doble to “Breathe” by The Prodigy.
EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas danced a Viennese Waltz to Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” and JLS’s JB Gill and Amy Dowden performed a classic waltz to “When I Need You” by Leo Sayer.
A standing ovation for Amy
It’s also a real joy to see Amy back in the ballroom after she had to miss last year’s competition while being treated for breast cancer. As Shirley says, she’s home where she belongs. What a well-deserved standing ovation.
JB and Amy’s scores are in
It’s 7, 8, 8 and 8 for JB and Amy’s waltz, placing them at the top of the leaderboard so far. Will any of the upcoming performers be able to unseat them?
The scores are in for Pete and Jowita
You’ve got to love an entirely unexpected simile from Craig. “You look like you’re going for a leisurely stroll through the Port Talbot steelworks, darling” is his verdict on Pete and Jowita’s Paso Doble. Shirley’s commentary is a bit more straightforward: it “wasn’t her cup of tea”.
It’s a 4, 5, 3, and 5 from the judges, giving them 17 points in total.
It’s nearly time for Sarah and Vito’s routine
Before they take to the floor, you can catch up on our chat with Sarah here
Sarah Hadland on Strictly: ‘It was made clear that our welfare would be top priority’
The comedy star tells Katie Rosseinsky why she finally signed up for the dance show, how she kept it from friends, including Miranda Hart, and why every contestant now has a chaperone
An impressive start for Sarah and Vito
8, 8, 7 and 7 gives Sarah and Vito a total of 30... and they’ve managed to pull off the highest scoring week one quickstep ever, which is no mean feat.
Tom and Nadiya’s scores are in
It’s 5, 6, 6 and 6 for this “Golden” couple.
Gorka and Dr Punam take on Kylie
Will it be “Love at First Sight” for the judges? This is your weekly reminder that Dr Punam is carrying on working as a GP while training for Strictly.
Another week, another oh so casually undone shirt from Gorka. Dare I say he’s channeling heyday era JLS – has he been comparing wardrobe notes with JB Gill?
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