Strictly Come Dancing: Amy Dowden in tears at JB Gill’s score as Sarah Hadland wows with Madonna tribute
The professional dancer fell ill during the filming of last weeks show
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Your support makes all the difference.Strictly Come Dancing returned to BBC One tonight for week seven of the show with a special theme, though professional dancer Amy Dowden was unable to dance following a health emergency.
The Welsh dancer, who is partnered with JLS singer JB Gill, fell ill during the filming of last week’s live show (26 October). An ambulance was summoned to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood and the 34-year-old was taken to hospital. A spokesperson for the dancer later said that the ambulance was “just a precaution”.
Fellow pro dancer Lauren Oakley instead partnered with Gill for the Couple’s Choice, which won high praise from the judges and landed the JLS star his first 10s of the series. Dowden joined the pair in the Clauditorium as the scores were delivered and became emotional as the numbers were revealed.
Icons Week is celebrating 20 years of Strictly Come Dancing with couples dancing to songs by music legends such as Whitney Houston, Shirley Bassey and Queen.
Gill and Oakley topped the leaderboard along with Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, who performed a Couple’s Choice to “What About Us” by P!nk. Both pairs landed totals of 39, with Craig Revel Horwood still yet to reach for his 10 paddle.
Another standout performance came from Sarah Hadland, who transformed into Madonna for a dramatic Cha Cha. She finished in third place on the leaderboard.
Chris McCausland reveals biggest fear as Strictly’s first blind contestant
Chris McCausland has opened up about the pressures of being the show’s first blind contestant and revealed his biggest fear because of it.
“There’s no hiding from the fact that I am doing this not being able to see where I am or what I am doing,” he told The Times. “It’s nice that they acknowledge that.”
As well as the accessibility challenges of the competition, McCausland revealed his biggest fear in the contest.
“I always find it quite overwhelming at the end of the dances — for various reasons, but if I drop Dianne on her head I can’t really style that out,” he explained. “So the release of the nerves, and the audience reaction, I have to take a moment.”
However, he said he appreciated that he doesn’t get special treatment because of his disability.
“I think it’s also good that Craig [Revel Horwood] maintains his character on it and criticises me. I poke him back with a stick and see what I get out of him. I’m good with that. That’s what the show is.”
20 minutes until tonight’s show
This is your 20-minute warning! Put the kettle on (or pop open the prosecco) and get the snacks ready. It’s almost time for Icons Week.
Icons Week has begun
And we’re off! Tonight’s show certainly looks like it could be a good one with our remaining 10 celebrities transforming into the musical icons who have inspired them.
It’s quite an eclectic mix with Taylor Swift, KISS and Shirley Bassey among the artists they’ll be paying tribute to. And we have two Couple’s Choice routines on the schedule too. All of the ones we’ve seen so far this series have scored highly - could we see the first 40 of Strictly 2024? Stay tuned...
Icons Week has begun
And we’re off! Tonight’s show certainly looks like it could be a good one with our remaining 10 celebrities transforming into the musical icons who have inspired them.
It’s quite an eclectic mix with Taylor Swift, KISS and Shirley Bassey among the artists they’ll be paying tribute to. And we have two Couple’s Choice routines on the schedule too. All of the ones we’ve seen so far this series have scored highly - could we see the first 40 of Strictly 2024? Stay tuned...
Pete Wicks is Freddie Mercury
Pete still has a long way to go but he’s without a doubt improved a lot. Last week, he getting into character as the Joker really helped his performance, and he makes a good Freddue Mercury too! His Salsa though... the lifts were brave, let’s just say that?
Pete Wicks is Freddie Mercury
Pete still has a long way to go but he’s without a doubt improved a lot. Last week, he getting into character as the Joker really helped his performance, and he makes a good Freddue Mercury too! His Salsa though... the lifts were brave, let’s just say that?
Pete’s scores are in...
Pete could be in trouble this week.
He’s received a 4 and three 6s, giving him a total of 22.
The scores won’t have come aqs too much of a shock to Pete though, follpowing the judges’ critiques.
Shirley told him: “You made quite a lot of mistakes, but what I was impressed with was how you picked it up. You carried like a trooper, you did your lifts and got on with it and did the job.”
“What a terrible shame,” Craig added. “It lacked rotation, it lacked fluidity, timing was out, it was stompy.” He did praise the former TOWIE star’s lifts though, so that’s something!
Wynne’s up next
I’ll get to his dance in a minute but can we take a moment for that Strictly singer? And Wynne’s singing at the end!
That was wonderful and it’s lovely to see a couple do something a bit different with the Rumba.
“Well that... wow. The best ending to any numbr I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” said Anton. “Unbelievable. Stunning.”
Wynne’s up next
I’ll get to his dance in a minute but can we take a moment for that Strictly singer? And Wynne’s singing at the end!
That was wonderful and it’s lovely to see a couple do something a bit different with the Rumba.
“Well that... wow. The best ending to any numbr I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” said Anton. “Unbelievable. Stunning.”
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