Strictly Come Dancing: Five talking points from movie week
Fourteen couples channelled Fame, The Greatest Showman and Dirty Dancing for a Hollywood special
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Your support makes all the difference.A Strictly themed week is always a thing of joy, but tonight the show’s trip to the movies was even more impressive than usual. We had sensational choreography, reliably amazing costumes and a Grease-inspired routine that Shirley called “one of the best quicksteps in Strictly history”.
This is what everyone is talking about…
Faye and Giovanni do Sandy and Danny
This couple have it all – talent, likeability and Giovanni’s consistently innovative choreography. In some ways Grease is a gift of a theme, as it’s so instantly recognisable. But You’re The One That I Want is not easy quickstep music. It was a rapid, effortless, accomplished performance, that Faye delivered with charm and flair. The only bad thing about it was Giovanni’s Travolta quiff and Danny Zucko cardigan. Special mention must also be given to Katya’s choreography once again, as she turned Seann Walsh into Neo for an incredible Matrix routine, with slow-mo moments and some never-before-seen-on-Strictly steps.
From minions to Spiderman: give costume and make-up all the awards
The themed weeks are so exciting because they’re a visual feast, and that’s down to hair, make-up and costume. We had Kate in a long red wig as Jessica Rabbit, Graeme dressed as Spiderman and Dr Ranj and Janette as Aladdin and Jasmine. All exceptional, but the best look of the night had to be Kevin and Stacey as the minions from Despicable Me. They will be washing the yellow paint off their faces well into next week, and Kevin may just have to dye his hair blonde.
Ashley’s incredible lift: but is she not a professional anyway?
Everyone loves that Dirty Dancing lift, and what a relief that Ashley and Pasha managed to get it up (cough). But the usual grumbles began on social media, saying Ashley was too good to be on the show and her previous dancing experience was unfair. I’ll tell you what was unfair – Oti doing a solo in her dance so that Graeme could have 20 seconds off during the routine. It’s not Ashley’s fault she got invited onto the show, and that salsa was a treat for every viewer who loves good dancing. Leave her alone.
Who will go?
After you catch your breath from tonight’s amazing performances, you immediately start to wonder who will be sent packing. Lee and Nadiya plummeted towards the bottom of the leaderboard this week with an uninspiring Back to the Future cha cha, and last week’s dance-off proved they were struggling to get votes. It will be quite the feat if they avoid the bottom two tomorrow night. As for who will be joining them, Lauren, Dr Ranj and Katie are all in a vulnerable spot, but they’re also popular couples. It is a tough one to call.
Craig and Bruno’s bantz
These two judges are genuinely friends behind the scenes, where Craig is warmer than his on-screen persona and Bruno is a little calmer. Rumour has it he even manages to stay seated for prolonged periods of time. Despite being at opposite ends of the table they started a round of pantomime play-fighting tonight that the viewers lapped up. It all started when Craig started telling one couple their legs were not straight enough.
"You don’t know anything about being straight!" cackled Bruno, before remarking that at least he has his own hips, unlike CRH who has had both replaced. Lolz.
Strictly Come Dancing airs every Saturday on BBC One. The results show will then be aired on BBC1 on 7.15pm on Sunday night
Where's Graeme? That was a full 20 seconds of Oti dancing alone, surely not particularly fair to the other couples to put the pro out on her own? Took forever to see any Charleston basic from Graeme. Oti is a fabulous choreographer but he just looks like he's running around pretending to be Spiderman without any real dance content. Should win him some votes from children watching at home though.
Craig liked it, 'Welcome back to the competition!' he says and Darcey thinks Graeme looks good in an all in one, Brrrruno calls him a superhero. Well at least the judges liked it.
Graeme and Oti: Charleston scores
Craig: 7
Darcey: 8
Shirley: 8
Bruno: 8
Total: 31
'We nailed it!' says Graeme.
Stacey and Kevin at the top of the leaderboard and Lee and Nadiya down at the bottom. Right, down to business, Ashley and Pasha are doing a Dirty Dancing salsa featuring that infamous lift. Cannot. Wait.
Last week Ashley scored the first 9 of the series but she insists she's finding Strictly challenging despite how effortless it all looks. They're practising the Dirty Dancing lift in a pool, which is much less sexy than when Patrick Swayze did it in a lake.
Ashley's a brilliant dancer, surely her place in the final is almost guaranteed, it's difficult to work out who is the pro at times. And wow, that lift was incredible! Weird ending but a spectacular dance otherwise.
Ashley's crying. Not sure why. False modesty could be her undoing. Darcey calls her totally fearless, and recalls doing the same lift herself, says Ashley ticked all the boxes. Shirley says they did the routine justice and applauds Ashley. Brrruno says it was brilliant and so clever. This is all a lot more sophisticated than when Brendan Cole and Natasha Kaplinsky did their Dirty Dancing showdance in series one.
Craig said he once tried the same lift and got a hernia. Brrrrruno and Craig having a camp catfight now, possibly the best thing to have happened on the series so far.
Ashley and Pasha: Salsa scores
Craig: 8
Darcey: 9
Shirley: 9
Bruno: 9
Total: 35
'I'm so happy, it didn't go like that in rehearsals!' says Ashley.
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