Strictly Come Dancing: Shayne Ward hits back on criticism he was ‘over-confident’
All the updates from week two of the BBC dancing competition
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Your support makes all the difference.Strictly Come Dancing week two was eventful. Shayne Ward hit back at social media abuse, Chris McCausland made the best joke of the season, we had a Shania Twain number and Nick Knowles managed to dance after an injury meant he could only train for 16 hours.
In his VT ahead of performing, singer Ward said: “After the show on Saturday [of week one] I received some negative comments on social media saying I was over-confident. Some of them did get to me, when in truth I’m only human, I was scared, I was terrified. And I hid it behind as much smiling as possible.”
He was then shown hugging his partner Nancy Xu, before they performed their Tango to “The Door” by Teddy Swims. Head judge Shirley Ballas said: “I’ve seen the way the week’s gone for you and it hasn’t been pleasant in any way, shape or form.”
The first two weeks of the BBC competition had eased this year’s crop of stars into proceedings, with a launch show that saw the contestants partnered with their respective professional, and a first week of dances in which nobody was eliminated.
However, tonight, the judges’ scores from last week rolled over and will then be combined with the viewer vote, meaning two couples will have to take part in the dreaded dance-off during Sunday’s results show (29 September).
Catch up on the events of week two here...
A reminder of last week’s scores
This week, the judges’ scores from last week will roll over and will then be combined with the viewer vote, meaning two couples will have to take part in the dreaded dance-off tomorrow.
“We don’t want to lose anyone, but we must.” Is it just me or was Claudia Winkleman channelling her brutal Traitors energy when she delivered this line during tonight’s opening?
Strictly 2024 leaderboard: The scores from week one of the BBC dance competition
Recapping how the judges marked the ‘Strictly’ couples in week one
Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova do the Cha Cha
They’re all glitter for their dance to “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire. Last week these two scored 23. Can they beat it?
Tom Dean’s scores are in...
A 3 from Craig, a 6 from Motsi, a 5 from Shirley and a 6 from Anton is...... 20! Not as good as last week’s 23 but here’s a lush pic of them in all their glitter
Punam is dancing to Shania
If you’re dancing to Shania Twain, you’ve got my vote. Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez’s Foxtrot to “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” is in full swing and they’re looking sleek all in black. Gorka’s trousers are making me think of that Friends scene with Ross and the leather trousers and the talc and the cream...
Punam’s scores are in
So, Anton compared Punam to a floppy fish. Not super ideal. But the scores are in...
A 4 from Craig, 5 from Motsi, 4 from Shirley and 5 from Anton - that’s 18. One point off last week’s 19... but she’s never danced before! And she’s just danced to Shania on BBC One on a Saturday night ! Go girl.
Paul Merson leaves Shirley speechless
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer have done the Salsa to “Fireball” by Pitbull. And now they’re being eviscerated by the judges.
Well, it certainly wasn’t as wild as last week’s American Smooth to “Vindaloo”, but my colleague did just say: “Oh gawd he’s giving bbq dad.”
As Anton put it: “I don’t want to talk to you about the technique because there wasn’t any.” Shirley said she was “speechless”.
Paul’s scores are in
Bless Paul, he said even his wife “slaughtered” his performance when she saw a video of rehearsals. It was a 2 from Craig, 4 from Motsi, 4 from Shirley and 5 from Anton
Chris McCausland makes hilarious dig at Craig
“By the sound of it, Craig is blinder than I am” - this was what Chris, the show’s first ever blind contestant, had to say after Craig dissed Paul’s week two dance. Love it
Wynne’s scores are in
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones danced the Viennese Waltz to “The Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss II
The moving dance received a 7 from Craig, a 7 from Motsi, an 8 from Shirley and an 8 from Anton, that’s 30... so a good improvement on last week’s 26!
Can JB top the leaderboard again?
In week one, the leaderboard was topped with 31 points by JLS star JB Gill and Amy Dowden.
This week, they performed the Cha Cha to “Closer” by Ne-Yo...
The scores were 7 from Craig, 7 from Motsi, 6 from Shirley and 7 from Anton. That’s 27... still fairly strong but is it enough?
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