Strictly CONFIDENTIAL
WHAT a week! First Robert Webb left due to ill health and then it was announced Ugo Monye can’t dance tonight because of back problems. But despite the drama, Shirley Ballas will be, as ever, serenity personified.
Have you ever wondered how pint-size Shirley manages to measure up to her fellow judges? Well, I can let you into a secret: the head judge sits atop a pile of four cushions – red velvet, of course.
Last Saturday’s movie week was the usual spectacular affair but what viewers don’t see was the crew dismantling and restaging the sets. Then there was the costume and make-up marathon. For his rumba, Adam Peaty’s blue body paint was the biggest job the artists have ever done – 6½ hours!
I think he was great and the marking that put him bottom harsh. This week he has the first Argentine tango of the series but with his Olympic attitude, he’ll pick himself up.
Dan Walker really needs to improve his frame. He is dancing the cha-cha-cha to MC Hammer – difficult with those long limbs.
Sara Davies did really well in her Shrek-themed samba but is back to ballroom with a tango, and that’s what she does best.
AJ Odudu’s dramatic American smooth made me wish I was dancing it. Tonight she has the dreaded samba but will be a force to be reckoned with.
But Rob’s departure changes the dynamic. It puts pressure on weaker couples to work extra hard to knock the good couples out – those being AJ, John Whaite, Rhys Stephenson and Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Greg Wise’s James Bond paso doble had strong lines but he looked stiff, so tonight’s samba will be his toughest challenge yet.
Tilly Ramsay’s jive was brilliantly choreographed but she made mistakes. This week she has the paso doble so she needs to perform better because the competition is fierce – not least from Rose whose foxtrot to the Titanic theme was so exquisite it brought a tear to my eye. She has the cha-cha-cha this week and will need strong leg action.
Rhys’s freestyle was tremendous – hip hop at its best. But I think tonight’s samba could put him at the top of the leaderboard.
Tom Fletcher’s jive was packed with high kicks and flicks but tonight he’ll be doing his first ballroom dance, a foxtrot to Fly Me To The Moon. I expect great things.
John’s pirate paso doble was thrilling but the American smooth foxtrot will demand a change of control. Can he pull it off?
Judi Love survived the dance-off, which saw Katie McGlynn eliminated, with a polished Charleston. Tonight Judi needs to show she deserved to stay with her waltz.
Greg and Judi will be in the dance-off, I fear. And I’m nervous for Dan. These three need all the public votes they can get.