Mini breaks with the little ones
As BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing prepares to crown a new champion, MARION McMULLEN spares a thought for those who never made it past the first round
1 FASHION expert Susannah Constantine only managed one dance with her professional partner Anton Du Beke before becoming the first contestant to be booted out off this year’s show. Judge Craig Revel Horwood scored her just one point for her samba which saw Anton emerge from underneath her skirt shaking maracas. Craig described the routine as like “watching someone staggering about lost and drunk at a party”.
2 DANCING does not get tougher than this. MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace did not last long in 2014 when his Charleston with Aliona Vilani to the song Hey Good Lookin’ failed to curry favour with the judges. Gregg told presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman it was the most terrifying thing he had ever done.
3 ZOE BALL presents Strictly spin-off It Takes Two on BBC2, but that did not help her dad Johnny Ball (above) when he took part in the 2012 series. The presenter is said to have accidentally fractured partner Aliona Vilani’s ankle and he was paired with Iveta Lukosiute. Their foxtrot didn’t keep them in the competition.
4 ALIONA returned the next year to dance with golfing champ Tony Jacklin after his original partner, Natalie Lowe, was injured. He wore a bright pink and green golf-style top for his Charleston which led judge Bruno Tonioli to comment that “the most exciting thing in that was the jumper”. Tony lost out to fashion designer Julien Macdonald in the dance-off.
5 THE waltz to (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman proved unlucky for news presenter Nicholas Owen in 2006 when his dance with professional Nicole Cutler scored just 14 marks. Judge Craig just said: “Why bother?” Cricketer Mark Ramprakash went on to win the competition with his partner Karen Hardy.
6 MOTORING presenter Quentin Willson (below) wore an L plate for his cha cha cha with Hazel Newberry in the second series of Strictly and received just eight points from the judges for his efforts. Bruno said the routine was like watching a
“Reliant Robin making love to a Ferrari”.
7 BRIAN CAPRON caused a sensation as Coronation Street serial killer Richard Hillman but it was murder on the dance floor when he took part in the 2007 series. His and Karen Hardy’s waltz saw them waltzing out of the competition. Judge Bruno said: “For me it was a waltz from six feet under.”
8 POLITICIAN Edwina Currie (below) was the first to leave in 2011 when her dance moves failed to impress. Judge Len Goodman warned that her foxtrot with Vincent Simone could be her “last supper”, while Bruno described her dancing as “a bendy bus on a tight roundabout”.
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THE waltz also proved the downfall for Quadrophenia and former EastEnders actor Phil Daniels in 2008. He danced off the show with professional partner Flavia Cacace to Whitney Houston’s song I Who Have Nothing. Craig Revel Horwood scored the routine just four and told him: “It felt a little common.”
10 DJ Goldie, right, and his dance partner Kristine Rihanof were the first to leave Strictly in 2010, even though former politician Ann Wddecombe and Anton Du Beke had been bottom of the scoreboard. Goldie said on his exit: “It’s all right. I’ve had a great time and been superfit.”