COULD IT BE LAST TANGO FOR BALLS?
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Ed Balls transformed from expolitician into male model last night as he offered pouts and alluring stares in a bid to reach the competition’s quarter-final.
The former shadow chancellor – who is favouorite to be voted off the show tonight – gripped a rose between his teeth as he tangoed across the dance floor with professional dance partner Katya Jones to Rolling Stones’ hit (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.
His dancing was described as like “junk food” by judge Bruno Tonioli, who added “you know it’s bad for you but you just can’t help it”.
Len Goodman called Balls “the people’s champion” as the board of judges scored him 23 points, putting him bottom of the leaderboard for the fourth week running.
Top of the leaderboard was actor Danny Mac and partner Oti Mabuse as well as singer Louise Redknapp and partner Kevin Clifton who scored 45 points each after adding their bonus scores from the Cha Cha Challenge.
The extra challenge saw the six remaining couples perform a cha cha cha at the same time to previously unheard music with judges ranking their performances at the end.
Balls and Jones finished last in the challenge, adding one point to their 23, while Redknapp and Clifton took the cha cha cha crown, scoring six points.
For the second week running Mac scored a perfect 40 after a rhythmic samba to Magalenha by Sergio Mendes.
Goodman lauded praise on the Hollyoaks actor, describing his hip movement “like a snake”.
Redknapp’s waltz to Michael Buble’s At This Moment scored 39 just ahead of BBC presenter Ore Oduba, who received 36 for a dramatic paso doble with partner Joanne Clifton to Lorde’s Everybody Wants To Rule The World.
Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane also scored 36 with her Argentine Tango to Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me A River but ended week 10 fourth on the leaderboard after collecting three points in the Cha Cha challenge to Oduba’s four.
Just ahead of Balls in the leaderboard is Judge Rinder who picked up 29 points for his rumba to Lean On Me by Bill Withers and collected another two for his cha cha cha efforts.
Despite channelling his inner red carpet glow, Balls is the favourite to leave this week’s show, according to bookies Coral.
“The betting suggests Ed Balls’ surprising run on Strictly Come Dancing this year could be coming to an end this weekend as he is odds-on to be eliminated, with Robert Rinder most likely to be in the dance-off with the former Shadow Chancellor,” said Coral’s John Hill.
Ahead of yesterday’s show, Balls had laughed off suggestions that judge Darcy Bussell wanted him out this weekend.
He said: “It’s a fabulous show which everyone really enjoys every week. Did anybody think I would get to week 10? I certainly didn’t.
“Of course there’s a lot better dancers. They were better at the beginning and they’re much better than me now.
“But all you can do is try your hardest, do your best and try to entertain.”
Strictly returns tonight at 7.20pm on BBC One.