Twirls, tears and tension as it all kicks off

Strictly Come Dancing

Twirls, tears and tension combined to knockout effect as Strictly Come Dancing 2021 (BBC One) kicked off in earnest with the first live episode of the latest series. After the razzmatazz of launch night the previous week, there was that unmistakeable sense that the stakes had been raised for the 15 contestants who, all of a sudden, had to let their feet do the talking.

There were no eliminations but the verdict of the judges will carry over to seven days hence. So anyone making a ha-ha-hash of their cha-cha-cha could soon be watching at home along with their audience. That whiff of jeopardy was the vital secret ingredient as the celebrity hoofers vied to create a splash.

There was lots of high drama in a thoroughly solid instalment. Strictly’s first all-male dance couple of John Whaite and Johannes Radebe blitzed their way through a tango to Blue Monday by New Order – and amid the applause pro dancer Radebe was visibly overwhelmed by sheer emotion.

“Overwhelming” was also a good way of describing the dad dancing extravaganza served up by comedian Robert Webb, as he and flame-haired pro partner Diane Buswell performed a cha-cha-cha to Boney M’s Rasputin. Webb created a splash without at any moment threatening to excel as a dancer and was thoroughly eclipsed by a number of contestants who set the floor ablaze with accomplished numbers.

Top of the leaderboard was TV presenter AJ Odudu, who danced a jive with pro Kai Widdrington to Gold Dust By DJ Fresh and scored a knock-out 34.

The class of 2021 were an eager bunch, several showing potential to be among Strictly’s most impressive ever.