Week eight of Strictly Come Dancing was a night of firsts… Georgia May Foote got the highest score of the series so far, but it was Kellie Bright who got the series’ first ‘9’ from Craig Revel Horwood, and Katie Derham helped her pro partner Anton Du Beke get his highest-ever Rumba score.
This was the week that was the last chance saloon for celebrity dancers hoping to make it to Strictly Come Dancing’s Blackpool special next week. Eight couples will be drunk with happiness after the results show on Sunday night and one couple will be drowning their sorrows.
We think Georgia and Giovanni Pernice must be safe after dancing a Charleston that was “clean, tight and brilliant”, Darcey Bussell told them. “It took my breath away.”
Former Corrie star Georgia May Foote danced a "brilliant" Charleston
“My advice? Take a coat to Blackpool because it gets very cold,” said Len Goodman.
“I was completely razzle-dazzled by that,” added Bruno Tonioli.
“Three letters,” said Craig. “L.U.V”. Yet he still couldn’t bring himself to score Georgia and Giovanni a 10, which would have given them a perfect score. So, 39/40 it was.
Craig just couldn't bring himself to make it a full set of 10s for Georgia
As the 10s came in from the other judges, Georgia couldn’t contain her emotions and Giovanni was clearly thrilled. He’s not doing bad for his first series…
Georgia and her partner Giovanni received the highest score of the series…so far
Kellie and Kevin Clifton performed their Samba (mixed with hip-hop) ahead of Georgia. Dancing to “Boom Shake The Room” by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, the routine got a mixed reaction from the judges and a score of 33.
Craig scored it his first 9 of the series… “It was completely not my thing,” he told Kellie and Kevin. “I was thinking, ‘Do I love this or hate it?’ I decided in the end that I loved it.”
But Craig's first 9 of the series went to Kellie and Kevin for their Samba
Len didn’t. “I don’t like hip-hop,” he told them. “But the Samba part of the routine was terrific and I admire your never to do something different.”
Len also admired the Rumba from Katie and Anton. So did Craig.
“It was so nearly brilliant,” he told Katie and Anton. “Just a little melodramatic.”
Anton and Katie almost didn't put a foot wrong with their Rumba, said Craig
Still, it scored 31, giving Anton his highest-ever Rumba score and very possibly his first trip to Blackpool!
Peter Andre and Helen George shared second spot on the leaderboard with scores of 34.
Peter’s Viennese Waltz with Janette Manrara was “like watching the ballroom scene in Cinderella”, Bruno said.
Peter and Janette's Viennese Waltz was a whirl of twirls
“Yes, there were elements of Disney magic,” Darcey agreed.
Helen’s Tango with Aljaz Skorjanec was “special”, Darcey told them. “The drama was perfection… And the crispness, the sharpness!”
“A beautifully tailored, high fashion Tango,” Bruno agreed.
Helen and Aljaz danced a Tango full of drama
Jay McGuiness could have scored higher than his 30 points if he hadn’t stumbled during his Foxtrot with Aliona Vilani. But he did - and everyone saw it.
And Craig didn’t like the routine, anyway. “I found the whole thing a little bland,” he told Jay. “You’re a brilliant dancer but your face goes dead. And you tripped.”
“Your technique is outstanding,” Darcey agreed. “But there was a silly little hiccup.”
“It was going swimmingly well but you stumbled,” Bruno added.
Anita Rani did slightly better with her Quickstep with Gleb Savchenko, scoring 32.
“I’ve got a feeling Blackpool is calling your name,” Bruno told Anita.
It might be the dance-off calling Jamelia’s name again… She scored 26 points with Tristan MacManus for their Samba…
“I liked the energy but you have to be careful as it becomes a little wild and you miss steps,” Bruno said. “And you can’t do that at this stage.”
Craig didn’t like Jamelia’s “unnecessary grinding” but Len thought it was “excellent”.
Nobody used the “excellent” to describe Jeremy Vine’s Quickstep with Karen Clifton, which scored 21.
“It’s clear you’ve been digging deep but you haven’t struck gold,” Bruno told Jeremy.
“There were a few mistakes,” Len added. “But there’ll be less fun at Blackpool if you’re not there.”
Well, maybe Jeremy could go along and sell ice creams and candy floss…
Find out who’s going to Blackpool for sure in the Strictly Come Dancing results show on BBC1, Sunday, November 15, 7.20pm.
Click here for our Week 8 picture special.
