Strictly Come Dancing continued its new series tonight as the remaining 9 couples performed for the first time.
Last night saw the live shows begin as 6 couples took to the floor to perform their first routines of the series. EastEnders actor Jake Wood topped the leaderboard with his pro partner Janette Manrara after scoring 28 out of 40. Nipping at their heels was Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev, and Pixie Lott and Trent Whiddon who both scored 27 out of 40 from the judges.
The night’s other couples – Scott Mills and Joanne Clifton, Tim Wonnacott and Natalie Lowe, Judy Murray and Anton du Beke – failed to impress and found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard.
Tonight’s show kicked off with a spectacular pro group dance that involved a video screen, some skirt ripping and Janette Manrara lifting the glitterball trophy.
How did the 9 couples perform tonight?
Mark Wright & Karen Hauer
Former TOWIE star turned TV and radio personality Mark Wright opened the show tonight with his pro partner Karen Hauer. Heās already revealed that heās known by his friends as Marky No-Moves but has three weeks of training done enough to change that nickname? Mark and Karen performed the cha cha cha for their first dance.
The dance: Superb first dance from Mark tonight! A standing ovation from the audience and lots of energy and tricks in the cha cha cha. Looks like Mark has a natural rhythm and weāre expecting him to do really well in the competition.
The comments: Len said it started off well but Mark picked up too much speed and he didnāt like the handstand. Bruno said Mark went out there with confidence and commended him on his energy but warned him it overtook the steps. Craig gave lots of critique but told him āwell doneā. Darcey said she loved the showman but told Mark to watch his shoulders.
The score:Ā 24 out of 40
Alison Hammond & Aljaz Skorjanec
This Morningās roving presenter Alison Hammond is one of the celebrities weāve been dying to see on the dancefloor. Sheās partnered with reigning champion Aljaz Skorjanec and it looks like the two have been having a fun time in training. The couple danced the cha cha cha tonight and in training Alison was having trouble taking her eyes off Aljaz.
The dance: What a routine! We absolutely loved Alison tonight. Her personality beamed through in that performance and she was a brilliant dancer. No doubt people will be comparing her to Lisa Riley. Cha cha cha tastic!
The comments: Bruno said Alisonās performance was āwonderfulā and called her performance a ātreatā. Craig said it was one of the most confident first performances heās ever seen and told her she has ānatural instinct for rhythm and danceā. Darcey called Alison āinfectiousā and said sheād never get bored of watching her. Len called Alison ābig, bold and bouncyā and told her she was āgood in the mornings but fantastic at nightā.
The score:Ā 26 out of 40
Steve Backshall & Ola Jordan
Naturalist Steve Backshall has had some scary encounters but will any of them beat dancing infront of millions of people? Steve is partnered with Ola Jordan for the series and said he was privileged to dance with her on the show. For their first routine Steve and Ola are performing the tango. In his intro VT Steve said he was out of his comfort zone but putting in the work to do his best.
The dance: Steveās muscles blinded us during that routine but another strong performance. The show started off really strong tonight and we think Steve could do really well in the competition. He had the moves didnāt he?
The comments: Craig said he was distracted by Steveās muscles and told him it was a āvery, very strong performanceā. Darcey said Steve held his focus and strength throughout the routine. Len said it was āvery well dancedā and called it āclean and preciseā. Bruno called Steve āthe wild oneā and told him he has great qualities he needs to work on.
The score:Ā 26 out of 40
Jennifer Gibney & Tristan MacManus
Mrs Brownās Boys actress Jennifer Gibney is paired with newcomer Tristan MacManus for the series. The two Irish stars say that no one can understand a word they say but they understand each other so thatās fine. In training Jennifer was shown getting very frustrated with herself and went to former contestant Nicky Byrne for advice. Jennifer and Tristan danced the jive for their first routine.
The dance: Poor Jennifer. She was a little lost it seemed at times in that performance and her energy was lacking in parts. We donāt know if it was nerves but it wasnāt the best performance of the night.
The comments: Darcey said the jive is a hard dance to begin with and told Jennifer to be careful with her shoulders when she got tired. Len criticised Jenniferās feet saying the kicks and flicks werenāt sharp enough but admitted the routine made him happy. Bruno said all of the steps were there but told Jennifer to do it with more energy, rhythm and presentation next time. Craig said Jenniferās arms were all over the place and told her to build her stamina.
The score:Ā 18 out of 40
Thom Evans & Iveta Lukosiute
Former rugby star turned model Thom Evans is partnered with Iveta Lukosiute for his Strictly Come Dancing journey. In his intro VT he said heās comfortable with being Strictlyfied and is delighted to be partnered with Iveta. During training Iveta mentioned how wild the reaction had been to Thom and his good lucks on social media. For their first dance Thom and Iveta did the waltz.
The dance: A confident and smooth performance from Thom tonight. The rumours that he and Iveta may be getting a little romantic behind-the-scenes did nothing to harm it. Thom seemed a little inhibited but weāre sure thatās down to nerves more than anything else.
The comments: Len said it was a little safe in places but told him to lose his inhibitions next week. Bruno called it āso kind and so caringā and told Thom he found it moving how careful Thom was with Iveta. Craig said Thom let Iveta down in one part of the routine but said he āloved itā. Darcey said she expected Thom to lead the dance but agreed with Len that it was too safe.
The score:Ā 23 out of 40
Sunetra Sarker & Brendan Cole
Casualty star Sunetra Sarker warned that she might need doctors on stand-by for her Strictly Come Dancing debut. For the series sheās partnered with Brendan Cole and Sunetra admitted that was a lot of pressure. For their first routine Sunetra and Brendan did the tango. During training Sunetra struggled with the pivots and revealed that she wanted to be better than she is.
The dance: A decent first effort from Sunetra and she looked like sheād got the hang of those pivots. The tango isnāt the easiest dance to start with but Sunetra did a really good performance. Sheās definitely got potential and was better than we were expecting.
The comments: Bruno called it a āfirecracker of a tangoā but told Sunetra that she needs to work a bit on her posture. Craig said Sunetra has āa great sense of rhythmā but told her that her frame wasnāt there tonight. Darcey said she liked āthe attack and the storyā but agreed that the hold needed to be stronger. Len said there was āfar more right than wrongā about the dance and told Sunetra he looked forward to seeing her next week.
The score:Ā 24 out of 40
Gregg Wallace & Aliona Vilani
MasterChef star Gregg Wallace is swapping the kitchen for the ballroom as he partners with Aliona Vilani for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. It seems that in training there is a conflict of personalities as Gregg admits he jokes all the time and that Aliona is stern. For their first dance Gregg and Aliona danced the cha cha cha.
The dance: Oh dear! That was some dad dancing from Gregg tonight. He seemed lost in the routine several times and poor Aliona did her best to hold it all together. Heās going to have to really up his game if he wants to progress in the competition. That wasnāt a great cha cha cha.
The comments: Craig said Gregg was like a āwind up toyā and a ācooker pressure about to explodeā. Darcey said she āweirdly liked thatā and told him she liked him without his glasses. Len said he would have liked ābigger portionsā and told Gregg that may have over-practised the routine. Bruno said it was like āa mince pie with a soggy bottomā but that Gregg left a ālingering sweet after-tasteā.
The score:Ā 18 out of 40
Frankie Bridge & Kevin Clifton
The Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge has been squeezing her training in whilst touring with her group in support of their greatest hits. For this series Frankie is paired with Kevin Clifton and sheās got a lot to live up to after Kevin got to the final with Susanna Reid last year. In training Frankie battled tiredness as she got her waltz ready for the live shows.
The dance: What a beautiful effort from Frankie. Considering that sheās been training whilst on tour she looked confident and comfortable on the dancefloor. She sighed a breath of relief at the end but there really was no need ā she did really well tonight!
The comments: Darcey said it was āa major hitā and told Frankie she was a joy to watch. Len said that Frankie did the best dance of week one. Bruno called it ādeliciously romanticā and told Frankie she gave meaning to her dancing throughout. Craig said Frankie was āgraceful, elegant and romanticā.
The score:Ā 30 out of 40
Simon Webbe & Kristina Rihanoff
Blue star Simon Webbe has appeared on Strictly before when he took part in the Christmas special. Partnered with Kirstina Rihanoff for the series, Simon promised to show her some of Blueās infamous shoulder moves. For their first dance Simon & Kristina performed the jive. In training Simon said he found every step difficult but felt lucky to have Kristina.
The dance: Definitely the best of the male celebs. Simon threw himself into the jive and had fun with the routine. We think this is going to be a fantastic partnership and Simon is going to be the one to beat from the male celebs. Cracking first effort.
The comments: Len said āplenty of kicks, plenty of tricks, plenty of flicksā and told Simon he thought it was āgreatā. Bruno said Simon has a āwonderful springy bounceā but told him to keep pointing his feet. Craig said it looked a little flat footed but told him he thought he did āa fantastic jobā. Darcey said she loved the choreography but told him he needs to keep it crisp right until the end.
The score: 27 out of 40
The leaderboard
Tonight’s leaderboard was:
Frankie Bridge & Kevin Clifton ā 30
Simon Webbe & Kristina Rihanoff – 27
Alison Hammond & Aljaz Skorjanec ā 26
Steve Backshall & Ola Jordan – 26
Mark Wright & Karen Hauer ā 24
Sunetra Sarker & Brendan Cole – 24
Thom Evans & Iveta Lukosiute ā 23
Gregg Wallace & Aliona Vilani – 18
Jennifer Gibney & Tristan MacManus – 18
The overall leaderboard for the weekend is:
Frankie Bridge & Kevin Clifton – 30
Jake Wood and Janette Manrara ā 28
Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev ā 27
Pixie Lott and Trent Whiddon ā 27
Simon Webbe & Kristina Rihanoff – 27
Alison Hammond & Aljaz Skorjanec ā 26
Steve Backshall & Ola Jordan – 26
Mark Wright & Karen Hauer ā 24
Sunetra Sarker & Brendan Cole – 24
Thom Evans & Iveta Lukosiute ā 23
Gregg Wallace & Aliona Vilani – 18
Jennifer Gibney & Tristan MacManus – 18
Judy Murray and Anton du Beke ā 18
Tim Wonnacott and Natalie Lowe ā 18
Scott Mills and Joanne Clifton ā 16
Strictly Come Dancing continues at 6.20pm next Saturday on BBC One. Take a look at tonight’s couples in dress rehearsal earlier today below: