We’re fast approaching the half-way point of Strictly Come Dancing 2014 and last weekend the first shock exit of the series happened.
Thom Evans and his partner Iveta Lukosiute found themselves in the bottom two against Simon Webbe and Kristina Rihanoff. After both couples danced again the judges decision was split but head judge Len Goodman chose to send home Thom and Iveta.
We caught up with Strictly pro Robin Windsor to get his verdict on the shock result, talk about Mark Wright’s amazing Samba and to find out what he thought of the different couples from the week 5 show.
This weekend’s result was a complete shocker. We don’t think anyone predicted Thom Evans and Iveta Lukosiute going home did they?
No. I think it’s the biggest shock of the series so far. What happened is that we had two couples, who should have got to at least Blackpool, in the bottom two together. How do you pick and send one home? I think the judges got it right based on who is in the bottom two and I think Simon did a better dance than Thom. It was just so sad to see either of them there in the first place.
This is the second time this series that Simon Webbe and Kristina Rihanoff have been in the bottom two. Could it be the case that they aren’t connecting with the viewers at home or do you think people thought they were safe?
I think both Thom and Simon were in that extremely unsafe place on the leaderboard yet again. I don’t know if it’s that people are voting for Scott and Judy because they got vilified by the judges and feel sorry for them. Simon and Thom I think just got missed and everyone is voting for Judy and Scott. The judges give a guideline and put a leaderboard up there and Scott and Judy were at the bottom. That’s who they thought should have been in the bottom two but the public thought otherwise. Now everyone is complaining but as Len said if you don’t pick up the phone you can’t moan and you can vote for free online.
Someone else who was way below Thom and Simon on the leaderboard this week was Alison. What did you make of her dance?
Alison’s dance wasn’t her best this week. I think the order of the placement on the leaderboard was actually correct but she wouldn’t have been in the bottom two. I think she’s going to come back this week knowing that she has to do a fantastic dance to get her up the leaderboard.
Mark Wright came back fighting after he ended up in the bottom two last week. He pulled out a fantastic Samba didn’t he?
Let’s talk about Mark Wright! If you’re going to be in the bottom two and you want to fight to come back and do a great job then this is the way to do it. That Samba had hips that were moving 100 miles an hour. It had gyrating and it was fabulous. Everybody loved it. The Samba is a hard dance for the male celebs to do and he executed it very well and fully deserved his place on the leaderboard.
When Mark and his partner Karen Hauer found out they were through they were very emotional. How much does it mean to the celebrities to keep progressing through the competition?
What’s absolutely amazing is that these celebrities come into our world of ballroom dancing and fall in love with it. It’s hard to leave the competition at any time and the longer you stay in the harder it is for you to leave because you’ve found something new in yourself. Mark’s never danced before in his life and you can tell he absolutely loves the experience. He was probably thinking he would be in the bottom two and going home again and his emotions took over him.
Pixie Lott and her partner Trent Whiddon came out at the end of the show and stole it with their Samba. What did you think of their routine?
Pixie completely stole the show. She came out all guns blazing with shimmies and it was a lovely traditional Samba to traditional music, which I absolutely adore. She executed it brilliantly and I didn’t even write notes on it because I was absolutely enthralled by what she’d done.
Would you say that Pixie and Trent were the couple to beat at the moment?
Based on this week’s Pixie & Trent, Caroline & Pasha and Frankie & Kevin are the couples to beat. What’s happening is that there’s a different person at the top of the leaderboard every week. It just goes to show that this is the most closely fought series of Strictly we’ve ever had and it’s just going to get incredible as the weeks go on.
Two couples that were back on form this week were Steve Backshall and Ola Jordan, and Sunetra Sarker and Brendan Cole. They matched each others scores this week. What did you make of them both?
Steve is definitely a ballroom dancer and for a very muscular guy he’s got a very good top line. It’s difficult to get those arms to stay there when you’re muscular because naturally the shoulders will start to rise. He did a beautiful dance and glided effortlessly across the floor.
Sunetra is another one that excels in Ballroom. She looked glamorous and gorgeous again. Brendan did some amazing choreography and Sunetra performed it extremely well. I love that song because it reminds me of when I danced with Patsy Kensit. They did a brilliant job.
It’s Halloween week this weekend. Who do you think will end up in the bottom two?
I can’t actually predict the bottom two. Judging by what’s going on with the British public over the last three weeks you can’t predict who is going to be there. I’m hoping that the public decide to get it right this weekend and keep in the best dancers. At the beginning it is more of an entertainment show than a dance show but if they need to make it into more of a dance show as it goes along.
During Halloween week the production always gets bigger and more spectacular. Do you think that helps some of the weaker dancers?
Of course! I think Scott is going to come out and entertain like crazy this week. He’ll get completely into character just like he did with his Samba. The public love to be entertained. You have to remember it’s a public show and everyone has the right to vote for whom they want. Just remember to pick up the phone or vote online for your favourite.
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 continues at 6.30pm Saturday on BBC One. Watch Pixie Lott and Trent Whiddon’s Samba from week 5 below:
