Strictly Come Dancing, Saturday, BBC1

This weekend’s Strictly Come Dancing came from the home of ballroom dancing, the Blackpool Tower Ballroom – complete with Brucie’s predictably cringe worthy fish’n’chips jokes. But apart from the tiresome one-liners, there were some real highlights, including a Strictly first. More on that in a moment.

Ricky Whittle’s tango kicked the evening off, and the judges got very exited about his performance. Apart from Craig, who, like me thought he was a bit wooden. But each to their own.

Natalie Cassidy’s quickstep displayed a bit more passion that Ricky’s tango and, as she said herself, with Zoe, her close friend gone, she can now start competing. And it would seem she’s improving her score one point at a time.

Jade was described by Alesha as “the dark horse of the competition”, but what everyone really wanted to know was whether Ali had managed to recover from her foot injury. The answer is: yes. Ali and Brian’s performance was described as the dance of the series. The judges were unanimous – it was a success as reflected in the highest score ever on Strictly: four tens! Well done, Ali!

Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last long. Ricky got some harsh comments from the judges for his “entertaining, but disappointing” performance. Leila and Anton divided the judges, and Phil had problems being romantic during his dance (“it’s difficult when everyone is watching”).

Chris and Ola’s foxtrot captured the audience’s imagination, the judges were equally impressed and all that resulted in the third highest score of the evening. But then came another low point - actually it was the lowest point of the evening: Craig, “the local boy” and his flat-footed performance, which only earned him an embarrassing 17 points.

Not surprisingly then, his place in the dance-off was practically guaranteed alongside Ricky and his partner Erin. The judges’ decision was a no-brainer really.

Ricky and Erin are through.

Picture: BBC

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Comments

[toni andrews]

Alesha Dixon is NOT a professional dancer nor an experianced judge, and she certainly has not been on the show long enough to be making the spitefull and nasty comments that certain other judges make -- not that they should be making them either.
Looking forward to Dacry Busell judgeing, she is a real lady am sure her comments will be constructive and fair. ALESHA OUT OUT OUT.

[HIMfan1]

I thought Alesha's comments about Craig were spiteful. He did not vote himself to stay in so long and he did his personal best. Bring back Arlene a proper judge!

[ALI TO GO!!]

I hate Ali shes boring and stupid i hope her foot hurts her for the rest of her life!! Ricky Whittle to WIN!!

[IF]

Well the 'Blackpool boy' has finally gone. Unfortunately some better dancers went before him and that is an absolute travesty. Glad to see he has been relived of duty, and his 'Oh I want to go on'. Everyone in the competition does! But at a HIGHER level 'Sunshine' and one that is absolutely necessary at this stage of the competition. I feel very sorry for Flavia, an excellent dancer and teacher with a pupil that doesn't respond fully to her teaching. (Who says that I could??) He reached his limit the previous week or before but made it to this one. And his support ran out.
Good luck to those left in.
IF

[Jo]

Yes we all knew Craig would not make it to the finals but he did not deserve the harsh comments the judges made last night especially Alesha, up to now I have defended her but no more, it was personal and unnecessary. Don't forget it's the public who put people like her where they are!

[Flossie]

All the flak for Bruce - what about his script writers! Agree sense at last with the result of last night.

[Kitty]

Duchess - the judges did not vote Phil in at the expense of Craig - it was Ricky who was in the dance off with him! And they made the right choice from those two. It has been embarrassing watching Craig, he really cannot dance, bless him. Watching his comments afterwards every week is excrutiating; he really thinks he was better than they said - and think of poor Flavia, having to pretend every week!

[lucylastic 067]

I thought alesha's comments to Craig were awful ,it made me cringe just to watch it ,totally unessacerry,

[silver]

I wisj Bruce will stop his silly jokes they spoil the whole show I agree he is good for his age etc but his jokes are awful

[Duchess]

I cant believe the judges voted Craig off and kept in PHIL.
The comments that the singer Alesha made to Craig were not necessary and extremely personnel. I wish she would leave and ARLENE was back.

[Dance Fan]

Last nights show was all about Back To Reality. The two in the Dance Off were the right two though having said that, If the public had not been so silly voting Craig in for so long he would not have had to endure the humiliation he got last night from the judges. Craig cannot dance and he knows it, of course he will do his best when he is forced week after week to be there but i wounder how HE actually felt when he was still there at the expense of Zoe? Hopefully the show will settle into sensibility as well as entertaining from now on.

[em]

I can't believe the judges they are so biased and you just know that everytime ricky whittle or ali mess up the judges say it was fantastic lets give them a high score to try and stop them from being in the bottom 2 but you know they would save them anyway. Judges fix your brains and be fair.

[elli]

Shame that the public waited this week to ditch Craig and not last week so Zoe would still be in. Unfortunately although he tried hard, I just don't think Craig can dance which is no crime, many of us would be just as bad. At least sense has prevailed and I think the two in the dance off were right this week but Ricky was so much better than Craig that it was no contest.