TV Review: Strictly Come Dancing, Saturday 8th December 5.45pm & Sunday 9th December 6.15pm

By ShinyMedia on December 10th, 2007 0 comments yet. Be the First

Woah there! Just as I was thinking the US version was going to replace Strictly in my heart, this week’s shows pulled me back in. They had everything. Tears, tantrums, drama and, most importantly, beautiful dancing (and some bad dancing too). Hurrah!

Gorgeous Gethin Jones was out first and the question was whether he’d be able to continue in last week‘s exciting vein. Their first dance (the contestants each had two dances again this week) was the American Smooth and it was lovely. He looked just as confident as last week and there were a couple of lovely lifts, but it wasn’t as Hollywood as the American Smooth usually is. In fact, I didn’t hear what dance it was and I thought it was a Foxtrot until the first lift. Judge Len Goodman said Gethin reminds him of himself and that, on that performance, he’s in next week’s semi-final. “A class act,” said Craig Revel Horwood. But then added that there was something wrong with Gethin’s hands, which set the judges bickering. Basically, though, they all loved it. With 10s from Bruno Tonioni and Len, the score was 38.

Alesha Dixon’s dress was absolutely stunning. In fact, if I ever renew my vows (as I’ve been planning to for a couple of years now), I want a dress just like that. Only bigger, obviously. Matthew Cutler said it’s difficult to make an impact with the Viennese Waltz, but Mel B managed it on Dancing With the Stars, so I had high hopes and, oh my goodness, were they ever met. It was gorgeous. They danced to Memory, which, despite its sentimentality, is guaranteed to make me cry, and cry I did. God, it was beautiful.

“I lived the song with you,” Bruno said. “You’re both absolutely stunning together,” said Craig. “You turn a simple Viennese Waltz into a magical memory,” said Arlene Phillips. “If you don’t get four 10s for that, I’m going to go home and pickle me walnuts,” said Len. I love Len. Craig and Arlene gave it 9s. I’m not sure why, I think Arlene said Alesha’s foot came off the floor during the spin, but who cares? It was a 10 if ever I saw one. (Incidentally, Alesha’s scored more 10s than any other contestant in Strictly history.)

You’ve got to feel for Letitia Dean having to follow that. Although the number of excuses trotted out in the VT tempered my sympathy somewhat. She’s old, she was ill, she’s doing panto. Blah blah. Her Waltz was perfectly fine, but she never moves me, never excites me, never thrills me. Arlene said, “You looked beautiful tonight and you danced like a star.” Len said “Sometimes you lift you shoulders.” “Carrying these babies, I think,” said Letitia, hitching up her jugs. “I would’ve thought they’d keep your shoulders down,” quipped Len. Heh. She scored 35.

Matt Di Angelo apparently promised his partner Flavia that he’d get her to the final. And she’s holding him to it. That was a bit rash, wasn’t it? Particularly since their Foxtrot was a total disaster. Matt seemed to be struggling with his footwork all the way through and then towards the end he just gave up and looked like he was about to cry. Arlene asked if he was hurt and he said “Physically or emotionally?” Bless him. I don’t know where he went wrong, but he never got it back.

“What people forget,” Len said, “is that Matt is 20 years old.” The judges said his nerves get the better of him. Bruno said it happens to everyone and he just needs to get back on the horse. Craig gave it a 4, which the audience booed, but I would have thought you couldn’t give more than a 5 since Matt only did half a dance. Arlene gave it a 6, but Len and Bruno both gave 8s, leaving them with 26, which Matt was clearly devastated by. It was such a disaster though that I think people will vote out of sympathy.

Len said Gethin’s Jive would be make or break and I’m guessing it’s “make” since it was flippin’ marvellous. It got a standing ovation and, about 10 seconds in, made me want to get up and dance (but I couldn’t, cos I was writing this). He looked, again, incredibly confident. Bruno was excited, which wasn’t a surprise, but even Craig was excited, saying he absolutely loved the routine. Arlene said Gethin has “cast off the cloak of modesty forever”, but that there was some problem with his kicks – “They were a bit flobby,” said Len. Flobby? Bruce’s handover to Tess was in the form of a rap. A rap! What next?! Bruno gave Gethin a 10 and the others 9s. 75 out of 80 for the two dances. Who’d have thought?

In the beginning I thought Alesha’s Paso Doble was going to be amazing, but it kind of petered out. It was great, of course, but it didn’t thrill me. The judges loved it – “Attack, passion, drama,” said Craig – although Len said she didn’t have the “haughty posture” required by the Paso and Bruno agreed that it lacked a bit of punch. Alesha said that they made a mistake (and in the results show admitted that the last 20 seconds were “made up”), but the judges didn’t even mention that. They all gave it 9, giving Alesha 74 out of 80 for the night.

I can’t say Letitia’s Jive was something I was looking forward to seeing. “The dark horse keeps coming back each week with some memorable performances,” said Bruce in the intro. Um. I can’t remember any of her performances. Can you? She was wearing a Miss Piggy-esque hairpiece which was just hideous. The audience loved it (the dance, not the hair), but, much like last week’s Cha Cha, it was dreadful. She looked like she was about to expire at the end. “It was a spirited attempt,” said Len, before adding that the Jive doesn’t suit her. “I think it just overwhelmed you,” said Craig. Arlene said the performance was great. “I suppose a 10′s out of the question?” said Letitia. “You might get two 5s,” replied Bruce. Ha. Bruce made me laugh. Isn’t that a sign of the apocalypse? Anyway Letitia didn’t do that badly, with 7s from Craig and Arlene and 8s from Len and Bruno, giving them 65 out of 80 for the two dances.

Last out were Matt and Flavia with a Samba. It looked like it was going to be a great improvement on the first dance, but he lost his footwork again and he was counting all the way through. It’s a shame because he’s clearly a talented dancer. “Nerves have done you in,” said Len, saying it was “a great pity.” Craig said he was annoyed by the counting. Len got annoyed with Craig for not prefacing his criticism with something positive. “I’m here to judge.” said Craig and Len looked absolutely furious and turned his back on him. Arlene seemed pretty devastated by the whole thing. Poor Matt looked tearful again. I almost wanted to vote for him myself, the cute little thing, but no. Matt asked if he could be excused for tonight, which is a bit rich. They scored 29, giving them a very poor 55 out of 80.

It’s never been so difficult to wait for a results show. Despite Matt’s disastrous night, I still wanted him to stay in rather than Letitia, but you never can tell.

Vincent and Flavia did an Argentine Tango which was, of course, completely thrilling. The remaining celebs will be doing the Argentine Tango next week. So that’s something to look forward to. There was another professional performance from the World Latin American Formation Champions. It was wonderful, of course, but they all had the same shiny black hair and toothy white grins and it freaked me right out. Reminded me of the old Come Dancing and made me miss my poor dead Nan…

The musical guest was Sir Cliff Richard. I actually fancied Cliff when I was about 12, but last time he was on Strictly he wore leather pants, “danced” with a couple of the female professionals and gave me nightmares for a month. (Sometimes, at night, I can still hear the creaking.) This time, he was dressed much more age-appropriate, despite there was a bow tie, a lot of fake tan, and some fake slow-mo walking. How modern. He sang When I Need You. What’s that about? Has he covered the Leo Sayer Songbook? My 74-year-old Aunty has always loved him and even she admitted he’s “lost it” and that she turned the sound off.

And so to the results. At this late stage I always have to remind myself that it’s just a TV show and nothing to get worked up about, but it’s difficult. I’m invested! (And not just about three quid in phone charges.)

Matt and Flavia were the first through, which meant that Letitia would be in the bottom two with either Alesha or Gethin and the judges would obviously send Letitia home. Except of course if Letitia was the second through, but thankfully, it wasn’t, it was Gethin. So Letitia and Alesha were in the bottom two. Did they really need to bother with the dance-off? Letitia was laughing, she obviously knew it was a foregone conclusion too, bless her. I’m a bit gutted that Alesha was in the dance-off at this late stage. I hope she doesn’t let it knock her confidence, it’s just because the majority of voters for these shows are women and unfortunately they’re going to vote for cute boys ahead of girls.

“Which couple do you think deserves to be saved?” asked Tess. Unfortunately, none of the judges actually belmed, but they did unanimously save Alesha and Matt.

I’m happy with the line-up for the semi-final. Apparently Matt’s been having hypnotherapy for his nerves (I had it for my driving test and it didn’t work; he might want to try half a Valium instead) and if he cracks them then we’ll be in for a good show. Ah, let’s face it, if he faints in a pool of his own sweat at the top of the stairs, we’ll be in for a great show…