Strictly in Blackpool

[shallowness]

Big show

I was slightly dreading this, despite or because of all the hoo-hah. I thought the extra dancers would overwhelm everyone, and I definitely sat down thinking this should either have come earlier in the series (for Jeremy’s sake) or later.

But all went much better than I expected. The choreography mostly adapted well to having more dancers and more space, and the celebs mostly didn’t fold under the pressure.

We opened with a number that I suppose was a Strictly take on Downton, and it did seem to have a story as well as all the extra dancers, but I thought it was a bit messy. The director conceded as much by showing the view from the rafters a lot. Interesting that Kellie was so foregrounded from among the celebs.

Enter Claudia and Tess having both decided to do black with a glitzy decoration, which is fine, but made Darcey’s hot pink pop. I appreciated that they did not let the guitar prop intended for Jeremy’s performance go to waste. How quickly do you think Craig took to agree to do it?

I’ll get this out of the way now, before going to the dances: the VTs were not all useless, I appreciated every time we cut to the glorious chandeliers, and Claudia was the best (apart from when she was also objectifying Gleb. I keep intending to write about Strictly and female desire and where they cross the line for me. But don't expect it to actually happen.)

To the dancing, or rather not, because I thought it was mean to make Jay start with Acting, but when he did do the dancing, he mostly managed to smile too, which made it all better, there seemed to be no mistakes and it was all good instead of being good in patches. A good opener.

Jamelia was next and I have to admit I spent most of her dance trying to understand why her dress didn’t quite flatter her – I think it was the sparkly bit of the skirt. But she seemed fine, as if she’d improved, just not enough, and there was a sense of inevitability about her being in the dance-off.

Cue Anita, and a building expectation about what Gleb would pull off for Blackpool. Of course they were in character and of course he went big. But Anita was mostly up to it. I did think there were seconds where the fact that she wasn’t a pro showed because of how she was being to asked with four men and there were also seconds where she snatched at what she was doing just a little. However, I am also pleased that she’d improved and got recognition in the form of such a good score.

Katie’s classy American Smooth was indeed her best dance, and perhaps the most purely enjoyable dance of the night for me. It played to her (and Anton’s) elegant strengths. Also, I think she won the gowns, because there was something off about all the other celeb ladies’ gowns or they were too theme-y.

And then came the twist. Certainly Peter’s jive was entertaining, but I did think the kicks and flicks weren’t as on it as they should be. Craig decided to pick on him (like he did with Jay last week – I thought six was quite harsh) but the others spotted the balance problems – and he scored less than Jamelia!!! For me, he’s the most annoying celeb left, though I did laugh at his 60s presenter in the trail (I suppose it would have been tasteless to make Brucie jokes given that he’s been in hospital this week, BTW), although I like Janette fine. But if Peter’s in the dance-off with Jamelia and doesn’t correct his problems, while she sorts out her topline, which she’s quite capable of doing, because by this point she’s used to pulling off a better second attempt...Suddenly the inevitable wasn't looking so inevitable.

I had an issue with the choreography of the Viennese Waltz-American Smooth. First, I was still giggling at Giovanni’s terrible singing and the croissant moon, liking Georgia’s hair, but not the skirt of her gown. Then I was thinking ‘well this VW is quite good, but where’s the AS bit?’ And then suddenly it happened but in a crazy, inorganic ‘let’s be dramatic because there’s a dramatic bit in the music' way and though I liked how she and the extra male dancers were doing something different but complemented by what Giovanni was doing with the extra female dancers, I felt very thrown and disconnected from the dance. It looked like she was dancing well and confidently and deserved to be top of the pile again, admittedly.

I liked Helen’s Charleston, with its inevitable legginess, well enough. I thought she had a right go at it and it was a shame that there was that one little blemish when they got on the stage. It didn’t have the wow factor of Georgia’s Charleston last week and Helen is perhaps suffering because she’s always been ace, while Anita and Georgia have had more of a journey involving breakthroughs. But good enough is good enough.

Kellie’s outfit was, I suppose, a reference to the film and I’m not even going to try to parse what the routine said about sexism in the workplace. Without seeing it, I thought it was interesting that she’d got the last slot, but while watching it, it made total sense, was very entertaining (and I count the table choreography in that) and she looked to be in control.

Full disclosure, I voted Jay because I didn’t see quite enough from anyone else to make me change my mind from anyone else. And I’ve had my mind made up because REASONS that I think other women share.

Little show Results

I preferred this opening number, even though there was no story – there really wasn’t with partner-swapping, but it was spectacular and had plenty of eye-catching things going on (and Helen got the big finish).

Cue Claudia with her usual commitment to a ridiculous costume and an amused Tess (with her usual commitment to a ridiculous entrance).

The recap made and Helen’s upset reaction reframed things from how I rememembered them. Georgia can’t do maths, given her celebration at being through. Everyone else had cause to be a little edgy. Oh, but it was sweet that Peter was indeed at the bottom. I fastforwarded his chat with the judges and started believing that he’d be gone.

It was confirmed that we’re going to get two dances next week – about time given the celebs had a bit to do in both big routines. Poor Jay re the quickstepathon – of all the dances to plonk them all in the round and factor in the pros’ ruthlessness. (See, I was foreseeing a show sans the Andre.) They have all done the quickstep now, haven't they?

Anastacia didn’t bother with a new song (which is often a move you wish other peroformers would emulate) and got very athletic guest dancers. I loved the lady’s body shape. The dance itself was not a brilliant whole, but the leaps were joyous.

Tristan’s face kept me entertained throughout the rest of the names being called out. Helen’s face not so much. But I imagine Tristan and Jamelia spent last week expecting to be back in the bottom two.

Take That were on form. I loved the big entrance, the feeling of the two sides facing off, the use of the space and the way the pros brought in (though the fact they were wearing such Strictly clothes jarred given the rest of the styling) and the sense that they’d created this performance especially for the show. Better than Will Young’s performance, easily.

For the dance-off, I wasn’t neutral or an expert, but I thought Jamelia maintained the standard of her quickstep, I didn’t see improvement from Peter, and in fact noticed how little kicks and flicks he’d been given to do, and thought I knew why when he did them. I thought the judges would be split.

Ah, well. What happened was, I think, that the other three judged on the whole series and not the dances on the night (which if Peter wasn’t so annoying, I would be fine with, because although Jamelia has improved, she’s still a class below everyone else, generally speaking). Of course, Len does love the ballroom – that may have influenced him and I could be wrong about the improvement in the jive.

But still, can the male pros pick on Peter next week?

We are shifting another gear now, and giving this group of top dancers the challenge of two dances may help with seeing where they’re really at, although to some extent, I think all the viewers have their settled favourites by now and it doesn’t matter a whole lot until they go and then we see vote switching.

Also teasing us with Gleb’s choreography for the rumba...the mind boggles. Well played, Rani. Well. Played.