Strictly BBC 100 theme week (week 5)
Oct. 23rd, 2022 04:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessNiftier than usual use of all the celebs in the pre-credits VT. I imagine they’d filmed it a while in advance, but having Huw Edwards appear to ‘interrupt proceedings’ for some breaking news gave me a few seconds’ unease and may have traumatised viewers before leading into an overall breezy Strictly-all-over-the-BBC routine, although that ‘Huwkele’ pun and business was dreadful. But having Pudsey and Owain Drums in the studio was nice. I liked both Motsi and Shirley’s outfits.
Helen and Gorka opened up with a Blue Peter Charleston, inevitably the most jiggy Charleston we’ll ever see. I was impressed by her athleticism and how she handled all the props. The judges liked it more, and with a consensus it was her best dance yet, she achieved her best score yet.
The Doctor Who theme music terrorised me as a child, so the fact Tyler and Dianne’s tango was slightly creepy felt apt to me. The concept meant there was a dramatic conflict at the heart of the dance. I loved the stylisation and his dancing, and I felt like he was leading. Nice to have that confirmed by the judges (and Dianne). Oh, and they didn’t oversell the fact that this was Mauritius week so he’d not had much time to rehearse. Scores were down from his past few dances, but an improvement on the last time he did ballroom.
Fleur and Vito were doing an Eurovision (Waterloo) jive. Um, I think it was camp and energetic, but to be honest I was mainly giggling in disbelief at how much Vito was GOING FOR IT. Couldn’t take my eyes off him.
James and Amy were doing an Eastenders foxtrot, and he, probably more than any celeb, was moved to be ‘representing’. I thought it was a decent reiteration that he’s more comfortable with ballroom, although some of his role seemed to be releasing Amy to spin around a lot. The judges then proceeded to pick at it.
Ellie S and Nikita were doing a The Apprentice paso to some Big Music. Her timing is so good, there was lots of intensity. I thought it was pretty good, although I wondered whether the assisted lift would count against them. Turned out it did with Shirley and Craig (Anton wouldn’t dare be so hypocritical). At least we now know where they stand this season, even in a theme week. Maybe Nikita’s inexperience as a Strictly pro showed there, because they got a 30 instead of a 32 (Shirley would have given them a 9!?)
Molly and Carlos were doing a Grange Hill commercial couples choice. From her mandatory lifestory VT, we learned she went to Sylvia Young school (where she’d have had dance training) and she made some of us feel old because her young-looking parents remembered Grange Hill. The dance itself was good, but I’ve seen more synchronised and impressive commercial/street/hiphop routines on Strictly (e.g. last week). I wanted more highlights like that thing with Carlos’s legs. I felt vindicated by the judges’ comments, although they were mainly directed at Carlos, not Molly. That was a low score for her.
Hamza and Jowita were doing a natural history quickstep, and soon got those ridiculous coats off. He can move, can’t he, and both their hair was playing its part. I beamed throughout, he just exudes infectious joy, which is what you want from a quickstep. The judges said as much and placed him joint top with Helen.
Ellie T and Johannes were doing a Casualty tango, and she wore a better take on scrubs. The opening was funny, and then it did turn into a generic dramatic tango, which was a bit disconcerting, but I thought her frame was decent (the judges upgraded it to good) although there were a few details that weren’t quite there. (They’re the most entertaining couple, although Ellie T was very much the star on Saturday night.)
Jayde and Karen were dong a Frieda and Barry Charleston as Victoria Woods. It was unsurprisingly entertaining, and she was really there for Karen in the lifts, but the comparison with what Helen had done in her Charleston did Jayde no favours. The judges were quite scathing, I mean Motsi and Anton didn’t say much beyond, ’As a professional performer, you’re an entertaining performer.’ She should listen to Shirley, who was at least clear on what she needs to improve.
Will and Nancy, needing a comeback after his sickness impaired rumba, were doing a Line of Duty Viennese Waltz, and the music dictated that it would have to be dramatic, and, I suppose, that they took ages to get into hold. I thought he was pretty good when they did. More like it from him. Shirely continued to offer constructive advice – and if he wants to get into the final, he must know now that he may have to reckon with Tyler and Hamza among the men who ought to be there.
Tony and ‘Kat’ were doing a Grandstand cha cha. And, well, he’s a trier. The cha cha kept being interrupted by very Katya depictions of sports. Tony’s problem is that he doesn’t know what mistakes he made, and he came off as graceless WRT Shirley as far as I was concerned. But apparently some people find him charming.
We ended with Kym and Graziano because their theme song was from the mothershow (as Strictly has never referred to it before now) Come Dancing. Angela Rippon appeared to show up Tess (heh) and introduce their quickstep. Must have been rough to have to wait all show to perform the week after being in the dance-off, but how epic was Kym's skirt? I really enjoyed the routine, and was a little surprised at the judges’ comments, although their mystification as to why Kym might seem lacking in confidence seemed daft. Dance-off! Last week!
Angela Rippon helped to declare the voting lines open, but never mind that: Neil was dressed in a 1960s Batman costurme and Cameron was his Robin.
It took a cost-of-living crisis and all the er, events of this autumn to get me to try voting online. Knowing I had three votes, I plumped for Tyler, Hamza and Kym, as they were the routines I connected with the most. It wasn’t as turbocharged as last week’s show, but it was less weird than I thought it would be. Shirley was busy giving very constructive advice by the end and the judges were slightly pickier but also big on improvement.
[Edited for typos 10/2/25.]
Helen and Gorka opened up with a Blue Peter Charleston, inevitably the most jiggy Charleston we’ll ever see. I was impressed by her athleticism and how she handled all the props. The judges liked it more, and with a consensus it was her best dance yet, she achieved her best score yet.
The Doctor Who theme music terrorised me as a child, so the fact Tyler and Dianne’s tango was slightly creepy felt apt to me. The concept meant there was a dramatic conflict at the heart of the dance. I loved the stylisation and his dancing, and I felt like he was leading. Nice to have that confirmed by the judges (and Dianne). Oh, and they didn’t oversell the fact that this was Mauritius week so he’d not had much time to rehearse. Scores were down from his past few dances, but an improvement on the last time he did ballroom.
Fleur and Vito were doing an Eurovision (Waterloo) jive. Um, I think it was camp and energetic, but to be honest I was mainly giggling in disbelief at how much Vito was GOING FOR IT. Couldn’t take my eyes off him.
James and Amy were doing an Eastenders foxtrot, and he, probably more than any celeb, was moved to be ‘representing’. I thought it was a decent reiteration that he’s more comfortable with ballroom, although some of his role seemed to be releasing Amy to spin around a lot. The judges then proceeded to pick at it.
Ellie S and Nikita were doing a The Apprentice paso to some Big Music. Her timing is so good, there was lots of intensity. I thought it was pretty good, although I wondered whether the assisted lift would count against them. Turned out it did with Shirley and Craig (Anton wouldn’t dare be so hypocritical). At least we now know where they stand this season, even in a theme week. Maybe Nikita’s inexperience as a Strictly pro showed there, because they got a 30 instead of a 32 (Shirley would have given them a 9!?)
Molly and Carlos were doing a Grange Hill commercial couples choice. From her mandatory lifestory VT, we learned she went to Sylvia Young school (where she’d have had dance training) and she made some of us feel old because her young-looking parents remembered Grange Hill. The dance itself was good, but I’ve seen more synchronised and impressive commercial/street/hiphop routines on Strictly (e.g. last week). I wanted more highlights like that thing with Carlos’s legs. I felt vindicated by the judges’ comments, although they were mainly directed at Carlos, not Molly. That was a low score for her.
Hamza and Jowita were doing a natural history quickstep, and soon got those ridiculous coats off. He can move, can’t he, and both their hair was playing its part. I beamed throughout, he just exudes infectious joy, which is what you want from a quickstep. The judges said as much and placed him joint top with Helen.
Ellie T and Johannes were doing a Casualty tango, and she wore a better take on scrubs. The opening was funny, and then it did turn into a generic dramatic tango, which was a bit disconcerting, but I thought her frame was decent (the judges upgraded it to good) although there were a few details that weren’t quite there. (They’re the most entertaining couple, although Ellie T was very much the star on Saturday night.)
Jayde and Karen were dong a Frieda and Barry Charleston as Victoria Woods. It was unsurprisingly entertaining, and she was really there for Karen in the lifts, but the comparison with what Helen had done in her Charleston did Jayde no favours. The judges were quite scathing, I mean Motsi and Anton didn’t say much beyond, ’As a professional performer, you’re an entertaining performer.’ She should listen to Shirley, who was at least clear on what she needs to improve.
Will and Nancy, needing a comeback after his sickness impaired rumba, were doing a Line of Duty Viennese Waltz, and the music dictated that it would have to be dramatic, and, I suppose, that they took ages to get into hold. I thought he was pretty good when they did. More like it from him. Shirely continued to offer constructive advice – and if he wants to get into the final, he must know now that he may have to reckon with Tyler and Hamza among the men who ought to be there.
Tony and ‘Kat’ were doing a Grandstand cha cha. And, well, he’s a trier. The cha cha kept being interrupted by very Katya depictions of sports. Tony’s problem is that he doesn’t know what mistakes he made, and he came off as graceless WRT Shirley as far as I was concerned. But apparently some people find him charming.
We ended with Kym and Graziano because their theme song was from the mothershow (as Strictly has never referred to it before now) Come Dancing. Angela Rippon appeared to show up Tess (heh) and introduce their quickstep. Must have been rough to have to wait all show to perform the week after being in the dance-off, but how epic was Kym's skirt? I really enjoyed the routine, and was a little surprised at the judges’ comments, although their mystification as to why Kym might seem lacking in confidence seemed daft. Dance-off! Last week!
Angela Rippon helped to declare the voting lines open, but never mind that: Neil was dressed in a 1960s Batman costurme and Cameron was his Robin.
It took a cost-of-living crisis and all the er, events of this autumn to get me to try voting online. Knowing I had three votes, I plumped for Tyler, Hamza and Kym, as they were the routines I connected with the most. It wasn’t as turbocharged as last week’s show, but it was less weird than I thought it would be. Shirley was busy giving very constructive advice by the end and the judges were slightly pickier but also big on improvement.
[Edited for typos 10/2/25.]
