Strictly Come Dancing is set to introduce a new Instant Dance challenge, asking contestants to prepare a dance in ten seconds, on its live show. The challenge will feature on the BBC dance programme later this month on Saturday, November 29.
Contestants will pick a dance style at random from those they have learned, before being played their accompanying music, and will be given just 10 seconds to decide how they will perform. Head judge Shirley Ballas said: "Instant Dance has the power to change everything for our couples, and will challenge them in ways they have never been challenged before."
After being given their dance, contestants will also dash through the wardrobe to select their outfits and change into them. The new challenge will take place after contestants have performed their dances in the normal way, with judges then ranking them and awarding extra marks accordingly. A maximum of six marks will be awarded to the couple whose Instant Dance performance impresses the judging panel the most, down to just one point for the couple whose dance impressed them the least.
Strictly Come Dancing continues with the show's annual Blackpool specials this weekend on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, which will reveal the couples making it through to the following week, where they will face Instant Dance.
Reality TV star Vicky Pattison was eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing on her 38th birthday in last weekend's episodes, after being beaten in the dance-off by EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal and professional dancer Julian Caillon. Her exit came as a shock to viewers as the week before she had been riding high with an impressive 39 points from the judges for her sultry tango to Taylor Swift's The Fate of Ophelia.
Vicky apologised to her professional dance partner, Kai Widdrington, saying she was "so sorry" they wouldn't be making it to Blackpool. The pair's score left them at the bottom of Saturday's leader board, tied with Balvinder Sopal and her partner Julian Caillon. The two dance couples had to battle it out against one another in the dance off on Sunday evening. Judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all chose to save Balvinder and Julian. Craig Revel Horwood, who would have held the deciding vote, agreed he would have done the same - sending Vicky home just one week shy of Blackpool.
