The first live Strictly Come Dancing show of the series saw celebrity scores ranging from 15 to 31. Some dancers looked seasoned, while others struggled with the unfamiliar demands of ballroom. The same could be said for the presenting team.
Sitting in the studio, the only moments of true relaxation came when seasoned TV presenter Emma Willis was speaking. When comedian Josh Widdicombe or former pro dancer Johannes Radebe took over, the audience seemed to collectively hold its breath. At one point, the warm-up guy rushed over to urge everyone to clap and cheer more, as the palpable nerves had spread to the audience too.
Presenter Teething Troubles
The nerves will surely pass as the weeks go on, but the big question remains: why are there three presenters? The producers have made the job harder for them, as one will always feel like a spare part. Emma, who has taken to the programme effortlessly, does not need any help. She is absolutely fine on the ballroom floor on her own.
Johannes, a dancer no longer dancing, tried his best upstairs in the as-yet-unnamed former Clauditorium. His first lesson must be to stop talking to the camera while the celeb and their pro are running up the stairs, because the cheering drowns out everything he says. He also needs to cut down on repetition, wondering multiple times who is dancing next. Josh's funniest moments come when he ad-libs with quick wit while talking to the judges; the autocue is not his friend.
Standout Performances
Thankfully, the standard of dancing was impressive for week one. The turning point in the studio came with Lacey Turner's sensational cha-cha-cha, which earned the first standing ovation of the night. It seemed to ease the tension and push everything up a notch or two, paving the way for the higher-scoring second half. Even the presenters seemed to relax a bit.
The best surprise of the night was football influencer John Nellis, who drew gasps with his stunning foxtrot to Ordinary by Alex Warren, partnered with Katya Jones. A few weeks ago, most had never heard of him; this morning, he is the odds-on favourite to lift the glitterball. That is the beauty of Strictly.
There was also glee at Elstree over the sensational moves of ex-Love Islander Cache Mercer. His dance might not have been a traditional quickstep, but he and new pro Maddie were brilliant to watch. Another top moment was judge Craig Revel Horwood's staggered face after dog trainer Graeme Hall unexpectedly pulled out a really impressive cha-cha-cha. And Delta Goodrem's staggeringly good samba closed the show.
Craig's Classic Form
Craig seemed to be on classic form, slating the whole lot with little allowance for it being the series opener. The booing was deafening, but he loves it. The more the audience booed, the more the insults, or constructive criticism as he likes to call it, kept coming. The celebs all seemed to take it on the chin.
The lowest-scoring contestants—Melanie Walters, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Dame Sarah Storey—all looked perfectly cheerful at the end as they mingled with friends, family, and the other contestants. As the audience filed out, fellow members said they would like to see Josh having a go at being Claudia, where his comedy skills would surely stand him in good stead. Roll on week two.
