TV review: “Strictly Come Dancing” – Series 5, Week 6

Week 6 and half way through the competition, with the couples dancing either a Salsa or a Viennese Waltz. Bruce and Tess opened the show in the usual fashion with their little bit of banter (I didn’t like Tess’s dress, though, looked more suitable for a granny than the darling of BBC One light entertainment).

Gethin & Camilla kicked off the show with their Viennese waltz, which they danced to “Falling”. A great start to the show, it was full of romance and a bit of drama, and I thought they did a great job, for a dance which can sometimes be a bit dull, they gave a lovely performance particularly for the opening dance of the show. Len said it was easily Gethin’s best dance to date, Bruno said his star was rising and he kept control, made it look easy and interesting. Craig absolutely loved it, and Arlene called him “Gethin the Gallant”. I thought it easily deserved a 9.

Judges scores – Craig: 9 Arlene: 9 Len: 9 Bruno: 9 Total = 36

The first salsa of the night was next from Penny & Ian, which they danced to “Higher”. I felt that Penny didn’t really managed to pull of the routine, she was off balance at times and her posture wasn’t very good. Len thought it was too hectic, Bruno thought Penny overdid it, Craig thought the energy was phenomenal, but made the dance unfocused. Arlene didn’t feel the latin ease and felt it was a bit out of control. I’m not a big Penny fan, and that probably reflects in my marks, but I could only give it a 6.

Judges scores – Craig: 6 Arlene: 6 Len: 7 Bruno: 6 Total = 25

Matt & Flavia’s Viennese waltz was the next dance, which they danced to “When A Man Loves A Woman”. Another beautifully romantic dance, with Flavia looking gorgeous in a lovely blue dress. Craig said it was good overall, but thought it was a bit lumpy on the fall of the rise and fall, Arlene thought it was a bit flat. Len said Matt coped quite well but not his best dance, and Bruno said they have an angelic quality but there was a few mistakes. I thought it was a good performance, but agreed with Len in that it wasn’t his best, and I gave them an 8.

Judges scores – Craig: 8 Arlene: 6 Len: 7 Bruno: 8 Total = 29

Next to dance were Kate & Anton, dancing a salsa to “Peanut Vendor”. Poor Kate, it was obviously not her dance, but she at least seemed to remember most of the routine. It was still entertaining, especially since it’s not a dance Anton is used to either. At least she had a gorgeous dress – the best one she’s had so far! Bruno said this week the nightmare was back, saying he’d never seen anything less convincing. Craig said it was stompy and awkward, and Arlene thought it was about as sexy as a coconut and sensual as a peanut. Len thought it was a good effort, trying the spins and turns, and out of her comfort zone to come out and perform it was a good job. I did enjoy it (more than Penny & Ian) so a 6 from me.

Judges scores – Craig: 3 Arlene: 4 Len: 6 Bruno: 5 Total = 18

Another salsa next, with Letitia & Darren dancing to “Pastime Paradise”. Not her best dance, I think her footwork was off at times, and Darren outshone her on every step. Arlene thought there wasn’t enough latin in it, without the hip action. Bruno said it didn’t happen with the hips, and Craig said she needs to be more generous with her body movements, but he said on a positive note, they were very fast rhythms and she kept with them. Another salsa, and another 6 from me. A few tears from Letitia in the backstage chat with Tess. I hope they stay in, because I think she has been getting better and this was just an off week.

Judges scores – Craig: 6 Arlene: 6 Len: 7 Bruno: 6 Total = 25

Kenny & Ola danced the next Viennese waltz using the Scottish national anthem “Flower of Scotland” (a shameless attempt to score more votes from north of the border if you ask me!). I thought it was a little bit too skippy, and when Kenny produced a thistle flower for Ola at the end of the dance, it was too twee, but generally a good routine. Bruno thought it was too heavy, Craig said there was too much rise and fall. Arlene said it was the most virile Viennese waltz she’s ever seen. Len said he came out and dominated the floor, with his best dance so far. I would give them a 7.

Judges scores – Craig: 5 Arlene: 7 Len: 8 Bruno: 6 Total = 26

John & Nicole were the next couple to dance, with their salsa routine which they danced to “Ran Kan Kan”. Another gorgeous dress tonight, with Nicole in a beautiful purple outfit. For me, John’s best dance by far, I thought it was great. Arlene said she was bathing in the ocean of the cuban motion. Len said it was the best dance of the whole series so far. Bruno thought John had great hip action and that perhaps he had a ferret down his trousers, and that it was the best arm action technically we had seen tonight. Craig said “Respect” which John explained it was a big compliment in Jamaica. An 8 from me (because it’s still nowhere near Mark Ramprakash & Karen Hardy last series).

Judges scores – Craig: 8 Arlene: 9 Len: 10 Bruno: 9 Total = 36

The final Viennese waltz of the night from Kelly & Brendan, danced to “Delilah”. Fantastic choreography from Brendan, and yet another gorgeous dress for Kelly, but I think that the problem was that the dancefloor wasn’t big enough for the dance. I think if they’d danced this in the Blackpool Tower ballroom, it would have been fantastic, but here it looked a bit too contained for me. There were a few minor mistakes, but they were noticeable to me. Len said it was extremely entertaining, and Bruno thought it was first class saying, “When you’re good, you’re very, very good”. Craig loved the paso spin on the choreography and had very clear storytelling. Arlene said Brendan gets more magic out of three steps than any other man she knows. I think the judges were overgenerous with their comments and their marks; I gave them an 8.

Judges scores – Craig: 9 Arlene: 9 Len: 9 Bruno: 9 Total = 36

Final dance of the night was Alesha & Matthew’s salsa which they danced to “Gotta Be Startin’ Something”. I didn’t like the song, particularly for a salsa, but I can’t put my finger on why it didn’t quite work. I thought it was full of energy, and technically good, but not quite as fantastic as I’d hoped. I think maybe because Alesha is my favourite, I’m expecting too much too soon from her. Craig said he loved the way she attacked the dance and that her timing was so good, while Arlene was a little critical saying she needs to use her feet more to get the perfect hip action. Len said Alesha has consistently been the one to beat, and she gave another great performance this week, and Bruno said she has latin american going through her blood. I thought it was good, but agreed with Arlene that it didn’t blow me away. My score for them was an 8.

Judges scores – Craig: 9 Arlene: 8 Len: 9 Bruno: 9 Total = 35

A special mention for the costume department, as all the dresses bar Tess’s were absolutely gorgeous this week, with all the girls looking lovely.

Another surprising week, with the Viennese waltzes completely stealing the show, with the stand out performance being Gethin & Camilla for me, and even Kenny & Ola producing a good dance. Brendan & Kelly were scored slightly too high for me as well, and I thought it was worth 34 not 36. The salsas were distinctly average, although John & Nicole were good, there was no way it was worth a 10, and was also overmarked; it shouldn’t have scored more than 34 as an absolute maximum for me, and was worth more like 32.

A difficult week for predictions though, and I suspect Penny & Ian will be in the bottom two, but the public voting is so difficult to call this year, that I’m not sure who will be there with them this week. I hope it isn’t Letitia & Darren, and I’d rather it’s Kenny & Ola even though it was probably Kenny’s best week so far. I’m hoping, rather than predicting, that Penny & Ian leave this week, as I think all her latin dances have been poor, but I suspect the judges will save them if they are in the dance-off.