BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Chris McCausland praised for 'poignant' routine
by Hannah Roberts PA Entertainment Reporter · ChronicleLiveStrictly Come Dancing's Chris McCausland has been lauded for his dance performance which included a "poignant" blackout moment, reflecting his own experience with blindness. The 47 year old comedian and his dance partner Dianne Buswell ended Saturday’s live show with their couple’s choice to Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon.
Their performance was met with thunderous applause from the audience and a score of 33 from the judges. Craig Revel Horwood described the "poignant blackout moment" as "absolutely spectacular", while head judge Shirley Ballas told McCausland: "You come out every week with your heart on your sleeve, and you give us 100%."
At the start of the show, TV host Claudia Winkleman expressed that everyone at Strictly was sending professional dancer Amy Dowden "so much love" after it was announced on Monday that she had withdrawn from the rest of the competition due to an injury.
"We cannot wait to see you back on this dance floor very, very soon," she said, to a round of applause. Kicking off the show this weekend was Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and her dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec, who quickstepped to Fantasy by Mariah Carey.
According to Ballas, the pair "offered everything we needed to see in a quick step", and they were awarded 37 points from the judges. After their dance, the terms and conditions were read out by RuPaul’s Drag Race star Michelle Visage who appeared from behind a gold-fringed curtain.
On the same episode, judge Motsi Mabuse gave singer Shayne Ward some tough feedback on his rumba with Nanxy Xu to Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time, stating it "was not one of your best dances". However, Ballas had a more optimistic view, noting the pair's growing chemistry.
They were awarded 30 points. Miranda actress Sarah Hadland wowed with several "spectacular" lifts during her American Smooth performance with professional partner Vito Coppola to Heather Small's Proud.
The judges gave them 33 points, despite mixed reviews about Hadland’s hand positions and smaller details. Revel Horwood did praise one particular move: "The cartwheel, darling, into that lift was spectacular."
JLS star JB Gill and his dance partner Lauren Oakley topped the judges’ leaderboard, alongside Ghouri and Skorjanec, with a samba that "stunned" the judges.
Anton Du Beke commented on their dance to Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendes, saying: "I am stunned, stunned. Last week. You did your couples’ choice and I said: ‘Please can you bring this moving forward? ’ ‘Just bring it and stick it on another dance.’ Man alive, did you bring it! " EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and his dance partner Michelle Tsiakkas received less enthusiastic comments from the judges.
Their Argentine tango to 'Do I Wanna Know?' by the Arctic Monkeys saw them at the bottom of the leaderboard, tied with Ward and Xu, with a score of 30. Meanwhile, opera singer Wynne Evans received commendation for his improved footwork as he performed an American smooth to 'Grace Kelly' by Mika.
Evans and his dance partner Katya Jones were awarded 32 points and were surprised with a video message from Mika himself. Olympian Montell Douglas and dancer Johannes Radebe made a comeback, scoring 36 for their paso doble to 'Lola’s Theme' by The Shapeshifters.
Last week, they found themselves in the bottom two after their waltz to Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' failed to impress. They were saved by the judges, leading to the elimination of former Olympic hockey player Sam Quek and professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin.
The couple voted out in this Sunday’s results show will miss the chance to go to Blackpool next week.
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