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Week 8 – The American Smooth

What a weekend… what a journey! Well, I feel like I’ve just disembarked from an eight week First Class ride, having travelled further than in many a Strictly year of late! How marvellous to have departed the competition in Blackpool of all places – the spiritual home of Ballroom – and with a particularly fitting routine to send us on our way.

Here’s what happened…

We took to the floor – the Tower’s rather wonderful sprung floor, no less), with a perfectly themed and styled routine to Sinatra’s “Come Fly With Me”. I stepped out in full Captain’s uniform accompanied by my Air ‘Hostesses-with-the-mostess’… before spying First Class Fiona requiring my attentions before our flight.

Our lovely American Smooth took us on a grand tour to all four corners of the dance floor, and I though Fiona danced like she was floating on air. I couldn’t be more proud. Granted, there was a little turbulence in the take-off to our finalé lift… Fiona did indeed get airborne… but we were to come down with a bump.

The judges’ comments rightly praised Fiona’s First Class attitude, though Len said the movement was more business class, and the lifts: economy. Darcey loved the style and detailing, and Fiona’s middle-section solo went down a treat with both her and Craig. Not half bad, we thought, and we received a total score of 29 – our second highest score this series. Hurrah!

Only it wasn’t quite enough. The standard is already so very high this year, that we were placed joint bottom on the leaderboard. …And on Sunday evening we danced head to head with Mark & Iveta in the dreaded Dance-Off. Tense moments followed as one-by-one we heard the judge’s final verdicts. Craig wanted to save us, but Darcey, Len and Bruno chose our competitors, but said it was very, very close.

Sad to be leaving the competition, but thrilled for Mark & Iveta who once again delivered a thoroughly entertaining performance, Fiona couldn’t have expressed it better: “It’s like being a guest at the best party in the world”. I couldn’t agree more! (Noting for the record, that much hard work, long hours, and cups of tea were involved too!)

And so, our arrival at the Tower Ballroom saw us heading for the Strictly Departure Lounge. What a wonderful, wonderful journey it’s been this year – the atmosphere, the music, the singers, the production, the celebrities, fellow professionals and of course Sir Bruce, Tess and Claudia… everything has been electrifying, inspirational and thoroughly top class.

Thank you to all of you who’ve been voting for Fiona and I this series, and thank you Fiona for being such a fab-u-lous partner – you’ve been a joy and delight to dance with, and I’ve simply had the most marvellous time, and I hope you have too. To reach Week 8 with you – I’m on cloud 9. You are a star!

With much love,

Week 7 – The Paso Doble

Rather ‘bullish’ comments this week from the judges, we thought, and to my mind, Fiona performed like a true caped crusader!

Whilst Craig may have deemed the dance ‘adequate but forgettable’, Darcey called Fiona a ‘very convincing dramatic diva’ creating energy and attack – that’s more like it! Bruno, Len and Darcey all complemented her on her lovely Spanish lines, the flamenco touches, and cape work too (or ‘wafting’ as Len put it)!

…However, the resulting 26 points left us third from the bottom and we were on tenterhooks right until the last moment in the Results show as we were the last couple to be saved. What a relief! I think our faces said it all! Again, your votes have kept us safe.

This week’s Dance-Off pitched Mark & Iveta against Dave & Karen… and both couples danced as though their lives depended on it. But rules are rules, and somebody had to leave; sadly it was Hairy Biker, Dave, who will be very much missed – what he may have lacked in technique, he more than made up for in entertainment value!

And so: Blackpool beckons, the wonderful Tower Ballroom awaits… and Fiona and I are very, very excited!!!

See you next weekend from the spiritual home of Ballroom Dancing!

Week 6 – The Charleston

Jeepers Creepers!… A chilling (well, more cheeky) Charleston and we’re through to week 7! Now that IS spooky!!

Fabulous costumes, makeup, music and an audience spellbound by this weekend’s devilishly good set design helped us swivel our way out of the pumpkin patch and along the yellow brick road to a wizard finalé!

Another sterling performance from Fiona, with both Craig and Len praising her beautiful swivel action (and she’d an ankle mishap during the week… my Bond girl is made of strong stuff!). Whether or not it was like Halloween at Doris Day’s house as Bruno suggested (which I happen to think sounds like a mighty swell time!)… or perhaps a little ‘polite’, the storytelling and overall performance met with general approval and scored us 28 points.

We may have slipped on the leaderboard this week, but Darcey said we’re still on the way up – and that’s good enough for me!

So sad to see two such fabulous couples in the dance-off this weekend, and I do believe it wasn’t Rachel & Pasha’s time to go. Thank you so much for your votes – every single one counts – they’re keeping us in the competition!

Here’s to week 7…!

Week 5 – The Quickstep

Our best dance yet, hurrah!… 30 points and a standing ovation to prove it, too!

“Finally fabulous, Fiona” said Darcey, and I wholeheartedly agree. What a performance. Fiona was light and flighty on her feet, had a new-found grace, and her characterisations were simply first class. I couldn’t be happier with her performance!

Such wonderful support too – the special message from Sir Roger Moore surely put a spring in Fiona’s step before the dance, and of course to have all you wonderful fans voting for us each week is truly marvellous. No wonder Fiona danced her Quickstep to a tee!

“More confidence, more focus, plus more content equals more points, well done!” said Len… I think we’ve turned a corner, don’t you?! Such a relief to be through to week 6… November here we come!

Shock result for the couples in the dance-off though, and it was such a shame to see our friendly resident Dragon dance for the last time – it really wasn’t Deborah’s time to go. Very well done to Patrick and Anya, though, for making it through after his injury and last minute rework to the routine – the makings of a true pro’!

Best foot forward… back to training… and have we got a corker of a dance in store for next weekend!!

Week 4 – The Rumba

Well, that was a close shave!

Talk about snakes and ladders up and down the leaderboard these past weeks, we were both heartsunk to have slipped down to bottom place on Saturday night with 22 points. Not to say 22 is a bad score – Rumba is such a hard dance to learn, embody and perform and again, I’d like to congratulate Fiona for giving it her all and dancing it so beautifully.

The judges, I feel, were a little harsh with their marking, but the feedback is of course taken constructively! Hips, balance, connection… and focus. (That calls for more tea!)

I must say, though, the hugest Thank You to everybody who voted. Being placed bottom by the judges means that your votes spared us from being in the dreaded dance-off, and have given us the opportunity to dance again next week… A rather joyous Quickstep!

As always, it’s sad to see our Strictly family get smaller each week – this time saying Goodbye to marvellously exuberant Julien and Janette. Somehow I think he’s got the dancing bug… don’t you?!

And speaking of family, some wonderful news has been announced by Erin this weekend – have a read over on her blog… If you haven’t already heard, I shan’t spoil the surprise, but huge congratulations and very best wishes are much in order! …And I rather think ‘Uncle Anton’ has a nice ring to it 😉

What a weekend!!

Week 3 – The Waltz

Darcey likened Fiona to Grace Kelly… And Tess likened me to a lothario. I’ll take that!

A rather wonderful waltz from Fiona… all the steps in all the right places, and, danced to ‘True Love’ it was true grace indeed. We even scored my age (ish) in points – a staggering 28 – which placed us in the top half of the leaderboard… And that hasn’t happened for a while!

It was Fiona’s birthday wish to make it through… and your votes have helped make it come true – thank you very much indeed – she’s over the moon!

Sorry to see Vanessa go, especially after her emotive waltz last week; it can all so easily hinge on the dance.

And on that note… we’d best get our feet into action!

Until next weekend,

Week 2 – The Cha Cha Cha

Well, we thought it was an improvement! Hip action may have started out as a challenge, but the dance was full of character and to my mind, Fiona Cha Cha’d like a champ. Lively, energetic, rhythmic… a thoroughly charming performance.

22 points… room for improvement; best get back to rehearsals!

Thrilled to have made it through, but of course sad to see Tony and Aliona leave. Many thanks to all of you who voted!

See you in the ballroom next weekend!

Week 1 – The Tango

“Sharp as a lemon tart,” according to Len… didn’t Fiona do well in our first week’s dance?! 24 points – I’m rather delighted! All suitably Bond-themed – danced to ‘A View To A Kill’ in which Fiona starred. Marvellous! Watch it again here.

Here’s to next week!