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Week 1 – The Jive

Strictly’s back… it’s bigger than ever… and… stop press… I got to do proper steps in Week 1 – hurrah!!!

Yes, I’m back with my wonderful Strictly family, for the 13th series… and it’s good to be home! Each series gets bigger and better than the last, and this certainly promises to be no exception.

I must firstly give a very warm welcome to our new professional dancers: Oti Mabuse, Giovanni Pernice and Gleb Savchenko – I wish them every success on the show! The BBC have also blessed us with a cracking line-up of celebrities, and right from the get-go, there’s plenty of natural talent to get this series off to a flying start!

That brings me nicely on to the topic of my partner for series 13. And I think I’ve struck it lucky! I am thrilled to bits to have been partnered with the lithesome, limber, and very very lovely Katie Derham. What a result!! My very own Prom Queen for (hopefully!) many, many weeks to come! You may already know Katie from presenting the Proms on BBC Radio3 and on the television too, but the particularly good news is that she truly is musically-minded – even playing the violin – so there’s lots for me to work with. With big ticks in the musicality and rhythm boxes, I hope I can add dancing as another string to her bow!

…And things started out very promising indeed!… Here’s one of our training videos:

Our Week 1 dance was the Jive to a fabulous rendition of Roll Over Beethoven from Dave Arch and his band. Fast and frenetic, requiring sharp footwork, split-second timing, and strong characterisation to keep the energy from start to finish… in at the deep end for week 1, really. But I have to say, I am absolutely THRILLED, DELIGHTED and JUBILANT at how well Katie performed!! What a STAR!!!

We did proper steps… and lots of ’em, even a quick costume change for good measure… she was unflappable!… We received a standing ovation from the audience and it was topped it off a treat to hear the Judges’ approval too!

I think we all saw a new side to Craig: he said – get this – it was “the most sophisticated and stylish jive we’ve ever had” – Bonanza! Bruno said Katie had “radiant stage presence” and was “first class material to mould into a masterpiece”; Darcey said she wasn’t expecting a dance like that, and that it was a “classy jive”… and Len crystallised my Strictly hopes and dreams, saying “this could be the glory year!”… He also said “this could be the year you realise Strictly goes right up to Christmas!”… Who knew!?!!

We were awarded a remarkable 26 points, overall in 7th place, but just 4 points behind the leaders, Peter & Janette. As I pointed out to Claudia, a score like that is one I’ve hitherto only achieved through weeks of accumulated points!

So with high hopes, and a skip in our step, Katie and I are back in training, determined to build on our very exciting dancefloor debut!

See you back in the ballroom at the weekend… and this week, folks, it’s the competition proper with one couple heading home, so we’ll need your votes to stay in!

Don’t forget, you can follow me on twitter here, and facebook here… Please also follow Katie here and show your support!

Strictly Series 13… Bring it on!

Week 8 – The Viennese Waltz

All good things must come to an end… but we certainly went out on a high! Literally; truly; tremendously. Ah yes, Judy and I are now out of the competition this year – but what a wonderful adventure we’ve had.

Firstly, we made it to Blackpool – hurrah!.. That’s something I’m particularly thrilled about: to have been able to share the experience of dancing on that world famous Tower Ballroom floor with my partner Judy in such a spectacular way and as part of such an incredible show – words can’t express the delight.

We danced a Viennese Waltz to ‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’ with a full-on Mary Poppins theme and production, and Judy did me proud. Her footwork, her musicality, her characterisation, her posture, her shaping… everything had taken a huge leap forward and a dancer was emerging! It’s such a large floor to cover, too – very different to the studio, and that takes some adapting to in itself. Her daredevil spirit (and a large bunch of balloons) elevated her almost a hundred feet above the dance floor for an uplifting finalé… and you can imagine our joy when we received a well-deserved 24 from the judges – including 7s each from Len and Bruno – marvellous! …Judy’s personal best (Craig’s words!) for the series, too!

Len made me roar, saying “If they can put a spaceship on a comet, Anton can teach Judy to dance.” That has to be the accolade of the series!

In view of the immense talent in this year’s competition it was no wonder we came back to earth with a bumpy landing… squarely at the bottom of the leaderboard. Everybody danced so very well; in actual fact, it’s hard not to in such an auspicious ballroom with such an enthusiastic, encouraging audience all around.

But on Sunday night, our worst fears were realised as we faced the dreaded dance off. Zoë pointed out the night before that I had left the competition last year in Blackpool… and after Dame Shirley Bassey’s spellbinding rendition of Goldfinger, I had a niggling suspicion there may be ‘A Little Bit Of History Repeating Itself’ (did you see what I did there?!).

And so, we went head-to-head with Brendan and Sunetra, and I must say that the precarious circumstance didn’t detract from the sheer thrill of taking to the floor once again with Judy. We danced our Viennese as though there were no tomorrow and it felt as though we were gliding on air. Alas, we had more than met our match, and it was a unanimous verdict from the Judges that Sunetra and Brendan should go through to next week – and we wish them the hugest of congratulations in doing so, too – very well deserved.

What a send-off. We bade our farewells to the Judges and to Tess and Zoë – everybody was so very complimentary about us, it was lovely – and Judy was so gracious and delightful – particularly about how very special her Strictly experience had been. For me, it truly has been enormous fun, made all the more so by Judy’s fabulous sense of humour, her winning personality, and the real bond and partnership we’ve developed over these past weeks. We took to the floor for our very last Strictly dance, and delivered a compendium of past lifts to go out with a farewell flourish.

In all sincerity, Judy and I both thank you all so very much for your votes every Saturday night. Without them we wouldn’t have escaped the dance-off for all those weeks, and couldn’t have made it through this far. You enabled me to take Judy all the way to Blackpool – one of the true high points of Strictly Come Dancing, and made some wonderful, wonderful memories. I so hope we’ve entertained each week, and brought some genuine pleasure to the competition.

Judy – thank you so very much for making Strictly 2014 such a fabulous experience – we’ve been on a tremendous journey together, dancing with you has been a pleasure and a delight, and I couldn’t have wished for a better partner.

As ever, it’s been an honour and a privilege to be a part of Strictly, and to work alongside such consummate professionals both in front of, and behind the cameras – a world class dream team. And with that, we must take our leave and enable the remaining eight couples to battle it out for that ever elusive glitterball trophy.

With much love, as always,

Week 7 – The Paso Doble

Judge, jury and a bid for freedom – our Paso certainly brought some courtroom drama to last weekend’s Strictly – guilty as charged!

Our Paso Doble began with me being sentenced to time behind bars for the ‘illegal lifts’ our routines have boldly included – a fair cop! – and Judy led me to my cell via a florid display of Paso moves around the floor before she slammed the door shut with steely conviction! A very aptly themed routine I thought (in view of choreographic transgressions) and danced to a fitting ‘I Fought The Law’. With suitable fierceness, some more illegal lifting, and a fiery red dress, we made it through to my eventual jailing. Tremendous!

Once our routine was over, however, it was like having a retrial… only were were both in the dock, and this time before the official Judges! On the positive side, Darcey said it was a good effort, recognising Judy’s strength from her kicks and jumps, but that fierceness was missing. Bruno called Judy a ‘revolutionary dance outlaw’ breaking rules and reimagining dance as we know it – well, I must say, surely that’s a very special compliment, and I couldn’t agree more! Craig said it was all very pedestrian and that we walked through it… though I retorted that there is a lot of walking in a Paso and that we didn’t want to overly exert ourselves. Alas, that didn’t seem to help. Len capped it off by saying ‘If stiffness was a crime, you’d get life’… though did show some leniency in saying, with a cheeky wink, that I’d already done two months’ hard labour 😉

Ever consistent with the scores, we totted up an 18 (including a 3 from Craig letting the side down) which placed us bottom of the leaderboard, again. Heartsinking, but seeing the calibre of the other performances, the verdict had been passed, and we knew our place.

So, you can imagine our utter surprise and disbelief when once again we were saved by the public vote. Thank you all so very much for your continued support, it really is remarkable. Completely unexpected that we should make it through – as you can see from our reaction!

But once again we had to say goodbye to another wonderful couple: Alison and Aljaž, after they delivered a sterling performance in the dance off against Caroline and Pasha. Another huge surprise for the weekend, and of course a difficult decision for the judges to have to choose between such fabulous contestants; we’re hugely missing Alison already.

And so… we’re Blackpool bound! Hurrah! We’ve a Viennese Waltz this weekend – perfect for the fabulous sprung floor of the Tower Ballroom. Once again, I must remark on how Judy has improved week on week, and we’re really loving how this dance is progressing so it all bodes well. Judy says she feels like she’s dancing more too, and I’m so thrilled that she’ll be able to experience the magic that can happen in that legendary ballroom.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside…! Tune in Saturday!

With love,

Week 6 – The American Smooth

Devilishly good or ghoulishly ghastly… Read all about our American Smooth for Strictly’s Halloween weekend!

Well, it was the Halloween Special on Strictly last weekend, and the bar – and spirits! – were raised even higher. The staging, production, music, make-up and costumes… not to mention the dancing – all phenomenal, truly. I must make reference to the opening pro number to Bat Out Of Hell, and my blood-curdling, and literally hair-raising aerial entrance as Count Dracula. Spinning and twirling through the air… utterly terrifying; appropriate of course, given the week’s theme! (Now I know what Ann Widdecombe felt like!)

As for our American Smooth… ah, the best laid plans…

It all got off to a good start as Judy’s Cruella-mobile was lowered down to the ballroom from on high as she cried “Bring me those puppies”… but our co-star Dalmatians, Pongo and Purdy, were having none of it! Even my best dog-handling technique couldn’t coax them out onto the floor!

The routine thereon in went incredibly well, I thought; far more according to plan. Judy was very much ‘in character’ – her frame particularly suited to this role, and she certainly looked the part too. We worked very hard together to incorporate lots of content as well as some fabulous lifts (which I know Judy loves), all timed to reach the end of the routine with finesse and gusto in good measure.

Spookily, however, the judges’ comments included morsels as gruesome as previous weeks. Bruno called it an American Stiff… Craig said the dogs had more grace, and that Judy was spiky – ouch!… Consider the expert characterisation though – as I quipped back: it was Cruella De Vil, not Ginger Rogers… I thought it perfectly befitted the role! Darcey recognised there was so much more dance content, a major improvement, and Len commented on style, sophistication, characterisation and again there being more content than previous weeks… a job well done from the voice of reason as Tess put it. We’ll take that; not too deathly overall.

As for the scores, I suppose there’s something to be said for consistency… though as the competition gets tighter, that consistency has brought us ever closer to the bottom of the leaderboard. And that’s exactly where our ghoulish score of 20 landed us with a bump this week. We fully expected to be in the dance-off – we could feel it in our bones… but once again, by the sheer power of your votes, we were saved! Hurrah!!! I think you could see my jubilation in the results show! A Huge Thank You from the both of us!

Once again we had to say goodbye to a new friend – two new friends in fact this week. The dance-off had Scott and Joanne going head-to-head with Alison and Aljaž… and it was Scott who was voted off the show by the Judges. What a sport. He really has come a long way from when he started out, and it’s to be applauded; well done Joanne too in her Strictly debut year – a tremendously entertaining couple.

Judy’s come on leaps and bounds, that’s for sure, and we’re able to include more and more content – and entertainment – each week as a result… I simply couldn’t ask for more! And on that front, after flying cars and dog-ography, you’ll have to wait and see what’s in store for this coming weekend. We’re doing a Paso… now this’ll be interesting!

Until then, much love,

Week 5 – The Charleston

Were we up the creek with our boating-themed Charleston last weekend?…

I think not! What an improvement – Judy’s best dance to date in my opinion… full of animation, characterisation, big smiles and fun! After Craig’s comment about a ‘vacant expression’ last week, we knew we had to push the boat out… and that’s exactly what we did. Tremendous!

Our Charleston had it all. Animation, facial expressions, mid-lift swimming… not to mention the ‘ographies: oar-ography, arm-ography, leg-ography, even tassle-ography!

Granted, there may have been room for more swivel as the judges were quick to spot, and any parts out-of-time were of course choreographed that way… (syncopation! ahem)… but the feedback, whilst not all plain sailing, came as a wave of positivity.

Len said it was joy to watch us, though Bruno said it was more like a Titanic of a Charleston… oh dear. At least Craig said Judy was far less wooden than the oars (there is a compliment in there) – even saying the performance was enjoyable (though sadly not reflected in his score). Darcey recognised Judy had turned up her performance – hurrah – and in fact, that’s the best kind of encouragement to receive from the judges: acknowledgement of improvement. Full steam ahead!

However… this rising tide wasn’t reflected in the scores: 18 (including a 3 from Craig)… sinking us right to the bottom of the leaderboard by the end of the night.

All hope was dashed, but like the raising of the Mary Rose, we were once again lifted from the danger zone, saved from the dance-off, and given safe passage through to next week – all thanks to you, the voting public! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

This week’s dance-off was another shocker: none of us expected to see Thom and Iveta having to go head-to-head against Simon and Kristina. Both couples were superb, and the judges of course had a very onerous task of choosing who should leave the competition. It was so divided that head judge Len had to give his casting vote, saving Simon, and so losing Thom. It was very unexpected to see him leave so early in the competition after showing such promise; a real gent, he was a particular favourite of Judy’s too. Once again it just goes to show how much sway the public vote can have on the leaderboard.

It was a real boost for Judy to have her son Jamie there in the audience last weekend – she says she’s thrilled to have changed his opinion on her dancing from mortification to pride… and Andy should be there to cheer us on this coming weekend after his incredible win at the Valencia Open last Sunday.

We’re doing an American Smooth for Halloween week. Plenty of smoke and lifts. I can’t wait. Scary isn’t the word!

Thank u once again to every1who voted 4 @TheAntonDuBeke + me. You kept us in :)) + we can't wait 4 Halloween wk. A-Dub is Dracula + I'm..???

— judy murray (@judmoo) October 26, 2014

Until the weekend…

Week 4 – The Tango

We’re still in!… And it was another rip-roarer of a Strictly weekend!

I am so thrilled to have reached week 4 and been given the opportunity to dance the Tango with my delightful partner, Judy. We’d practised so hard all week, I very much hoped it would be a dance she’d enjoy. There’s so much to concentrate on in order to really deliver a performance – no mean feat for a novice, the storytelling in particular… let alone the steps! I couldn’t be happier with how it went, and Judy said she felt she’d done better – and enjoyed it – which is what it’s all about!

Judy really was my Lady In Red on Saturday night – the perfect outfit, plenty of oomph, attitude, aggression… and topped off with a leap-of-faith lift at the end bringing the audience to its feet. Marvellous!

Craig said “amazing isn’t the word…” hear, hear! He remarked upon Judy’s natural stiffness which we took as a compliment, though said he wanted more aggression (which I shan’t be encouraging!). I quipped that Craig didn’t understand the real nuance of the dance when he likened some of our moves to throwing a bowling ball around the floor… but the sporting reference wasn’t lost on us! Darcey thought it had a wonderful beginning and a wonderful end, and liked the amount of attack; posture needs work but in all “a lovely surprise”. Bruno said Judy threw herself into the performance, literally, and Len had the perfect one-liner: “Plenty of punch, Judy!”… Strong, with aggression, saying he knew she’d be good at the tango with its head action going like a Wimbledon spectator. We roared!

I’m incredibly proud of how well Judy danced this weekend – such commitment, and it really shone through in her performance – what more could I ask for! As for the scores, a magnificent 22 – we scored the same this week with four judges as we did last week with five, so we’re on the up! That said, it still placed us 3rd from bottom on the leaderboard…

But again, thanks to our wonderful fans, we were saved from the Dance-off, and with a cheer of triumph, made it through to next week where we’re sure to entertain with our Charleston. You can imagine 😉 And Judy’s boys may be in the audience too so we’d best make it a good one!

Special mention must go to Strictly’s musical guests this week: the inimitable Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga – good heavens weren’t they spectacular? What a fabulous duet… and wonderful interpretation by Natalie and Trent on the dancefloor too. Such a thrill!

This week we all had to say farewell to the very fine Tim Wonnacott and his partner Natalie. Such a valiant effort with their Paso – and yet another surprise in seeing Mark and Karen go head-to-head with them in the Dance-off – you can see just how important the public vote can be in reshaping the leaderboard. I must mention Tim’s farewell speech – the epitome of eloquence – such an emotive tribute to the power of dance, the joy it can bring, and how fabulous this TV show is. Couldn’t have said it better myself… Keep dancing, Tim!

And so, once again, best foot forward and a cheeky Charleston ciao!

Week 3 – The Quickstep

Another close shave…

What fabulous shows this weekend – Strictly does Movie Week – there’s nothing better! A veritable Hollywood spectacular from start to finish with fabulous dancing, music and even a special guest judge – the legendary Donny Osmond – to provide encouragement as we all take to the floor again.

I even made my directorial debut in the pro-dance…

This week we had the Quickstep to a wonderful rendition of ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’. Judy had a fabulous sparkly get-up that made her look like a glamorous movie star, and I was most appropriately garbed in top hat, tailsuit and cane – all bringing the perfect amount of razzamatazz to our routine.

The steps were all pretty much there, mostly in the right order, and we made it through the routine with bravura to a deliberate and exhilaratingly illegal lift as the finalé! Something that didn’t go unnoticed!…

The judges weren’t quite as impressed as we were, although Donny did open the critique by saying we’d done ‘a beautiful job’ – we’ll take that! Len said, with a twinkle in his eye, “Judy you were fine, Anton you’ve got to improve!”; Bruno referenced Nelson’s column, but a statuesque posture is surely to be admired… and Craig unexpectedly appreciated our illegal lift, though mentioned rigor mortis – so pleased to have the rigour in my training recognised by the judges!

A total score of 23, however, put us almost at the bottom of the leaderboard, above Tim & Natalie, and joint with Jennifer & Tristan. Oh dear… the ‘danger zone’… but nevertheless, we were thrilled not to be at the very bottom!

We feared the Dance-off would be an inevitability, but, once again, when it came to the results show, our truly wonderful fans saved the day, along with our place in the competition! Thank you all so very much, you really are the tops! And it’s with renewed zeal that we’re back in training for our Tango.

Again, so sad to see one of our couples leave the competition: the delightful Jennifer and one of our professional new boys, Tristan in his debut Strictly series. It was also most unexpected to see Kristina and Simon in the dance-off… it all goes to show that everything can change when the scores are combined with votes.

I must also say what an honour it was for Joanne and I to dance to Donny Osmond’s live performance of Moon River… if you missed the Results show on Sunday, here it is again:

And so, best foot forward… Tango here we come!

Week 2 – The Cha Cha Cha

Only just ‘in’ – saved from elimination by our fabulous voting fans!

Here we go, round two… Our Cha Cha Cha to She’s a Lady had us all in a spin on Saturday night – especially when we found ourselves in bottom place on the leaderboard after our two dances’ scores were combined.

Not a good feeling: elimination in the first week being a distinct possibility.

Judy herself admitted there were a few foot faults… I, on the other hand, would prefer to call them ‘improvisations’ as she finds her feet on the dance floor. Hopefully our scores will start to lift properly over the net next week… it’s a bit too close for comfort so far! Elated wasn’t the word when Tess announced we were safe; think my reaction might have given that away!

Huge thanks to our wonderful fans and voting public – it’s down to your votes that we’re still in the competition and were saved from the dreaded dance-off. We can’t thank you enough – you’ve given us a crucial break-point so Judy can get into the swing of it and let her inner dancer emerge.

As for overstrung racquets, Craig, next week we’ll hit the sweetspot with our Quickstep, you wait and see!

Such a shame to see Gregg and Aliona eliminated – nobody wants to leave the show – especially in the first week, and Gregg certainly brought something fresh to the mix! Such a great guy – very sorry to him and Aliona leave so early.

And so it’s back to the grass roots of dance as we prepare for our Quickstep! Wish us luck… and don’t forget to vote on Saturday night!

Week 1 – The Waltz

All aboard the Good Ship Strictly as we Waltz our way to the Mull Of Kintyre!

What an extravaganza of a weekend! It felt absolutely marvellous to be back in the BBC Ballroom competing once again for that elusive Strictly Trophy. What a buzz! With Tess and Claudia at the helm, the ever-encouraging judges in their box, and Dave Arch and his fabulous orchestra and singers to trill and thrill us on our journey. The stage is well and truly set.

For a first week, I think you’ll agree that the standard was incredibly high across the board – there’s clearly some strong natural talent and musicality among this year’s celebrities (keeping us all on our toes), and let’s give a big warm welcome to our new pro dancers Trent Whiddon and Joanne Clifton, too. Series 12 promises to be entertainment at its best!

I am so proud of Judy. What a gal. For a non-dancer sportswoman to step out in front of millions in heels and a big ball gown and make it through her very first competitive dance so gracefully – I couldn’t be happier with her performance. A few nerves and jitters may have crept in, but I put it down to the doubtless distraction of my kilt and slightly off-kilter sporran. I’m sure it’s a wonder Judy could concentrate at all and surely explains any unchoreographed moves!

All the judges encouraged her to come back more strongly next week – awarding us a solid 18 points for our Waltz – and that’s exactly what we’ll do. Judy’s game for the Cha Cha Challenge… Week 2 here we come!