From the Waltz to the Charleston in one week – and (spoiler alert!) with a 4 point improvement – Ruth’s really shaping up to be a very willing and able student and I think we’re on track for some classy performances in the weeks to come! Meanwhile, how about our Great Gatsby inspired cheeky Charleston last Saturday? What a ‘roaring twenties’ triumph!
High drama late in the week though as Ruth pulled a hamstring and was put on bedrest by the Strictly Physio… we missed one of our studio rehearsals, but as I’m sure you’ll agree, you’d never know from her sterling performance! She really was channelling the twenties – my heroine!
Fountains and champagne flutes and feathers for the flappers – all fabulous and very F Scott Fitzgerald as Ruth made her entrance in a wonderful tasseled dress and I with my dapper boater and cane! Hats off to Ruth for her solo spot at the top of the routine (especially after her feeling rooted to the spot with leaden legs at the start of last week’s dance) – what a transformation! I knew that her confidence would grow once week one was under her belt, and there’s the proof!
As Dave Arch and his wonderful band struck up ‘The Charleston’ by Bob Wilson and his Varsity Rhythm Boys, we got into character and flew into action.
With so much content to squeeze into our routine, we needed to be in time, in sync, and in the right positions to keep the flow from one sequence to the next. Honestly, the level of concentration and coordination involved is not to be underestimated, let alone managing the tempo changes… and facial expressions! What tremendous fun, and my goodness, what sensational swivels!
Let party like it's 1922 🎉 @RuthieeL and @TheAntonDuBeke! #Strictly pic.twitter.com/DK5vOX8sR7
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 30, 2017
As the music drew to a close and we reached our final places right on time, we were both overjoyed at the eruption of applause and the standing ovation from the audience. Magnificent, I thought, as we soaked it up and made our way over to the Judges.
Ruth’s improvement had been clear to see. Shirley said it was 100% better this week, with her solo pieces not going unnoticed… “You nailed it!” That was music to our ears from the new Head Judge. Bruno said he had no idea Ruth was such a good flapper! “It wasn’t perfection,” he went on to say, “needed to be a little bit crazier but great, great improvement from last week.” More overall positives… but the tune quickly changed with Craig: “This dance needs 80% more energy than you gave it. Very limp, very lame, and very lacklustre.” That rained on our parade, I can’t lie… but at least Darcey shone a ray of sunshine with “The enjoyment, the confidence, the difference – come back next week even stronger!”
Our scores ranged from a three from Craig, to sixes from both Shirley and Bruno and a five from Darcey giving a total 20. A four point improvement from our 16 last week is tremendous – it means we’re well and truly on the right track!
This score, combined with last week’s 16, rocketed us up the leaderboard to joint 11th place alongside Simon and Karen. Apparently Craig had told Ruth, “Darling, it’s the bottom everybody talks about,” but I say that’s no reason to stay there, this is a competition after all!
By the time of the results show, I’m sure all our new celebrities were on tenterhooks, dreading the first elimination of the series. Ruth was no exception… but you can see just how relieved we were when our names were called out as being safe.
Leading lady and leading man @RuthieeL and @TheAntonDuBeke make it to Movie Week! 🍾 #Strictly pic.twitter.com/IofY7sKNAB
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) October 1, 2017
Thank you all so much for voting, I’m sure as the weeks progress and the competition gets tighter we’ll be counting on your votes all the more – so do please keep at it each week!
It wasn’t such good news for Brian and Amy, and Chizzy and Pasha. Both couples were to face each other in the dreaded dance-off: one last chance to perform their routines before the Judges in the hopes of being voted through to next week’s show. I must say I thought they both performed magnificently, especially given the short amount of training these non-dancers had had… and they both danced better than they had in the main show – they really gave it their all.
It was clearly a difficult decision for the Judges as there was some difference of opinion, but in the end Shirley as Head Judge made the final call and voted Brian and Amy through, eliminating Chizzy and Pasha. Chizzy was clearly so very disappointed – all of us felt for her, and for Pasha too of course: being first to go is never easy. We’re all missing Chizzy terrible already – such a personality – I do so hope she keeps dancing.
Back to training for Ruth and me though: this coming Saturday is ‘Movie Week’! I’ll be James Bond, and Ruth my Bond Girl – we’ve the Rumba… to ‘Diamonds Are Forever’. True class! I’ve got a licence to thrill and you’ll have the best seats in the house. So tune in on Saturday at 6:35pm, and I’ll see you on the dance floor!
