The competition is certainly hotting up – ever more so for us this week with a hot-blooded Paso Doble to ‘The Shady Dame From Seville’ – a very entertaining number from the Julie Andrews classic movie ‘Victor/Victoria’. Whilst parody formed a good part of our performance, content must always be king and we knew we had to deliver a delicate balance between the two… a balance maintained through to the very end… almost!
Positions please! The wonderful flamenco guitar started, Hayley passed me a red rose as cue to start the routine, and I addressed the floor in just the most wonderful matador get-up – frills, sash, flares, ruff and felt boater – I must have been a vision. (And I bet you thought they couldn’t top those pink sleeves!)
I was certainly a vision to my sizzling señorita up on her balcony fanning herself in the heady Spanish evening air… She spied me down below and her heart was all a flutter. I took my lead and went up the ladder, rose in teeth, whilst she came down the stairs, missing each other with comic timing. Ruth continued to fan herself whilst I came down to join her, at which point we had a scene-setting side-by-side moment before we cast away our props, took each other into hold, and we were off!
With a flurry of footwork, this next section was filled with many of the dance’s core steps, made all the more difficult against the changing tempo of the music. I must stress here that it was a real accomplishment for Ruth to be able to pull that off – we’d worked so hard to get it right and whilst our theme required a peppering of humour, there was to be no doubt in the Judges’ minds that this was a real Paso!
Then came a wonderful sequence with our parallel stalking kicks – again superbly done by Ruth, with Hayley’s soaring solo vocals scaling the heights to a top G Julie Andrews would have been proud of.
Just when you thought @TheAntonDuBeke couldn't out-do *that* pink Salsa shirt… @RuthieeL #Strictly pic.twitter.com/fFSN9c97sA
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) November 4, 2017
We were off again, this time spinning and traversing the floor at breakneck speed and with such gusto as the music rose to its finale… Our momentum matched the crescendo, and we’d built up so much that by the time we arrived at our final positions I was literally bowled over! Carried away, you might say – I just went! …And unfortunately I took Ruth with me!
Name a more iconic couple. I'll wait. #Strictly pic.twitter.com/EZFdjU7awh
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) November 4, 2017
After such a wonderful, fiery, passionate routine, what a fall from grace. My goodness me – we’d maintained our delicate balance almost to the end! Unfortunately, it being live television, the image was well and truly captured for posterity. (In more ways than one, as Ruth tried to restore some symmetry to our pose by climbing atop me!)
#Strictly pic.twitter.com/4hapb18suD
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) November 4, 2017
The audience erupted, Eamonn’s face was priceless as he looked on, and even the judges couldn’t contain themselves (well, all bar Craig, who continued to take notes).
Such was the disarray, Tess had to hurry us across to the Judges so we could keep the show on schedule!
Bruno was quick to tell me that I looked like Manuel from Fawlty Towers on Spanish night… “Murder on the dancefloor,” he said, “What more do you want?!” We weren’t quite sure if any of that was good or bad! Craig made it quite clear; “This number is essentially a drag act, which is what we got tonight. It’s entertainment vs technique. At least the people at home will vote for it, but I can’t possibly.” Ouch.
Conversely both Darcey and Shirley found merit in the performance. “If you can hold on to a narrative like that all the way through a dance… I want to watch it every time,” said Darcey, “You came alive… Wonderful, controlled stalking kicks. Don’t give up on the content, don’t give up on the technique – you’re going somewhere!” That’s more like it… and then Shirley “Ruth, you represent absolute joy and I’m sure there isn’t a household in England who didn’t enjoy what you just did. I rather liked it. I’ve never seen a Paso Doble so humorous. I’m not laughing at you – I’m laughing with you. Syncopation separation, grand step… that was a very interesting Paso Doble.”
Thank you very much! Of course, I’d have preferred it if the judges were unanimous in their appreciation of our artistry, but we’ve long-since learned you can’t always please everyone!
The scores sang an all-too familiar tune: a four from Craig, and sixes from Darcey, Bruno & Shirley for a total of 22. The same as last week; we’re nothing if not consistent!
By the end of the night we ended the show once again at the bottom of the leaderboard. But now with only ten couples remaining it was getting especially tight, not least having the wonderful Aston & Janette placed immediately, and precariously, above us.
The results show came as a surprise for everybody. No wonder it was November the 5th – there were certainly fireworks at Elstree. Ruth and I were simply overjoyed to make it through – once again, thanks to all of your votes, every single one of them – your support is just tremendous and means the world.
Looks like the rise comes after a fall for @RuthieeL and @TheAntonDuBeke! #Strictly pic.twitter.com/JTySaBJLO9
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) November 5, 2017
Wahoo! We are SO HAPPY! Thank you all so much for voting for us. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate it! Love to you all ❤️ #scd pic.twitter.com/pJkyfttK02
— Anton Du Beke (@TheAntonDuBeke) November 5, 2017
What none of us were expecting, however, was that the Dance Off would be between Mollie & AJ and Aston & Janette. Nothing’s ever a foregone conclusion with Strictly. After both couples danced their wonderful dances once again, Darcey and Bruno both voted to save Aston & Janette, but Craig and Shirley with her deciding vote saved Mollie & AJ based on seeing greater technique and accuracy.
A shock result indeed – we were all knocked for six. None of us wanted either of them to be in the dance off, let alone to leave the competition, but with placements so close on the leaderboard, it’s never been clearer how important the public vote can be.
And so, we bade a very sad farewell to Aston. I’m sure you’ll all agree that he simply must continue dancing – that boy’s got real talent!
This week Ruth and I have stepped it up even more. There can be no mishaps Saturday night. It’s the Foxtrot – my all time favourite dance – a proper dance, and we’re all set to do it justice.
Tune in tomorrow at 6:45pm and watch the action unfold!
I’ll see you on the dancefloor my loves,
