TV
'Strictly' week 12: What the judges said
Published Sunday, Dec 7 2008, 12:18 GMT | By Michael Thornton
Week 12 of Strictly Come Dancing saw the final four pairs perform two dances each as they battled to make it to next week's semi-final.
Here's what the judges had to say:
First dance
Austin and Erin - American Smooth
Len: "I must say, I thought you did a great job. I was worried about the lifts, but you mastered them beautifully. One or two times in the open parts, you could have been a bit more Hollywood, but overall I thought you did a great job." [9]
Bruno: "A little bit more push on the Hollywood glamour, but a good job." [9]
Craig: "I thought it was very smooth, I thought it had a lot of control. It was a rather safe performance until those rather dangerous lifts. I must say I was slightly bored during the first part of the performance." [8]
Arlene: "Yes, your hands and arms have improved. What you need now is to come out and dance like a star. You played rugby for England, now I want you to dance for England." [8]
Total - 34
Lisa and Brendan - Waltz
Bruno: "Lisa, the ballroom dream continues! It was stunning." [10]
Craig: "The genius of that dance was in fact in its simplicity, and it was absolutely beautiful. Well done." [9]
Arlene: "It was like every breath that you took matched the movement and you footwork." [10]
Len: "It was a bit like the mountain in Wales. beautiful, majestic, breathtaking, it was a true delight. I must also commend the singer, who I thought did a wonderful job." [10]
Total - 39
Tom and Camilla - Foxtrot
Craig: "That has to be the best I've ever seen you dance. I felt like you were in complete control." [9]
Arlene: "In the words of Dolly Parton: 'All you've got to do is smile that smile' and you'll be dancing all the way to the final." [10]
Len: "Well, Tom, you're an absolute beauty. You've come out and you've knocked my socks off with that Foxtrot. I thought it was fantastic." [10]
Bruno: "The golden couple! You aimed high, and you hit the spot. Great technique, executed with incredible flair." [10]
Total - 39
Rachel and Vincent - Tango
Arlene: "Rachel, this dance needs to be full of emotion and drama. My goodness, not only did you have that, it was possibly the most erotic Tango I have ever seen." [10]
Len: "What I loved was the light and shade. I wish I had an 11 [score], it was fantastic!" [10]
Bruno: "This is one of those rare times when the music, the dance and the dancer become indistinguishable. Tango terrific!" [10]
Craig: "I have to commend you on the choreography, it was very classy. There were two things that I spotted, however, but apart from that I thought it was great." [9]
Total - 39
Second dance
Austin and Erin - Salsa
Len: "Typical sportsman attitude. You got knocked in the first round, but you've come back stronger, more vibrant. I thought it was great." [10]
Bruno: "This performance will get you the pink pound. You really pushed the entertainment value, you sold it. I loved the underarm passes and the drops were excellent." [9]
Craig: "I'm in a similar position to Bruno. I did find some of it awkward. There were a few moves there I didn't believe. I didn't believe your hip action." [8]
Arlene: "Craig is right, the Salsa hip movements weren't there. When you're dancing with Erin, your performance is electric. Sometimes, when you're left on your own, there's just that little bit of timidity. Austin, be fearless, you have it all, just be fearless all the time." [9]
Total - 36 [70]
Lisa and Brendan - Jive
Bruno: "Why did I worry? The Jive is the hardest dance to master for a tall person, and all I can say is you did it!" [9]
Craig: "Definitely a brave endeavour. I still don't think it completely and utterly suited you, but I have to commend you on a fine job." [8]
Arlene: "There is difference in the knees being bent and flexed, but what a fantastic attempt at the Jive from someone who has never attempted anything like that." [8]
Len: "I love the fact that you acted out the dance. It was just a bit loose for me, but I thought it was a very good job. You could have done without the Jive tonight, but that's the luck of the draw." [8]
Total - 33 [72]
Tom and Camilla - Rumba
Craig: "I have to make an apology. I was completely wrong, there are signs of improvement with you. I fell in love with it, I thought it was great. Well done." [9]
Arlene: "There were lots of shapes, lots of lines, but not a lot of content. But Tom, it is the first time I have found my heart beating faster, because the true dancer that you are came out in that dance." [9]
Len: "The Rumba for the man is a tough dance, so I appreciate how hard it is. But for me it was two hectic." [8]
Bruno: "It's a very, very difficult dance to do." [8]
Total - 34 [73]
Rachel and Vincent - Cha Cha Cha
Arlene: "Well, we've waited a long time, but that performance sparkled like the shine on your dress." [9]
Len: "Two fantastic dances tonight. Well done." [9]
Bruno: "One thing is for sure: You are a great dancer!" [10]
Craig: "Absolutely gorgeous." [9]
Total - 37 [76]
Here's what the judges had to say:
First dance
Len: "I must say, I thought you did a great job. I was worried about the lifts, but you mastered them beautifully. One or two times in the open parts, you could have been a bit more Hollywood, but overall I thought you did a great job." [9]
Bruno: "A little bit more push on the Hollywood glamour, but a good job." [9]
Craig: "I thought it was very smooth, I thought it had a lot of control. It was a rather safe performance until those rather dangerous lifts. I must say I was slightly bored during the first part of the performance." [8]
Arlene: "Yes, your hands and arms have improved. What you need now is to come out and dance like a star. You played rugby for England, now I want you to dance for England." [8]
Total - 34
Bruno: "Lisa, the ballroom dream continues! It was stunning." [10]
Craig: "The genius of that dance was in fact in its simplicity, and it was absolutely beautiful. Well done." [9]
Arlene: "It was like every breath that you took matched the movement and you footwork." [10]
Len: "It was a bit like the mountain in Wales. beautiful, majestic, breathtaking, it was a true delight. I must also commend the singer, who I thought did a wonderful job." [10]
Total - 39
Craig: "That has to be the best I've ever seen you dance. I felt like you were in complete control." [9]
Arlene: "In the words of Dolly Parton: 'All you've got to do is smile that smile' and you'll be dancing all the way to the final." [10]
Len: "Well, Tom, you're an absolute beauty. You've come out and you've knocked my socks off with that Foxtrot. I thought it was fantastic." [10]
Bruno: "The golden couple! You aimed high, and you hit the spot. Great technique, executed with incredible flair." [10]
Total - 39
Arlene: "Rachel, this dance needs to be full of emotion and drama. My goodness, not only did you have that, it was possibly the most erotic Tango I have ever seen." [10]
Len: "What I loved was the light and shade. I wish I had an 11 [score], it was fantastic!" [10]
Bruno: "This is one of those rare times when the music, the dance and the dancer become indistinguishable. Tango terrific!" [10]
Craig: "I have to commend you on the choreography, it was very classy. There were two things that I spotted, however, but apart from that I thought it was great." [9]
Total - 39
Second dance
Len: "Typical sportsman attitude. You got knocked in the first round, but you've come back stronger, more vibrant. I thought it was great." [10]
Bruno: "This performance will get you the pink pound. You really pushed the entertainment value, you sold it. I loved the underarm passes and the drops were excellent." [9]
Craig: "I'm in a similar position to Bruno. I did find some of it awkward. There were a few moves there I didn't believe. I didn't believe your hip action." [8]
Arlene: "Craig is right, the Salsa hip movements weren't there. When you're dancing with Erin, your performance is electric. Sometimes, when you're left on your own, there's just that little bit of timidity. Austin, be fearless, you have it all, just be fearless all the time." [9]
Total - 36 [70]
Bruno: "Why did I worry? The Jive is the hardest dance to master for a tall person, and all I can say is you did it!" [9]
Craig: "Definitely a brave endeavour. I still don't think it completely and utterly suited you, but I have to commend you on a fine job." [8]
Arlene: "There is difference in the knees being bent and flexed, but what a fantastic attempt at the Jive from someone who has never attempted anything like that." [8]
Len: "I love the fact that you acted out the dance. It was just a bit loose for me, but I thought it was a very good job. You could have done without the Jive tonight, but that's the luck of the draw." [8]
Total - 33 [72]
Craig: "I have to make an apology. I was completely wrong, there are signs of improvement with you. I fell in love with it, I thought it was great. Well done." [9]
Arlene: "There were lots of shapes, lots of lines, but not a lot of content. But Tom, it is the first time I have found my heart beating faster, because the true dancer that you are came out in that dance." [9]
Len: "The Rumba for the man is a tough dance, so I appreciate how hard it is. But for me it was two hectic." [8]
Bruno: "It's a very, very difficult dance to do." [8]
Total - 34 [73]
Arlene: "Well, we've waited a long time, but that performance sparkled like the shine on your dress." [9]
Len: "Two fantastic dances tonight. Well done." [9]
Bruno: "One thing is for sure: You are a great dancer!" [10]
Craig: "Absolutely gorgeous." [9]
Total - 37 [76]
More: TV, Strictly Come Dancing
Tube Talk
'Simpsons' ultimate countdown (10-6)What is the ultimate Simpsons episode? Our countdown continues.
TV Interviews
'Upstairs Downstairs' Neil Jackson Q&ANeil Jackson chats to Digital Spy about Upstairs Downstairs series two.
Reality Bites
'Big Fat Gypsy Weddings' returns: ReviewReality Bites's verdict on the return of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.
TV Ratings
Latest 'TOWIE' grabs nearly 950k on ITV2ITV1 edges BBC One last night thanks to coverage of Champions League football.
