TV
'Strictly' Week Eight: What the judges said
Published Saturday, Nov 7 2009, 22:38 GMT | By Alex Fletcher
The last nine Strictly Come Dancing celebrities performed a range of dances when they went before the panel tonight. Keep reading to find out what Alesha, Bruno, Craig and Len thought of their performances.
Here's what the judges had to say:
Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe: Tango
Len: (9) Ricky, you are the most consistent of all our couples. Whatever dance comes your way, you come out and give us your all. I'm not going to talk about your - you know what (mistake). But you came out, full boar, attacked it, so much passion, no messing about - I loved it.
Bruno: (9) Ricky! Strong! Dramatic! Powerful! A sprinkle of arrogance and underlying sexual tension that gives you the chills. So strong, so consistent. You can tango.
Craig: (8) I can see the disappointment in your face because of where you went wrong. You lost your balance at one point. But all of that being said, I felt you were leading the dance, which is splendid. I'm just very sorry that it all went wrong.
Alesha: (9) I think that was an amazing opening to the show. You came out and attacked it, you remained very strong and in character throughout the dance. Very strong, lots of body contact - I think this is a great partnership.
Score: 35
Natalie Cassidy and Vincent Simone: Quickstep
Len: (8) I'm smiling because that was a smiley dance. That had enough energy to keep the illuminations going for two more weeks. You lost your posture a bit and I wasn't keen on the jive section in the middle. You had a lovely start, a lovely ending, but a silly middle.
Bruno: (8) This quickstep was like a ride on the Big Dipper. There were plenty of highs and a few lows. You got a bit puffed out, lost your posture and you have to maintain that body contact in the quick dances. There were a few dodgy bits in the Charleston, but overall - fun and great.
Craig: (7) I would have liked to have seen it a bit lighter. You looked like you were holding on for dear life. You need to get your feet together in that Charleston section; you need a broader line in hold. But we cannot take your exuberance and energy away - that was incredible.
Alesha: (8) I thought the dance really suited you, Natalie. There was a lot of content there, Vincent. You deserve to be here and you are still a contender.
Score: 31
Jade Johnson and Ian Waite: Jive
Len: (8) I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think for a tall person, you captured the real essence of the dance. Well done.
Bruno: (8) Jade, you are so statuesque, yet you move like a whippet! Your timing was very good, but for once I agree with Craig, you need to point your feet in the kicks and flicks.
Craig: (8) I am surprised. That was the girliest we have seen you dance. I was expecting it to be more tankish, but it was wonderful to watch. Lots of lovely kicks and lovely side-by-side stuff. Just watch when you are doing those kicks and flicks that you are not looking at the floor. And you need to point your feet in all of those kicks. But that is all my criticism. Wonderful, wonderful stuff.
Alesha: (9) Your legs are amazing, Jade, I'm not being funny. That was a really cool jive. It was cute and quirky and we could see how fit you are. You don't even seem out of breath at all. Great flicks and kicks, great bounce. I think you are Miss Consistency and you are the dark horse of the contest.
Score: 33
Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna: Viennese waltz
Len: (10) Last week, I thought Ricky's dance was the dance of the series. I've now changed my mind - that was.
Bruno: (10) A magic venue, an enchanting dance. Dance has the power to lift our hearts, to make us dream. You did that tonight.
Craig: (10) I'm very disappointed. I could not find a single thing wrong with that.
Alesha: (10) I felt the emotional connection between you both tonight. That was very romantic and beautifully danced, Ali. There's nothing more I want from a Viennese waltz.
Score: 40
Ricky Groves and Erin Boag: Salsa
Len: (7) What I like about you Ricky is that whatever dance you do, you come out and give it your all. You need to polish up and then you'll sparkle more.
Bruno: (6) What a night. We've gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. That was entertaining, but the salsa needs smooth rhythm and that was all wham bam thank you mam. It was all over the place. Just keep it smooth, baby.
Craig: (6) Your hands bother me somewhat when you are left on your own - they look like poodle paws. The hip-thrusting at the judges was a little bit off-putting and repulsive. But I didn't mind the routine and I did love your verve.
Alesha: (6) Crowd pleaser? Yes. Salsa boy? No. There's a disconnect between the top half of your body and the bottom half. Your hips are not there and there was a stiffness to the whole thing. You didn't charm me this week.
Score: 25
Laila Rouass and Anton du Beke: Paso doble
Len: (7) It would have been your best dance, but I've got to knock off a point for your lift.
Bruno: (8) Oh Laila, you smouldering Spanish beauty. I liked it very much, but near the end you lost a little bit of impact. You need to keep that drive in the paso doble all the way through. Overall, not bad at all.
Craig: (7) I thought it was confident and placed, but I didn't see any real connection between you. And I was slightly surprised in the life that you did as well.
Alesha: (8) I thought you were mesmerising and you held that intent all the way through. That was very good; it was a very competent attempt. I enjoyed it.
Score: 30
Phil Tufnell and Katya Virshilas: Rumba
Len: (8) Well, I thought you came out and did lovely lines throughout. There were some great stretched legs. I'm not sure about the romance; it was more like having a snog at the back of a banger. But the dance itself was very, very good and I think it may have been your best Latin American yet.
Bruno: (7) Simple, effective and lovely lines, but it lacked a bit of the hip action. You've got to keep your centre strong.
Craig: (6) I felt that you found one step that you could do well and you just repeated it and repeated it. I didn't think it was your dance to be honest.
Alesha: (7) Yes Phil, you do make great lines, but watch out because sometimes your hands do get a bit stretched. You did nice pivots and it was a nice soft approach to the dance.
Score: 28
Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan: Foxtrot
Len: (9) In this show you create your own standard, that was without doubt your best dance to date, and we'll expect that from now on. Before, good was good enough. Now we want great.
Bruno: (8) The foxtrot is probably the hardest dance to do in the ballroom and it was your smoothest routine to date. And there was no fish face!
Craig: (8) I think the gaffer tape worked and it also improved your acting. You just need to keep working on that nice long neck.
Alesha: (9) You are such a cute couple. You danced that so well. Your pivots and turns are fantastic. You are growing in confidence. You have got that mouth area under control. You have upped your game - keep doing it!
Score: 34
Craig Kelly and Flavia Cacace: Cha cha cha
Len: (5) I know your goal was to make it to Blackpool and I'm so pleased that you have done that. But I don't like to be nasty, we've seen all the couples, and in fairness to them, that was the weakest performance. It doesn't make you a bad person. It is just a fact.
Bruno: (5) I loved it when you stood still at the beginning because it meant that I could look at Flavia - she is so gorgeous. But then the nightmare began! I didn't know whether I was going to wake up. We are reaching the stage where people are getting to a really good standard and we can't just let this pass.
Craig: (3) You'd better hope that people at home are voting, because that wasn't good at all. It was flat-footed, it was stompy and it reminded me of a Thunderbird.
Alesha: (4) I'm really pleased you got to Blackpool, Craig, but I can't believe that Zöe's gone and I had to endure that. You are not as good as you think you are. It looked like you were walking over hot coals; your cha cha walks were very feminine. Last week, there was a glimmer of hope. This week, dad's back.
Score: 17
All pictures Copyright: BBC
Here's what the judges had to say:
Len: (9) Ricky, you are the most consistent of all our couples. Whatever dance comes your way, you come out and give us your all. I'm not going to talk about your - you know what (mistake). But you came out, full boar, attacked it, so much passion, no messing about - I loved it.
Bruno: (9) Ricky! Strong! Dramatic! Powerful! A sprinkle of arrogance and underlying sexual tension that gives you the chills. So strong, so consistent. You can tango.
Craig: (8) I can see the disappointment in your face because of where you went wrong. You lost your balance at one point. But all of that being said, I felt you were leading the dance, which is splendid. I'm just very sorry that it all went wrong.
Alesha: (9) I think that was an amazing opening to the show. You came out and attacked it, you remained very strong and in character throughout the dance. Very strong, lots of body contact - I think this is a great partnership.
Score: 35
Len: (8) I'm smiling because that was a smiley dance. That had enough energy to keep the illuminations going for two more weeks. You lost your posture a bit and I wasn't keen on the jive section in the middle. You had a lovely start, a lovely ending, but a silly middle.
Bruno: (8) This quickstep was like a ride on the Big Dipper. There were plenty of highs and a few lows. You got a bit puffed out, lost your posture and you have to maintain that body contact in the quick dances. There were a few dodgy bits in the Charleston, but overall - fun and great.
Craig: (7) I would have liked to have seen it a bit lighter. You looked like you were holding on for dear life. You need to get your feet together in that Charleston section; you need a broader line in hold. But we cannot take your exuberance and energy away - that was incredible.
Alesha: (8) I thought the dance really suited you, Natalie. There was a lot of content there, Vincent. You deserve to be here and you are still a contender.
Score: 31
Len: (8) I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think for a tall person, you captured the real essence of the dance. Well done.
Bruno: (8) Jade, you are so statuesque, yet you move like a whippet! Your timing was very good, but for once I agree with Craig, you need to point your feet in the kicks and flicks.
Craig: (8) I am surprised. That was the girliest we have seen you dance. I was expecting it to be more tankish, but it was wonderful to watch. Lots of lovely kicks and lovely side-by-side stuff. Just watch when you are doing those kicks and flicks that you are not looking at the floor. And you need to point your feet in all of those kicks. But that is all my criticism. Wonderful, wonderful stuff.
Alesha: (9) Your legs are amazing, Jade, I'm not being funny. That was a really cool jive. It was cute and quirky and we could see how fit you are. You don't even seem out of breath at all. Great flicks and kicks, great bounce. I think you are Miss Consistency and you are the dark horse of the contest.
Score: 33
Len: (10) Last week, I thought Ricky's dance was the dance of the series. I've now changed my mind - that was.
Bruno: (10) A magic venue, an enchanting dance. Dance has the power to lift our hearts, to make us dream. You did that tonight.
Craig: (10) I'm very disappointed. I could not find a single thing wrong with that.
Alesha: (10) I felt the emotional connection between you both tonight. That was very romantic and beautifully danced, Ali. There's nothing more I want from a Viennese waltz.
Score: 40
Len: (7) What I like about you Ricky is that whatever dance you do, you come out and give it your all. You need to polish up and then you'll sparkle more.
Bruno: (6) What a night. We've gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. That was entertaining, but the salsa needs smooth rhythm and that was all wham bam thank you mam. It was all over the place. Just keep it smooth, baby.
Craig: (6) Your hands bother me somewhat when you are left on your own - they look like poodle paws. The hip-thrusting at the judges was a little bit off-putting and repulsive. But I didn't mind the routine and I did love your verve.
Alesha: (6) Crowd pleaser? Yes. Salsa boy? No. There's a disconnect between the top half of your body and the bottom half. Your hips are not there and there was a stiffness to the whole thing. You didn't charm me this week.
Score: 25
Len: (7) It would have been your best dance, but I've got to knock off a point for your lift.
Bruno: (8) Oh Laila, you smouldering Spanish beauty. I liked it very much, but near the end you lost a little bit of impact. You need to keep that drive in the paso doble all the way through. Overall, not bad at all.
Craig: (7) I thought it was confident and placed, but I didn't see any real connection between you. And I was slightly surprised in the life that you did as well.
Alesha: (8) I thought you were mesmerising and you held that intent all the way through. That was very good; it was a very competent attempt. I enjoyed it.
Score: 30
Len: (8) Well, I thought you came out and did lovely lines throughout. There were some great stretched legs. I'm not sure about the romance; it was more like having a snog at the back of a banger. But the dance itself was very, very good and I think it may have been your best Latin American yet.
Bruno: (7) Simple, effective and lovely lines, but it lacked a bit of the hip action. You've got to keep your centre strong.
Craig: (6) I felt that you found one step that you could do well and you just repeated it and repeated it. I didn't think it was your dance to be honest.
Alesha: (7) Yes Phil, you do make great lines, but watch out because sometimes your hands do get a bit stretched. You did nice pivots and it was a nice soft approach to the dance.
Score: 28
Len: (9) In this show you create your own standard, that was without doubt your best dance to date, and we'll expect that from now on. Before, good was good enough. Now we want great.
Bruno: (8) The foxtrot is probably the hardest dance to do in the ballroom and it was your smoothest routine to date. And there was no fish face!
Craig: (8) I think the gaffer tape worked and it also improved your acting. You just need to keep working on that nice long neck.
Alesha: (9) You are such a cute couple. You danced that so well. Your pivots and turns are fantastic. You are growing in confidence. You have got that mouth area under control. You have upped your game - keep doing it!
Score: 34
Len: (5) I know your goal was to make it to Blackpool and I'm so pleased that you have done that. But I don't like to be nasty, we've seen all the couples, and in fairness to them, that was the weakest performance. It doesn't make you a bad person. It is just a fact.
Bruno: (5) I loved it when you stood still at the beginning because it meant that I could look at Flavia - she is so gorgeous. But then the nightmare began! I didn't know whether I was going to wake up. We are reaching the stage where people are getting to a really good standard and we can't just let this pass.
Craig: (3) You'd better hope that people at home are voting, because that wasn't good at all. It was flat-footed, it was stompy and it reminded me of a Thunderbird.
Alesha: (4) I'm really pleased you got to Blackpool, Craig, but I can't believe that Zöe's gone and I had to endure that. You are not as good as you think you are. It looked like you were walking over hot coals; your cha cha walks were very feminine. Last week, there was a glimmer of hope. This week, dad's back.
Score: 17
All pictures Copyright: BBC
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