Strong favourite to go out last week and written off by just about everyone as a 100-1 rank outsider, Don Warrington certainly struck back.
His performance of the Tango with professional dance partner, Lilia Kopylova was a massive improvement over his attempt in week 1. Acting ability certainly shone through as Don delivered an accomplished Tango with both passion and anger. The scores from the impressed Judges totalled 30 points which saw him placed conditionally third.
When the viewers votes were added, Warrington deservedly escaped the bottom two dance-off which later led to the demise of Gary Rhodes. If Don sustains this level of consistent improvement he will stay in the contest a few weeks to come. One suspects that he will be good at the Ballroom dances, but struggle slightly with the quicker dance routines.
And so, the competition has finally begun! Saturday night saw the opener of the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC with the male contestants performing their first dance in front of the cameras.
Understandably some looked pretty awkward, but this is only week 1 after all and the name of the game surely must be survival in order to get more time to train and feel at ease with the whole process.
John Sargeant, the 80-1 shot and perhaps favourite to go out first before the start pulled out an accomplished performance to defy the bookies odds. Judge Craig Revel Horwood commented, "Very warm and Honest performance."
Maybe most shocking, later, Judge Craig scored celebrity chef, Gary Rhodes, a measly 1 out of 10. This is the lowest score it is possible to give. If Mr Rhodes had stormed out without his dance partner, set Bruce Forsyth on fire, rolled across the dance floor then spurted out Nazi propaganda, he still would have had to get a 1. 1, I felt, a little harsh... but then again, here is the footage,
This score, puts Gary at the bottom of the table as we look to add the viewers votes announced later today. If he gets through, he can only improve.
The scores after the Judges vote are,
Austin & Erin 32 Tom & Camilla 28 Andrew & Ola 23 Mark & Hayley 22 John & Kristina 22 Phil & Flavia 20 Don & Lilia 19 Gary & Karen 17
The bottom two in the table after the viewers vote is added will face the dreaded dance off and be at the Judges mercy for competition survival. With his popularity with the public, surely John Sargeant is safe this opening week. Don Warrington of Rising Damp fame looks vulnerable. In the past, viewers have tended to vote big for the celebrity in last place so it could make it awkward for Quadromphenia and Eastenders star, Phil Daniels.
Be sure to watch the results show on BBC1 this Sunday.
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