Strictly Come Dancing: The biggest talking points from week one, from Bobby Brazier to Angela Rippon

The Glitterball is up for grabs once again...

‘Jaw-dropping’ Angela Rippon wows Strictly audience with incredible high kick as Craig Revell-Horwood moved to tears

It’s back. The BBC’s flagship dance competition series, Strictly Come Dancing, has returned to screens for its 21st series.

The programme has lined up an enviable roster of celebrity guests for the new series, which premiered on BBC One at 6.35pm on Saturday (23 September).

Episodes will continue to air every Saturday, with the acompannying results show airing the following evening.

Among the contestants this year are reality star Zara McDermott and veteran Channel 4 broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy, as well as TV presenter Les Dennis.

You can find the full line-up for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing here.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are returning to present the series, while the judging panel comprises Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas.

Here are the biggest talking points from the first competitive episode of Strictly 2023.

Angela Rippon makes history

The 78-year-old presenter became the oldest contestant to feature on Strictly in this week’s episode... and she certainly didn’t disappoint. Dancing the Cha Cha Cha to “Get the Party Started” by Shirley Bassey with partner Kai Widdrington, Rippon stunned the judges with her flair, defying the years with a fleet-footed performance that Revel Horwood aptly termed “jaw-dropping”.

Bobby Brazier draws tears from his father

Soap actor Brazier was another of the night’s clear highlights, performing an absolutely magnetic foxtrot to McFly with partner Dianne Buswell. The son of the late reality star Jade Goody and TV presenter Jeff Brazier drew high praise from the judging panel, and was seen moving his father to tears, in an affecting emotional moment.

Les Dennis brings the levity

Family Fortunes star Dennis may have finished the night at the bottom of the leaderboard, but it was a performance that stood out for its initmitable sense of fun. Dennis mugged his way through “Don’t You Want Me” by the Human League, with a tango that managed to transcend any technical stiffness on show. Some might see him as the novelty act of the 2023 series, but it’s clear Dennis is trying his best – and the warm comments from the judging panel show that his efforts didn’t go unnoticed.

You can follow along with the first live episode of Strictly Come Dancing 2023 with The Independent’s liveblog below...

Key points

• Meet the contestants for Strictly 2023
• Adam Thomas kicks off episode with dance to Jonas Brothers’ ‘Waffle House'
• ‘Jaw-dropping’ Angela Rippon wows Strictly audience with incredible high kick
• Les Dennis sets amusing tango to The Human League
• The leaderboard at the end of week one

[23 September 2023 20:17 · Louis Chilton]

Big cheers for Amanda Abbington’s Viennese Waltz, performed to “Pointless” by Lewis Capaldi.

The actor is certainly graceful... a very charged dance here with partner Giovanni Pernice.

Shirley: “You have a magic between you. That was fantastic.” Eight.

Anton: “I agree with Shirley. It was all great. Emotionally exquisite. It got a bit hard. I want you to breathe. If you had another 30 seconds to go, I think you’d have passed out.” Seven.

Craig: “I felt it was overpowered. There was too much energy in it.” Lots of booing from the crowd. “You danced it brilliantly.” Seven.

Motsi: “I think there’s something so so special about you. I loved the way you did the extension.” Seven.

(BBC)

[23 September 2023 20:18 · Louis Chilton]

This heart-wrenching moment in which Brazier’s dad is spotted in the crowd.

Deeply moving.

[23 September 2023 20:25 · Louis Chilton]

Krishnan Guru-Murthy next: the formidable Channel 4 News journalist is dancing with Lauren Oakley.

Yet another cha cha cha, this time to “Boom Shack-A-Lak” by Apache Indian. And it’s a fun, silly dance, involving a fedora and an elaborate set.

Anton: “From the waist up, I was having a lovely time. Great stuff.”

Craig: “I’m not going to be able to watch you on the news ever again. I felt like I was at a rave.”

Motsi: “We love it.”

Shirley: “You have something, you have a gift. Natural co-ordination.”

The scores - two fives and two sixes.

(BBC)

[23 September 2023 20:32 · Louis Chilton]

Nigel Harman and Katya Jones with the paso doble to “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana.

You can find out more about him here.

It goes down a treat in the room, but do the judges agree?

Craig: “It was the dance of the night.”

Motsi: “I’m thinking ‘what a night’, and this at the end was absolutely spectacular.”

Shirley: “You are the one to beat. Well done.”

Anton: “To come out and do that with that power, that intensity... you stole the night.”

Eights across the board for Nigel, meaning he ends week one topping the leaderboard.

(BBC)

[23 September 2023 20:38 · Louis Chilton]

Right! That’s week one over with. Here’s how it stands:

Nigel and Katya: 32

Layton and Nikita: 29

Ellie and Vito: 29

Bobby and Dianne: 29

Amanda and Giovanni: 29

Angela and Kai: 29

Annabel and Johannes: 28

Angela and Carlos: 23

Eddie and Karen: 22

Krishnan and Lauren: 22

Jody and Jowita: 21

Adam and Luba: 19

Zara and Graziano: 19

Nikita and Gorka: 18

Les and Nancy: 16