Strictly Come Dancing: The biggest talking points from week one, from Bobby Brazier to Angela Rippon
The Glitterball is up for grabs once again...
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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...
Craig: “It was a little bit hunched of shoulder for my liking... but your personality saved the day. That was amazing.”
Motsi: “I have to say, music lives in your body. I love the joy you bring to the dance. You need to work on your posture, everything in your spine, but I was honestly entertained from the first step to the last.”
Shirley: “You would light up any room with your personality. What you’ve got is something extra, something special, you came out here and gave it 150 per cent. It was fantastic.”
Anton: “Your performance is great, and I’m looking forward to that carrying you through the competition. If you could pick your elbows up, it would look magnificent. Congratulations.”
It’s a four from Craig and three sixes for Eddie and Karen.
Now, we have Angela Rippon making history here as the oldest contestant to have competed on Strictly.
But first, here’s something people picked up on - Amy Dowden spotted in the opening credits for the episode.
Watch here:
Legendary newsreader Rippon, 78, is dancing the Cha Cha Cha to “Get the Party Started” by Shirley Bassey with partner Kai Widdrington.
This is exactly what Strictly’s all about, isn’t it?
She has history with the series, of course, having previously presented the BBC’s long-running ballroom series Come Dancing that gave Strictly its name.
Motsi: “That is how you start a Saturday night. My goodness. Well done.”
Shirley: “I have to say, I’m getting rather emotional... This was executed with 150 per cent of Angela Rippon. Everything about you is absolutely pure class.”
Anton: “Go on you beauty!”
Craig: “Jaw. Dropping.”
The strongest scores of the night for Angela: a seven from each judge.
“You’re top of the leaderboard.”
“But there’s 11 more to come,” Angela replies. Still a long way to go!
Now it’s radio presenter Nikita Kanda and partner Gorka Márquez.
You can find out more about her here.
They’re dancing a waltz to “Run To You” by Whitney Houston. Film fans will recognise this track from the soundtrack to The Bodyguard.
The song has been a popular choice among Strictly contestants in the past, and it’s easy to see why - their dance is swoon-making stuff.
Shirley: “You looked beautiful. I love the soft and lyrical approach, the snuggle-bunny stuff going on. Just get that centre toned a bit more, a bit more still in the top.”
Anton: “It was so lovely and intimate... just believe in that.”
Craig: “Your posture and your frame need a lot more work. It looked like Gorka was dragging you around a little bit.”
Motsi: “From now on I would really love it for you to practice on your own, so you build that confidence within you.”
A three from Craig and the rest give fives.
Musical theatre star Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin are up next, in the only same-sex partnership of the series. You can find out more about Williams here.
They’re dancing the samba - the first of the night - to the sounds of “Touch” by Little Mix.
A dynamic, limber dance, and the crowd are up on their feet.
“What a samba.”
Anton: “It’s magnificent, really. Enormously difficult technique... what you need to work on is your feet. They’re a bit turned in. From the waist up, it’s extraordinary.”
Craig: “Amazing.”
Motsi: “What I really loved is your musicality. That takes talent. Don’t you feel like it’s gonna be a good year guys?”
Shirley: “Your flexibility, fluidity and salesmanship are second to none.”
Judges all in agreement there - phenomenal from the waist up, some improvement needed maybe on the footwork.
Williams is dancing here for his mum, as was discussed in that moving opening segment.
The scores are in: Seven from Craig, eight from Motsi, seven from Shirley and seven from Anton.
He’s in the lead!
Here’s a look at Angela Rippon’s dance, maybe the biggest talking point of the night so far...
Love Island star Zara McDermott now, dancing with Graziano Di Prima, doing the third cha cha cha of the night, to “Crush” by Jennifer Paige.
“I cannot believe I just did that.”
Pretty eye-catching stuff! And the judges agree, more or less.
Craig: “At times it became a little bit awkward, but I could see the intention was there.”
Motsi: “I saw a little bit more than intention. You owned your performance.”
Shirley: “Don’t listen to Craig, I don’t think he’s had his dinner.”
Anton: “It’s a great base to grow from. I think you’ll be one to watch.”
Three from Craig.
Six from Motsi.
Five from Shirley.
Five from Anton.
Not too shabby!
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