Strictly Come Dancing: Gemma stuns with low score

It was an unexpected night for Strictly Come Dancing fans on Saturday, as the series first ever paso doble-thon meant a serious shake up for the usual scoring.

For actress Gemma Atkinson, it was difficult to carry over her amazing momentum from last week in Blackpool, where she scored 38 points.

After performing a sleep-inspired Samba with partner Aljaz Skorjanec, the judges were left less than impressed, resulting in a score of 25.

 

Shocking: Actress Gemma Atkinson struggled to deliver in Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing, after wowing in Blackpool last week

After scoring their first tens last week, the pair were taking on the challenging samba to The River of Dreams by Billy Joel.

Aljaz got a taste of Gemma’s fighting spirit by heading to her boxing club in the VT, though their ‘fight’ didn’t go to plan as they both began dancing in the boxing ring!

Unfortunately, the night-time dance, complete with an opening in bed, divided the judges, with Craig calling the dance ‘haphazard and unfocused’ and Darcy saying ‘it never woke up for me.’

Shirley meanwhile, joked that the pair looked  ‘as snug as a bug in a rug in the bedroom scene. You looked like you didn’t want to get up!’

A bit tired: In a sleep-inspired Samba, Gemma and her partner Aljaz Skorjanec attempted to carry over their momentum from last week, but sadly fell short

A bit tired: In a sleep-inspired Samba, Gemma and her partner Aljaz Skorjanec attempted to carry over their momentum from last week, but sadly fell short

Jazz-tastic: The couple performed a Samba to The River of Dreams by Billy Joel, with joking scenes of them pretending to fall asleep

Jazz-tastic: The couple performed a Samba to The River of Dreams by Billy Joel, with joking scenes of them pretending to fall asleep

Unfocused: The judges were less than impressed by the overall performance, with Dacry Bussell saying: 'it never woke up for me'

Unfocused: The judges were less than impressed by the overall performance, with Dacry Bussell saying: ‘it never woke up for me’

Touch: Gemma overall scored 25 points, which increased to 28 after the paso doble-thon, but still left the star bottom of the leaderboard

Touch: Gemma overall scored 25 points, which increased to 28 after the paso doble-thon, but still left the star bottom of the leaderboard

Meanwhile actor Joe Mcfadden stunned fans when he topped the leaderboard for the first time, performing a fast-paced quickstep to Jumpin’ Jack by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

The pair were looking to continue their solid performances, after scoring 34 in Blackpool last week with an 80s-inspired Salsa. 

After heading to The Shard to get a feel for dancing at dizzy heights, the couple flew around the dancefloor in an opening dance made to look as if they were jumping around the scaffolding of a big city skyscraper. 

Surprise! Actor Joe McFadden was the surprise star of the night, finished top of the leaderboard after a speedy quickstep

Surprise! Actor Joe McFadden was the surprise star of the night, finished top of the leaderboard after a speedy quickstep

Vintage: The couple performed the routine as if they were two workmen on top of a skyscraper, opening the show with a non-stop routine

Vintage: The couple performed the routine as if they were two workmen on top of a skyscraper, opening the show with a non-stop routine

They got it! The judges were certainly impressed with the performance with head judge Shirley Ballas calling the dance 'superb'

They got it! The judges were certainly impressed with the performance with head judge Shirley Ballas calling the dance ‘superb’

Fabulous: The dynamic duo scored a total of 38 points, their highest score to date, as Bruno Tonioli joked 'you can come and build my extension anytime'

Fabulous: The dynamic duo scored a total of 38 points, their highest score to date, as Bruno Tonioli joked ‘you can come and build my extension anytime’

 

 

The judges were overall pleased with the actor’s performance, with Shirley calling his routing ‘superb’, and Bruno joking ‘you can come and build my extension anytime!’

With a score of 38 points, the couple’s highest to date, they sped to the top of the leaderboard almost as fast as their dance.

It was another dramatic night on Strictly, as at the top of the show host Tess Daly baffled fans with a bizarre ensemble.

Rocking a fuschia pink minidress with a matching cape, the blonde beauty left fans baffled by the look, with one tweeting: ‘OMG i’ve just noticed Tess’s dress. What on earth??’ 

As Alexandra Burke and her partner Gorka Marquez took to the floor after Joe, the singer was looking to channel her love of dance into THE dance of the love, the rhumba.

Scoring 39 last week, the stakes were high for the couple as they dance to the Beyonce ballad Halo.

In the VT, Alexandra reminisced about her X Factor performance with the legendary songstress in 2008, so to help her connect with the dance, Gorka invited her boyfriend Josh along.

Despite the emotional dance, the panel gave a mixed reception, with Bruno calling it a ‘drama set to music,’ with Craig disagreeing, by calling the routine a ‘technical display.’ 

As the notoriously fussy judge was booed by the crowd, he bit back by saying : ‘It’s only my opinion every one!’ 

The couple scored 32 points in total, with only a seven from Craig.

Mollie and AJ were up next, dancing a Quickstep to The Baseballs’ version of Umbrella.

After speeding round the floor to a doo-wop version of the Rihanna classic, the judges all commented on Mollie’s overall improvement.

Darcy noted that the dance was ‘very good, confident and assured,’ with Craig satinf the singer was making ‘so much progress!’

After scoring 31 points, their highest to date, as well as their first nine of the series from Bruno, the couple were overjoyed, with AJ sweeping Molly off her feet.

Things took a surprising turn when all the professionals and celebrities chanted for the possible couple to kiss.

Despite failing to do, the pair’s chemistry was apparant as even Claudia said ‘AJ come on!’

Eastenders star Davood Ghadami and Nadiya Bychkova were next to perform, dancing a beautiful waltz to With You I’m Born Again by Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright.

Taking to the floor in a dance that resembled a scene from a Hollywood romance, the judges were swept away by the performance.

Shirley said: ‘You took me back in time, it was a stripped back version of a classic waltz,’ while Bruno called the dance ‘simple but so effective,’ resulting in a score of 34 points.

As Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice took to the floor next, they were looking to bounce back after surviving the dance-off.

Taking on the challenging Argentine Tango to Por Una Cabeza by Carlos Gardel and Alfredo Le Pera, the couple went to see dance champion and former Strictly pro Vincent Simone ahead of their performance,

The judges were blown away by the sensual dance, with Craig saying: ‘I wish I could dance like you! Your leg action is a little bit placed, but wow!’

Shirley struggled to contain her emotions after the dance calling the routine ‘outstanding!’ resulting in a score of 38 and joint top position on the leaderboard. 

The final couple to take to the floor was Susan Calman and her partner Kevin Clifton.

After finishing at the bottom of the leaderboard in Blackpool, the pair were out to win the judges over this week with an American Smooth to Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin. 

After a cheeky dance based aboard a vintage cruiseliner, which included a light-hearted kiss between the dynamic duo.

While the judges agreed that the couple were entertaining, Craig picked up on several technical issues, and Darcy noted the routine needed ‘much more technique.’

Bruno jokingly said: ‘I thought I was going to have to scream ‘iceberg ahead!’ You do a charming turn, people love watching you, but technically you are not quite as advanced as you could be at this stage. 

Finishing bottom of the leaderboard with 21 points, it was all to play for going into the paso doble-thon. 

As the seven couples took to the floor at the same time for the Spanish-style routine, the judges ranked them with scores of one to seven.

Bruno said that ‘some were crispier than others, but avoiding any accidents, you all did a great job!’ 

Finishing in seventh place was Susan and Kevin, Mollie and AJ finished in sixth place, Gemma and Aljaz finished in fifth place, Davood and Nadiya placed fourth, Debbie and Giovanni placed third, Joe and Katya finished in second place.

First place, and the maximum seven points, went to Alexandra and Gorka, which saw them finish in fourth place on the final leaderboard.

Topping the leaderboard after the paso doble-thon was Joe and Katya, with Susan and Kevin placing at the bottom.

Fans will have to wait until Sunday’s results show to see who will be eliminated, ahead of the musicals-theme quarter final week. 

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