Is anyone else finding it difficult to get enthused about Strictly Come Dancing on any level? It's been swamped with controversy behind-the-scenes since the summer, and this week all eyes were on pro dancer Anton Du Beke, who apparently called his celebrity dancer partner Laila Rouass a "paki" after she got a spray tan. I'm sure you've heard about it. So, again, another week passes with the majority of the audience looking for tension between Anton and Laila instead of enjoying the dances. But, for what it's worth:
Natalie Cassidy & Vincent Simone
Salsa: Well, she has fun and gives it 100% on the dance floor, and her purple dress was quite hot. But, y'know, it's still like watching your sister go mad at a disco, and not especially sexy.Craig Kelly & Flavia Cacace
Foxtrot: Oh dear, what's happened to Flavia this year? Another boring dance, wearing something your grandma may have hanging on her washing line. Totally boring and left everything to the imagination.Ricky Groves & Erin Boag
Foxtrot: If you're doing a ballroom dance with a long skirt, this is how you want to look. Erin looked like she was wearing a svelte cloud in this dance; lovely open back, long gloves, pink underskirt and sophisticated classiness.Laila Rouass & Anton Du Beke
Foxtrot: Laila's been another disappointment this year, so I hope she gets a chance to steam up the screen with some Latin dances very soon. This dress was pretty and her makeup was great, but it was underwhelming.Phil Tufnell & Katya Virshilas
Salsa: I could have done without Tuffers' prancing, but luckily Katya made up for those indulgences with some leggy kicks and plenty of infectious energy. Lightning quick legs, spinning body, twisty hips.Jo Wood & Brendan Cole
Foxtrot: She can't dance, she looks totally perplexed half the time. I wish she'd just get voted off. Dull silver ballgown, stilted performance.Ricky Whittle & Natalie Lowe
Salsa: Cyan dress with a skirt vehemently unable to hide any leg, lots of energy and sexy moves. Natalie's one of the new girls who's really making an impression this year. Hot stuff.Jade Johnson & Ian Waite
Salsa: Quite an awful dress, I thought, like she was wearing a blood clot. Still, all the female performers get some points for showing their legs, and she managed a few provocative poses and moves in this.Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna
Salsa: Aww, bless her for finding it so hard to be sexy in training, but she pulled it off on the night. Ali again looked fabulous, in one of those flesh-stocking outfits, showing a heap of cleavage and ensuring that orange skirt was on constant vibrate. Sexy.Lynda Bellingham & Darren Bennett
Foxtrot: I just look away now, don't you?Joe Calzaghe & Kristina Rihanoff
Foxtrot: Kristina's one of these girls who ages five years when she puts makeup on. I don't know why, but she only ever looks 31 when she's papped in the street or posing for a fashion magazine. On the show, she always looks close to 40. She's still hot, mind, and one of the few dancers who can look sexy in the ballgowns; supple body, big booty.Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan
Salsa: Ola and salsa go together like peaches n' cream, so this was another sexy performance from the Polish hotie. Another dress half-worn, showcasing her hot body with lots of grinding and saucy moves.Zoe Lucker & James Jordan
Foxtrot: A pure white dress that covered her up entirely, but she somehow made it work well for herself. She has a good stature to her, which helps. Still a disappointment, but not bad considering.The Dance-Off
Of course it came down to the two most hideously dressed women in the end: Flavia with Craig vs. Lynda with Darren, and I was overjoyed to see dancing turbot Lynda make a fairly early exit from the competition.
