Strictly Come Dancing 2010: Ann Widdecombe dubbed a 'Dalek in drag' for her American Smooth as Pamela Stephenson scores perfect 10s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt6_8lOcFlMendofvid

[starttext]

By EMILY SHERIDAN

'More hello trolley than Hello Dolly': Ann Widdecombe's American Smooth with Anton Du Beke didn't impress the judges on Strictly Come Dancing


Ann Widdecombe was described as a 'Dalek in drag' by judge Bruno Tonioli last night after failing to impress with her American Smooth.

The former MP ended up at the bottom of the leader board - unsurprisingly - after her performance to the Hello Dolly theme for the Movie Night quarter-final, while Pamela Stephenson topped it with four perfect 10s.

Dressed in a gold trousers and a red military-style jacket, the 63-year-old received the lowest score ever for the American Smooth after she was lifted up four times by her partner Anton Du Beke.



'A Dalek in drag': Widdecombe was lifted three times by Du Beke during the routine


Alesha Dixon told her: 'It was nice to see a lot more dance content this week. You're still hanging on to Anton for dear life and you have no facial expression.
You haven't improved since last week. I'm afraid for me the honeymoon's over.'

Giving some of the most cutting comments, Bruno remarked: 'It was more like 'Hello trolley' than Hello Dolly. Anton was pushing you around like an overloaded trolley.
'When you were on your own, you looked like a Dalek in drag.'


Quite the actress: Widdecombe started off her dance seated at a dressing table


After Bruno's scathing remarks, Craig Revel-Horwood toned down his usual tough comments, saying: 'I'm going to focus on the positive. All the best moments were for me when your feet weren't touching the floor. The twist knee thing was ok. There was on sashay that was passable.'

But Len Goodman brought it back to negativity: 'American Smooth in its basic form is movement to music. You did move and there was music. Like snow, its fun in the beginning in the end you want it go away.'

Actor Scott Maslen and his partner Natalie Lowe were the first to dance, performing a paso doble to the James Bond theme.


Giving Gavin Henson a run for this money: The song climaxed with Natalie ripping Scott's shirt off


The EastEnders star, 40, went topless for the first time after his Australian partner assured him his 'great body' should be seen by the viewers.

Lowe, 30, showed off her stunning figure in a white bra and pant outfit - obviously inspired by Ursula Andress' famous bikini from Dr No.

Len Goodman teased her: 'Natalie you could have won something a little more revealing, a little more skimpy.'

But costumes aside, he praised the couple: 'You did a wonderful job. It was a hard job, hard choreography and you coped very well.'

Alesha: 'You were giving Gavin a run for his money in the chest performance. It's good to see you back at your best and you're back in the zone.'

Bruno: You've got the license to thrill. You have the determination and the power. You managed to reproduce the Spanish line which wasn't in the track.

Craig: You could have done with a bit more paso shaping through the arms. Your transitions were a bit ropey. But you are back. I loved the choreography. It was virile, red-blooded and hot.'


Grooooooovy baby: Matt Baker and Aliona Vilani performed a fun jive to the Austin Powers soundtrack


TV presenter Matt Baker started off his jive to the Austin Powers theme with a back-flip off the judges table.

The Countryfile star, 32, and partner Aliona Vilani, 26, were dressed in a red velvet suit and Union Jack mini-dress respectively.

Bruno enthused: 'Grooooooovy baby! That was a jive with a swinging sixties flavour. I could have been in Carnaby Street, I was expecting Twiggy to appear.'


In character: Baker kicked off the dance by back-flipping off the judges table


Craig said: 'I absolutely loved it. The characterisation was flawless, it was clean, precise. You did lose timing in the last kick section.'

Len added: 'I liked the backflip thing. The feeling of the dance, little bit light on your feet could have been stronger on the floor, but loved it.'

Pamela Stephenson, who turned 61 today, was supported in the audience by her comedian husband Billy Connolly as she performed the Viennese Waltz to Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers from the Ghost soundtrack.



Birthday girl: Pamela Stephenson and partner James Jordan scored 40 for their Viennese Waltz to Unchained Melody


The pair scored four perfect 10s from all of the judges and a standing ovation - the perfect birthday present for the psychologist.

Craig said: 'Elegant, stylish, tasteful, full of emotion... gorgeous!'
Len was quick with his comments: 'Tonight's all about who'll get through to the semi-final and on that performance I'll see you next week.'

Alesha enthused: 'Perfect song, perfect dress... perfectly danced.'

After ending up in the bottom two last weekend, underdog Gavin Henson and Katya Virshilas performed the foxtrot to the Blue Brothers soundtrack.


'Much improvement': Underdog Gavin Henson and Katya Virshilas pleased the judges with their foxtrot to the Blue Brothers soundtrack


Len told the Welsh rugby player: 'That was your best dance. Well done.'

Alesha said: 'You looked like a hot, sexy couple. The confidence is oozing out of you.'

Bruno said: 'You put a lot of work into it and it shows. Much improvement.'


Oozing with confidence: Gavin put himself back in the game after ending up in the bottom two last week


Last to perform was former EastEnders actress Kara Tointon, 27, and her partner Artem Chigvintsev, 28.

The pair addressed rumours they were in relationship, insisting they would only go for date once the show ended.

The couple performed a sizzling tango to Roxanne from the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack.


Sizzling: Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev performed the Argentine tango to Roxanne from the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack


Alesha said: 'Kara I'm absolutely blown away. That's the best tango I've seen on Strictly Come Dancing. It was Oscar-winning performance.'

Bruno enthused: 'Spectacular, spectacular. A tango full of theatrical magic.'
Craig added: 'I only have one word. Fan-tas-ma-gorical.'


A tango full of theatrical magic: Kara and Artem addressed rumours they were romantically involved... insisting 'not yet'


















source: dailymail
[endtext]

Strictly Come Dancing: Widdy takes to the waves as she thrills crowd with Titanic-themed routine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Goc36SOdKIAendofvid

[starttext]

By NATALIE WAIN


Eat your heart out Kate: Anne Widdecombe turned out yet another hilarious performance as she attempted a Titanic-themed rhumba on last night's Strictly Come Dancing


'There are three types of people left in this competition - the good the bad and the Widdy', declared a confident Anne Widdecombe at start of last night's Strictly Come Dancing.

And after being likened to a yellow canary, all eyes were on this year's underdog to see how on earth she could top last week's toe-curling performance.

The outfit may have been toned down and there definitely no feathers, but Widdy thrilled the Striclty audience as she and dance partner Anton Du Beke channeled Kate Winslet and Leonado Dicaprio in the film Titanic with their rendition of a raunchy rhumba.

In what could loosely be described as her her most 'passionate' performance to date, the usually reserved Anne even locked Anton in a romantic embrace, planting her hands firmly on his chest, drawing cheers and laughter form the delighted audience.

Although she remained largely wooden and immobile throughout most of her routine, Anne threw caution to the wind for the dance finale as she and Anton collapsed in a heap on the floor, locked in another passionate embrace.



Look familiar? Anne Widdecombe would be the first to admit that she's no Kate

Winslet but she did her best to re-create the romantic scene from Titanic with dance partner Anton Du Beke


Emotionally charged? Well almost. Anne 'Widdy' Widdecombe evokes the romantic scene from Titanic where Kate Winslet and Leonado Dicaprio's characters share a tender moment


The judges were less than moved by their watery-themed efforts though.

A stony-faced Craig said her performance was passionless and said: 'that iceberg showed more emotion'.

It was a 'a testament to bad dancing', he added before awarding her a measly 1 point.


Passionate: Usually reserved Widdy got to grips with dance partner Anton as they tried to evoke the romance of Titanic


Len was equally uncomplimentary, declaring that he was 'shaken not stirred' by their routine.

'Eat your heart out Kate', said a more generous Alesha Dixon, before adding cheekily: 'I could really see genuine love between you'.

But the plucky politician still managed a respectable 14 points, beating her toe-curling performance from last week.


Embrace: Anne and Anton were largely derided by the judges for their performance, but the audience were delighted by their efforts and they still managed to beat last week's score with a respectable 14 points (for Widdy anyway)


Meanwhile, the other contestants scored somewhat better than Anne, who's languishing at the bottom of the leaderboard.

First up this week was EastEnders star Kara Tointon who danced an energetic version of the jive with her partner Artem Chigvinstsev, who guided Kara to a healthy score of 34, despite recovering from tonsillitis.



Head over heels: The judges were impressed by Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvinstsev jive which earned them 30 points


An enthusiastic Bruno told her that she lit up the room, and called her 'Kara Von Teese'.

Judge Craig praised their precise attention to detail but drew boos from the audience when declared that the routine was 'haphazard', before awarding them 7 points.

Last week's survivor Patsy Kensit and her dance partner Robin Windsor were next, performing a smoldering Argentine tango.

Patsy danced through a foot injury but the pair criticised by Bruno for their lack of 'spunk', whilst Craig told her they 'lacked flair and attacked'. 'But it did have intent and purpose and I think you that danced very well' he conceded. They scored 30 points.


Surviving: Patsy Kensit smoldered with dance partner Robin Windsor during their Argentine tango. They scored a healthy 30 points


Exhausted Eastenders star Scott Maslen got off to a rocky start with the American smooth making errors with his fancy footwork. He and dance partner Natalie Lowe still managed to score 31 points after recovering well.

'You're a class act', Len told him, 'but you didn't do yourself justice tonight'.


Smooth operator: Scott Maslen and partner Natalie Lowe recovered well from a rocky start and were awarded 31 points by the judges


Shake it: Jude Craig was unimpressed by Gavin Henson's bottom wiggle during his routine with partner Katya Virshilas and scored a disappointing 22 points


Next it was Gavin Henson's turn who danced the jive with his partner Katya Virshilas. It was a largely wooden performance which saw Gavin approach the judges to wiggle his bottom at them in his very tight tartan trousers at one stage during the routine.

Unimpressed, Craig told him: 'That bottom wiggle was completely unneccesary. It smacks of desperation and I think you're giving Anne Widdecombe a run for her money.'
The tanned rugby star only managed 22 points out of a possible 40.


Matt Baker and partner Aliona Vilani dazzled with an emotionally charged American smooth. The chemistry between the two was palpable and they pulled-off a number of flamboyant moves with apparent ease earning them a standing ovation from the delighted audience.

Alesha was booed when she said the pair that was disappointing.

Len agreed, telling him: 'Normally you're really good, tonight you were nearly good...there was just something missing tonight.'

But the best performance of the night was definitely saved till last when Pamela Stephenson defied her 60 years of age to give an acrobatic performance that wowed the judges and the crowd alike.

She performed a very cheeky charleston with partner James Jordan, incorporating cartwheels and even the splits into their energetic routine which won them universal praise from the judges.



Energetic: Pamela Stephenson won praise from the judges for her age-degying routine which delighted the audience. Pamela will celebrate her 61st birthday next week


Even Craig was excited by their performance, telling them: 'It was risky, perilous lifts, performed without any trepidation, I loved it.'

Alesha agreed: 'It was the best dance of the night' she said.

The pair were rewarded with incredible 38 points - the highest score of the night.
It remains to be seen if Widdy will be saved again. The results show will be shown later on Sunday night.









source: dailymail
[endtext]