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Ashley Roberts, Faye Tozer top Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard

Updated / Sunday, 23 Sep 2018 09:10
Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts tops Strictly Come Dancing tops leaderboard with Faye Tozer
Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts tops Strictly Come Dancing tops leaderboard with Faye Tozer

The first live show of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing kicked off with a bang on Saturday night with Danny John-Jules who dazzled the judges with a foxtrot, but it was Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts and Steps singer Faye Toper who tied for first position on the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, Susannah Constantine and her partner Anton Du Beke found themselves stranded at the bottom of the leaderboard with the lowest points on the night.

Faye Tozer tied in first position with Ashley Roberts

Actor John-Jules was the very first celebrity to take to the dancefloor with partner Amy Dowden but if he had any nerves, they didn't show.

Head judge Shirley Ballas said of his performance: "This is the most brilliant show on earth and that number to open was outstanding. I'm going to call you Dapper Dan, you're very regal", while Darcey Bussell said he's "one to watch".

The pair's combined score was 27.

It was a tough act to follow, and newsreader Kate Silverton next took to the dancefloor for a cha cha cha with partner Aljaz Skorjanec.

Craig Revel Horwood said there was "no flair" but that her "fantastic personality shone". Ballas said she showed "so much promise".

Despite the criticism, she scored a decent 20 points.

Paralympian Lauren Steadman performed an elegant waltz with AJ Pritchard to Kissing You by Des'ree which impressed the panel.

Revel Horwood told her it was "impressive, darling", while Bussell said: "You're obviously good under pressure, really good start."

Steadman was awarded 25 points.

Comedian Seann Walsh was up next, and performed a tango to Justin Timberlake's SexyBack with Katya Jones.

Bussell praised his "fierce performance" but Ballas imparted some advice to Walsh about his hair, saying: "Tidy yourself up a little bit, it was flying all over the place."

A total of 18 points were awarded for the performance.

Radio DJ Vick Hope fared similarly with her jive with new Strictly professional Graziano Di Prima.

Ballas said she showed "great personality" but said the dance was "a little discombobulated".

Tonioli added: "The jive is very hard and just the fact you managed to keep up with that rampaging stallion, you get extra points for that."

They also scored 18 points.

TV presenter Susannah Constantine did not impress the judges with a samba with her partner Anton Du Beke.

Afterwards, Tonioli said: "I'm glad it's over. It was more like Car Crash Miranda than Carmen Miranda."

Revel Horwood said she looked like she was "staggering about lost and drunk at a party, the best part was when you fell on the floor at the end".

They took home a measly 12 points for the dance and found themselves in the unenviable position of last on the leaderboard.

Casualty star Charles Venn was up next with a cha cha cha with partner Karen Clifton.

Bussell told him he was "very watchable with a natural attitude, incredibly relaxed".

However, Ballas told them: "That was a disco routine for me, exempt of cha cha cha for me. But you are cute and you do have promise, but not a lot of cha cha cha."

Venn was awarded 25 points for his efforts.

Pussycat Dolls star Ashley James took to the dancefloor for the first time for a Viennese waltz to Perfect by Ed Sheeran featuring Beyonce with her partner Pasha Kovalev.

Praise was heaped on James for her "seamlessly beautiful" dance and she headed straight to the joint top of the leaderboard with 29 points.

This Morning star Dr Ranj Singh danced a cha cha cha with his partner Janette Manrara and earned a standing ovation from Ballas who said some of the steps "looked like they belong in the semi-final".

Tonioli added: "The prognosis is very good, doctor."

They took home a healthy 27 points for the performance.

Katie Piper performed a romantic waltz to When We Were Young by Adele alongside partner Gorka Marquez.

Tonioli criticised her for "overthinking it" while Ballas said she showed "some great promise".

She scored 17 points.

Cricketer Graeme Swann danced a samba with his partner Oti Mabuse and surprised the judges with his rhythm, with Bussell saying: "I was not expecting that".

Swann scored a total of 22 points.

Broadcaster Stacey Dooley performed the first quickstep of the competition with partner Kevin Clifton.

Bussell said she was "a delight" while Revel Horwood said he "enjoyed every minute".

Dooley was rewarded with a 24 point score.

Blue singer Lee Ryan performed a waltz with his professional partner Nadiya Bychkova which earned him some mixed feedback.

Ballas said she could feel the pair's chemistry but said Ryan's "footwork needs attention".

Bussell commented: "It felt a little lustful for me, I like a classic waltz. When you get started you did present Nadiya really well and you did lead her well, it was incredibly caring."

They scored a total of 22 points.

YouTube star Joe Sugg went for a jive for his first dance with partner Dianne Buswell and earned some great comments from the panel.

Tonioli said he was the biggest surprise of the night, while Revel Horwood added: "I did not have high hopes for you at all but that has changed everything."

He scored a total of 27. 

Steps star Faye Tozer was the last star to take to the dancefloor on the first live show for a cha cha cha with her partner Giovanni Pernice.

Revel Horwood praised her, saying it was "most certainly worth the wait and by no means a tragedy darling. It's amazing what you're doing week one".

Tonioli told them it was: "Clean, clear polish with plenty of sparkle. The performance level of all our contestants, you've given us a very good level of performance. It's very difficult to predict how this is going to play."

Their combined score of 29 took them to the top of the leaderboard in joint first with Ashley James and Pasha Kovalev.

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman confirmed there will be no public vote this week so no-one will leave the competition and said the scores from the judges will be carried over and added to next week's scores.

Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One

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