Strictly Come Dancing 2018, first live show: Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer tied at top, Susannah Constantine stranded at bottom

• First Strictly live show saw all 15 couples dance for the judges for first time

• Faye Tozer and Ashley Roberts tied at top of leaderboard

• Susannah Constantine rock bottom, five points behind Katie Piper

• No public vote or elimination this week. Scores carried forward to next weekend

• Talking Strictly: subscribe to The Telegraph’s brand new podcast with Debbie McGee

• Ballroom Bulletin: sign up to our Strictly newsletter, your essential weekly companion

Ringer rumblings already

It's become a Strictly tradition to grumble about contestants with too much dance experience - even though that's usually in the pop field, rather than Latin or ballroom. So it proved tonight with the two females who finished tied at the top of the leaderboard. 

Former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts put aside the booty-pops and bottom-slaps to deliver a fluid, floating and expressive Viennese waltz which wouldn't have looked out of place in a quarter-final. She notched 29 points, leaving her with just 11 points to improve for perfection.

Closing the show was Steps singer Faye Tozer, whose cha cha cha was clean, speedy and matched Roberts' score. 

Highly impressive routines so early in the contest but social media lit up with cynical comments. Both women will surely be in the contest until at least December, so we'll have plenty of time to debate it. 

Joe Sugg was a surprise package

We knew that vlogger Joe Sugg had been cast with one eye on the "yoof" market. But few of us suspected there was a firecracker of a dancer lurking within his endearingly nerdy frame. 

The youngest male in the contest clocked up the "likes" for his high-energy 80s jive, which was flicky, kicky, bouncy and bags of fun. Judge Bruno Tonioli called him "a jet-propelled grasshopper", while the newly Damed Darcey Bussell preferred "a Mexican jumping bean".

However, we could have done without Sugg being billed as "a social media star", let alone the gimmicky on-screen graphics and gratuitous proliferation of emojis. We get it, we get it. The producers clearly thought none of us had heard of the internet and needed it explaining to us, like a caveman who'd stumbled into the Apple Store. 

Will the Anton factor save Susannah?

As the only surviving original Strictly pro and the gentleman of the ballroom, Anton Du Beke invariably gets partnered with the contest's senior female celebrity. Long-suffering Tony Beak looks to have been saddled with another duffer in fiftysomething fashionista Susannah Constantine. 

Anton did his best to cover her dance deficiencies with outlandish outfits and comedy backchat but poor Susannah's samba was less Rio carnival and more Romford car boot. Bruno Tonioli said it was "not so much Carmen Miranda as Car-crash Miranda", while Craig Revel Horwood said she was "staggering about, lost and drunk at a party".

Scoring a lowly 12 points, Susannah finished rock bottom of the standings, five points below anyone else. She's now bookies' hot favourite to be the first celebrity sent home. She might be relying on Anton's devoted fanbase to save her next weekend. 

Walsh and Hope at risk of first elimination

So Susannah aside, who might also be at risk of the humiliating first elimination next weekend? Second from bottom on the scoreboard was Katie Piper, but she was stricken by first-night nerves, was strongly supported by the judges and has a fiercely devoted fanbase, so is likely to survive.

The next two in the firing line? Vick Hope (who was very harshly marked) and Seann Walsh, whose nose-ring and relative lack of fame might be Constantine's best hope of survival. 

Bodyguard plugs became gratuitous

OK, OK, we get it. The BBC currently has a huge drama hit on its hands in Jed Mercurio's political thriller Bodyguard and its edge-of-the-sofa finale airs on Sunday evening. But one plug for it was enough. Hirsute stand-up Seann Walsh's Bodyguard-themed comedy tango did the cross-promotional job just fine. 

When Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly joined, though, it started to smell like a hard sell. You almost expected an on-screen caption to inform us that "Other TV dramas are available". Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am. 

Shirley Ballas came down too hard

It's only the Queen Of Latin's second series as head judge, so perhaps she felt the need to assert her authority and demonstrate that she'd be a stickler for strict steps and proper dance content. But boy, did Shirley Ballas give some of the contestants a tough time for week one. 

She was particularly harsh to DJ Vick Hope, Casualty actor cha-cha-Charles Venn and comic Seann Walsh, rather randomly telling the latter to "tie his hair back and tidy himself up", as if she was his disciplinarian headmaster or disapproving mother.  

La Ballas seemed to soften towards the end of the show, offering more encouragement and constructive criticism - even squeezing in a respectful name-check of her predecessor Len Goodman. In her defence, Ballas had also spent much of the evening being thwacked by gesticulating neighour Bruno Tonioli's flailing arms. However, by failing to cut slack for first-night nerves and choreographic inexperience, she risked the wrath of viewers. 

The glitterball was too bloated

With 15 couples to get through, this was always going to be a long old show but surely the stamina-sapping 140-minute running time could have been trimmed down by 10, if not 20, minutes?

Shorter training room VTs, snappier balcony interviews and less faffing would have done the job. We love Strictly but we also love to have a life on Saturday nights. 

Surprise packages amongst the males

Women might have nabbed the top two spots on the scoreboard but tucked in behind them, it was male celebrities who impressed the most. Danny John-Jules opened the show with a stylish and jazzy feline foxtrot. Dr Ranj Singh diagnosed a clean, camp Cuban cha cha, while Charles Venn's was a red-clad disco inferno.

Perhaps the most entertaining of all was former cricketer Graeme Swann, who flew down on a giant sparkly cricket bat before weaving some "sprinkler" and "floss" moves into his hip-thrusting samba. Howzat? Well, let's send it upstairs for umpire review. 

10:03PM

Saturday night's action in full

Here's your routine-by-routine recap...

8:36PM

Credits roll

Keeeeeeep dancing! Stay with us for reaction and analysis. 

8:35PM

All 15 dances now done

Well, that was an epic. They've got sore feet, I've got sore typing fingers. 

8:29PM

Faye and Giovanni's cha cha cha  

Last dance and last of the night's four cha-chas. Faye begins on the judges' desk and then launches into a leggy, tidy, sassy and slightly saucy cha-cha. Giovanni has incorporated some novelty Steps moves, just for Faye. Nice timing and relaxed attitude. Streamers fall for the finale. One of the night's most impressive routines. 

Music: Lullaby by Sigala featuring Paloma Faith.

Judges' verdict: Craig says "worth the wait and by no means a tragedy, dah-ling". Darcey says "dynamic, speedy, incredibly impressive". Shirley says "clean, relatively musical, a fraction stiff but learn the correct leg actions and you'll give everybody a run for their money". Bruno says "polished with plenty of sparkle, performance level has been high all night".

Judges' scores: 7, 8, 7, 7 for a total of 29 points, joint top with Ashley Roberts. 

8:22PM

Joe and Dianne's jive

The vlogger says 80s music is his guilty pleasure. Even though he was born in the 90s. We start with some new-fangled emoji and screen nonsense. Footwork surprisingly nifty. Emojis, robotics and hype dance for '"the kids". Loads of fun and far more accomplished than I'd expected. 

Music: Take On Me by A-ha

Judges’ verdict: Bruno says "what a surprise, you were a jet-propelled grasshopper". Craig says "I did not have high hopes from the launch show but that has changed everything". Darcey says "light, like a Mexican jumping bean, amazing stamina". Shirley concludes "your grandma can be very proud, you gave it some welly, good job". 

Judges' scores: 6, 7, 7, 7 for a total of 27 points. Joint second so far. 

8:14PM

Lee and Nadiya's waltz

The puppyish Blue singer needs to rein in his natural high energy and nail the elegance. Not doing a bad job with this routine, although he's a bit lumpen and Nadiya is dancing around him at times. Footwork faltering and flat, but nice feel and spins. 

Music: Take It To The Limit by The Eagles

Judges’ verdict: Shirley says "lovely chemistry, you slipped but it was on a star from the previous routine, you're ahead of the music but good job". Bruno says "you led confidently and took command, slight incident wasn't your fault, you were a leading man". Craig says "all knees and not much feet, stern-faced". Darcey "it felt a little too lustful, you led well, incredibly caring". Bruno gets the giggles in the background. Dame Darcey not impressed. 

Judges' scores: 4, 6, 6, 6 for a total of 22 points. Solidly mid-table. 

8:06PM

Stacey and Kevin's quickstep  

A small piece of Strictly history now, as this is the first time a quickstep has been performed in week one. Kevin’s done very well with this dance in the past, having scored 37 points four times. Rather random bus stop opening. Skipping and travelling around the floor, Stacey loses her shape and timing but recovers it for the side-by-side sections. Needs to get up on the balls of her feet but fast, frisky and fun. 

Music: Dancing by Kylie Minogue

Judges’ verdict: Darcey says "you're a delight, light on your feet, plenty of content, it got messy and stiffen the topline but so much promise". Shirley says "light clean footwork but your arms dropped, strengthen the core". Bruno says "springy and sprinty like a kid in a candy store but jelly arms, slap the table harder". Craig concludes "a little bit fluffy but I did enjoy it, hardest dance, did well". 

Judges' scores: 6, 6, 6, 6 for a total of 24 points

7:57PM

Graeme and Oti's samba

The Test Match Special theme music should make the former England spin bowler feel at home. I imagine he'll win the battle of the sambas against Susannah.  He flies down on a giant sparkly cricket bat, doing the England Ashes-winning side's sprinkler move. A commentary cameo from Aggers. And then into a spicy disco smaba with added flossing. Huge fun. No hip action but who cares? Oh hang on, there was some towards the end. Bit of bowling action. Howzat?

Music: Soul Limbo by Booker T and The MGs

Judges’ verdict: Craig says "flat wooden hands like a cricket bat, hips awkward but I liked watching them, immense energy". Darcey says "exceptional rhythm, you're a rough stone for Oti to polish". Shirley says "impressed with your basic skills, loads of personality, you sold it". Bruno concludes "well-oiled, are we? Very hen party, I enjoyed the forward groin-thrust". 

Judges' scores: 5, 6, 6, 5 for a total of 22 points. What's the umpire's signal for that?

7:46PM

Katie and Gorka's waltz

Katie was probably the most nervous celebrity during the launch show. Can she conquer it? Messin' abaht on a park bench to start and Gorka is doing most of the dancing. Katie seems to be counting aloud at times but once they're into hold and spinning, things improve. Hesitant and lacking glide but lovely romantic feel.

Music: Waltz to When We Were Young by Adele

Judges’ verdict: Bruno says, "You did it my darling, now relax - the worst is over. Feel it, don't overthink it". Craig says "dodgy balance but nice arm placement, went horribly wrong halfway through but recovered so well done". Darcey says "nice line and shapes but control your nerves and focus on the narrative".  Shirley concludes "you show great promise, look stunning, nice frame, made some mistakes but just come out like it's a practice session". Good, supportive, constructive comments. Unlike some of them earlier. 

Judges' scores: 4, 4, 4, 5 for a total of 17 points. Second bottom so far. 

7:39PM

Dr Ranj and Janette's cha cha cha

The pocket rockets have lift-off. CBeebies and This Morning medic Dr Ranj looks to have good rhythm. He's a likeable, smiley performer. Milking the medical theme with a doctor's surgery and giant thermometer. Then they launch into a neat, cheeky little cha-cha. Camp as Christmas and almost as enjoyable. 

Music: How Will I Know by Whitney Houston

Judges’ verdict: Shirley says "fun, light, lots of content, syncopated Cuban break looked like it belonged in the semi-final, fantastic". Bruno says "burst in like a ray of sunshine, prognosis is very good". Craig cracks a smile and says "camp but I loved it". Darcey concludes "never wipe off that smile, clean, bright and you could go far". 

Judges' scores: 6, 6, 8 (what?), 7 for a total of 27 points. Joint second. 

7:31PM

Ashley and Pasha's Viennese waltz

The joint bookies' favourites, "Team Pashley" perform the only Viennese of the night. No Pussycat Doll booty-pops allowed. Romantic feel, dizzying spins, twirling and floating around the floor. Dry ice covering the footwork at times but remarkably accomplished for week one. Arguably too good.

Music: Perfect by Ed Sheeran featuring Beyoncé

Judges’ verdict: Darcey says "fluid, graceful, artistry, beautiful back and arms but lost frame in hold". Shirley says "musical ear, beautifully feminine but keep your centre up". Bruno says "weightless turns, seamless and lovely storytelling". Craig concludes "too much rise and fall but expression was gaw-jus". 

Judges' scores: 7, 8, 7, 7 for a total of 29 points, taking her to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the show.

7:24PM

Charles and Karen's cha cha cha

Cha-cha-Charles has looked fit, flexible and all-round promising in training. They're both in red, disco feel, good hip action, rhythm and rotation. Loving the little handclaps. This is a cha-cha via 70s disco and Nineties house. Red hot. 

Music: Ain't No Love (Ain't Not Use) by Sub Sub featuring Melanie Williams

Judges’ verdict: Craig says "tight of hip but confident, ease of movement, thoroughly enjoyed that". Darcey says "definitely very watchable, relaxed attitude, you're doing something right". Shirley says "swag and rhythm but no cha-cha feeling". Charles charms her in response. Bruno says "smouldering, what's wrong with disco?"

Judges' scores: 6, 6, 6, 7 for a total of 25 points. Joint second so far. 

7:15PM

Susannah and Anton's samba

We're a third of the way through now. Not only did Susanna pull an intercostal muscle in training but she says her debut in front of judges “liquefies her bowels”. Enduring image. She's got fruit on her head (what not to wear, anyone?) and Anton emerges from her voluminous skirt in a novelty flouncy orange outfit, shaking maracas. Incredible scenes. Incredible trousers. Suze's samba isn't anything to write home about but boy, what outfits. 

Music: Tico Tico by Carmen Miranda

Judges’ verdict: Bruo says "more like Car-crash Miranda, you had a stowaway in your undergarment, it can only get better". Craig says "staggering about, lost and drunk at a party, the best part was when you fell on the floor at the end". Susannah stands up to him. Well done her. Darcey says "I love a bit of fun but there's a dancer in you". Shirley says "you had some basic elements, nerves got the better of you, keep pushing forward". 

Judges' scores: 1 (boo!), 4, 3, 4 for a total of 12 points. Bottom, obviously.

7:05PM

Vick and Graziano's jive

The bookies’ joint favourites are in a battle of the jives tonight with Joe Sugg.  They've got a lot of hair between them. She looks fab-ew-lous in tasselled green. Impressive leg work. Bright and fast, plunges into the splits. Flicks, kicks and tricks. Twists, turns and twirls. Lost timing a little and looked wobbly on her high heels but decent.

Music: Feel It Still by Portugal The Man

Judges’ verdict: Shirley welcomes Graziano to the Strictly family and says "discombobulated but you have potential". Bruno says "not bad at all but keep up the energy". Craig says "heavy, laboured, messy and I felt it was all about Graziano, for some reason". Ouch. Tough comments. A little mean-spirited? Darcey concludes "you didn't keep up but so much promise". 

Judges' scores: 3, 5, 4, 6 for a total of 18 points. Joint bottom. Harsh.

6:57PM

Seann and Katya's tango

The night’s only tango. Stand-up comic Seann is one of the bookies' top tips to be first out. Can he defy the odds? Bodyguard theme (very topical, very BBC cross-promotional). He's playing it for laughs, his bottom's sticking out and there's not a whole lot of tango content. Where's the staccato, the stalking and the swivel? Fun but won't wow the judges.

Music: SexyBack by Justin Timberlake

Judges’ verdict: Darcey says "fierce, focused, I enjoyed the narrative but you were grabbing Katya too much". Shirley says "I must enforce the rule, there was a lift" - "more of a chuck" argues Seann - "and I wanted to see something more classic, tie your hair back and tidy yourself up". Alright, mum. Bruno  says "I liked the passion and power". Craig concludes "completely over-the-top, you were man-handling her, not for me".

Judges' scores: 3, 5, 4, 6 for a total of 18 points. Bottom so far.

6:49PM

Lauren and AJ's waltz

Paralympian Lauren is just back from the World Championships in Australia, where she won gold - but she missed a week of dance training, so is playing catch-up.Lauren looming lovely in pink. Sweet Romeo & Juliet theme. You wouldn't know she'd missed a week's training. Smooth glide, romantic feel and rather lovely. 

Music: I'm Kissing You by Des’ree

Judges’ verdict: Craig says "left shoulder was raised but im-per-ressive, darling". Darcey says "be grander, yes? But really strong start, yes?". Shirley says "you're going to do very, very well". Bruno concludes "flowing, romantic, you're still on a winning streak". Slightly rushed comments, they must be running behind schedule. 

Judges' scores: 6, 6, 6, 7 for a total of 25 points

6:40PM

Kate and Aljaž's cha cha cha

Can the newsreader unleash her sassy side? This is the first of four cha-chas tonight. She starts at a news desk with Alijaz as her cameraman. Hot pink tasselled frock, Alijaz in a cool shirt covered with lipstick kisses. Decent footwork, leg and hip action. Flirty, fun with a party feel, but a bit stompy and clumpy in places. 

Music: Kiss by Tom Jones. Not Prince, apparently. Humph.

Judges’ verdict: Bruno says "I had no idea you could be such a saucy minx, you went for it, but finish the movements and don't lose timing". Craig drawls "an awful lot of stomping around, need a straighter leg, lacked hip action but your fantastic personality shone through". Darcey says "flirty, you sold it, didn't nail the technique but extraordinary performance value". Shirley concludes "inconsistent, needs more rotation in the body but so much promise".  Smiley Slovenian Alijaz is delighted with those comments. 

Judges' scores: 4 (boo!), 6, 4,  6 for a total of 20 points

6:31PM

Danny and Amy's foxtrot

Opening dance of the series and Danny's diving in at the deep end with one of the hardest ballroom dances. The Red Dwarf star is milking that feline theme already with the tune. He's all in pink and stylish solo section to start. Jazzy, fun, lots of Hollywood glamour, footwork falters at times but a very respectable way to start the series.

Music: Top Cat Theme by Hoyt Curtin

Judges’ verdict: Shirley Ballas says "outstanding, regal, beautiful shoulder line, work on the feet but I'm in lurve". Bruno says "pizzazz, panache, showmanship and a balletic outburst but you tighten up in hold". Craig says "too spiky, more of an American smooth to me but impeccable timing and musicality, pink didn't stink". Darcey concludes "you are one agile mature man, wow, one to watch". 

Judges' scores: 6, 7, 7, 7 for a total of 27 points

6:27PM

Time to meet our Strictly stars

Lots of leggy ladies and bare-chested blokes. Not many outfits that you'd call understated. Joe Sugg is introduced as a "social media star". Sign of the times there. 

6:25PM

Frockwatch  

Time for our first live fashion face-off this year. Claudia Winkleman's in  black sparkly minidress, Tess Daly's in an asymmetic top and black trouser. Claudia wins the first frockwatch of the series.

6:22PM

Group number to open

The pro troupe perform a lovely ballroom number to Elton John's Your Song, moving from a cobbled London street and the Somerset House fountains into the ballroom. No pressure, celebs. Just match that. 

6:21PM

New-look credits

Skirt swishing from Ashley Roberts. Bare chest from new pro Graziano. Wacky stuff from Seann Walsh and Dr Ranj. An exploding fistbump from Joe Sugg. Finger points by Lee Ryan and Susannah Constantine. Slightly more comedy than usual?

6:19PM

And we're off! 

Strictly 2018 is go, go, go. Roll pre-credits VT, recapping the launch show and building the sequin-spangled jeopardy.

6:17PM

Ready? Warmed up?

Dancing muscles stretched? Good, let's go. 

6:13PM

Strictly is Pointless

Not literally, of course. It's the last knockings of a special Strictly edition of gameshow Pointless on BBC One right now. Reining glitterball champions Joe McFadden and Katya Jones have won again. Greedy. Mere minutes now until we go over to the Elstree Studios ballroom... 

6:10PM

Poppy playlist

The couples' tunes tonight are a very poptastic selection - from Whitney to Kylie, Tom Jones to Justin Timberlake, Adele to A-ha. There's also a couple of familiar theme tunes for good measure. Just five minutes until curtain up...

6:02PM

Save the first dance for me

Among tonight's 15 dances, there are four cha-chas, three waltzes, two jives and two sambas. Lots of couples we can directly compare. Fifteen minutes until that ba-ba-da theme tune...

5:55PM

No elimination this time

The 15 pro-celebrity couples make their dancefloor debuts tonight but don't need to worry about going home just yet. The judges will mark the dances as usual but there's no public vote. Instead, their scores will be carried over to next weekend. Twenty minutes until the first live showtime of 2018...

5:49PM

Quest for glitterball glory starts here

It’s been two long, sequin-free weeks since our pro-celebrity pairings were unveiled in the Strictly 2018 launch show. Two weeks during which they’ve disappeared to the training rooms to bond, bicker, banter and learn their basic steps - plus, in the celebs’ cases, discover the joys of aching muscles and sore feet. Now it’s time to find out if they can dance.

This year's first live show, airing at 6.15pm on BBC One, is a 140-minute marathon which will see all 15 couples perform for the judges for the first time. There’s no public vote and nobody goes home this time, so couples can dance without worrying about their fate. 

Will joint bookies’ favourites Vick Hope and Ashley Roberts display some early glitterball form? Will Danny John-Jules go full feline for his Top Cat foxtrot? Whose will stand out among the night’s four cha-chas and four waltzes? Who will win the hip-shaking battle of the sambas between Susannah Constantine and Graeme Swann? And which unlucky hoofer will be first to feel the full force of judge Craig Revel Horwood’s acid tongue?

It promises to be an epic show, so please watch along with us. We'll be liveblogging from 5.45pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, recaps, analysis and gratuitous bitchy asides. And join in too - you can email me on michael.hogan@ telegraph.co.uk, tweet me on @michaelhogan or leave comments at the bottom of this blog. I'll keep an eye on them all and report the highlights here. 

It promises to be a feast of fluffed steps, first-night nerves and, hopefully, true twinkle-toed potential. Time to staaaaaaaart 2018 dancing!