Strictly Come Dancing, Movie Week review: Ranvir Singh tops scoreboard on a night of surprises
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Lights, camera, ballroom action! That’s right, film fans, Strictly 2020’s third live show was the annual celluloid spectacular that is Movie Week.
The surviving 11 pro-celebrity couples performed routines inspired by Hollywood hits. Who produced an Oscar-winner and who proved a box office flop? Here are all the popcorn-crunching talking points…
Ranvir Singh foxtrotted to highest score of series
Hands up if you predicted that Ranvir Singh would top the Movie Week leaderboard? Hands down if you’re fibbing. Yet looking suitably starry in a blue sparkly Sixties-style frock, the ITV newsreader stole the cinematic show.
Her Dreamgirls foxtrot was one of the night’s more subtly themed numbers but all the better for it. Classily choreographed by pro partner Giovanni Pernice, it had swing, sway and understated style. Ranvir’s frame was beautiful and the couple had lovely chemistry, keeping close body connection through the changes of pace.
“Breathtaking quality,” cooed head judge Shirley Ballas. Fellow panellist Craig Revel Horwood simply added: “Fab-ew-lous.” A clean sweep of nines gave Ranvir a total of 27 points, the highest score of the series so far.
All the more impressive when you consider that she gets up at 3am each day for Good Morning Britain and lost a full day’s training this week due to a busy news schedule. Giovanni is a terrific teacher who has reached three finals in his five years on the show. Can he make it four from six?
"The name’s Dancing… Strictly Come Dancing"
Like a short film before the main feature attraction, the show was opened by a thrilling James Bond-inspired performance from the professional troupe. Not one, not two, but three of the male pros got to live out their 007 fantasies with Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez and Aljaž Škorjanec all playing the part. Poor old Anton Du Beke must have been gutted.
The epic, action-packed number featured nods to the entire film franchise. There were swimming trunks and tuxedos, trains and motorcycles, fight scenes and casinos, Bond girls and baddies, jet packs and Union Jack parachutes. It doubtless left viewers shaken and not a little stirred.
The dance was pre-recorded in September, before actor Sean Connery’s recent death, but made for a fitting tribute to the greatest Bond of all. And with the next film in the franchise, No Time To Die, having its release pushed back until spring 2021, this routine and a burst of Billie Eilish’s theme song might just have helped tide fans over. Ah, Mr Du Beke. We’ve been expecting you…
Judges did traditional week three crackdown
They’ve given the celebrities a fortnight’s grace. The third live show is usually when the judging panel start getting more technical with their critiques. So it proved - well, for some of the field at least.
HRVY, Nicola Adams and Jason Bell all registered their lowest scores yet. Even the contest’s early pace-setter Maisie Smith’s footwork was picked apart.
Well, we are now one-third of the way through this truncated contest. The glitterball costs and right here is where you start paying. In sweat. And also sequins.
Lack of studio audience didn’t dampen atmosphere
As a result of tightened lockdown restrictions, no studio audience was allowed into the Elstree ballroom for the first time this series. Thankfully, it didn’t drain the show of atmosphere, since the celebrities and professionals made up for the lack of punters with plenty of whooping, cheering and vocal support for their castmates.
Besides, for the past two weeks, there has only been a small, socially-distanced audience, all wearing face masks, meaning their reactions were a little muted. The change wasn’t noticeable for viewers at home.
It was just a shame for the couples, presenters and judges. Dancers couldn’t feed off the mass crowd reaction as much during routines. Claudia Winkleman’s gags got fewer laughs (or groans). Even panto villain Craig Revel Horwood’s critiques weren’t booed quite so resoundingly. Still, Strictly without a studio audience is far better than no Strictly at all.
Theming overload was forgiven amid filmic fun
Having been forced to snuff out the jack-o-lanterns of the traditional Halloween spooktacular this year, the Strictly production team instead pulled out all the stops for this themed Movie Week show.
The dressing-up box was raided. Wig and make-up departments worked overtime. There were all manner of props and a proliferation of filmic trimmings: from the pre-credits drive-in skit to John Cleese reading out the voting Ts&Cs, from Craig Revel Horwood’s Darth Vader impression to those “Votes are open” clapperboards.
With a reduced crew, social distancing measures in place behind-the-scenes and augmented reality replacing much of the set dressing, it was impressive just how much they managed to pull off.
Yes, it was thoroughly cheesy. The theme was flogged a tad too much. Some of the combinations of theme and choreography didn’t quite work. But in this annus horribilis and with cinemas sadly closed again, it was the next best thing to a Saturday night at the actual movies. If you’d stocked up on popcorn and pick ’n’ mix in advance, we salute your prior planning.
Cowboy Bill Bailey closed show with a bang
Bearded comedian Bill Bailey has already delighted us with his gold-trousered cha-cha and Doctor Dolittle-themed quickstep. Now he wowed even more with a cowboy-booted paso doble that had viewers crying "Yee-hah!".
In a brilliantly moody routine masterminded by his pro partner Oti Mabuse and set to Ennio Morricone’s haunting theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, there was suspense and strength, focus and fire. Amid all the Spanish lines and matador stomping, Bailey even found time for a live guitar solo. Head judge Shirley Ballas told him he was “extraordinary and fantastic” . Wild Bill got two nines for 26 points, taking him to the dizzy heights of second on the leaderboard.
Funnyman Bailey began the series as 66/1 rank outsider but the joke’s on bookies and he’s now 7/2 third favourite for the glitterball trophy. As Craig Revel Horwood told him: “If you keep going like this, my darling, we’ll see you in the final.”
Jason Bell looks doomed but who’ll join him in dance-off?
American footballer Jason Bell has been hovering around the foot of the leaderboard for the past two weeks but now he was truly cut adrift. After a flat-footed Star Wars paso doble where the force wasn’t with him (but the fours were), Bell was left seven points behind the rest of the field.
On a night when Bell struggled, he was unfortunate that many others made vast improvements. Bell now looks a near-certainty for Sunday’s dreaded dance-off but it will be intriguing to see who joins him.
Olympic boxer Nicola Adams will be worried after finishing second bottom for her disappointing Greased Lightnin’ jive. So will Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo, whose Moulin Rouge tango needed finesse and a better frame. However, both women are full of potential and have far more to offer than Jason. If justice is done, “Cut!” will be called on his Strictly story.
D’oh! Male trio came on in leaps and bounds
A highly unpredictable show saw three of the previously struggling male celebrities make vast improvements and climb into their upper reaches of the leaderboard.
In joint third spot were former Royal Marine commando JJ Chalmers, whose Butch Cassidy foxtrot was gorgeously gentle with impressive footwork, and boyband alumnus Max George, whose Simpsons streetdance was one of the strangest moments of the night. Like a Charleston meets a bizarre piece of performance art, it was highly imaginative but divided viewers. Some hailed its originality and cartoonish character, whereas others thought it had no place on Strictly. Don’t have a cow, man.
The night’s other big mover was Made In Chelsea socialite and last week’s dance-off survivor Jamie Laing. His Hercules Charleston was the first of the series and brought the house down - not for its hoofing quality but for its comedy value. All terrible wigs and chaotic dismounts, it was hilariously shambolic. Craig Revel Horwood summed it up in six letters: “OMG. LOL.” Laing said afterwards that he couldn’t breathe. Neither could many viewers from sheer mirth. We weren’t entirely sure what it was but we liked it.
Pace-setting pair both suffered setbacks
So far this series, the ballroom babies have had it all their own way. YouTuber HRVY, 21, and teen EastEnders actress Maisie Smith have been swapping places at the top of the leaderboard, both looking like dead certs for the final.
They’ll probably still go all the way but tonight the fresh-faced pair took a dip. Maisie’s Frozen II-themed American smooth showcased her softer side but while her top half stunned, the judges found fault with her footwork and sternly advised her to work on it.
HRVY had an even tougher time with the tricky cha-cha, which lacked both content and basic steps. He wasn’t helped by pro partner Janette Manrara’s clunky choreography, which struggled to combine the Gnomeo & Juliet concept with the Cuban spirit of the dance.
HRVY promptly plummeted from the top two into the bottom half of the table. He’ll never want to see a garden gnome again. Who can blame him?
Who'll follow Jacqui Smith onto the sparkly scrapheap?
It could be tighter than a US election once viewer votes are counted. Although hopefully we won’t have to wait several days for the final figures, obsessively staring at map graphics and wondering where those sleepless CNN reporters get their stamina.
Who will become this year’s second celebrity to depart the dancefloor? And will they leave with more grace than certain other defeated figures with orange spray tans?
The results show airs at 7.25pm tonight, featuring a special Remembrance Day performance and a tribute to Dame Vera Lynn. Please join us back here for analysis, reaction and respectful poppy-wearing.
