Blackpool Breakthroughs

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside! Blackpool gave as spectacular an opening as ever, but with added kitsch and camp this year with feathers, glitter explosions, and...oh yes...the actual Gloria Estefan! Tess has even managed to find a nice dress for the evening and Ginger Neil got to dance at the front - its the place where miracles happen.

Stacey and Kevin
Not a proper salsa song, but a classic 90s banger to get the party started. Saying that, there was no salsa in this at all apart from a vague attempt at doing some armography. Thing was, it was infectious and Stacey is completely and utterly fearless. It would have been better if the judges had picked up on the lack of salsa, as it's their actual job, and the public will vote for them anyway. Not quite a classic Blackpool moment, but anything but boring.

This. Was. Not. Salsa.

No further comment.

Lauren and AJ
The AT is a difficult one for Blackpool in that massive space, remember when Kristina just used lighting to make her own tiny stage? Canny woman, that one, miss her. This showed off that Lauren is definitely more technically accomplished than she was a few weeks ago, although she's still pretty ungraceful getting in and out of lifts. She also can't sell a dance like Stacey yet. Perfectly fine, but not enough for Blackpool for me.

I really like Lauren, but this seemed like a series of movements and poses, as opposed to an actual dance. It was a move here, a step there, with nothing at all in the transitions. The result was a somewhat stilted performance, which is such a shame. 

Graeme and Oti
I have annoyed all my family and friends by constantly singing 'clang clang clang went the trolley!' to myself all week, so I was very much looking forward to this. I have to say, I wanted to like this more than I did, it just didn't feel like there was much to it. Yes, delivered with Graeme's customary joy and verve, and Oti gave good frock once again, but it wasn't more than the sum of its parts. I also wanted more tram action, of all things!

Good song. Forgettable dance. Honestly, I agree with Frankie, it didn't seem like there was much in it. It was a poor musical theatre performance without the singing. Pointless. Please let's not have Couple's Choice back next year. It's coming back isn't it? 

Faye and Giovanni
Faye, in peak paso outfit, and Giovanni with some sort of sheer number from Dorothy Perkins. This one is the first where I was overwhelmed by all the Blackpool extras - especially the extra dancers when I wanted to see the two of them dancing together. Faye executed it pretty well, but I think a simpler routine would have allowed her to focus on the technique and mood more. 

OK, this is more like it. I can't express how much I hate the extra dancers though. 

Kate and Aljaz
These two doing an American Smooth in Blackpool was definitely the perfect choice, and Everlasting Love is such a daft overblown number it worked. Also, Aljaz didn't get the memo about ramping up the danced to the nth degree and gave her something that looked like the actual dance. It didn't blow my socks off, but it was charming. Also, Kate suddenly came alive in the final section of the dance, maybe she was just happy about the lifts being over? 

I also like Kate, but it does seem like she's falling behind some of the rest of the pack now. 

Charles and Karen
I actually feel like the rollercoaster journey trope is actually appropriate for once, and this was Charles on the up once again. It looked like an actual samba and had palm trees and maracas, all we needed was feathers on Karen's bum, but you can't have everything. He stayed in time, had bounce, and made me smile - Blackpool mission accomplished, Charles!

This samba had more salsa in it than Stacey's salsa.

Joe and Dianne
The quickstep is your dream ballroom number of Blackpool, you can just fly through it, and how he did! The song, the outfits, the choreography, it all came together for a proper 'moment'. Great work Dianne in taking this random person, working hard with them, and delivering one of the best ballroom numbers of the series.

HERE WE GO! Joe is the kind of contestant I love: potential from the beginning and actually grows! This dance could have won him the competition. It was so beautifully Blackpool. Dance of the night.

Ashley and Pasha
We all knew Ashley would be able to do a good jive, but she came in and gave it with both barrels and a plate of chips to boot! This was full-on from start to finish, and being Ashley she could take the extra dancers in her stride, if anything Pasha was a wee bit sidelined. Highlights included the infamous toll booth move and the gasp-inducing whipping away of the tablecloths. This was clearly going to be the first 40 of the series, and well-deserved.

OK, this was excellent. Don't usually like a gimmick but I was like ooooh when they did a Bucks Fizz with the table cloths. I saw some little wobbles with those kicks and flicks on the table, but all in all, it was pretty much Halfpennyworthy.