Back with a bang!

Spoiler: Strictly is back, with bells on. The opening show brought us some great numbers, surprises and partnerships that show we're in for pretty exciting series this year.

Since it's the start of the series, we also had to have a theatrical group number, but I didn't connect with this one too much. These were the literal notes I took: 'Gorka being whimsical near a bench. Karen flying. Something with a bike', so I hope that's enough to jog your memory. We also had Tess in a rather nice red number and Claudia in Colonel Sanders' pyjamas, so business as usual. Now, let's get down to that amazing collection of dances!

 

Tom and Amy

I think the variable that whoever dances first gets to the final is going to stick, Tom's been a favourite to win since he was announced! He must have been nervous though, because he didn't remember to smile until halfway through, he looked quite pensive until the Cuban breaks. It was a good start, a bit tentative and scrappy in places but clear rhythm and he obviously knows how to perform. Plus it looked like an actual cha cha, so that's a good start to things. 

Tilly and Nikita

We always knew Tom would be vaguely competent, but Tilly (and Nikita) was an unknown quantity. This was better than I was expecting actually, nicely graceful and good in hold. As ever, I could have done with more hold, but there were attempts at rise and fall too. Certainly passable for week 1 and will definitely help build some confidence going into the next show, it'll be interesting to see where they take it next. 

Ugo and Oti

Can Oti do the treble? She didn't make it easy with a week 1 samba, plus props and the health and safety nightmare that is fire. It was fun, but lacked any real polish - but I'm probably being a bit harsh for week 1 there. Ugo did at least give good shimmy! Samba school with Oti was also fun, I don't think I've heard volta said so many times on the show! 

Rhys and Nancy

Another new pro on the floor, can't wait to see what Nancy has in store for us over the series. I was a bit worried the ever-bouncing-oodles-of-energy Rhys got the VW for his first dance, but this was my favourite dance so far. The outfits, the song, the routine all came together as one lovely piece. I can see why Nancy broke the hold a few times, but the stuff in hold was good and the transitions between the two were pretty impressive. Bring on next week!

Sara and Aljaz

Our first job-themed number of the series, they've thankfully reined those in recently, but it was actually really fun and added some cha cha cheekiness. Sara and Aljaz's partnership is clearly going to be their strength, so I think she's going to be great at ballroom stuff in hold. Like the judges said, she was a bit reserved, but there are clearly vast reserves of camp waiting in the wings!

Dan and Nadiya

This surprised me too! I was expecting Dan to be dad-dancer supremo, but that was neutralised by the quickstep. I was worried that his massive long legs would get in a tangle like a whisk in a kitchen drawer, but he actually managed to execute some pretty frantic footwork. Minimal gapping too and jumping over furniture like he does this every week. Maybe a tad overmarked and we still have party latin looming over us, but it appears he's not without talent and willing to work very hard. 

Rose and Giovanni

Loving Rose's unicorn car wash dress, a Strictly classic right there. A jive is hard week 1, but I do wonder if she found the strong rhythm of it helpful, even if she did admit she didn't like the dance that much. This was perky and just what you want to see from an early jive, plus I liked the 60s shimmy bits Giovanni put in there. Also, a jive is mostly about the feet, but Rose looks like she's got some pretty good arms too.

Katie and Gorka

I didn't think Katie would get something as dramatic as a tango as early on as this, but hurrah that she did because she was properly smouldering in this number. Longstanding readers of this blog will also know that I have hated about 90% of tango song choices in recent years, but this was a great choice and allowed them to actually have some intensity. She did seem a bit nervous at the start, but got into it and became sharper and neater in her footwork as it went on. Another one to watch! 

Robert and Dianne

I take my spangly hat off to Dianne for putting together the perfect routine for Rob. It was camp and gave him something to have fun with, but also stopped any attempted to go full comedy. Plus basing it on an actual dancing competition was rather meta but made it look like an actual cha cha! It was a bit rough around the edges, but Rob's got the tools he needs to learn, so hopefully he'll get some weeks to work on it.

 

Greg and Karen

Greg has felt like the most fish-out-of-water person so far, but giving him an old-Hollywood number plus top hat and tails was a nice turn. It was probably more style than substance, but it's only week 1 and you might as well go with a crowd-pleaser. I think he's going to need to work on his posture, plus we've not had any exposure to hips or rhythm next, but I'm very interested in what's to come. 

Nina and Neil

A week 1 samba should be terrifying, but Nina really attacked that number. As with a lot of people, it was fairly rough around the edges, she needs to work on her transitions for example, but there was bounce and a dirty samba roll and that's what we're all after. I love to see someone being really fearless on the dancefloor this early on, do we have a dark horse here? 

John/Dante and Johannes

We all knew this was going to be good, but the two of them really rose to the occasion with an amazing routine performed with so much power. You could see how much work had gone into it over the past couple of weeks, Johannes really didn't skimp on the choreography. The only thing that I didn't like was the matte black suits, too dark and made it hard to distinguish them at times, they could have done with some blue sparkles! But who really cares, I can't wait for next week!

Judi and Graziano

These two are a wonderful pair together, the party latin is going to be a real treat from them. Also props to Judi for looking like an absolute movie star. I don't want to sound like a kiljoy, but it didn't feel like ballroom, it felt like a Couple's Choice musical theatre routine. I know it's week 1, but I could have done with more content. Hopefully there's more to come...

AJ and Kai

I'd been really looking forward to this one, and not just to see what shade of spangletastic AJ's frock would be, but this blew me away! The speed at which she did that early kick section and kept pace throughout the dance, all while selling it for all it was worth. There was even an incredibly sassy chicken walk. Was Kai there? I barely noticed, but that's probably a sign of him doing a great job. More please!

Adam and Peaty

There was so much pressure and expectation on Adam as probably the most high-profile signing, but it didn't seem to phase him at all. Those hips! The legacy of Kelvin Fletcher lives on. Katya was clearly able to drill him during training and it certainly paid off, it wasn't perfect, but it was much more fluid and technically accomplished than I think we were expecting. Also, shout-out to Katya's bondage gear and manga ponytail, may she bring us all the weird and wonderful stuff once again this year.