Strictly returned for its twentieth collection on Saturday because it shrugged off the bullying scandal with Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk kicking off the present.
The BBC dancing present has been by way of a tricky 12 months after quite a few earlier contestants alleged abuse by skilled dancers.
However for its first reside present of the season, the sequins had been again and the group had been enthusiastic for Nick and Luba’s builder-themed opener.
Surprisingly, one star noticed within the viewers was Zara McDermott – who was on the coronary heart of the scandal when footage emerged of Graziano Di Prima ‘kicking her’ in rehearsals – as she turned up for the present to help her pal Pete Wicks.
Nick stayed to his roots for his Jive to We Constructed This Metropolis sporting a glittery orange reflective vest – earlier than ending it with a disco ball-esque builders laborious hat.
Strictly returned for its twentieth collection on Saturday because it shrugged off the bullying scandal with Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk kicking off the present
Surprisingly, one star noticed within the viewers was Zara McDermott – who was on the coronary heart of the scandal when footage emerged of Graziano Di Prima ‘kicking her’ in rehearsals – as she turned up for the present to help her pal Pete Wicks
‘You are as delighted as I’m that that got here off the best way it did, aren’t you?’ Anton stated to Nick after the dance ended.
Nonetheless Craig obtained boos as he referred to as the efficiency ‘pigeon-toed, stiff and flat footed’.
For his debut efficiency, Nick obtained a 3 from Craig, and fives from Motse, Shirley and Anton.
Nick was left purple confronted because the solid sang him Completely happy Birthday and offered him with a cake – earlier than skilled dancer Carlos smooshed the cake in his face.
The DIY SOS star shared his worries about performing reside however insisted he hopes he does higher than folks anticipate.
‘That is simple,’ Luba replied as she reassured her accomplice. Nick stated: ‘Nicely then I will be very joyful.’
Subsequent up was hockey participant Sam Quek along with her accomplice Nikita Kuzmin because the pair took on the foxtrot.
Sam suffered a slight mishap as she misplaced her stability however whereas Craig referred to as the efficiency ‘a bit lumpy’ he shared his pleasure for what’s to come back. The pair obtained three sixes and a 5 from Anton.
‘I feel there’s so much to sit up for,’ Craig added.
As ever, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman had been available to welcome, congratulate and console the newest batch of nervous dancers as they stepped onto the ground to not solely impress the judges
Nick stayed to his roots for his Jive to We Constructed This Metropolis sporting a glittery orange reflective vest – earlier than ending it with a disco ball-esque builders laborious hat
‘You are as delighted as I’m that that got here off the best way it did, aren’t you?’ Anton stated to Nick after the dance ended
Nick was left purple confronted because the solid sang him Completely happy Birthday and offered him with a cake – earlier than skilled dancer Carlos smooshed the cake in his face
Subsequent up was hockey participant Sam Quek along with her accomplice Nikita Kuzmin because the pair took on the foxtrot
Sam suffered a slight mishap as she misplaced her stability however whereas Craig referred to as the efficiency ‘a bit lumpy’ he shared his pleasure for what’s to come back. The pair obtained three sixes and a 5 from Anton
The present opened with a scorching efficiency by the professionals, together with Jowita and Vito
Shane Ward and Nancy Xu had been subsequent to take to the ground with their Samba to Do I Do by Stevie Surprise.
‘Some beautiful chemistry moments,’ Shirley stated after their dance – following Shane’s admission that he and Nancy clicked immediately.
All fifteen celebrities and their pro partners will take to the dancefloor for the primary reside present following final weekend’s dazzling launch, the place the pairings had been first revealed.
However whereas the launch present was pre-recorded, this week, there was no room for errors as each step, spin and sashay was carefully scrutinised by judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.
As ever, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman had been available to welcome, congratulate and console the newest batch of nervous dancers as they stepped onto the ground to not solely impress the judges, however the viewers at house.
Viewers had been in for a deal with as the primary reside present kicked off, with a variety of dances together with Cha Chas, Viennese Waltz’s, Sambas and even a Paso Doble lined up for his or her viewing pleasure.
It is a massive 12 months for Strictly because it celebrates it is twentieth 12 months, whereas professional dancer Amy Dowden made her much-awaited return to the present following her heartbreaking cancer battle.
Nonetheless, the optimistic information has been tainted by a 12 months of controversy because the BBC present was embroiled in various scandals.
All of it started final October when actress Amanda Abbington unexpectedly give up the present earlier than claiming that her accomplice Giovanni Pernice was abusive in the direction of her.
The Sherlock actress has made a collection of accusations about Giovanni’s educating strategies and has described his behaviour as ‘pointless, abusive, merciless and imply’. He strongly denies the entire claims.
Giovanni, 33, was suspended whereas a BBC probe is underway over allegations made by Amanda and two different former superstar companions.
All fifteen celebrities and their professional companions will take to the dancefloor for the primary reside present following final weekend’s dazzling launch, the place the pairings had been first revealed
He has vehemently denied the claims.
With the report into his misconduct due any day now, Amanda has reportedly been left deeply upset with the BBC bosses over fears they’re ‘defending’ the dancer amid the bullying probe.
There have been high-level conferences amongst BBC bosses as they navigate how you can ship their findings as they concern the looming risk of authorized motion from both Amanda or Giovanni if both is upset by the result.
After Giovanni, the present was hit with a contemporary wave of scandal when Graziano Di Prima was sacked in July for ‘kicking’ his accomplice Love Island star Zara McDermott.
Zara defined that she did not report the incidents on the time as she was ‘scared’ of backlash.
Instead it was junior manufacturing employees who got here ahead to share what they’d witnessed because the investigation into professional dancer Giovanni was happening.
Zara instructed her followers that whereas a lot of her time on Strictly ‘was every little thing I may have dreamt of’ contained in the coaching room with Graziano there have been ‘specific incidents that are extremely distressing’.
Over the summer season Strictly has struggled to remain out the headlines as increasingly more alumni of the present have come ahead to share their tales.
However whereas the launch present was pre-recorded, this week, there was no room for errors as each step, spin and sashay was carefully scrutinised by judges Shirley Ballas , Craig Revel Horwood , Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke
Steve Backshall complained to the BBC about his skilled accomplice on Strictly Come Dancing Ola Jordan again in 2014 claiming she ‘bullied’ him.
In the meantime Ola’s husband James was left livid when he hit again after unearthed footage emerged of him telling his accomplice Georgina Bouzova he would ‘drag her throughout the ground and scream at her’ if she forgot her strikes.
The ballroom dancer and choreographer, 46, slammed the BBC after the clip started doing the rounds once more following the latest Giovanni and Graziano scandals – saying many of the footage ‘was not associated to Georgina in any respect’.
Skilled dancer Nadiya Bychkova additionally met with BBC bosses to complain concerning the present in July.
Amid the powerful 12 months for the present, hosts Tess and Claudia failed to mention the scandals as they welcomed viewers to final week’s launch present.