Strictly Come Dancing 2023 week two results, live
Les Dennis Eliminated In Early Shocker On Strictly 2023 Premiere
The person who was presenting the show ended up with the lowest score on the scoreboard of the judges, and the audience did not show support towards saving him.
Les Dennis received an unexpected send-off during the first results show of the 2023 series. While he may not have been as skilled as Fred Astaire, his fame made him a familiar face in this year's Strictly cast. Despite his lack of expertise, he was entertaining to watch and it was believed that he would remain in the competition for a significant amount of time based on the votes.
However, things did not go as expected. Dennis and Nikita Kanda, who were doing well on the leaderboard, ended up in the dance-off and unfortunately Dennis was the one who was eliminated. It's possible that Kanda might also face the same fate next week.
Les Dennis Takes On Pirate Challenge
At the start of his samba, Dennis held onto a large anchor hanging from the ceiling. However, his performance was not good and he only received a score of 15 points. This was even worse than the score he got for his slow tango in the first week. During the dance-off, he did the same samba again, but it wasn't any better. This made everyone think that it would be better for him to leave the show.
Dennis delivered an emotional goodbye speech expressing his appreciation for his dance partner Nancy Xu and his fellow castmates, whom he refers to as "that lot up there." He expressed understanding and gratitude towards the judges, giving special thanks to head judge Shirley Ballas for awarding him a score of 10 for his entertainment value. Dennis expressed the hope that he had entertained the audience during his time on the show, which was his main goal.
Xu expressed her disappointment in the short duration of her participation, but acknowledged the journey had been filled with many obstacles. During her interview with Tess Daly, she commended Dennis for his continuous growth and thanked the judges and her friends for their unwavering support. Despite the quick exit, Xu viewed her time on the show as a valuable experience.
Unanimous Judging Verdict
Later on in the series, it's likely we'll witness some controversial and conflicting rulings from the judges. However, this particular verdict was not difficult to make. Nikita Kanda's Charleston to Beyoncé's Single Ladies wasn't particularly impressive, but she did display an improvement in her self-assurance. Additionally, her score on Saturday was higher than Dennis's. While her dance-off performance was decent, it's uncertain how long she can avoid elimination.
Craig Revel Horwood stated that he favored the duo who "performed exceptionally well on that specific evening and showed significant improvement", and that duo was Kanda and her dance partner Gorka Marquez. Motsi Mabuse shared similar sentiments and opined that both pairs displayed better dancing skills during the face-off but one couple was "significantly superior".
Anton Du Beke agreed that Kanda and Marquez had performed exceptionally well. Since most people voted in favor of them, head judge Shirley Ballas didn't have to step in. She did mention though, that she would have also voted for them, if needed.
"Is The Series Fiercely Competitive?"
The voters of Strictly Come Dancing usually enjoy watching the funny performances for a while before getting serious and backing the celebrities who are either the most skillful or have shown improvement. Dennis should have expected that time frame, and I'm surprised that he didn't.
Nonetheless, the current set of participants boasts an impressive group of familiar faces with remarkable dancing abilities. It seems probable that voters are becoming more calculated in their decisions to ensure the strongest performers remain in competition. It would truly be a regrettable outcome to eliminate not only the clear favorites but also those who could potentially rise to the top with more opportunities.
Dennis may have felt unnecessary because there are many other sources of amusement available. In Week 1, Krishnan Guru-Murthy's performance of "Boom Shack-A-Lak" was undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments. Not only was it amusing, but he also gave it his all when he danced. It's fascinating to see a news anchor in this role, while Dennis is already a comedian by profession.
Furthermore, the comedic pairing of Eddie Kadi and Karen Hauer appears to have a strong desire to become the highlight of this year's show. In addition, there are numerous individuals with unique and captivating backgrounds showcased, such as Bobby Brazier, Layton Williams, Angela Rippon, and Ellie Leach. If Dennis believed he could just charm his way through the competition without putting in the necessary effort, he made a grave error.
Samba's Curse Endures
Dennis had every reason to be wary when he pulled the samba card. This dance is infamous for its difficulty due to its various rhythms, intricate steps, and taxing physical nature (it's quick and, unlike other Latin dances, it moves around the dance floor). Furthermore, the odds tend to be against those who choose to perform this challenging routine.
Over the last five years, a significant portion, specifically about 20%, of contestants who have been eliminated on Strictly Come Dancing were unable to perfect the samba dance. This African-inspired dance has caused 11 pairs of contestants to fall short of reaching the show's finals. In the previous year, Richie Anderson had to leave the reality show after struggling with the performance of the samba, albeit overshadowed by his Lion King costume. Meanwhile, the current season has seen the elimination of three members: Greg Wise, Tilly Ramsay, and Rhys Stephenson, who all failed to keep up with the complexity of the samba dance.
The members of our team honored the memory of the late Tina Turner by performing a dance together. They were joined by three talented guest vocalists: Beverley Knight, Laura Mvula, and Fleur East who was previously a competitor on Strictly and now presents It Takes Two. The performance was filled with glittery jumpsuits, voluminous hair, and an incredibly fun medley that included a high-energy section of the jive dance to the song Proud Mary. It was a fantastic way to kick off the results show which had everyone on edge.
At the event, we were treated to a musical performance by Jorja Smith, who has been nominated for a Grammy award. She sang her song called "Try Me". Our music specialist Neil McCormick describes Jorja as the face of the revival of jazz music. Her alluring and rhythmic performance was noteworthy, but the spotlight was later stolen by Carlos Gu and Nancy Xu's dynamic Latin dance routine. Their movements included elements of samba, rumba, and intense facial expressions.
Ready For Popcorn?
During Week 3, we'll be having our typical themed shows, starting with Movie Week. Can we expect a dance performance that tells the story of the intricate details of the Hollywood strike? It would be wonderful to see, but only time will tell.
We actually have prior knowledge about the upcoming dance performances. Eddie Kadi has chosen Men in Black as his dance theme, and Angela Rippon will be performing The Sound of Music which is really exciting. On the other hand, Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk are going to dance as the Mario Brothers, which doesn't sound too appealing to me.
Come back and dance with us again later! For now, keep grooving!
