Strictly Come Dancing Blackpool: Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal open the show

Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens on Saturday evening for it’s ninth live show, as the show returned to Blackpool Tower for the first time in three years for the programme’s iconic annual trip to the coastal town.

The show opened with a performance from the show’s professional dancers, as they were surrounded by neon signs which read: Blackpool is Back’ – before judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke took to the stage to join in on the dance. 

Fleur East stole the show with her penultimate performance, which saw Craig award his first ‘ten’ of the season – meaning a full 40 out of 40 points for the singer as the other judges followed suit.

While Tyler West and Dianne Buswell made a comeback as they landed in the middle of the leaderboard with 35 points, after finding themselves in the dance-off last week against Tony Adams, who pulled out of the competition due to injury and saved the radio DJ.

Before taking to the stage, Fleur spoke emotionally on her late father, sharing that he would have ‘burst with pride’ if he was here to see it, adding: ‘Everything I’m doing here, I’m doing for him.’

The X Factor star went on to share that her mum and sister would be in Blackpool to support her, after she and partner Vito Coppola topped the leaderboard last week with 39 out of 40 points.

The pair took to the stage in sequin ensembles their Couples Choice performance to Destiny’s Child, which allows the celebrity to perform a dance style of their choice once during the series.

Jumping into Vito’s arms and wrapping her legs around the pro following the performance, Fleur was emotional following the routine – with Motsi and Shirley offering a standing ovation.

Craig simply kicked off the comments with: ‘One word, three syllable’s beginning with ‘F’, Fabulous!.’

While Shirley agreed: ‘It was an iconic routine that will go down in history, you were absolutely phenomenal.’

The performance saw Craig give his first ‘ten’ of the season, meaning a full house for the pair as they recieved 40 out of 40 points from the judges, kicking Helen Skelton, who scored 39 points earlier in the show, from the top spot.

And as they learnt their scores, Vito scooped Fleur over his shoulders into a firemans lift as they were overwhelmed with joy – before the camera panned to Fleur’s mother, who was tearing up.

 

 

Earlier in the show, Hamza Yassin was the first to perform at the iconic ballroom with his partner Jowita Przystal, as the pair took on an American Smooth to Frank Sinatra’s iconic 1979 hit New York, New York.

And it was an impressive start for the pair, as Shirley dubbed the wildlife photographer the ‘one to beat’ as he stepped out in a tailcoat and bowtie ensemble.

‘Hamza, you shone brighter than all the baubles and beads and bangles in the world. You give Blackpool such respect, your footwork, you have dedicated yourself to tiny details. Even though it’s Blackpool, you’re as cool as a cucumber. You’re the one to beat for me,’ said the head judge.

While Anton was ready to jump on stage with them, as he said: ‘People ask if I miss the dancing, that’s the dance that I would’ve wanted to have done. Welcome to Blackpool everyone, outstanding.’

And while Craig typically had some critical feedback, he did dub it ‘spectacular’, sharing: ‘I wasn’t fond of your solo jazz section, but the timing, the footwork and the moves was absolutely spectacular.’

‘It doesn’t matter what they throw at you, you perform with excellence, It shows that you are in complete control fo yourseld, your partner and this ballroom,’ echoed Motsi.

And after Hamza described the performance as ‘an absolute honour’, he managed to bag a score of 38 as both Craig and Motsi awarded nine points, while Shirley and Anton gave ten.

Molly Rainford and partner Carlos Gu were next to the dancefloor with a Jive to American Bandstand (Bandstand Boogie), as Claudia said they ‘nailed it’.

Anton was quick to agree: ‘Absolutely tremendous. It’s clean, it’s perfectly timed. Keep going like that, great dance – well done.’

‘It needs to be a little bit lighter, obviously you’re dancing next to a professional. But what I love about you is that you absolutely sell the dance,’ said Craig.

Motsi and Shirley also had positive comments for the pair, with the latter sharing: ‘I hope that we all appreciate just how well done that jive was.’

Backstage after the dance, Molly told Tess: ‘We go to Elstree every week and it feels like a TV show, but here it just feels like we’re meant to dance,’ said the star, who is the youngest contestant in the competition, while partner Carlos dubbed the performance a highlight of my life’.

Craig awarded Molly an 8, while she bagged nine points from each of the other judges – putting her behind Hamza with 35 points.

Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima then took on a Paso Doble to a cover of Rihanna’s We Found Love, with the soap star stunning in a bright purple gown as the stage was filled with confetti falling down.

The dance saw the actress have a solo moment at the top of a set of stairs, after dancing with multiple male dancers on the stage in addition to Graziano.

Craig kicked off the comments with some critique, telliong Kym :’I thought you could’ve stepped it up more, your right shoulder keeps popping out a little bit. But the way you danced from man to man to man, I really loved it, well done.’

While Motsi said: ‘When you were alone you were so powerful, you brought power, you brought light. There’s a transformation that’s happening.’

‘I felt like you were in warrior mode. But when you’re in frame, everything should be behind the arms. Going forward, keep working on your posture,’ suggested Shirley.

Agreeing with her was Anton, who told the star: ‘I love your dancing because it’s so dynamic and you set such a good dynamic and keep it through the dance. The ladies are absolutely right and it comes from tension, so work on tension because you are brilliant.’

The pair scored eight from Craig, Motsi and Shirley – bagging a nine from Anton as they ended with a score of 33, with Graziano saying he was on ‘cloud nine’ following the dance.

As usual, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman put on a glamorous display, with Claudia donning a feather bust jumpsuit while co-presenter Tess opted for a bright green, fitted dress.

Tyler West and Dianne Buswell were next to take to the dancefloor with a salsa to KC and The Sunshine Band’s That’s the Way (I Like It), with the radio presenter sporting a motown style ensemble and afro wig for the performance.

Motsi described the dance, which featured a slew of big lifts, as ‘beautiful and excellent’.

While Shirley was quick to applaud the difficult lifts, jesting for the oublic not to try them at home. The head judge added a tip for the radio DJ as she explained: ‘Keeping working on those transitions, because you are a star’.

But despite the other judges praising his movement, Craig said he wanted to see ‘more movements in the hip’, to the diagreement of his fellow panel.

With an eight from Craig and a nine from the other judges, Tyler bagged 35 points out of 40 – putting him on par with fellow contestant Molly.

Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe were next up with an American Smooth to Cilla Black’s You’re My World, looking ultra elegant in a cream dress with diamanté detailing.

The romantic dance ended with Ellie lookup over the stage from above in a moving ring, before being lowered back down to hear comments from the judges.

Both Motsi and Shirley agreed that the comedian needed to put some more emotion into her performances, with the latter explaining: ‘I would like to see just a little bit more heart. So what you do is you place everything and it’s beautifully placed, but I want to see more soul.’

Anton described her as ‘the belle of the ball’, but advised the star to adjust her head position while dancing, before Craig said her arms were ‘barbie doll like and needed more movement.’

Ellie failed to top the so far running lead, scoring a seven from Craig and an eight from the other judges, resulting in 31 out of 40 points.

Helen Skelton was over the moon to be in Blackpool, sharing that she often takes her children to the seaside town, which brings ‘amazing childhood memories’.

Taking to the stage to dance a quickstep to Amy Winehouse’s Valerie with partner Gorka Marquez, she looked sensational in a tartan puffed-out gown.

And bagging a standing ovation from both the audience and judges Motsi and Shirley, with Anton saying: ‘That is why we come to Blackpool, for that reaction.’

But as Craig gave some critique, Shirley got out of her seat to dispute the comments, with her judge saying ‘Shirley sit down’, as she replied: ‘Not at all’.

Craig brought his comments back with a positive spit as he dubbed Helen’s footwork as ‘perfect’, while Shirley admitted that she was left ‘speechless’ by the performance.

Talkng backstage, her partner Gorka kept rubbing his eyes as Helen jested: ‘It’s not that emotional’, while the pro replied: ‘No, it’s sweat’.

And the quickstep catapulted the Countryfile presenter to second on the leaderboard with 39 out of 40 points, bagging a ten from every judge except Craig, who gave a nine.

Will Mellor and Nancy Xu closed the show by performing a Samba, with Anton describing the dance as ‘hypnotic’ and ‘brilliant’.

The actor donned an electric blue shirt and bright pink trousers for the energetic samba, which is a notoriously difficult routine.

And Craig made a dig at Tyler in his comments, telling Will: ‘I’m still reeling from that hip action, I think you need to go backstage and teach Tyler a thing or two.’

Scoring an eight from Craig and a nine from each of the other judges, Will joined Molly and Tyler with 45 out of 40 points.