Kym Marsh looked ready to go and get stuck into another week of training as she left Morning Live on Monday (September 26). The former Coronation Street was spotted with her Strictly Come Dancing partner Graziano Di Prima after they appeared on the BBC One show which Kym co-hosts.
It comes days after Kym brightened up the Strictly dancefloor as she and Graziano opened the hit dance contest's 20th series on Saturday night. During Friday's launch show Kym, who played Michelle Connor in Corrie for 14 years, was excited to find out that she had been paired with the Italian dancer after getting to known each other through 'Strictly Fitness' on Morning Live.
And the pair appear to have already hit it off with the VT before their dance debut showed Kym introducing the pro dancer to her family, including her proud parents, over an Italian meal. Kym and Graziano then performed the jive to Yes by Merry Clayton from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.
READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing suffers blow in week one as fans spot issue with show's new system
The praise came pouring in for the first dance of the 2022 series, with head judge Shirley Ballas saying: "You did remarkably well." But Craig Revel Horwood wasn't as impressed. "It was all a bit sluggish," he complained while fellow judge Motsi Mabuse admitted to seeing the potential and advised: "Fake it until you make it and then sell it."
The pair received a total score of 23, but Craig was the lowest scorer, only giving them a four. And their were groans from Strictly viewers who felt that it was 'unfair' and quickly hit social media to vent over the decision for Kym to do a Jive in the first week.
@RyanGSoapKing11 tweeted: "I enjoyed that Jive it's a difficult dance for Week 1 Kym did well. #Strictly." @ChristineCarr added: "Unfair to give a jive in Wk1 but, although that was tentative and slower than we’d like, Kym presented it well and was cleaner than usual Wk1 #Strictly."
Appearing on Monday's BBC Morning Live, Kym and Graziano reflected on Craig's harsh response. "I mean obviously it's disappointing isn't it because we did work very hard," Kym, 46, said. "But you've gotta take it on the chin and accept the comment and just kind of move forward with it, so we have taken onboard what he said."
Graziano then added: "Obviously we're gonna take it onboard and work harder, but listen, she's a diamond. I know what she can do, she's been working so hard and you know we're gonna do our best again. I think she was brilliant, I think she was genuinely brilliant. And to open Strictly 2022.... trust me, I'm a professional dancer, I was shaking. So she was perfect, she was dancing by herself, I couldn't be more proud of that."
And after their telly appearance, it was time to get to work. Kym, who amazed viewers by revealing she was a grandmother of two, was spotted heading to rehearsal, swapping out of her TV outfit and jumping into some comfy black leggings and an oversized jumper.
The former Hear'Say singer looked glamourous, still wearing her smokey eye makeup with her short blonde locks styled into curls. Graziano also cut a more casual figure, slipping into his black trackie bottoms with a black hooded jumper which he wore under a leather jacket.
The pair posed for photographs after ditching their suitcases and clothing bags before meeting waiting fans and signing autographs. The new dance partners also made a pit stop, popping into M&S to get some snacks to keep them going as they prepare for the second week in the competition which will see someone leave.
This year’s Strictly launch show was due to air on Saturday September 17 but was postponed to Friday due to schedule changes ahead of the Queen’s funeral. Instead the BBC showed the launch just a day before the first live show. Saturday's opening show then saw actor Will Mellor and wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin place joint top of the leaderboard, both achieving an impressive score of 34 in week one.
Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps star Will performed an electric jive to Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin with his partner Nancy Xu which impressed judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas so much that they gave him a standing ovation. Hamza and his partner Jowita Przystal also dazzled with their joyful foxtrot to Islands In The Stream by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers to secure their top mark.
READ NEXT:
- BBC Strictly's Helen Skelton praises 'families' as she gushes over Gorka Marquez after ex's social media post
- BBC Strictly's Kaye Adams in 'sexist' row as fans blast judges for scoring Loose Women panellist higher than co-stars
- BBC Strictly fans 'worried' about Craig as judge makes his first appearance in this series
- Will Mellor reminds fans of former BBC Strictly champ as he tops leaderboard in first week
- BBC Strictly fans clap back over Anton's 'rude' comment to Matt Goss as Craig steps in to defend Bros star
