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Strictly Come Dancing week two was eventful. Shayne Ward hit back at social media abuse, Chris McCausland made the best joke of the season, we had a Shania Twain number and Nick Knowles managed to dance after an injury meant he could only train for 16 hours.
In his VT ahead of performing, singer Ward said: “After the show on Saturday [of week one] I received some negative comments on social media saying I was over-confident. Some of them did get to me, when in truth I’m only human, I was scared, I was terrified. And I hid it behind as much smiling as possible.”
He was then shown hugging his partner Nancy Xu, before they performed their Tango to “The Door” by Teddy Swims. Head judge Shirley Ballas said: “I’ve seen the way the week’s gone for you and it hasn’t been pleasant in any way, shape or form.”
The first two weeks of the BBC competition had eased this year’s crop of stars into proceedings, with a launch show that saw the contestants partnered with their respective professional, and a first week of dances in which nobody was eliminated.
However, tonight, the judges’ scores from last week rolled over and will then be combined with the viewer vote, meaning two couples will have to take part in the dreaded dance-off during Sunday’s results show (29 September).
Catch up on the events of week two here...
Who is topping the ‘Strictly’ leaderboard?
While nobody was eliminated from last week’s Strictly, that doesn’t mean the episode has no bearing on what occurs tonight.
The judges’ scores will roll over and be combined with whatever the celebrities manage to get tonight.
With this in mind, here’s how the leaderboard currently stands:
Strictly 2024 leaderboard: The scores from week one of the BBC dance competition
Recapping how the judges marked the ‘Strictly’ couples in week one
What dances and songs will the couples be performing this week?
The biggest talking points from last week’s episode included one rather odd song choice that saw poor Paul Merson dancing an American Smooth-of-sorts to Fat Les’s “Vindaloo”.
While it’s clear why they wanted Merson – a retired footballer – to dance to a football song, there were claims ahead of the episode that he felt somewhat shafted by the decision. Of course, it went down like a lead balloon and many believe he could be this year’s “joke” contestant.
Here are this week’s song choices and dances that the couples will be performing:
Strictly Come Dancing reveals songs for Week 2
Paul Merson will dance to another football chant song
‘Strictly’ star will perform despite arm injury
Nick Knowles suffered an arm injury this week, which threw his Strictly future into question.
However, it’s believed the 62-year-old DIY SOS presenter, who is currently competing on the show alongside professional dancer Luba Mushtuk, will perform tonight after doctors gave him permission.
A source told The Mirror: ”Nick and Luba’s attitude is very much that the show must go on, and they were thrilled when he was given the go ahead. They are even going to attempt a lift.
Find out more about what happened to Knowles here:
Nick Knowles shares health update as Strictly future remains uncertain
‘DIY SOS’ presenter is training for Saturday’s show with his arm in a sling
One ‘Strictly’ couple has a ‘secret code'
Strictly Come Dancing professional Jowita Przystal has revealed the secret code that she and her dance partner Pete Wicks use in training sessions.
The Only Way is Essex star Wicks is competing in this year’s Strictly competition along 14 more celebrities vying for the glitterball trophy. He is partnered with Przystal, who has worked on the show since 2021.
Appearing on Wicks’s Staying Relevant podcast, which he co-presents with former Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson, Przystal discussed her bond with Wicks – and said they instantly “connected” when they first met.
Read more here:
The ‘secret code’ Strictly star Pete Wicks has with partner Jowita Przystal
Pro dancer said pair instantly ‘connected’ when they met
Who is taking part in this year's ‘Strictly’?
There are 15 celebrities participating in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing – and you can find out everything you need to know about them, and which professional dancer they’re paired with, here:
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 couples – full list of celebrities and their partners
Meet the cast of 2024 – and their professional partners
Nick Knowles says he’s had just ‘two days' to rehearse due to injury
Nick Knowles has confirmed he will perform on tonight’s Strictly after suffering an injury.
Earlier this week, the DIY SOS host hurt his shoulder, which has led him to have just two days of training ahead of his next performance.
On Saturday morning (28 September), he shared a video on Instagram, telling his fans: "On my way to the studios – this is show day. I’ve had two days to learn the dance as well as I possibly can. I promise to give it everything tonight and try and perform it well.
“Luba [Mushtuk] has worked her magic in choreographing something amazing. All I have to do now is perform it. It's been a tough week but I'm very excited to dance later this evening and don't worry about me, my shoulder's getting stronger every single day.”
He thanked his fans and said he “will try to do my best” for everyone who sent him support, acknowledging that he’s in danger of going home if he doesn’t perform well as he’s in the bottom four of the current leaderboard rolled over from last week.
‘Strictly’ judges to perform ‘avant garde’ dance
The BBC has revealed that the four Strictly judges will battle for a throne during an “avant garde gothic tango” alongside the show’s professional dancers.
Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke will participate in the dramatic performance on tomorrow night’s results show.
Meet JB Gill, the current ‘Strictly’ favourite
Following in the footsteps of his JLS bandmate Aston Merrygold, performer JB Gill is among the 15 celebrities taking part in this year’s 20th anniversary series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The 37-year-old rose to fame in 2008 with his boyband JLS, comprised of singers Oritse Williams, Marvin Humes and Merrygold. While the band formed in 2006, it was their performances on 2008’s edition of The X Factor that saw the group become a household name.
Find out more about the current leaderboard winner here:
Meet the JLS boyband member JB Gill taking on Strictly Come Dancing
‘One Shot’ singer will be swapping his microphone for ballroom shoes
Paul Merson finding ‘Strictly’ experience ‘really hard’
Paul Merson has made an admission about his participation on Strictly Come Dancing.
Days after the former Arsenal and England footballer performed an American Smooth to Fat Les song “Vindaloo”, Merson, who ended near the bottom of the leaderboard, said he was finding his time on the BBC show “really hard”. However, this is not due to the technicalities required to dance.
Find out more here:
Paul Merson says he’s finding Strictly ‘really hard’ after bizarre first dance
‘That’s the bit I find really hard,’ Merson said of BBC series detail
‘Strictly’ star admits to fancying professional partner
Strictly Come Dancing’s Sarah Hadland has admitted that she fancies her professional partner Vito Coppola.
The 53-year-old comedy actor, best known for playing the joke shop manager Stevie Sutton in the BBC sitcom Miranda, freely admitted to fancying the 32-year-old Italian ballroom dancer the minute they met.
“Yes, I fancied him. I’m alive, aren’t I?” she replied when asked if she found him attractive. “If you’re female and have a heartbeat, how could he NOT be anybody’s type?”
Read more here:
Strictly Come Dancing star admits to fancying their professional partner
‘If you’re female and have a heartbeat, how could he NOT be anybody’s type?’ said contestant
