Strictly Come Dancing star Molly Rainford was left ‘emotionally battered’ after landing in the dreaded dance-off once again this series, a body language expert has said.
The Britain's Got Talent alum found herself in the bottom two alongside Coronation Street star Kym Marsh, who ultimately became the tenth celebrity eliminated from the BBC One show.
Yet Molly and her professional dance partner Carlos Gu were clearly crushed when the light turned red over them during Saturday evening’s results show, putting them in their fourth dance-off.
Body language expert Judi James said Molly’s signals of ‘confusion and crushed confidence’ were what created ‘the real heartbreak of the night’, particularly given that her Charleston to Hot Honey Rag from Chicago received glowing praise from the judging panel.
Judi told The Mirror: “Carlos was crying tears of joy at their two tens and yet the viewer vote is now telling them little more than that they’re not popular enough to go to the finals.”
Turning to Saturday’s results show, she continued: “Molly’s signature pseudo-infantile, excited and keen-to-please smiling rituals drained as her name was called.
“Her eyes closed, her lips clamped and her chin rose as though she’d been physically punched. When you work this hard at being sweet and likeable there is no wriggle room in terms of increasing your popularity with the public.
“While Molly’s head reared up, Carlos’s dropped and his face seemed to deflate as though his ballroom smile had got a puncture.
“All his years of experience of applying that winning smile left him and his twisted expression with a mouth slew suggested utter dejection and disbelief.”
Judi went on to note that the high praise from the judging panel may indeed by setting Molly and Carlos up for a ‘cruel’ reality check when the voting public results come in.
She added: “Both Fleur and Molly have become confused and emotionally battered by their dance-offs that seem un-linked to their talent as dancers.
“Strictly has become a competition based on emotion and drama now and neither of these women are competing with tears or back stories.”
Although Molly and Carlos triumphed in the dance-off and have progressed through to the semi-final next week, Judi noted it became truly evident at the end of the show that it ‘wasn’t poor Molly’s night’.
She said: “Even as she tried to display good sportsmanship by rushing onto the floor to hug Kym and Graziano during their farewell dance, Graziano extended his arm full length, landing Molly right in the face and almost knocking her off her feet.”
The remaining five couples will take to the dancefloor next week for the semi final when Strictly Come Dancing will return live on Sunday December 11 at 7.15pm, with the results show on Monday December 12 BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
