Advertisement

'Strictly' fans get behind Maisie Smith for 'dance of the series'

Maisie Smith, Gorka Marquez - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy
Maisie Smith, Gorka Marquez - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy

Strictly Come Dancing’s viewers have thrown their support behind Maisie Smith, saying they hope her “faultless” routine can keep her out of a third week in the dance off.

The EastEnders star has had a rough couple of weeks in the bottom two, even for dances that have seen her and dance partner Gorka Marquez score highly from the judges.

Read more: Shirley Ballas says anyone could win Strictly

But fans hope that her energetic Quickstep to When You’re Smiling will have helped her avoid this weekend’s dance off, and see her through to the quarter final.

Former series pro dancer Ola Jordan was a fan of the performance, too.

And radio DJ Melvin Odoom, a former contestant on Strictly, also backed her.

Head judge Shirley Ballas told her: “I think it’s the success story of the evening.”

And Motsi Mabuse, who has returned to the judging panel after two weeks quarantining, agreed: “Did she have it all, Miss Shirley? She had it all.”

Craig Revel Horwood picked fault with a small missed step, but said: “It was absolutely incredible.”

Smith fell just short of a perfect score, getting 10s from Ballas and Mabuse but a nine from Revel Horwood.

However, she was thrilled with her score - the first time she has been marked a 10, and the highest scoring Quickstep of the series so far.

Meanwhile, her rival HRVY became the first contestant of Strictly 2020 to get a perfect score, when all three judges gave him 10s for his couple’s choice street/commercial routine with Janette Manrara.

Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer also impressed with a Tango, leading to viewers calling him the most improved celebrity of the series.

Unusually, Bill Bailey was on less than perfect form with his Jive where he missed a couple of steps, and Clara Amfo had another difficult week in her Jive with mistakes and a few forgotten moves.

Mabuse is back as a judge after Anton Du Beke filled in for her for two weeks while she quarantined from a trip to Germany.

During his critique of Bailey’s Jive, Revel Horwood joked that it was Du Beke booing his comments and said: “Sorry Anton, you’re no longer up here.”

Strictly Come Dancing continues with the results show tomorrow night at 7.25pm on BBC One.