Yahoo News 'Strictly's first performance is the death slot destined for dance off'
Opinion: I'm calling it now, the Strictly couple who are dancing first next week should brace themselves for the dance off
A worrying pattern has started to emerge on Strictly Come Dancing this year: the Strictly stars that have shocked everyone for being in the dance off have all performed first this year.
So far Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova in week two, Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu in week four, then this week's JB Gill and Amy Dowden all ended up in the dance off after taking to the dancefloor first during the live shows.
There was uproar, from myself included, when Strictly's judges sent home Olympic swimmer Dean over Toyah Willcox. He truly was robbed of his place on the show.
I'm calling it now, the Strictly couple who are dancing first next week should brace themselves for the dance off.
Strictly's judges — Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse — were quick to right their wrong when they sent Willcox home the following week. To be fair, they haven't put a foot wrong since when it comes to the elimination.
Read more: Strictly dance off
This week, JB Gill and Amy Dowden were saved above Paul Merson and pro dancer Karen Hauer which was the right call. Even though the JLS star made a few mistakes in the dance off when performing the Jive to Hey Ya!'s Outcast for the second time — likely due to nerves — Gill shouldn't have been in the dance off in the first place.
What it does suggest is that many viewers have forgotten about the first routine by the time we come to vote. Strictly fans at home are now calling the opening dance the "death slot" that's destined for the dance off. It doesn't just apply to politics: don't forget to vote.
Merson said he felt like he had "won" Strictly Come Dancing when he made his exit and in some ways he is right.
Throughout his dancing routines, laughing and smiling, the football manager was having a ball. What he was lacking in dancing ability, Merson made up for in his good-time attitude which is exactly what Strictly Come Dancing is all about. Motsi summed this up perfectly telling him: "Paul you had the party of the night."
Watch Paul Merson and Karen Hauer's Samba
Off-screen in recent weeks, the BBC concluded its investigation into the bullying scandal that rocked the show. The BBC apologised to Amanda Abbington and upheld her complaints of verbal abuse about pro dancer Giovanni Pernice, who left the show, but complaints about physical aggression were not upheld.
Merson showed that Strictly can just be good fun and Hauer told him: "You've been a joy, I've never giggled this much... you are what Strictly is about."
Week five seemed a sensible time to hand out the red card to the retired footballer after his Samba to Car Wash by Rose Royce was an explosion of colour and glitter. Cheekily he joked his pro dancer Hauer could have "danced better" but he was delighted to be leaving the show having learned some moves. "I can dance now," Merson said triumphantly. "It's an absolute bonus."
Admittedly, Merson wasn't too keen to do the final goodbye dance though.
It's a big Strictly milestone next Saturday: it's Halloween Week. Montell Douglas stormed to the top of the leaderboard in true Gladiators fashion. She's going to be a fierce contender for the Glitterball trophy and won't lose without a fight.
Tasha Ghouri, Chris McCausland, Jamie Borthwick and Sarah Hadland are all vying for first place and stand a good chance of making the final too.
Despite being a fan favourite, Pete Wicks and Jowita Pryztal could be in trouble. Dr Punam Krishan also faces being at risk as she's not managed to top her iconic Bollywood dance yet.
Strictly continues on BBC1 at 6.25pm on Saturday.
