Strictly Come Dancing: Week One

This series there are twelve couples made up of celebrities of various calibre and their professional dance partners. Brucie was back along with co-presenter Tess Daly and the usual four judges.

Kicking the show off was chunky cricketer Darren Gough who was dancing with Lilia (who was Aled Jones' partner last series) who cha cha cha'd to Hot Stuff, although Darren was quite heavy they still did a reasonable routine. Ex-Eastenders actress Patsy palmer was next, waltzing with Anton DuBeke (previous partner of Esther Rantzen and Lesley Garrett). Patsy's routine was slated y the judges and she was criticised for holding back too much.

They were followed by World Record hurdler Colin Jackson with Erin Boag (previously with Julian Clary) and were very good. Colin is ever so slightly camp and was nicknamed 'hot-hips' by Judge Arlene Phillips, but they did an excellent routine and got an impressive 32 points out of 40, which is especially good when you consider it is the first week. I had never heard of the next woman Siobhan Hayes, with a new dancer Matthew, they did a very poor Waltz, her head and upper body were all at the wrong angle and it was a bit of a train wreck. They got 15 points to be at the bottom of the pile.

Celebrity chef James Martin was next with Camilla Dallerup (previously with Roger Black), and inspite of James being very big they did a promising but uninspiring routine to Something Got Me Started. TV presenter Gloria Hunniford was next with Darren Bennett, who won the last series with Jill Halfpenny. Gloria did looked very graceful and did very well, and Darren tailored the steps to suit her, it was the best waltz so far.

Casualty actor Will Thorp (another I had never heard of) danced with newcomer Hanna to Crazy Chick in the Cha Cha Cha and was later described by Arlene as Mr Charisma bypass. He was followed by Holby City actress (making it three people I had never heard of) Jaye Jacobs, with another newbie Andrew Cuerden, who did better with her waltz.

Newsreader Bill Turnbull was the surprise of the night. He and partner Karen Hardy (an older, brunette Britney Spears) did a lively, fun routine and were very popular, getting 29 points. Brendan Cole won the first series with Natasha Kaplinsky, and did less well with Sarah from Casualty last series. This time he was paired with TV presenter Fiona Phillips who struggled a lot. They were heavily penalised for doing a lift in the waltz which is illegal.

The last Cha Cha Cha of the evening was performed by snooker man Dennis Taylor and new dancer Izabela who danced to Madonna's Music, and were OK. Dennis did not try anything to flamboyant and played to his strengths, which involved not moving a lot. Last of the night was TV presenter Zoe Ball with Ian Waite (last year's runner up with Denise Lewis). Tom boy Zoe looked very feminine and they waltzed very well to Take It Too The Limit, were raved about by the judges and got a total of 35 points out of 40.

In the end it was Siobhan and Matthew who went, which was no great loss, Brendan and Fiona no doubt saved by their fame.