In a shocking move, Simon Webbe has been saved over Pixie Lott, who becomes the tenth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2014. Michael Hogan digests the news
Talent show audiences like a “journey”, a plucky underdog, a triumph against the odds - but Lott was bookie’s favourite from the off. Starting out with too high a skill level simply isn’t in the spirit of Strictly - a world where stiff Judy Murray can last until week eight. She showed little progression, whereas others - especially Mark Wright, Simon Webbe and Caroline Flack - have been on a steep earning curve.
Lott’s record this series has been good - perhaps a little too good. She topped the leaderboard four times in 11 weeks, never finished lower than third and had the highest average score (a very respectable 35.4 points). Nobody likes a swot. She impressed the audience but didn’t make them warm to her, root for her and crucially, vote for her. There was technical admiration but no emotional connection.
The second factor is that Lott ultimately fell victim to head judge Len Goodman’s tetchy, tricky mood. After her dance-off against the blossoming Webbe, Goodman had the casting vote. On Saturday night, he’d criticised Lott’s cha-cha legs and sternly took her to task for including illegal lifts in her routine with pro partner Trent Whiddon. The 70-year-old veteran duly struck a blow for traditional ballroom values, while voting for Webbe’s potential and improvement rather than Lott’s sheer talent.
Wright, arguably the weakest dancer remaining, looked genuinely shocked that he’d dodged the dance-off bullet. Elsewhere, there was a puddle-based, shoe-ruining group dance from the professionals, complete with brolly-ography, plus a drab performance from US boyband OneRepublic. The lack of a space in their name is just one of many irritating things about them.
The dance-off saw Webbe and his partner Kristina Rihanoff reprise their jazzy American Smooth to Michael Buble’s ‘Heartache Tonight’. If anything, it was more accomplished second time around. All-blonde pairing Lott and Whiddon had another go at their Cha Cha Cha. The rendition of ‘Love Shack’ by Dave Arch’s band was ropy and Lott’s leg action still inconsistent.
The two routines scored the same last night and again, the judging panel couldn’t call it. Bookends Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood opted to save Lott, but Darcey Bussell and Goodman disagreed. Grim-faced and pained, Goodman muttered: “I know when I drive home, in my heart, I have the right result for me.”
Webbe was so sure that he’d lose, he was virtually making farewell speeches. When the verdict came, he collapsed to the ballroom floor with relief, while Lott seemed sanguine and took defeat coolly with no tears. Whiddon should shoulder some blame for bending the rules.
Lott won last night’s group ‘waltz-a-thon’ but that wasn’t enough to save her skin. Her exit sent ripples through the remaining five hoofers as they realised that nobody is safe. It also leaves the contest wide open. This promises to be an intriguing Pixie-free final fortnight
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