'One word, three syllables - fab-u-lous!': Danny Mac scores first 40 of the series with his flawless Charleston as Strictly hits the glitzy Blackpool ballroom
He's scored a number of tens in the competition so far.
But Danny Mac proved he really was the one to beat on Saturday night as he scored the first perfect score of the series.
Taking to the famous ballroom floor for this week's Strictly, the Hollyoaks actor, 28, dazzled both viewers and the judges with a truly flawless Charleston to Puttin on The Ritz.
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Man of the hour: Danny Mac scored the first 40 of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night with a flawless Charleston
Perfection! Taking to the famous ballroom floor, the Hollyoaks actor, 28, dazzled all four judges, with Craig whipping out his 10 paddle for the first time this series
Fan favourite Danny had hoped to impress with his Charleston after leaving viewers speechless with his Argentine Tango last week.
Dressed as a waiter in a red set of satin tails, the Hollyoaks actor looked handsome as ever as he hit the floor with partner Oti Mabuse for another typically faultless routine, full of challenging and daring moves.
Perfectly in sync, the pair hit each and every beat of the music, Puttin on The Ritz, which transported viewers and the live audience to the glitz and glamour of the 1930s.
Suave: Dressed as a waiter in a red set of satin tails, the Hollyoaks actor looked handsome as ever as he first hit the floor for another typically faultless routine
Glamour: Perfectly in sync, the pair hit each and every beat of the music, Puttin on The Ritz, transporting viewers and the live audience to the glitz and glamour of the 1920s
The number was packed with tricks - opening with a cartwheel and featuring a number of challenging lifts.
Ending with Danny popping a bottle of champagne as huge sparklers were shot into the ballroom, the audience and his fellow contestants flew to their feet with applause.
The routine was met with the highest of praise from the judges, with Darcey calling it 'fast, frantic, unbelievable one-handed cartwheel - it was hard to distinguish who was the pro'.
There she goes! The number was packed with tricks - opening with a cartwheel to open and featuring a number of impressive and challenging lifts
Big finish: Ending with Danny popping a bottle of champagne as huge sparklers were shot into the ballroom, the audience and fellow contestants flew to their feet with applause
Len added: 'There was almost choreography overload, so full-on and tight but you held it, fantastic'.
Then Craig, who has been harsh on the actor until this point, dropped the bombshell hint he could be giving his first 10 by saying: 'One word, three syllables, darling: fab-u-lous!'
The routine proceeded to bag the first 40 of the series, with Danny collapsing to the floor with emotion and excitement as Craig whipped out his 10 paddle.
Can't believe it: Overwhelmed with the response, he gushed afterwards: 'I can't even put into words what this feels like. Thank you so, so much!'
Overwhelmed with the response, he gushed afterwards: 'I can't even put into words what this feels like. Thank you so, so much!'
It has been a night filled of glitz, glamour and high scores as Strictly took over the Blackpool ballroom for its annual night up North.
First to take to the floor were Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane, and her partner AJ Pritchard, with a toe-tapping jive to Hey Mickey by Tony Basil.
First up: First to take to the floor was Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane, and her partner AJ Pritchard, with a toe-tapping jive to Hey Mickey by Tony Basil
The youngest pair in the competition looked cuter than ever dressed in their cheerleader and American footballer costumes - using the sporty theme to showcase her famous gymnastic skills with a number of tricks, including an impressive one-handed cartwheel.
As a pint-sized gymnast, the brunette had plenty of energy as she kicked and flicked her way around the floor alongside a host of backing dancers, showing off a range of fast and precise footwork.
Claudia wanted to impress the judges at Blackpool as it is a very special place for AJ - who has won numerous championships at the famous venue.
Flick-tastic: As a pint-sized gymnast, the brunette had plenty of energy as she kicked and flicked her way around the floor alongside a host of backing dancers
And she certainly made her partner proud, scoring a standing ovation from the audience as well as high praise from the judges.
Head judge Len kicked things off by saying: 'Little miss Dynamite! You went for it, it was full on, crisp, sharp.'
However noting a mistake he added: 'There was a little moment early on where there was a tiny mistake... but I thought it was a super dynamic routine and a great performance.'
Impressed: Len said of the routine: 'Little miss Dynamite! You went for it, it was full on, crisp, sharp.'
Meanwhile notoriously harsh judge Craig admitted the routine could have scored full marks as he loved the 'hitch-kick and big old lift, I really and truly loved it.'
Darcey then added to the excitement, admitting: 'That was jumping, pumping, magic beans - a spectacular performance.'
Scoring 9s across the board but missing out on her first 10s due to the mistake, AJ gushed after the performance that he was just 'so proud of her'.
Proud: Scoring 9s across the board but missing out on her first 10s due to the mistake, AJ gushed after the performance that he was just 'so proud of her'
Next up was Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton who swapped last week's Rumba for a smooth and graceful Viennese Waltz.
The routine was old-school glamorous for the beginning, opening with the pair embarking on a poker game to the crooning sounds of 'That's Life' by Frank Sinatra.
Dressed in a vibrant pink tie to match his partner's shimmering fuschia frock, the sports presenter looked every inch the gentleman as he lead his lady smoothly and gracefully around the floor - impressing with a lengthy and notoriously difficult fleckerl half way through.
Gentleman: Next up was Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton who swapped last week's Rumba for a smooth and graceful Viennese Waltz
Unable to contain his excitement after the winning dance, Ore shouted out: 'I really enjoyed that... hi Blackpool!'
Bruno has nothing but praise for the cool number, stating: 'Ace of the pack! I loved the jazz angle you took. Cool, sophisticated, slick and brilliant.'
While Craig added: 'Your top line bothered me slightly, your head was slightly inclining to the right. You were a bit skippy around the table - however I love the double jumps you did and you know what, you are an amazing showman.'
Hollywood glamour: The routine was old-school glamorous for the beginning, opening with the pair embarking on a poker game to the crooning sounds of 'That's Life' by Frank Sinatra
The number bagged him a whopping 38 at Blackpool, leaving him in shock - and tears, as is his usual style.
Having loved every minute of the dance, Ore told Claudia afterwards: 'That was such a beautifully choreographed routine, I haven't stopped smiling all week.'
Following on was the glamorously-clad Louise Redknapp and Kevin Clifton, who channeled their inner Spanish senor and senorita for their Paso Doble.
Suave: Bruno has nothing but praise for the cool number, stating: 'Ace of the pack! I loved the jazz angle you took. Cool, sophisticated, slick and brilliant'
The former Eternal singer looked truly dazzling in a sparkling black and gold frock, which cinched in at her enviably slender waist and complemented her dark and sultry make-up for the brooding dance.
Featuring an eye-watering side slit on the leg, the frock then flashed her toned pins as she flicked her skirt powerfully like a cape in the dance's true style.
Taking to the floor to traditional music, the mum-of-two was truly memserising as she powered across the floor in a mix of Paso and sexy flamenco moves, with her impeccably curled hair tumbling down her back.
Leading lady: Following on was the glamorously-clad Louise Redknapp and Kevin Clifton, who channeled their inner Spanish senor and senorita for their Paso Doble
Craig was taken with the routine, stating: 'Kevin you always do brilliant Paso's. It was full of drama, full of lines, just gorgeous'.
While Len simply admitted he 'was blown away' by the 'fantastic routine'.
Watching live in the audience, her husband Jamie looked on incredibly proud of his wife, clapping her performance with a few tears in his eyes.
Senorita: The former Eternal singer looked truly dazzling in a sparkling black and gold frock, which cinched in at her enviably slender waist and complemented her dark and sultry make-up
Louise also scored 38 - matching Ore's mark and proving how close the competition really is this year.
Ed Balls then followed soon after, with his jive to the apt 'Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis' proving a joy to watch.
Descending from the ceiling at the seat of a piano, the MP epitomised his rock n roll character as he pretended to bash out the song's famous riff.
Wow! Louise also scored 38 with her powerful routine - matching Ore's mark and proving how close the competition really is this year
Supportive: Watching live in the audience, her husband Jamie looked on incredibly proud of his wife, clapping her performance with a few tears in his eyes
He then embarked on another impressive routine, exceeding expectation - keeping in sync and perfect time with partner Katya Jones the whole way through.
Finishing where he started, the politician rose back up for the big finish, which saw the singer hilarious change the song's words to 'Ed balls of fire!'
Len admitted that the star was certainly 'getting better' while Bruno noted that 'most of it looked like a jive, I must admit.'
Here he comes... Ed Balls then followed soon after, with his jive to the apt 'Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis' proving a joy to watch
However Craig was less complementary, adding that 'it looked like you were playing hopscotch in an all-girls school', causing him to award the dance a disappointing score of 4, leaving Ed at the bottom of the leader board with 23.
Knowing he is something of an underdog, he said after the performance: 'We'd just love to be able to keep dancing.'
Next proving his status as an Olympic long jumper was Greg Rutherford, who leaped and bounded across the floor in an energetic quickstep.
He's got balls: The MP's routine exceeded expectation - keeping in sync and perfect time the whole way through
A few mistakes however prevented the routine from flourishing into its full potential, scoring a mixed set of comments from the judges.
Craig said he felt it had 'too much power' and that his 'thumb was sticking up.'
Meanwhile Darcey added: 'You have natural spring and no problem travelling. You lost control and made little mistakes... but you smiled through it and made it fun to watch.'
Witty: Finishing where he started, the politician rose back into the sky for the big finish, which saw the singer hilarious change the song's words to 'Ed balls of fire!'
Greg landed himself second bottom from the leader board with a respectable 32 - but it was still an improvement on his score last week.
Judge Rinder finished the night off with a colourful salsa to the Spice Girls hit Spice Up Your Life.
The TV judge shimmied and shook his way around the floor in his usual hilarious style, proving he had plenty of Latin hip action still in him.
He even lifted partner Oksana fully over his head half way through the routine, showing off an impressive level of strength amidst the fun and flirty choreography.
Shimmy-sational: Judge Rinder finished the night off with a colourful salsa to the Spice Girls hit Spice Up Your Life, which bagged a score of 33
Jam-packed with armography, the routine went out with a bang as the bubbly contestant finished things off with a cartwheel to rival Claudia's.
The dance even impressed Craig - who he has struggled to please so far - with the judge calling it: 'Hip-tastic!'
Getting saucier later into the Saturday night, he then commented of the Judge's round off at the end: 'I'll have to call you Judge Grinder from now on.'
However while Len called it 'a sweet-smelling salsa' he also noted the star 'got over-excited, rushed and lost timing', leaving the Judge with 33.
Final result: Danny steamed to the top of the leader board, while Ed was left at the rear
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3952988/One-word-three-syllables-fab-u-lous-Danny-Mac-scores-40-season-flawless-Charleston-Strictly-hits-glitzy-Blackpool-ballroom.html#ixzz4QV7PozrC
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