JB To Conquer Wonka

Oct 4, 2024 by Rob

The Outright market has shifted heavily towards a front three, and Movie Week looks a litmus test to see whether or not Chris can maintain his position as 2.3 market leader.

A ‘Wayne’s World’ jive looks almost as odd as Nigel and Katya tasked with the same dance set to the Batman theme song last year. The onus will be on fun with Chris and Dianne in Wayne and Garth wigs but Chris backers may just be happy to see a tricky dance ticked off early in the series run.

Tasha has already established herself as the best dancer in the competition and rumba may well see that status reinforced. Her and Aljaz have the ideal Billie Eilish track from ‘Barbie’ and this should be a tender, under-stated triumph.

JB was being described as a ballroom boy this week by Jeanette on ITT, and Amy in the training room, and a foxtrot-based AS looks the perfect opportunity for him to make a statement on that front. The Wonka routine has the feel of a potential pimp following two early running orders.

Sarah enjoyed a pimped paso last week and a VW to Hedwig’s Theme looks like further producer favour, and one of the better matches on a night that can go big on unflattering costumes and make-overs, and ill-fitting songs crowbarred in.

Wynne has now been matched as low as 18 after two good weeks for him. CCC is difficult enough and he’s going to be dressed as ‘Mrs Doubtfire’, hoovering. It looks like being high on the novelty scale and a possible come down after his 30-scoring VW.

Danny Mac and Oti danced to One Night Only from ‘Dreamgirls’ in Musicals Week back in 2016 scoring 38pts from the pimp slot. It’s only the fact Montell and Johannes have enjoyed two later running orders that leads you to suspect this won’t be in the pimp slot but it could easily end up being Montell’s highest scoring routine of the series so far.

Shayne has the opportunity to consolidate his 31-scoring tango last Saturday with a VW set to Elvis’s If I Can Dream and he should earn the later running order slot in relation to Sarah’s VW.

‘Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be Elton John’. Big glasses, straw boater…? This could be Jamie’s styling but at least QS fits I’m Still Standing. He could be on a hiding to nothing, however, given he landed a 40 for his QS, dancing with Nancy, in last year’s Christmas Special.

Sam endured a bit of a bashing for her Charleston and it’s been two weeks of harsh scores and critiques for her from early running order positions. With paso, we know it’s a hell of a lot to do with the song arrangement, the lighting, the staging, and the outfits/styling marrying together to help sell the drama. Sarah was granted this in spades last week from the pimp slot whereas Elevation and Sam dressed like Lara Croft doesn’t seem teed up to hit the spot quite as well.

Punam gets the opportunity to perform the first Couple’s Choice of the series and you would think that alone means it will earn praise and a good score. Then factor in it’s a first Bollywood-themed dance for the show and the official video of Bole Chudiyan has had over 870 million views and this could easily be pimp slot material. So a good night looks in store for Punam.

Pete styled as George Of The Jungle, swinging on a rope, dancing samba… That particular theme tune doesn’t seem a great fit with samba which we know is a difficult dance so unless Shirley and Motsi decide to start swooning it could be a tough week for Pete, and he should be on earlier than Toyah’s samba.

Nick’s Charleston music seems better suited to a tap dancing routine. He appears to have overcome his injured shoulder, and Luba has been getting outside help for what will be her first Charleston on the show but this might not be the Get Out Of Jail Free Card it often is.

Paul dragged himself clear of the dance-off from second last on the combined week 1/2 judges’ leaderboard and it feels like him and Karen have more to offer the show moving forward compared to a good few others.

Week 1/2 judges’ leaderboard combined:

Tasha & Aljaz – CCC (5) – 8, 8, 7, 7 = 30 – VW – (12) – 8, 9, 9, 9 = 35 = 65
Sarah & Vito – Quickstep (8) – 8, 8, 7, 7 = 30 – Paso (15) – 8, 8, 8, 8 = 32 = 62
JB & Amy – Waltz (6) – 7, 8, 8, 8 = 31 – CCC (5) – 7, 7, 6, 7 = 27 = 58
Wynne & Katya – Samba (15) – 6, 6, 7, 7 = 26 – VW (4) – 7, 7, 8, 8 = 30 = 56
Montell & Johannes – Foxtrot (14) – 6, 7, 6, 7 = 26 – Samba (11) – 8, 7, 7, 8 = 30 = 56
Chris & Dianne – CCC (13) – 4, 6, 6, 7 = 23 – Foxtrot (7) – 6, 7, 8, 8 = 29 = 52
Shayne & Nancy – Samba (3) – 4, 6, 5, 6 = 21 – Tango (13) – 7, 8, 8, 8 = 31 = 52
Jamie & Michelle – VW (12) – 6, 6, 5, 6 = 23 – Rumba (8) – 6, 7, 7, 7 = 27 = 50
Sam & Nikita – Foxtrot (2) – 6, 6, 6, 5 = 23 – Charleston (6) – 4, 6, 6, 6 = 22 = 45
Tom & Nadiya – Tango (9) – 5, 6, 6, 6 = 23 – CCC (1) – 3, 6, 5, 6 = 20 = 43 – eliminated
Nick & Luba – Jive (1) – 3, 5, 5, 5 = 18 – AS (10) – 5, 5, 5, 6 = 21 = 39
Pete & Jowita – Paso (7) – 4, 5, 3, 5 = 17 – AS (14) – 4, 6, 6, 6 = 22 = 39
Punam & Gorka – CCC (10) – 4, 5, 5, 5 = 19 – Foxtrot (2) – 4, 5, 4, 5 = 18 = 37
Paul & Karen – AS (11) – 2, 4, 5, 6 = 17 – Salsa (3) – 2, 4, 4, 5 = 15 = 32
Toyah & Neil – Tango (4) – 2, 4, 2, 4 = 12 – Jive (9) – 3, 5, 5, 5 = 18 = 30 – bottom two

What his CCC lacks in technique will likely be made up for by the entertainment value set to The Magnificent Seven theme tune. He shouldn’t be hamstrung by an early r.o. either.

Toyah dodged a bullet last week being saved over Tom despite being scored two points less on the night. Samba couldn’t be a harder assignment and that song from The Little Mermaid feels far too slow. Styled as the villainous sea witch Ursula will be far from flattering and our polling suggested Toyah was rock bottom last week.

She is clearly going to need a big boost from the judges and to justify her save over Tom they may decide to go down that path. Even money for her to be the second elimination looks about right pre-show and an unappealing betting proposition.

If an unexpected save Toyah narrative does emerge, Nick and Pete might prove the two most susceptible to drop into the dance-off.

Please do let us know who got your week 3 vote(s) on our exit poll following tomorrow night’s show.

Strictly 2024 Exit Poll – Week 3

Week 3 (Movie Week) dances and songs:

Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe – Tango to One Night Only from Dreamgirls
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez – Couple’s Choice to Bole Chudiyan from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin – Paso Doble to Elevation from Tomb Raider
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola – Viennese Waltz to Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec – Rumba to What Was I Made For? from Barbie
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones – Samba to Poor Unfortunate Souls from The Little Mermaid
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell – Jive to the Wayne’s World Theme
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas – Quickstep to I’m Still Standing from Rocketman
JB Gill and Amy Dowden – American Smooth to Pure Imagination from Wonka
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk – Charleston to Rain on the Roof from Paddington 2
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer – Cha Cha to The Magnificent Seven Theme
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał – Samba to the George Of The Jungle Theme
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu Viennese Waltz to If I Can Dream from Elvis
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones Cha Cha to Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag from Mrs Doubtfire