'Strictly Come Dancing' Review: Abbey Clancy Comes Top Of Leaderboard, As Hairy Biker Dave Myers Fails To Impress

'Strictly': Abbey Tops The Leaderboard

Model Abbey Clancy came top of the leaderboard of Saturday's 'Strictly Come Dancing', performing what the judge Len Goodman hailed as "the dance of the night".

The mother of one - who is married to footballer Peter Crouch - waltzed to 'Kissing You' by Des'ree with partner Aljaz Skorjanec, wearing a long, figure-hugging white dress.

Abbey Clancy impressed the judges

She admitted she was shaking with nerves but performed a "very romantic" and "beautiful" dance, according to Darcy Bussell.

"I had a hunch about you two - gorgeous", added the notoriously hard to please Revel Horwood.

Also scoring highly was 'Countdown' presenter Rachel Riley, who impressed judges with her waltz to 'When I Need You' by Luther Vandross, accompanied by partner Pasha Kovalev.

Wearing a full-length flowing yellow gown, the self-confessed tomboy said the show was taking her out of her comfort zone but was described as "full of elegance" by Revel Horwood.

Rachel Riley performs her waltz

Meanwhile, 'Hairy Biker' Dave Myers failed to heat up the dance floor, receiving the lowest score of all the contestants on the opening weekend of the BBC One show.

His entrance to the cha cha with partner Karen Hauer to 'Moves Like Jagger' by Maroon 5 was described as "terrifying" by judge Craig Revel Horwood. "I totally recoiled in horror. I had an overwhelming feeling of revulsion," he added.

Dave Myers failed to impress the judges

Len Goodman said his moves were "a bit more stagger than Jagger", but the TV chef had a fan in Darcey Bussell who told him he made her "want to cry with happiness". "I was totally in love," she added.

First up on the dance floor was former rugby World Cup champion Ben Cohen and his partner Kristina Rihanoff who did the cha cha to Love Me Again by John Newman.

Judge Bruno Tonioli appeared particularly taken by "beefy beast" Cohen, with Goodman telling the former sport star: "I thought your footwork was terrific. I like your attitude and you came out and had a go."

But Revel Horwood delivered a crushing blow as he told him: "I've seen breeze blocks with more movement."

Other new contestants to show off their moves for the first time included 'Dragon's Den' star Deborah Meaden who "gave a very good pitch", according to Tonioli, and fashion designer Julien Macdonald who danced to Madonna's Vogue but looked something "more like Woman's Weekly", Goodman said.

Former Bond girl Fiona Fullerton, 'Casualty' actor Patrick Robinson and television and radio presenter Vanessa Feltz completed the line up.

Feltz, who wore a sparkly pink number, was told her performance with partner James Jordan consisted of "too much acting and not enough dancing", by Revel Horwood.

But a fiery Feltz fought back, telling him she found it too hard to pretend "not to be impressed when James gets his chest out".

Vanessa Feltz and partner James Jordan

The new series of the hit show began last night when the first six stars took to the dance floor.

'Coronation Street' actress, and favourite to win this year's 'Strictly' trophy, Natalie Gumede received the highest score of the night, while 'BBC Breakfast' presenter Susanna Reid and singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor also did well in joint second place.

Former golfer Tony Jacklin on the other hand was compared to a "Galapagos tortoise" by Tonioli, while 'Hollyoaks' actor Ashley Taylor Dawson and Waterloo Road star Mark Benton fared better.

Viewers were introduced to the competitors three weeks ago and they have been practising ever since, fitting their rehearsals around their day jobs and screen commitments.

The scores from yesterday's and tonight's performances will be carried over to next week's show and combined with a public vote as no one was being voted off this weekend.

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