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

'Strictly': Abbey Tops The Leaderboard
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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".

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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.

Strictly Come Dancing line up
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(01 of16)
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Abbey ClancyAge: 27Best know for: Modelling and being married to England footballer Peter Crouch. She also presents fashion segments on 'This Morning'. Odds: 5/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(02 of16)
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Rachel RileyAge: 27Best known for: Taking over from Carol Vorderman as the letters and numbers whizz on 'Countdown'. Odds: 4/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(03 of16)
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Sophie Ellis-BextorAge: 34Best known for: Being a singer, with hits such as 'Murder On The Dance Floor' and 'If This Ain't Love'. She's also the daughter of former 'Blue Peter' presenter Janet Ellis. Odds: 6/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(04 of16)
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Vanessa FeltzAge: 51Best known for: Her 90s chat show 'Vanessa'. She now presents her own radio show on BBC London and Radio 2, and famously had a meltdown on 'Celebrity Big Brother' in 2001. Odds: 50/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(05 of16)
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Deborah MeadenAge: 54Best known for: Being a Dragon on BBC Two business show 'Dragons' Den'. Odds: 40/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(06 of16)
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Susanna ReidAge: 42Best known for: Presenting 'BBC Breakfast' with Bill Turnbull. She also appeared on a 'Children In Need' special of the show with fellow newsreaders in 2012. Odds: 8/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(07 of16)
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Natalie GumedeAge: 29Best known for: Playing husband beater Kirsty Soames on 'Coronation Street'. Odds: 6/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(08 of16)
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Fiona FullertonAge: 56Best known for: Her roles as Bond girl Pola Ivanova in 1985's 'A View to a Kill' and as Alice in 1972 film 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'.Odds: 20/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(09 of16)
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Ashley Taylor DawsonAge: 31Best known for: His role as Darren Osborne in Channel 4 soap 'Hollyoaks'. He also used to be in pop band allSTARS*.Odds: 10/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(10 of16)
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Ben CohenAge: 34Best known for: Being a rugby union player, and being a gay icon after establishing The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation to combat homophobia and bullying.Odds: 6/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(11 of16)
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Patrick RobinsonAge: 49Best known for: Playing Martin "Ash" Ashford on 'Casualty'.Odds: 20/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(12 of16)
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Julien MacdonaldAge: 42Best known for: Being a fashion designer, as well as having a famous spat with Cheryl Cole in 2011. Odds: 16/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(13 of16)
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Mark BentonAge: 47Best known for: Starring in 'Waterloo Road' as maths teacher Daniel 'Chalky' Chalk.Odds: 40/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(14 of16)
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Dave MyersAge: 56Best known for: Being one half of TV chef duo The Hairy Bikers. Odds: 50/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(15 of16)
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Tony JacklinAge: 69Best known for: Being an English pro golfer.Odds: 50/1 (credit:BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing line up 2013(16 of16)
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(credit:BBC)