'Strictly Come Dancing': Susanna Reid Impresses Judges As Show Returns (VIDEO)

Television presenter Susanna Reid got the new series of Strictly Come Dancing off to a flying start with a racy routine that ended with her cartwheeling onto a sofa.

The BBC Breakfast star, wearing an electric blue fringed dress, danced the jive with partner Kevin Clifton, who had vowed to show off the "sassy, sparky side" of the 42-year-old mother of three.

They were praised by the judges for their performance to Shake your Tailfeather by The Blues Brothers, that started and ended on a red sofa like the one from which Reid usually presents the morning show.

Kevin Clifton with dance partner Susanna Reid

Judge Len Goodman said the dance was "like chicken soup to the eyes" - adding that he meant it was tasty and satisfying, while Darcey Bussell said Reid's energy and style had wowed her.

Reid and Clifton were given a standing ovation - one of only two couples tonight to receive that honour. Six stars took to the dance floor tonight as the glitterball was dusted off for the 2013 series, with the final nine debuting on tomorrow night's show.

They were awarded a total of 28 points from the judges, which will be carried over to next week's show and combined with a public vote as no one is being voted off this weekend.

The other star of the night - judging by the audience getting to their feet - was Coronation Street actress, and favourite to win this year's Strictly trophy, Natalie Gumede.

She and Artem Chigvintsev did the cha cha to Boney M's Rasputin and were widely praised for their first dance, gaining the highest score of the night with 31 points.

Gumede, 29, best known for playing Kirsty Soames in Coronation Street, wore a white and gold dress and was told by judge Bruno Tonioli that her "lascivious, sexy" dance showed she was "going to go far" in the contest.

Craig Revel Horwood, known for his usually catty comments to celebrity dancers, told Gumede: "You're a brilliant dancer and so far, you're the front runner."

His vitriol had evidently been used up on former golfer Tony Jacklin, to whom he awarded just two points for his waltz to What'll I Do by Alison Krauss and told that he "became the hunchback of Notre Dame".

Jacklin was also compared to a "Galapagos tortoise" by Tonioli, with the only kind words coming from Goodman, who said he "summed up the spirit of the show, someone with no dance experience coming out and having a go".

The 69-year-old, who has been Ryder Cup captain four times, was given a total of just 16 for his first effort with partner Aliona Vilani.

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