Source: Daily Mail
It was Blackpool boy Craig Kelly’s dream to perform in front of his hometown crowd at the Tower Ballroom.
But while he got his wish, it was destined to be his last time on Strictly Come Dancing.
After scoring just 17 points from the judges, the former Coronation Street star needed a huge proportion of the viewer’s vote to remain in the competition.
Instead he came in the bottom two, alongside Ricky Groves, and was promptly sent home by the panel.
Earlier he and dance partner Flavia Cacace danced the cha cha cha to Easy Lover by Phil Collins.
Len Goodman said: ‘I know your goal was to make it to Blackpool and you’ve done that but this is a dancing competition. Yours was the weakest performance.’
And if he was blunt, Alesha was blunter.
‘I can’t believe Zoe’s gone and I had to endure that. You’re not as good as you think you are.
‘Last week there was a glimmer of hope, this week, Dad’s back.’
But Craig held on to his confidence, against overwhelming odds.
‘I thought it went great, I was doing it and I was thinking, this will show them!’ he told Tess Daly backstage. ‘It felt good, didn’t it Flavia’.
But, perhaps aware her time was up, his laughing dance partner simply grimaced and hugged him.
While Craig was sent home, it was a better week for Ali Bastian, who came in the bottom two last week.
In a change of fortune she scored a perfect 40 for her Viennese Waltz to Do Right Woman, Do Right Man by Etta James.
Even notoriously hard-to-please judge Craig Revel-Horwood told her: ‘I’m very disappointed. I could not find a single thing wrong with that.’
And with partner Brian Fortuna actress Ali was soon celebrating her safe place in the competition.
Ricky W and Natalie also impressed the judges with their passionate tango but failed to get a perfect score.
Eastender’s favourite Natalie Cassidy and Vincent did a complicated quickstep and scored their highest marks yet with 31!
Phil Tuffnel and Katya impressed judges with a rumba and scored 28.
dear clauia a message for alisha. alisha how can you say to craig ” i can’t believe zoe has gone and i have to endure that “i have 2 points to make. 1. how did you feel when you heard everyone say to you “we all can’t believe arlene has gone and we have to endure that alisha dixon” i.e. you every week. 2. this is not just a dance competition it is a reality tv show for entertaintment which includes dance. if this were just a dance show you would not be a judge as you have no credentials for the job. how dare you be so rude to someone who is living their dream and hurt their feelings. you took the place of alrene who knew what she was talking about and yet you tell craig he is wrong as craig took the place of other dancers to remain in the competition. you realy shoudlnt have said to craig you are not as good as you think you are as you youreslef have no dance experience or qualifications to judge a dance competition.i really dont know how you have the gual to sit there each week giving these comments that are so hurtful. i was hoping that you would keep to giving comments to reflect the real persons view but instead you are beleiving you are a realy judge you have no right or qualifications and it is becoming a joke. i am so dissapointed in your demeanour and attitude to the people on the show.
i totally agree with arran’s comments above. Aleisha’s comments were incredibly harsh. Craig is not to blame for the public voting him in and yet she seemed to hold him responsible for staying in the competition. it was as if she personally has taken a dislike to Craig. Bring back Arlene!
Totally concur with above comments, tact and diplomacy definitely not the strong point of either Dixon or Tonioli but there was certainly no need to be downright nasty in their summing up of Craig, it was malicious and spiteful and fully intended to humiliate him on his own turf. I agree with the comments concerning Dixons (lack of)credentials, she was a worthy winner but that is strictly where it stops. Bring back Arlene or clear the board of judges and open a new box.
Yes Alesha was too harsh but I think she really didn’t like him/his dancing so clearly she couldn’t keep it in.
I think the judges are trying too hard to be panto this year instead of focussing on what they actually want to say.
What they don’t reaslise is that their honest comments are the most interesting!
It isn’t X factor judges!
Yes indeed the Judges are in grave danger of disappearing up their own egos, let\\\’s be honest, who had ever heard of any of them before strictly? very few I suspect; unfortunately but quite naturally they have all now run out of original ideas for appraisal and constructive comment and yes, it is becoming Panto and not really what the fans signed up for. Please get a new batch in, I\\\’m sure there is enough talent out there to provide constructive criticism with wit and good humour without the need to resort to insults and sarcasm. Looking forward to Darcy Bussell\\\’s contribution I\\\’m sure she will bring a touch of much needed class to the proceedings
I feel I have to comment on Saturday\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s strictly. Firstly, who does Alicia Dickinson think she is? her comments to Craig were totally out of order – it is not his fault that Zoë was voted out and he kept in. She has become, in my opinion, far too full of herself. You know the old expression: \"pride comes before a fall\". Winning strictly does not necessarily mean she is capable of being a judge – how did she ever get the job? I found Arlene far more professional and a pity she was let go. My other comment refers to Bruno. I find him totally over the top this year and am beginning to dislike him and his comments.
Maybe it is time for some more sympathic judges. It is after all Saturday night entertainment. I am sure for future shows celebrities will be reluctant to participate unless they are great dancers. Then, maybe the show would become too serious and loose its entertainment value.
Regards,
Marita
Alesha is not getting any better. She is very arrogant to the dancers. GET ARLENE BACK. I am boycotting, joining the other 2 million viewers who have left SCD this year since her arrival.
agree! especially about her comment to Craig, she was absolutely out of order.
if Arlene is out of the question why dont they invite camilla or Karen to do the job next year?
The wannabe Alesha is mundane and a waste of space, get Arlene back as a judge, Strictly is dwindling in taste and becoming diabolical.
Alesha’s comments were harsh, perhaps they were more staged remarks taken from her earpiece? At least we were relieved we did’nt get the normal “you wos, cos you wos”, and thumbs up! from her. Sack her she is irritating and useless. Get Arlene back.
How much longer do we have to with the inadequate air-head Alesha? Get Arlene back now.
How much longer do we have to put up with the inadequate air-head Alesha? Get Arlene back now.
Alesha is a dead loss to Strictly Come Dancing, no wonder the ratings are dropping every week. She would do better to go in The jungle Celeb get me out of her……..Strictly fans would love to see her gob full of cockroaches.
Alesha is too irritating for me to view, get her off SCD and in the jungle…. celeb GET ME OUT OF HER. Strictly fans would love to have her mouth full of slugs and taped up! Yeah, now that would be worth our licence fee money!
I am sick of hearing Alesha’s sob story about her partner’s infidelity. Gives us a break, he was going out with your best friend before you split them up, what comes around goes around! Alesha is useless, she has brought the quality of SCD down to her level. No wonder the xfactor won the ratings this time. Boycotted.
Why did the BBC foolishly change what was a great system? It was a disgustingly ageist and sexist move. Alesha has proved to be a sham and lost SCD its ratings. As a licence payer i am fumming to think you treat the viewers as numbskulls, we are insulted by your choice of Alesha.
Accept there is a problem, listen to the people who are paying for your wages and your choices. Being arrogant and gagging everyones opinions is unacceptable behaviour.
The judging is now becoming a total farce. Since Alesha’s appearance as a judge, the show has become non-descript, anyone could do what Alesha does and better, she is arrogant and rude, with a chip on her shoulder. Alesha irritates me and i tried to mute all her involvement, but now the whole show irritates me, boycotted.
Strictly has not attracted a younger audience by bring Alesha in, all they have done is upset many SCD fans. Alesha is horrible, loud, vulgar, that laugh of hers! Get Arlene back. WHY ARE WE WAITING?