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Strictly Come Dancing week two is here – and Nick Knowles has confirmed he will be performing after days of uncertainty.
Earlier this week, the DIY SOS host suffered a shouder injury, throwing his participation into question – but he has now revealed he will be performing despite having just “two days” to rehearse.
The first two weeks of the BBC competition have eased this year’s crop of stars into proceedings, with a launch show that saw the contestants partnered with their respective professional, and a first week of dances in which nobody was eliminated.
However, this week, the judges’ scores from last week will roll over and will then be combined with the viewer vote, meaning two couples will have to take part in the dreaded dance-off during Sunday’s results show (29 September).
Out of the 15 couples who danced in week one, the leaderboard was topped with 31 points by JLS star JB Gill and Amy Dowden, who made a triumphant return to Strictly after being too ill to compete in last year’s series as she was recovering from treatment for stage three breast cancer.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale is punk-rock singer Toyah Willcox, who scored 12 out of 40, and former Arsenal player Paul Merson, who received just 17 for his American Smooth to the football anthem “Vindaloo”.
All the songs and dances to expect in week two
Good evening, I’m Ellie, and I’ll be giving you all the glitziest updates on Strictly tonight. Is there going to be a moment that matches the deranged chaos of Paul Merson’s American Smooth to “Vindaloo”? It remains to be seen. In the meantime, here are the planned dances for week two…
Ellie Harrison28 September 2024 17:50
Nick Knowles’ DIY SOS colleagues send well-wishes after injury
Billy Byrne, the charismatic electrician on DIY SOS, has sent his well-wishes to Nick Knowles before he dances live on Strictly following his injury.
“There’s a lot of people sending a lot of love,” said Byrne. “Good luck, son.”
Ellie Muir28 September 2024 17:45
Everything you need to know about Strictly’s Chris
Ellie Muir28 September 2024 17:29
Strictly’s Pete Wicks ‘in love’ with dance partner Jowita Przystal, admits his podcast co-host Sam Thompson
Ellie Muir28 September 2024 17:10
Hidden ‘Strictly’ mics reveal what stars say to each other during live dance
Hidden microphones worn by the stars of Strictly Come Dancing have revealed what the dancers were really saying to each other during their first live performance.
For everyone apart from the couples on the dancefloor, it’s impossible to hear what the dancers say while they’re performing – even though we can see their mouths moving as the music plays.
However, a new clip released by Strictly includes the audio from last Saturday’s show, and it reveals some intriguing insights into what the pros and their celebrity partners say to communicate mid-routine.
Find out what they were saying here:
Jacob Stolworthy28 September 2024 16:45
Chris McCausland involved in rehearsal mishap
Chris McCausland has detailed a mishap he and Strictly Come Dancing’s Dianne Buswell suffered ahead of the series’ first live show.
The comedian, 47, who is the show’s first blind contestant, performed a cha cha with his professional partner to “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles on Saturday night (21 September).
Strictly’s judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke, were in awe of what McCausland had achieved and scored the performance 23 out of 40 points.
But McCausland, who lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition called retinitis pigmentosa, later revealed to the Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman that training had not been without its difficulties.
Jacob Stolworthy28 September 2024 16:15
Who is topping the ‘Strictly’ leaderboard?
While nobody was eliminated from last week’s Strictly, that doesn’t mean the episode has no bearing on what occurs tonight.
The judges’ scores will roll over and be combined with whatever the celebrities manage to get tonight.
With this in mind, here’s how the leaderboard currently stands:
Jacob Stolworthy28 September 2024 15:45
‘Strictly’ star admits to fancying professional partner
Strictly Come Dancing’s Sarah Hadland has admitted that she fancies her professional partner Vito Coppola.
The 53-year-old comedy actor, best known for playing the joke shop manager Stevie Sutton in the BBC sitcom Miranda, freely admitted to fancying the 32-year-old Italian ballroom dancer the minute they met.
“Yes, I fancied him. I’m alive, aren’t I?” she replied when asked if she found him attractive. “If you’re female and have a heartbeat, how could he NOT be anybody’s type?”
Jacob Stolworthy28 September 2024 15:15
Paul Merson finding ‘Strictly’ experience ‘really hard’
Paul Merson has made an admission about his participation on Strictly Come Dancing.
Days after the former Arsenal and England footballer performed an American Smooth to Fat Les song “Vindaloo”, Merson, who ended near the bottom of the leaderboard, said he was finding his time on the BBC show “really hard”. However, this is not due to the technicalities required to dance.
Jacob Stolworthy28 September 2024 14:45
Meet JB Gill, the current ‘Strictly’ favourite
Following in the footsteps of his JLS bandmate Aston Merrygold, performer JB Gill is among the 15 celebrities taking part in this year’s 20th anniversary series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The 37-year-old rose to fame in 2008 with his boyband JLS, comprised of singers Oritse Williams, Marvin Humes and Merrygold. While the band formed in 2006, it was their performances on 2008’s edition of The X Factor that saw the group become a household name.
Find out more about the current leaderboard winner here:
Jacob Stolworthy28 September 2024 14:15
