Skip to main contentSkip to footer

Strictly week one highlights: HRVY tops the leaderboard, Katya and Nicola's first dance and more

See the highlights from the night


strictly come dancing new
Aisha Nozari
Online Writer
Updated: October 24, 2020
Share this:
glitterball© Photo: BBC

The night is finally upon us! Strictly Come Dancing 2020's first live show has aired, and your favourite famous faces have been working hard all week to perfect their routines. 

MORE: Maisie Smith shows off toned legs in tiny workout shorts

Scroll down for all the highlights of week one, and why not remind yourself which couple danced to what?

Caroline Quentin and Johannes Radebe perform an American Smooth to Sheena Easton's 9 to 5.

Clara Amfo and Aljaž Škorjanec do the Cha Cha to Dua Lipa's Don't Start Now.

Jacqui Smith and Anton Du Beke dance the Foxtrot to Monty Python's Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez take on the Samba to Gloria Estefan's Samba.

Nicola Adams and Katya Jones try the Quickstep to Get Happy by Ella Fitzgerald.

Ranvir Singh and Giovanni Pernice perform the Paso Doble to Beyonce's End Of Time.

Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse also Cha Cha to Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba.

HRVY and Janette Manrara do the Jive to Faith by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande.

Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer also Cha Cha to Daði Freyr's Think About Things.

Jason Bell and Luba Mushtuk have picked the American Smooth to My Girl by The Temptations.

JJ Chalmers and Amy Dowden do the Waltz to Louis Armstong's What A Wonderful World.

Max George and Dianne Buswell pick the Tango to James Bay's Best Fake Smile.

tess and claudia outfit © Photo: Instagram

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were dressed to the nines for Saturday's show, with Tess stunning in a sequinned, off-the-shoulder black jumpsuit and Claudia donning the most beautiful ombre gown that featured delicate white spots.

Tess opted for some killer black stilettos, while Claudia wowed in white heels.

MORE: Shirley Ballas' romantic dinner date with boyfriend Danny almost goes wrong - video

tess speaking © Photo: BBC

Following the opening dance, Claudia revealed that there was NHS staff in the audience on Saturday, saying: "Thank you so much for everything you have done for us and everything you continue to do."

As for judge Bruno Toniolo, he might not be on the judging panel this year, but Tess confirmed that he'd be checking in virtually at the end of the show.

KEEP CLICKING FOR MORE PHOTOS

jamie laing and karen hauer strictly

Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer scored themselves a grand total of 14 for their dance, not bad for their very first time on the dancefloor! 

caroline quentin strictly johannes

Caroline and Johannes earned themselves an enormous round of applause for their American Smooth, with Tess asking: "Did that feel aslovely as it looked?"

Judge Motsi Mabuse showered the actress in praise, telling her: "No, I didn't see a dancer. I saw a dancing queen. I want to say thank you."

Even Craig was impressed, telling her: "You just have to watch that your feet aren't too turned out," before adding: "Elegant and graceful, I loved it."

The pair earned a score of 21!

dianne buswell and max george strictly

Max George and Dianne Buswell's Tango went down a treat with the crowd, and even Tess told Max: "You should be very proud of yourself."

On to the judges, Craig told the popstar: "I would have liked to see more of a V shape," before adding: "You're very watchable, I must say."

Shirley called it a: "Fierce tango!"

As for Mosti, she told the duo: "While you're dancing I think you have it all. You have the potential." 

As for their score? A strong 17!

High hopes for these two, then! 

clara amfo and aljaz strictly

Clara and Aljaz's Cha Cha Cha went down a storm with the audience and Tess alike, with the host telling the duo: "What a first dance!"

"There's not a part of your body that can't move," Shirley told Clara, with Motsi adding: "Every single step you did, you were spot on. High energy, keep it rolling."

As for Craig, he said: "Stompy," before adding: "I thought you could do with straighter legs." He did add that he "loved the disco element", though! 

They even got a message from Dua Lipa herself! 

"I just wanted to send you lots of love, you're going to absolutely smash it!" said the star.

No wonder they ended up with a score of 19! 

anton du beke jacqui smith strictly

Jacqui Smith and Anton du Beke were next up, with Tess revealing to the audience that the MP's only dance experience was "shimmying around the kitchen".

You wouldn't have thought it, though, because once on the dance floor, Jacqui certainly strutted her stuff! 

Motsi was certainly chuffed with Jacqui's efforts, saying she looked like "a real dancing girl".

Craig called her efforts "a little bit lumpy" (let's agree to disagree, Craig) while Shirley said that she was "pleasantly surprised". 

Jacqui and Anton earned themselves a score of 13.

Oh, and did you spot Jacqui's mum Jill in the audience? How sweet! 

amy dowden and jj chalmers dancing© Photo: BBC

JJ had been longing to learn the Waltz for some time, and we’re so impressed with his efforts!

JJ - who is partnered with Amy Dowden - revealed that his brother was in the audience, adding that he was excited that he would "finally get to see the dance that I should have done at his wedding".

Incredibly, Motsi and Shirley got to their feet once the dance was over, with Tess revealing that it had "made her emotional".Craig said he did the beautiful routine justice, with Shirley saying: "I loved the music, I love what it all represented. Your brother must feel so proud of you."

Motsi concluded the judges' comments by telling JJ in part: "I loved it. I'm getting a little bit emotional. That's my dad's favourite song, and I feel like you captured, for me, what ballroom dancing [is]."

JJ's wife and daughter appeared via videolink, with his other half saying: "You're making us very very proud," and his daughter adorably adding: "Hi daddy I like your dancing so much."

A very well-deserved score of 19.

gorka marquez and maisie smith strictly

Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez's performance was the definition of electric, leaving the judges and audience members alike on their feet!"You are a force of nature," Tess told the EastEnders star.

Shirley said: "You were an absolute firecracker. You've really brought some Brazil to this evening," with Motsi telling a very chuffed Maisie: "I mean girl power."

Maisie's parents were there to support their daughter, and even gave the camera a shimmy!

It's no wonder they got a score of 24!

jason bell dancing© Photo: BBC

Jason Bell and Luba Mushtuk rocked their American Smooth, and the former athlete looked to be having the time of his life on the dancefloor! 

Even Tess couldn’t help saying: "You look like you enjoyed every single moment of that."

Motsi hit the nail on the head when she said: "From now on I'm going to start calling you Jason Joy."

Craig wasn't so impressed, telling the dancers: "I wasn't fond I have to admit of the fusion. I think it's a risk that didn't pay off."

Shirley added: "I thought that you gave 100%. Most sports people hold back a little bit, but you didn’t."

Jason and Luba earned themselves a score of 16.

ranvir singh and giovanni pernice strictly© Photo: BBC

Ranvir Singh and her partner Giovanni Pernice gave it their all to Beyonce, and in the behind-the-scenes footage the journalist revealed that she'd been waking up at 2.45am just so that she can balance her day job with Strictly rehearsals!

The presenter looked sensational in a bright red dress, and as they wrapped up their routine Tess told them: "that was a fierce first dance."

Even Craig was impressed, saying: "Darling you used that dress like a diva drag queen, like your life depended on it, I absolutely loved it. A great first dance."

Shirley echoed: "The basic cotemporary style you gave to that was fabulous," with Motsi adding: "For me you are the one that has most improved since the launch show."

It's no wonder Ranvir said that she was "getting quite emotional" as they waited for their scores.

The famous mum also revealed she'd been getting some help practicing from her son!

A well-deserved score of 21.

nicola adams katya jones strictly© Photo: BBC

Nicola Adams and Katya Jones smashed their Quick Step in fabulous coordinating outfits, and their routine even featured a firework at the end – how's that for going out with a bang?

Shirley said: "Light on your feet, whipped round the floor, this is just a partnership I'm really going to enjoy."

"You haven't disappointed me," added Motsi, with Craig telling the pair: "They proved it [the same-sex partnership] is absolute dynamite."

When asked how she felt about the comments, Katya told her: "I'm just really happy we didn't disappoint the judges."

They'll no doubt be chuffed with their score of 21!

bill bailey oti mabuse strictly© Photo: BBC

Bill Bailey played the keyboard and drums during his Cha Cha Cha with Oti Mabuse – surely that's a Strictly first? Their joyful dance had the audience clapping the whole way through, and we loved Bill's bright yellow trousers!

"That was so much fun!" gushed Tess. "You two are just a whole mood," Motsi told her sister and Bill. Craig quipped: "I think Mr Baily you've created a whole new dance genre with that one my love. It was like you were dancing on hot coals after ten double expressos."

Shirley sweetly told them: "I think that was inspiring for every man watching. You are a rocket for sure. You brought the biggest smile to my face."

Bill and Oti earned themselves a score of 15.

hrvy and janette manrara strictly

It was the Jive for HRVY and Janette Manrara, and judging by the behind-the-scenes footage captured in the rehearsal studio, the popstar was running low on energy at some points!

Janette told the camera: "I think at some points I was talking to HRVY and it was going in one ear and out the other because of exhaustion."

"The Jive was absolutely spectacular," gushed Craig. "I still think HRVY's the one to watch." "You are on top of your game," Shirley added, with Motsi – who gave the pair a standing ovation – saying: "For me this was the best first dance I have ever seen."

High praise indeed! It's no wonder, then, that HRVY and Janette racked up an amazing score of 25, which puts them at the top of the leaderboard!

Sign up to Off Camera for all the gossip and goings-on from the wonderful world of TV and film

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More TV and Film

See more