Strictly Come Dancing’s second live show got emotional on Saturday night as celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay broke down in tears after watching his daughter Tilly and professional partner Nikita Kuzmin top the leaderboard alongside Sara Davies.
The notoriously hot-headed star couldn’t stop the tears from flowing as he and wife Tana proudly watched their daughter, 19, perform an impressive Charleston in the closing moments of the BBC show, bagging themselves an impressive 34 points out of 40.
Meanwhile, McFly’s Tom Fletcher and his partner Amy Dowden missed this week’s show after testing positive for Covid-19, with the pair being given a bye until the following week.
Proud: Strictly Come Dancing’s second live show got emotional on Saturday night as celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay broke down in tears after watching his daughter Tilly and professional partner Nikita Kuzmin top the leaderboard alongside Sara Davies
Tilly and Nikita, 23, who had set tongues wagging this week due to their sizzling on stage chemistry, took on the Charleston and danced to Yes Sir! That’s My Baby by Firehouse Five Plus Two.
And their routine went down very well with the audience as they were met by thunderous applause, with Gordon and Tana getting emotional even before the scores were in.
Spotting Gordon crying, host Tess pointed out: ‘Oh darling, everyone’s on their feet, that was so much fun! Your dad Gordon shed a tear, he’s so proud of you!’
When it came to the comments, the judges were full of praise, with even acid-tongued Craig praising Tilly – mainly due to him being ‘nervous’ at Gordon sat right behind him.
Tears: The notoriously hot-headed star couldn’t stop the tears from flowing as he and wife Tana proudly watched their daughter, 19, perform an impressive Charleston in the closing moments of the BBC show, bagging themselves an impressive 34 points out of 40
Wow! Tilly and Nikita, 23, who had set tongues wagging this week due to their sizzling on stage chemistry, took on the Charleston and danced to Yes Sir! That’s My Baby by Firehouse Five Plus Two
He remarked: ‘I really and truly loved that. The energy was fantastic, I think you’re fantastic! Brilliant!’
Motsi branded her role ‘role model’ before adding ‘well done!’, while Shirley described her as a ‘powerhouse’ and said that she was ‘not expecting that.’
The head judge concluded: ‘Congratulations to you, what a way to close our show!’
Following the dance, tilly told Claudia: ‘It’s been the best week and I never thought I would be able to have done that a couple of weeks ago.
‘It was something that I didn’t love but my favourite phrase is, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable”.’
Look at them go! Their routine went down very well with the audience as they were met by thunderous applause, with Gordon and Tana getting emotional even before the scores were in.
Dancing to the top: Tilly and Nikita showed off their skills on the dance floor
So sweet: Spotting Gordon crying, host Tess pointed out: ‘Oh darling, everyone’s on their feet, that was so much fun! Your dad Gordon shed a tear, he’s so proud of you!’
The camera then cut back to her famous father who was still wiping away the tear following her stellar performance.
Meanwhile, Tilly wasn’t the only one topping the leaderboard as Sara Davies had come joint top after doubling her score from week one.
The Dragon’s Den star had last week finished up in last place after scoring a disappointing 17 points, but her luck had changed this week following her incredible foxtrot with pro partner Aljaz Skorjanec, with the pair bagging a credible 34 points.
The judges were full of praise for Sara, with Craig telling Tess: ‘Look at what we’ve just witnessed, absolutely incredible’, adding to Sara: ‘Ballroom is definitely your bag my darling.’
Congratulations! Meanwhile, Tilly wasn’t the only one topping the leaderboard as Sara Davies had come joint top after doubling her score from week one
Transformation: The Dragon’s Den star had last week finished up in last place after scoring a disappointing 17 points, but her luck had changed this week following her incredible foxtrot with pro partner Aljaz Skorjanec, with the pair bagging a credible 34 points
While Motisi remarked: ‘The biggest improvement of the week without a doubt. This is a whole different woman on the dancefloor Just amazing the power of simplicity well done.’
Shirley could praise her high enough, stating: ‘My goodness! Bottom of the leaderboard last week and you come in here, that heel turn just makes my heart sing… I don’t think I’ve got a mark in there that’s high enough for you today.’
In a poignant moment, Anton told Sara: ‘As a little treat for me, if you’d be so kind at some stage in the future I would be honoured if you would allow me to dance that dance with me.’
Elsewhere, things had already got off to a fiery start as Craig Revel Horwood took a sarcastic swipe at fellow judge Anton Du Beke for failing to spot Katie McGlynn’s mistakes during her Jive with partner Gorka Marquez.
Former Coronation Street star Katie, 28, took to the floor this week to perform a Jive to Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo.
But while she gave it her all on the dancefloor, Craig spotted a fair few mistake and told off his co-star for failing to pick up on the errors.
After Shirley and Motsi gave their verdicts and pointed out Katie’s mistakes, Anton then remarked: ‘Luckily for you, I didn’t actually notice the mistakes. I might have been jotting something down so you might have got one passed me.
‘I enjoyed the performance and your acting – you’re a fine actress. You brought that to the performance.’
However, Craig didn’t appear impressed by Bruno being distracted, quipping: ‘Anton you need to keep a watchful eye, darling! A little note there for Anton’, with his comments met with boos from the audience while Anton laughed off the dig.
Oh dear! Elsewhere, Craig Revel Horwood took a sarcastic swipe at fellow judge Anton Du Beke for failing to spot Katie McGlynn’s mistakes during her Jive with partner Gorka Marquez
Didn’t see: Former Corrie star Katie, 28, took to the floor this week to perform a Jive to Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo. But while she gave it her all on the dancefloor, Craig spotted a fair few mistake and told off his co-star for failing to pick up on the errors
Then listing his own slew of criticisms, Craig called out Katie for having ‘no retraction’ being ‘stompy’ having no sharpness or stamina, finishing off his rant by adding: ‘You were flagging by the end.’
It comes as Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly ‘frustrated’ as Katie’s Hollyoaks filming commitments clash with her rehearsals for the show.
The actress is currently juggling her role playing Becky Quentin on the Channel 4 soap with gruelling rehearsals for the BBC dance show alongside professional partner Gorka Marquez.
However, it’s said Strictly bosses are unimpressed the star’s filming at Hollyoaks’ Liverpool studios are cutting into her vital dance training, with it reported ‘tensions are rising’ backstage.
Conflicts: It comes as Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly ‘frustrated’ as Katie’s Hollyoaks filming commitments clash with her rehearsals for the show (pictured with Gorka Marquez)
Busy bee: The actress is currently juggling her role playing Becky Quentin on the Channel 4 soap with gruelling rehearsals for the BBC dance show alongside Gorka
A source revealed to The Sun: ‘Tensions seem to be rising as the actor struggles to juggle her two major commitments.
‘There is no suggestion that Katie herself is to blame. She is being pulled in one direction by Hollyoaks and in the other by Strictly.’
They added of the former Coronation Street star: ‘But there’s no doubt she is exhausted by her schedule and she isn’t getting in as much practice as she would like with Gorka, who’s even arranged rehearsal sessions in Manchester to make life easier for her.’
When contacted by MailOnline a Hollyoaks spokesperson said: ‘Earlier this week exterior scenes were delayed by wet weather.
‘We then rescheduled a scene so Katie could attend her training. We will all be rooting for her tonight.’
Elsewhere, while there’s drama in the studio, one person missing the action was Tom Fletcher, who was forced to miss this week’s show after testing positive for Covid-19.
Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly addressed tom and Amy’s absence, remarking that they missed the pair and they wished them well ahead of their return next week.
Tom admitted on Saturday that he is ‘frustrated’ by not being able to perform on Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday after contracting Covid-19 earlier this week.
The McFly singer, 36, shared his heartache as he took to Instagram to post a picture of his wife Giovanna and son Max, three, peering through a glass window in a door as they visited him during his isolation.
Infuriated: Tom Fletcher, 36, admitted he was ‘frustrated’ by not being able to perform on Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night after contracting Covid-19 earlier this week
Tom told fans in a video on his Instagram Story: ‘Today is a tough day. It’s a Strictly day. I’m going to be watching Strictly tonight.
‘I’ll be cheering everyone on. I desperately, desperately, wish I was there dancing. I know Amy will be doing the same and it will be incredibly frustrating.’
First to dance on the night was CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson, 27, and Nancy Xu, 30, who showed off their moves with a Cha Cha to Reach Out, I’ll Be There by Human Nature.
The energetic routine garnered a standing ovation from the audience and head judge Shirley Ballas, who remarked: ‘I’m in complete shock. I saw some fantastic straight legs, lowered heels and rhythm in you body’.
Whoops: After Shirley and Motsi gave their verdicts and pointed out Katie’s mistakes, Anton then remarked: ‘Luckily for you, I didn’t actually notice the mistakes
Harsh: However, Craig didn’t appear impressed by Bruno being distracted, quipping: ‘Anton you need to keep a watchful eye, darling! A little note there for Anton’, with his comments met with boos from the audience while Anton laughed off the dig
She added that the routine was ‘fantastic to watch’ and that if Rhys ever made it to the West End, she’d certainly be on the front row.
Meanwhile Anton Du Beke, who this year had replaced Bruno Tonioli, gushed: what a way to start the night!
He went on to comment on Nancy’s great choreography before noting Rhys could have a ‘little more fluidity’ as his cha cha part was ‘a little bit stilted’, adding that it was ‘terrific’ overall.
Scathing: Then listing his own slew of criticisms, Craig called out Katie for having ‘no retraction’ being ‘stompy’ having no sharpness or stamina, finishing off his rant by adding: ‘You were flagging by the end’
Verdict: Katie and Gorka could only watch on as Craig criticised Anton before moving onto their routine
Craig Revel Horwood agreed with Anton as he remarked that their dance at times was ‘spikey, stiff’, with ‘no hip action in cha cha cha’, but added that he ‘finished all moves and sharp, enormous enemy – brilliant
While Motsi Mabuse said Rhys ‘gave us more and more’ this week, noting that he had ‘so much energy.’
The judge finished off her critique by joking: ‘If I’m going to go to a party, it’s with you Rhys!’
Next up was EastEnders actress Nina Wadia, 52, who was tasked with dancing the Tango this week to Would I Lie To You? By Eurythmics alongside Neil Jones, 39.
Missing: Meanwhile, McFly’s Tom Fletcher and his partner Amy Dowden missed this week’s show after testing positive for Covid-19, with the pair being given a bye until the following week
And though she gave it her all, she faced some harsh criticism from the judges.
While Anton noted that she made ‘a few mistakes’ and that her ‘head needed work’, Craig was far from sympathetic as he called out Nina’s poor frame and her ‘extremely ropey’ footwork, concluding: ‘I don’t think this was your dance.’
Motsi had some positives to say, noting she felt Nina’s strong commitment to the character, but added that the actress needed ‘To get control of your spine.’
Hosts: Strictly Come Dancing returned for its second live show of the series on Saturday, with the 14 celebrity contestants and their professional partners hoping to avoid being the first to be eliminated in Sunday’s results show
While Shirley commented Nina for recovering from her mistakes, telling her: ‘A very very good effort, well done.’
Third to dance was Adam Peaty, 26, and Katya Jones, 32, who danced the Quickstep to Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet.
Craig didn’t hold back on the negatives on the dance, moaning: ‘the frame wasn’t great, a lot of gapping going on, timing issues throughout’, however, he was quick to add: ‘the characterisation was excellent!’.
Shirley went on to speak about the importance of having contact with your partner during the quickstep as she observed that Adam was ‘100% competitive’.
While Anton gave Adam good advice on his arms, joking that taking his advice was ‘the best thing you’ll ever do for the rest of your life!’
It comes amid reports that bosses are considering ‘scrapping the show’s live audience and re-introducing quarantine bubbles for celebrities and their professional dancers.’
A crisis meeting is said to have been held after Tom Fletcher, 36, and his partner Amy Dowden, 31, tested positive for Covid despite having been double-jabbed.
A source has revealed ‘there is nothing they aren’t willing to consider’ in order to keep the show rolling full steam ahead.
They told The Sun: ‘These would be radical steps to take to increase safety on the set, but given the difficulties producers have had over the past two weeks, there’s nothing they aren’t willing to consider.
‘But if they did have to go down this route, it would be a logistical nightmare and might leave some of the stars with a dilemma as many of them are juggling their dance training with their day jobs.’
Decisions: It comes amid reports bosses are considering ‘scrapping the show’s live audience and re-introducing bubbles’ after Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden contracting Covid
Strictly’s live shows currently take place before a small audience with cast and crew adhering to social distancing measures.
It follows the news that Strictly bosses admitted they ‘aren’t bulletproof’ to COVID-19 in the wake of Tom and Amy’s positive tests.
It’s understood that show producers were quietly ‘dismayed’ after hearing of their shock diagnosis on Sunday, with the pair now ruled out of Saturday’s show while they recover from the contagious respiratory bug.
Amy, who received her COVID-19 vaccination prior to contracting the illness, had previously accompanied Tom and his McFly bandmates during their current UK tour.
But the BBC tell MailOnline there are no plans to increase testing because they are ‘satisfied’ the measures they currently have in place are as good as they can be.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Sunday at 7.05pm on BBC One.
Plans: But the BBC are unlikely to increase their once a week testing because they are ‘satisfied’ the measures they currently have in place are as good as they can be (pictured is Amy’s post after the news)