Strictly Come Dancing 2020, week 4 results review: Max George kicked off - but did he deserve it?
Sweary, scary and occasionally cheery – it’s been a week of high drama on Strictly Come Dancing. First Nicola Adams and Katya Jones – Strictly’s inaugural same-sex couple – were forced to drop out after dance pro Jones tested positive for Covid (having apparently contracted the virus in the glamorous environs of a sandwich shop).
This was followed by news that judge Motsi Mabuse has been required to isolate for two weeks following an urgent trip back to Germany, with pro Anton du Beke stepping in (Motsi chimed in remotely on Saturday).
And then on Saturday night, after a streak of maximum points performances, Max George of boyband The Wanted turned the air blue with an f-bomb. After a run of shocks like that, what would Sunday's elimination episode have to do to surprise us? Buckle up. Here are your piping results show talking points.
Sad Max got the boot
This is a little ditty about Max and Dianne… They narrowly lost out in the dance-off judging, with Craig Revel Horwood and Anton du Beke giving the nod to the other elimination contenders Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez (it came down to a tiny difference in timing, said Anton) and Shirley Ballas revealing her vote would have gone to The Wanted singer.
He certainly left an impression during his short time on the series, whether dancing as Homer Simpson – yes that happened, it wasn’t a dream – or burning the watershed to the ground with his naughty choice in language.
“Max has done an absolutely amazing job – four incredible dances,” said tearful pro partner Dianne Buswell. “You’ve done me more than proud.”
But did he deserve to go? Or had the black mark he earned with that expletive contributed to his Strictly demise?
Was this the closest dance off yet?
Max and Dianne reprised their American Smooth to Harry Connick Jr’s version of It Had To Be You and received a standing ovation from the rest of the crew. Then Maisie and Gorka dusted down their Cha Cha Cha, to the strains of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and featuring the partners pretending to be a human Ken and Barbie.
Craig Revel Horwood was first to chime in. “Both couples took notes on board and showed improvement.” He went for Maisie and Gorka.
And then it was Anton. “It’s so close – they were both immaculate. It literally was just the smallest timing…For me, I’m going to have to say Maisie and Gorka.” Shirley would have gone for Max and Dianne. But they were already out.
The supermarket-themed group number was worth checking out
Just when you thought the pro dancers had exhausted every thematic possibility, they pulled out another surprise. A big romping performance saw them recreate a visit to the supermarket – though obviously without the facemasks or annoying music pumping in through the tannoy. Social media judged it trolly, madly wonderful too.
Blackpool Week will have a twist this year – in that it won’t technically be in Blackpool
Strictly was due to descend on Blackpool for its annual seaside special next week. Obviously that isn’t possible. Instead, Blackpool Week will come to Strictly, with a themed broadcast from Elstree Studios. If all is just and right in the world it will feature at least one pro dancer dressed as a giant stick of rock.
Anton enjoyed getting back on the dance floor
After his inaugural judging stint the previous night, Anton du Beke was having fun leading the pros through their opening number. Actually that was just the magic of TV pre-records. All the pro sequences were filmed in advance because of coronavirus. Hence Katya’s presence too.
And didn’t he love judging too?
Anton was visibly growing into his temporary job. He looked perfectly at home behind his forbidding, socially-distanced adjudicator desk. And he enjoyed delving into the nitty-gritty of the routines. “Most celebrity men over the years have terrible left arms – his has been perfect,” he said of Max George’s turn the previous night. So why didn’t you vote for him then, Anton?
Bruno beamed in from across the Atlantic
Fan favourite judge Bruno Tonioli is in America filming Dancing With The Stars and so was joining the fun at Elstree remotely. In the year of Zoom calls, how fitting that even escapist reality TV should feature dystopian webcams.
He had a lot to say, too. “Clara hit the spot!” he enthused of frontrunner, DJ Clara Amfo. “She had more fizz and sparkle than a magnum bottle of champagne. I feel there was the bang of the 1920s… Remember, Craig – you were there I think!” Over and out.
Max didn’t swear it all over again
The Wanted man had quickly apologised for his Saturday night faux-pas. And he made sure to keep a lid on his feelings as it was confirmed he would by vying with Maisie in the dance-off. But was it too little too late? Had his sweary error the previous harmed him in the public vote – and led to his eventual elimination?
HRVY is still chuffed after his full points on Saturday
“So happy,” said the singer and social media star. “I FaceTimed my mum. She was so happy and excited!” He added that he was looking forward to something called “Wicked Wednesday”. Us too, HRVY, us too. Bottom of the leaderboard JJ Chalmers, meanwhile, was thrilled to be spared elimination via the public vote. He revealed that he had turned up at the studio fully expecting to be in the dance-off.
The Vamps blew off the cobwebs
Cometh the pandemic, cometh the guitar slinging boy-band. It is fair to say The Vamps would not be every rock purist’s tall-haired beat combo of choice. But these are abnormal times (for proof of just how abnormal check out the lead singer’s diamante scarf). And The Vamps undoubtedly created a splash as they belted out their single Married In Vegas.
It sounded slightly like Robbie Williams fronting The Killers – and was the perfect respite from the high-torque tension on the dance-floor. And that despite an early bit where it seemed to all come shuddering to a halt. This was quickly revealed to merely be the drummer winding up for a dramatic solo. You had us there guys!
