Alexandra Burke has topped the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ leaderboard with an impressive quickstep.
The 29-year-old singer and her partner Gorka Marquez took to the iconic Blackpool Tower ballroom during Saturday’s (18.11.17) episode of the BBC Latin and ballroom dance competition, and scored an almost perfect 39 out of 40 for their quickstep, which they performed to ‘We’re In The Money’ from musical ’42nd Street’.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood – who was the only judge to not score Alexandra a 10, opting instead to score her a nine – called the dance "incredible", as he said: "[There was] a bit of gapping at the end but is there nothing you can’t do? Incredible, amazing."
Head judge Shirley Ballas, meanwhile, said she "loved the musicality, high-energy, full of life, light and bright", and Darcey Bussell said: "Loved the choreography, stillness in topline was effortless, gorgeous".
Bruno Tonioli added: "Precious as 24 carat gold – detail, style, accuracy and intricacy, it was magical like a classic Hollywood movie."
Alexandra might have topped the leaderboard, but she faced some tough competition, with Gemma Atkinson and Aljaz Skorjanec’s American smooth scoring her 38, putting her just one point behind Alexandra.
Shirley told Gemma: "You’re a great student, listened to the man leading, I’m quite emotional – wonderful."
Whilst Bruno added: "You’re moving uptown with this dance, weightless glow, elegant, exquisite arms, magical, you’re working hard and getting better every week."
Elsewhere, it was Susan Calman and Kevin Clifton who found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard, having scored just 25 for their Pasodoble.
Jonnie Peacock and his partner Oti Mabuse – who faced elimination in the dance-off last week, but were saved by the judges who voted to send home Ruth Langsford – found themselves near the bottom, as they were give 26 for their tango.
Two more couples will face the dance-off and one will be eliminated during Sunday’s (19.11.17) results show.