Strictly 2024: 10 of the best dances – from Pete’s PVC trousers to Punam’s couple’s choice
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From Chris McCausland’s quickstep to JB Gill’s salsa and Toyah Willcox’s jive – here are some of the greatest highlights from the show this year. Bouncy, spangly, goofy: a Wicked-themed Charleston was always likely to play to Sarah Hadland’s strengths, but this musicals-week outing was a proper treat. The lifts were, ahem, gravity defying – as was Hadland’s evident core of steel as she flipped 180 degrees – but the best moments were when her feet briefly touched the floor perfectly in unison with the professional troupe. You have got to love how their grins seemed to genuinely match her own, even if the judges were miserly with their award of 38 points.
She was the second celebrity to be eliminated, but Toyah Willcox performed one of the most enjoyable routines of the whole series in week two, with her jive to Nutbush City Limits. In a stellar wig, tassels and cowboy boots, she crawled confidently across a bar before jumping into a routine of hard kicks and head tosses with her partner, Neil Jones. The vibe was Tina Turner meets Dolly Parton, the ragged energy recalling Willcox’s punk past. This is what 66 looks like – and thank goodness and Willcox for that.
It is wild that in 20 years, this was the first time a Strictly couple has performed to a traditional Bollywood song, and Dr Punam Krishan was clearly enjoying every minute of this dance to Bole Chudiyan from the hit film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Judge Motsi Mabuse has already named it her favourite moments of the series, and this life-affirming, high-energy piece of storytelling is a clear standout – not least for Krishan’s reflection that her four-year-old self would be proud. “That really moved me,” Motsi said. “I know so many people are watching you right now and feel so pleased to watch this on Strictly.”.
