Strictly Musicals Week is often the most dramatic show of the season, but this year’s edition took a shocking twist before the West End special even started. On Saturday afternoon, the BBC announced on social media that EastEnders actor Nigel Harman, who was due to dance a Charleston to Mary Poppins in the quarter-final, was absent.
The BBC statement read: “Unfortunately Nigel has suffered an injury which means he will not be able to perform on tonight’s show and has had to withdraw from Strictly.” This is the second withdrawal we’ve seen this season, following Amanda Abbington’s mysterious departure.
At the start of the show it was confirmed by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman that there would be no elimination and no voting this week, but the scores would carry over to the next show. That means we still have a final of three couples.
The subsequent show felt somewhat muted. Ellie Leach and Annabel Croft both did well with a Beauty and the Beast quickstep and Wicked foxtrot respectively, while Layton Williams finally got Craig Revel Horwood to raise his 10 paddle with an explosive Moulin Rouge! paso double.
But Bobby Brazier’s Dirty Dancing lift flopped, and we had strange distractions, like the cast of Fishermen’s Friend: The Musical “treating” us to a musical improvisation of the evening’s sailor shanty performances. I would have liked to share Harman’s painkillers then.
How will Strictly fill the time on the results show without a dance-off? Will Revel Horwood preview his pantomime lady? Will (God help us) Anton Du Beke sing? Join us to find out on Sunday evenings at 7.20pm on BBC One.
Nigel says a sad goodbye
Nigel Harman came to the studio to explain what had happened. “I jumped off a stage and was about to get caught by some really hot men – as I was flying I was Peter Pan, and when I landed I went to the emergency room,” he joked to Winkleman. Although he put on a brave face, Harman was clearly in pain, and both he and Katya Jones looked devastated.
Harman explained: “I did something painful to my rib. I’m high on painkillers right now.” He continued: “This hasn’t really sunk in yet.” With one arm folded over his sore side, he joked, “I feel like I’m doing a Napoleon impression.”
An emotional Jones told her partner: “It’s hard to talk right now. I loved every moment of us creating magic on the dance floor. I know you did this for your daughter and your parents. I know they will be very proud of you.’
Harman in turn said, “The only reason I am standing here is because of all the work you have put into me. Every day you come up with hundreds of great ideas. You push me, you challenge me and you support me. You are a part of me now.”
God, I hope I get it
If we can’t get our ballroom professionals to dance in the ballroom, at least they used their opening group number to celebrate a musical that is for and about dancers: A Chorus Line. Giovanni Pernice led the tough, ’80s-style audition (hello, leg warmers), before Karen Hauer took on the Cassie solo – although this was technically the version from the film, not the stage musical.
Of course we ended with One – the “singular sensation” climax with high hats and high kicks. The judges are joining in too, and Craig Revel Horwood has never looked happier. By the way, this great musical is touring Britain next year and is definitely worth seeing.
Ellie is a ballroom beauty
Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola danced their quickstep to Belle, the action-packed opening number from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – and the Strictly dance floor was also busy with extra dancers and a huge fountain. Leach handled it well (and she’ll certainly get West End offers after Strictly), and Coppola was very funny as the ponytailed Gaston, but it rather diluted their actual quick step. That’s the evil of Musicals Week, though – Leach still deserves credit for what she achieved, including her neat footwork and neat transitions. 9, 9, 9, 9 – 36. My score: 9
Annabel enchants us
Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe danced their foxtrot to For Good, the beautiful climax number from Wicked that celebrates the central friendship between a strange couple – and therefore also a beautiful encapsulation of this collaboration. Unlike Leach, there were no distractions here: just Croft and green-skinned Radebe gliding across the floor, with a beautiful (if occasionally droopy) frame, wonderful control and by far the best acting we’ve seen from Croft. maybe because it came from such an honest place. 8, 8, 8, 9 – 33. My score: 9
Layton goes full bohemian rhapsody
Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin performed an extraordinary full-throttle paso doble to the Backstage Romance medley from Moulin Rouge! The Musical, which combines Bad Romance, Tainted Love and more. Add in the extra dancers and Moulin Rouge heart, and it really looked like a scene from the show – or Williams’ impressive audition for it. There were recognizable paso figures, who danced convincingly in partnership, plus no fewer than splits and lifts. 10, 10, 10, 10 – 40. My score: 10
Bobby can’t reach the heights
Did we need another Dirty Dancing salsa? Certainly not. Natasha Kaplinsky, Pamela Stephenson, Louis Smith and Ashley Roberts have all done this exact routine, and it has become a boring cliché. Still, Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell threw themselves into it, with Brazier looking strong both as a leader and leading a group of male dancers. Unfortunately, they botched the famous lift – always a risk building your routine to such a recognizable move – and Brazier’s footwork was lumpy. Nice but not their best. 8, 8, 9, 9 – 34. My score: 8
Scoreboard
Layton and Nikita – 40
Ellie and Vito – 36
Bobby and Dianne – 34
Annabel and John – 33