It may be chillier outside, but the telly was scorching hot on Saturday, as Strictly Come Dancing sashayed into Week Two - disproving the notion that the BBC is far too wholesome for this day and age.
The skirts were short, the bodies ripped, and Lesley Joseph fondled her way around the dancefloor with expert precision, delight and a mean twinkle in her eye.
The 70-year-old actress - famed for her portrayal of the man-eating Dorien in Birds of a Feather - reveled in her role as seductress, revealing to the cameras before taking to the floor: “This week, we’re going to have much more fun.”
She then teased partner Anton du Beke with a saucy cha-cha to the song “Perhaps, Perhaps”, culminating in an all-too-friendly bum grab. Head Judge Len Goodman was suitably entertained, commenting: "Like champagne, cha-cha can be fizzy and it can be flat. This was full of fizz. I thought it was terrific”.
Less impressed was the ever-unsmiling Craig Revel-Horwood, who observed: “You certainly show no sign of inhibition, darling. But I could have done without that bum rub”. That makes the two of us, Craig.
The couple racked up 26 points, placing them towards the lower end of the leaderboard; but as Sunday’s results came in, they sailed into week three - proving they are a popular pair with the viewing public.
Daisy Lowe, meanwhile, pulled out another star turn, coming in third on the leaderboard after dazzling the judges with her own cha-cha to Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You”.
The model and her partner Aljaz Skorjanec evoked the 1950s, as they frisked and frolicked around the American-style diner mise-en-scene.
Bruno Tonioli was suitably affected, declaring: “Daisy always serves a hot dish! Oozing natural sex appeal; I am hooked.”
Co-judge Darcey Bussell agreed, telling her: “You are such a natural mover. You’re sassy and you’ve got attitude.”
They may have fallen two points since last week’s waltz, but the couple also fared well in the public vote, placing them in good stead for next week’s movie-themed danceathon.
Finally, once again, Judge Robert Rinder was in a class of his own, cutting more shapes with his facial contortions than Ed Balls produced in his entire dance.
The criminal barrister began his segment by confirming that he is the good Jewish boy we all know him to be, after inviting his grandparents to watch him practice and earnestly telling the cameras that he hoped to make them proud.
He then took to the dance floor with his partner Oksana Platero for an exuberant and theatrical American Smooth to “Marvin Gaye” by Charlie Puth.
Bruno was pleased, telling him: “You can actually dance, you know.”
Craig, however, had more to critique, noting: “Unfortunately, you have hands like a bricklayer’s trowel, darling. And next time you dance, look at your face in the mirror.”
But not to outdone in his razor-sharp one-liners, the TV judge quickly quipped back: “You’re just jealous I can smile this broadly.”
The dancing duo waltzed off with 27 points, placing them in the middle league on the leaderboard. They too whirled into week three.
As if we hadn’t already had enough drama for one weekend, Sunday’s results culminated with a dramatic twist, taking the celebrity elimination straight to the public vote and sending TV presenter Melvin Odoom home after his rival, singer Anastacia, was deemed too injured to dance.
This only goes to show that, while we may be only two weeks in, this year’s Strictly is proving to be more sensational than ever before. And hot, too. Positively scorching.
By Charlotte Oliver
