Note: Written before Halloween results.
This week has been Halloween week with amazing dances, amazing songs and, of course, amazing costumes! My particular favourite of the night was Craig Revel Horwood's Morticia Addams. However one criticism is that this weeks special needs more spooky songs, not just costumes to make a Halloween statement.
This week has changed all my expectations of the contestants in Strictly 2022. Previous to Halloween week, I have been begging for Tony Adams to leave the competition, however, you have to remember that this competition is not all about being the best - it is about improvement. Adams has come from tripping up at every movement to basically perfecting a cha-cha-cha. He's surprising everyone, especially his dance partner Katya Jones.
Yet it was Week Five's elimination that saw Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer leave Strictly dressed as the one and only Victoria Wood, celebrating 100 years of the BBC. They faced Molly Rainford and partner Carlos Gu in the dance off before sadly exiting the show.
She is a great dancer, but how is she a celebrity?
Not knowing of Rainford, and only having heard of Jayde Adams before the show started, I had no stake in this dance off. But Jayde's routine, especially as it was to 'Barry and Freda', got me on the edge of my seat wanting, the second same-sex couple of the season to stay. When all four judges saved Rainford and Gu, my heart sank. My main question from this dance off was, 'Who is Molly Rainford?'
Some contestants in this year's line up have caused controversy with their dancing backgrounds as well as their celebrity backgrounds. Again - 'Who is Molly Rainford?' Is she even a celebrity? Where did she come from? Please note that this is nothing about her dancing - she is a great dancer - but how is she a celebrity? Other controversy surrounds Hollyoaks star Will Mellor, as viewers believe he has had past experience due to his unexpected dancing talent. Mellor has spoken about these claims stating that him having past dance experience is 'absolute nonsense'!
It's not all about being the best, it is about improvement
My predictions for Strictly 2022 are not as certain as previous years due to the standard of this year's line up. They are all very similar and greatly improving. Although, Tyler West has to be one of the celebrities to reach the final. His cha-cha-cha to the Banana Song, dressed as Beetlejuice, was incredible and definitely shows that he has what it takes to get there. Another contestant who has finale potential is Hamza Yasinn, who has been incredible since week one. His dance parter Jowita Przystal creates fab-u-lous choreography that suits Yasinn so well. Like the judges said on Halloween weekend, they are the best partnership and work so well together!
So, Tony Adams and Molly Rainford perhaps aren't the favourites to win, but the past will tell us, it's still all to play for. Saying that - Adams is yet to be in his second dance-off...