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At final, now we have it. A Strictly Come Dancing star has lastly been awarded the primary 40 of the collection.
Tasha Ghouri and Ajlaz Škorjanec closed Saturday night time’s major performances with an impeccable American Easy. The routine had all of it: bold and completely executed lifts, suitably easy footwork and emotional storytelling, because it was devoted to the skilled dancer’s daughter Lyra, who he shares with former Strictly professional Janette Manrara.
It’s removed from the primary time Tasha has impressed the judges however due to Craig Revel Horwood’s choosy marking, she’s by no means fairly managed the highest rating and as an alternative walked away with (nonetheless unbelievable) 39s on three events.
Her first 39 (and the collection’ first 10s) got here manner again in week 4, when she closed the present with a Charleston. The second was in Icons Week, when she carried out her poignant Couple’s Option to P!nk’s “What About Us”, and the third got here final Saturday, after her Paso Doble in Blackpool.
Quick ahead to now, week 10, and she or he lastly has a 40 to her title. However how late is it? In 2022, Fleur East and Vito Coppola had been awarded the highest rating in Blackpool however final 12 months, it took till the quarterfinal, when Layton William and Nikita Kuzmin landed the highest mark for his or her unbelievable Moulin Rouge!-inspired Paso Doble. Which is to say, this 40 has been awarded at a exactly common time, in comparison with the previous two collection.
The elusive rating has felt late due to how spectacular lots of the celebrities’ routines have been. Lots have been show-stopping and maybe ought to have been scored larger (comparable to Sarah Hadland’s Blackpool efficiency), however no person has been extra constant than the previous Love Island star.
Whereas it’s typically been shut, or tied, on the prime of the leaderboard, Ghouri and Škorjanec have ceaselessly had the sting on their rivals, and have come out on prime in eight of the present’s 11 weeks thus far, a feat no different 2024 contestant has managed greater than twice (there have been lots of joint first locations).
Will Ghouri win Strictly? That is still unclear. JB Gill has topped the leaderboard 3 times, whereas Hadland and Jamie Borthwick have achieved so twice. McCausland’s shifting performances have ceaselessly left the judges, and viewers, in tears and Montell Douglas has upped her recreation week-on-week. However no matter occurs within the subsequent few reside exhibits, Ghouri will at all times have the title of being the primary of the Class of 2024 to land the highest rating — and no person deserves it extra.
