Strictly Come Dancing Season 8

Synopsis

The eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing began with a red carpet launch show on 11 September 2010, and the competitive live shows began on 1 October. The series concluded on 18 December when Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev won the competition. According to BARB data, this series was the consistently highest rated of the show to date, peaking at 14.28 million viewers. There are 14 couples in this series and three new male professionals, Artem Chigvintsev, Robin Windsor and Jared Murillo. For series 8 the set has been totally revamped to try to attract more viewers to the programme, the backstage room where scores were given has been replaced by a tower above the dancefloor so the couples can watch as their team mates perform. In week 8 of the competition the live show was transmitted from the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. This series is presented by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly on Saturday. On Sunday, for the results show, Daly is joined by It Takes Two presenter Claudia Winkleman. The celebrities did not know their professional partners until they were introduced to each other at the launch show.

Main Cast

Bruce Forsyth

Self - Presenter

Age : 89 | Popularity : 7%

Tess Daly

Self - Presenter

Age : N/A | Popularity : 3%

Claudia Winkleman

Self - Presenter

Age : 52 | Popularity : 4%

Len Goodman

Self - Judge

Age : 80 | Popularity : 8%

Alesha Dixon

Self - Judge

Age : 45 | Popularity : 4%

Bruno Tonioli

Self - Judge

Age : 68 | Popularity : 4%

Craig Revel Horwood

Self - Judge

Age : 59 | Popularity : 7%

Episodes

Episode 1

13 September 2010 - Launch show

The Launch Show introduces the 14 new celebrities as they meet their professional partners for the first time. There is also a new set, new dances and three new male dancers. The new partnerships take to the floor for their very first group dance!

Episode 2

02 October 2010 - Week 1, Part 1

n the first live show of the new season, in a brand new set, seven of the contestants (Felicity, Matt, Goldie, Patsy, Scott, Pamela and Paul), and their professional partners perform either a Cha-Cha-Cha or a Waltz. There is no elimination in this first round.

Episode 3

03 October 2010 - Week 1, Part 2

The remaining seven contestants (Jimi, Ann, Gavin, Kara, Michelle, Peter and Tina), and their professional partners take to the dance floor performing either a Cha-Cha-Cha or a Waltz. There is music from special guests Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow.

Episode 4

09 October 2010 - Week 2

All 14 couples perform against each other for the first time this season, dancing either a Salsa or a Foxtrot. Last weeks judges points are added to this weeks, with Ann and Anton finding themselves at the bottom of the leader-board.

Episode 5

10 October 2010 - Week 2 Results

Claudia joins Tess as co host of this seasons results shows. There is music from special guest Robbie Williams, plus a special group show dance. Peter and Erin, and Goldie and Kristina find themselves in the bottom two, with Goldie and Kristina being the first to be voted out of the competition.

Episode 6

16 October 2010 - Week 3

Tina can't compete this week, as she has chickenpox, but the remaining 12 couples perform either a Quickstep or a Rumba. Pamela and James come top of the judges leader board with a score of 35, with Paul and Ola bottom with a score of just 12.

Episode 7

17 October 2010 - Week 3 Results

There are two professional dances, including Flavia in a 'Tango Unleashed'. Special guest Peter Andre sings his new single. Paul and Ola, and Michelle and Brendon find themselves in the bottom two, with Paul and Ola receiving the lowest votes and finding themselves out of the competition.

Episode 8

23 October 2010 - Week 4

Week four sees the 12 remaining couples perform either a Tango or a Charleston. Michelle Williams dances with Ian Waite this week, as her pro-partner Brendon was unavailable. Scott and Natalie, and Matt and Aliona find themselves tied in first place with 35 judges points, with Peter and Erin at the bottom of the leader-board with just 17.

Episode 9

24 October 2010 - Week 4 Results

In the week 4 results show there are two pro-dancer performances, one a 1940s based Jive, the other an Argentine Tango . There is music from special guest Neil Diamond. Michelle and Ian, and Peter and Erin find themselves in the bottom two, with Peter and Erin ultimately leaving the competition.

Episode 10

30 October 2010 - Week 5

In this Halloween Special, the remaining 11 couples perform a spooky version of either a Jive, Paso Doble, Argentine Tango or a Viennese Waltz. Kara and Artem receive this season's first '10', while Scott and Natalie top the leader-board with 39 judges points (three '10s' and a '9'). Ann and Anton are bottom with just 16.

Episode 11

31 October 2010 - Week 5 Results

There is a pro-group dance to 'Ghostbusters', and a Viennese Waltz from the Show-Dancers. Special guest Alice Cooper performs 'Poison'. Tina and Jared, and Felicity and Vincent both find themselves in the bottom two, with Tina and Jared receiving the lowest combined votes and leaving the competition.

Episode 12

06 November 2010 - Week 6

For the first time this season, the 10 remaining couples each perform a different dance. Kara and Artem find themselves top of the judges leader-board, with their Salsa getting a score of 36. Bottom again are Ann and Anton, their Charleston getting just 17 judges points.

Episode 13

07 November 2010 - Week 6 Results

In the week 6 results show there is a Rock'n'Roll show dance, plus a Pro-dance Foxtrot. There is music from special guest Bryan Ferry. Jimi and Flavia, and Michelle and Brendon find themselves in the bottom two after the judges scores and viewers votes are added, with Jimi and Flavia being voted off the show, much to the shock of the entire studio audience.

Episode 14

13 November 2010 - Week 7

The remaining 9 couples each perform a different dance. Scott and Natalie find themselves at the top of the judges leader-board when their Jive gets a score of 39. Kara and Artem are second with a score of 38 for their Argentine Tango. Ann and Anton again come bottom, with their Foxtrot getting a judges score of just 20.

Episode 15

14 November 2010 - Week 7 Results

In the week 7 results show, there is a pro-dance American Smooth, plus music from The Soldiers, Annie Lennox and Alesha Dixon. Michelle and Brendon find themselves in the bottom two for the fourth time, along with Felicity and Vincent, with Michelle and Brendon ultimately leaving the competition.

Episode 16

20 November 2010 - Week 8

In a Vegas themed special from the famous Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, the remaining 8 couples perform either a Samba or an American Smooth. There is also a pro-dance to the sounds of Viva las Vegas. Matt and Aliona find themselves top of the judges leader-board with their Samba receiving a score of 38, with Ann and Anton at the bottom for the 5th time, with just 13.

Episode 17

21 November 2010 - Week 8 Results

In the week 8 results show, from the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, there is a pro-dance from the female professional dancers, plus music from the cast of Cirque Du Soleil's Viva Vegas show, plus Duffy. Felicity and Vincent, and Patsy and Robin (for the first time), find themselves in the bottom two, with Felicity and Vincent leaving the competition.

Episode 18

27 November 2010 - Week 9

The remaining 7 contestants perform a Jive, American Smooth, Charleston, an Argentine Tango or a Rumba. Ann and Anton find themselves bottom of the judges leader-board for the 6th time with their Titanic-themed Rumba receiving a score of 14, with Pamela and James' Charleston putting them top with a score of 38.

Episode 19

28 November 2010 - Week 9 Results

In the week 9 results show there is a pro-dance Jive, a raunchy Rumba from James and Ola, and music from special guest James Blunt. Gavin and Katya, and Patsy and Robin find themselves in the bottom two, with Patsy and Robin being eliminated from the competition.

Episode 20

04 December 2010 - Week 10

Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly host a movie night special, as the six remaining stars try to put on Oscar-winning performances. The quarter finals have arrived, and the couples once again dance for judges' scores and viewer votes. Voting lines open at the end of the show, and another celebrity will leave during Sunday's results show.

Episode 21

05 December 2010 - Week 10 Results

There is a group show dance to ABBA tunes, Erin and Anton perform a classic Hollywood Waltz to the strains of Moon River, plus music from special guests The Manic Street Preachers. Scott and Natalie, and Ann and Anton find themselves in the bottom two, with Ann and Anton bottom and leaving the competition.

Episode 22

10 December 2010 - Week 11, Part 1

In the first show of the semi-finals, each couple perform two dances, an individual dance and a Swingathon. Kara and Artem get the highest judges score for the individual dance for their Viennese Waltz (39), with Gavin and Katya bottom with a score of 27 for their Samba. The Swingathon sees Gavin and Katya eliminated first to score just 1 point, with Kara and Artem winning and receiving 5 points. Show One ends with Kara and Artem leading with 44 judges points, and Gavin and Katya bottom with 28.

Episode 23

11 December 2010 - Week 11, Part 2

In the second show of the semi-finals, the couples perform their third dance. There is also music from special guests Take That. Pamela and James receive their 2nd perfect judges score of 40 for their Quickstep, with Gavin and Katya bottom with 31 for their Viennese Waltz. Over the two nights that puts Kara and Artem top with 83 judges points out of 85, and Gavin and Katya bottom with 59.

Episode 24

12 December 2010 - Week 11 Results

In the Semi-Final results show there is a group dance from the Strictly Show Dancers, plus music from special guests Take That. There is also a song and dance from Bruce. There is a double-elimination, with Gavin and Katya, and Scott and Natalie leaving the competition just short of the Grand-Final.

Episode 26

18 December 2010 - Grand Final - Part 2

At the start of the season finale, Pamela and James get voted off, having received the lowest public vote. The remaining 2 couples then perform both their favorite dance of the season, together will an all new dance that they've not done before. There is music from special guest Paloma Faith, to which the knocked out season's contestants take to the dance floor. Ultimately, Kara and Artem are emotionally crowned Champions 2010.

Episode 27

25 December 2010 - Christmas Special

Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly host a Christmas spectacular as five new celebrities take up the ballroom challenge. Broadcaster Fern Britton, actress and comedienne Ronni Ancona, business secretary Vince Cable, EastEnders legend June Brown and star of stage and screen John Barrowman all compete on the dancefloor. But will their routines be Christmas crackers or Christmas turkeys? Some familiar faces from the class of Strictly 2010 will also pop in for a special festive performance.

Crew

Department	Role	Name
Production	Producer	Clodagh O'Donoghue
	Executive Producer	Martin Scott
Department	Role	Name

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