Delta Goodrem impresses Strictly Come Dancing judges with Argentine tango after last-minute partner swap
Following last week's cha-cha-cha to the Jennifer Lopez hit Let's Get Loud, Delta Goodrem has continued to impress on the Strictly Come Dancing stage, wowing the judges with her performance of the Argentine tango to Everything But The Girl's Missing.
On Friday, it was announced on social media that Delta's professional partner Kai Widdrington would be unable to participate in Strictly Come Dancing this week due to illness and that fellow Strictly pro dancer Aljaž Škorjanec would dance in his place.
While waiting for her scores, Delta Goodrem revealed to host Johannes Radebe that Kai Widdrington was taken to hospital after he became ill on Friday.
The Eclipse singer said:
"Obviously, we're so sad that Kai got so unwell yesterday, and he had to go to the hospital. So, we're both sending him so much love watching tonight. I'm so proud of my dance partner and, no doubt, he'll be strong and come back."
Turning to Aljaž, she added:
"I'm in such amazing hands, obviously with Aljaž being so incredible, and such an inspiration. I couldn't believe late last night, the way he just jumped straight in and I was like, 'Wow, it really is different,' but he's so incredible that I felt very much in safe hands. [I'm] so honoured to dance with you."
The dance earned Delta and Aljaž a score of 35 out of 40, giving Delta her highest score of the series thus far and putting them in second place overall on the Strictly leaderboard this week.
A passionate performance
Despite facing the setback of switching dance partners at the last minute, Delta and Aljaž brought plenty of spins and sizzle to the Strictly stage, with the Aussie Eurovision star delivering a powerful Argentine tango in a stunning red dress, dedicating the dance to Kai Widdrington.
The pair received plenty of positive feedback from the judges for their routine.
Motsi Mabuse commented:
"To get a partner at the last minute [...] to actually have that kind of energy between the two of you, to have that atmosphere, to have that balance, to have that musicality, to have all of those aspects in the last minute, I rate you so high for that, Delta, well done for that!"
Shirley Ballas said of the performance.
"You were practicing with three different people this week. [...] This was sensual, it had a beautiful, sultry feeling to it. I loved the tracing of the feet on the floor and the control and to be able to come in Aljaž at the last moment and get that focus, it was a laser focus from you Delta towards Aljaž, which is unseen when you haven't danced with somebody before. I thought the whole thing set a beautiful mood. [...] There was an awful lot to like."
Anton Du Beke added:
"There was an awful lot to like and I liked an awful lot. It was tremendous. [...] It's just refined and beautiful to watch. I loved your timing, I loved your intensity with Aljaž. [...] It's beautiful, beautiful dancing, keep going like this because I love it!"
Craig Revel-Horwood described the performance as "really really superb".
The judges awarded Delta and Aljaž 9, 9, 8 and 9 points, giving them a total score of 35 for the night.
The score of 35 placed Delta in second place on the leaderboard, just four points behind Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby, who finished at the top of the leaderboard this week with 39 points for their Charleston routine.
Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu completed the top three, scoring 33 points for their Charleston routine.
The public has its say
Every week, the public gets to have its say and help decide the show's results in the public vote.
Following the nine performances, viewers were able to vote for their favourite couples, with the results of the public vote combined with the judges' scores from this week determining which two couples are at risk of leaving the competition.
The two couples at the bottom of the combined results will face each other in the dance-off, with one celebrity ultimately being eliminated.
At the end of Saturday night's show, three couples finished at the bottom of the leaderboard, scoring just 27 points.
EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and her dance partner Vito Coppola were in danger of facing the dance-off for their foxtrot to Have You Met Miss Jones? by Robbie Williams, while television and radio presenter Will Best and his dance partner Dianne Buswell earned the same score of 27 points, also placing them at risk of elimination.
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly trainer Graeme Hall and his dance partner Lauren Oakley completed the bottom three, scoring just 27 points for their quickstep routine to the theme from Happy Days.
The Strictly results show will take place on Sunday evening in the UK, with the two lowest-ranked couples going head-to-head in the dance-off.
What's next for Delta?
Delta Goodrem is due to return to the Strictly dancefloor next Saturday, as the competition heads to the famous Tower Ballroom in Blackpool for the week.
With the Australian singer placing in the podium positions of the Strictly leaderboard every week she has danced, Delta will be hoping to continue her impressive run of form in the competition.
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