Lulu 's moves are found wanting as she finally tangos her way off Strictly

Didn't quite Shape Up Your Dance! Lulu 's moves are found wanting as she finally tangos her way off Strictly

By Holly Thomas

Last updated at 9:43 PM on 6th November 2011


Miniature blonde bombshell Lulu and her partner Brenden Cole were eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing tonight.

Audley Harrison & Natalie Lowe were announced as the other couple in the bottom two for the second week in a row.

However it appeared that Lulu's tango to Prince's Kiss wasn't enough to convince the judges or audience that she deserved to try her luck another week.

Eliminated: Singer Lulu and Brendan Cole said goodbye to the Strictly experience tonight, with Lulu taking her departure in good humour

Last dance: The pair took to the floor for the last time as they bid Strictly farewell

Reflecting on her Strictly experience, Lulu said: 'Everything about Strictly has been amazing. The people in front of the camera, the people behind the camera, the audience – the judges! I would never have missed it for a minute. It is just a lifetime’s very special experience.'


As she and Audley waited to hear the final verdict she appeared in good spirits, telling Tess Daly: 'I'm surprised I even got this far, so I'm grateful I'm even here.'

Before the elimination was announced Audley Harrison joked: 'I'm thinking like Beyonce- I'm a survivor, keep on surviving.'

Bottom two: Boxer Audley Harrison and his partner Natalie Lowe found themselves in danger of elimination for the second week in a row

Keeping his chin up: Audley joked that he was thinking about Beyonce, quipping 'I'm a Survivor'

But it was clear that Lulu's position was in jeopardy after a shaky performance on Saturday night, which divided the judges.

Guest judge Jennifer Grey gushed: 'Well, how gorgeous are you. That was phenomenal – I was really looking forward to seeing you dance, and I was not disappointed.'

Bruno however added: You drive me crazy! You started so well, then what happened, it started going! Gone. Lost it, and then just the frame went, no the frame went, he was just dragging you around at the end.'

Well worth it: Lulu said that being on Strictly had been the experience of a lifetime

The judge nevertheless appeared surprised by Lulu's exit, saying when she was announced in the bottom two: 'I am very very surprised. When she gets it right she can be very very good, but she has to be consistent, not getting it right one week and wrong the next.'

His opinion was shared by fellow judge Alesha Dixon, who said: 'Lulu – there always seems to be a little mishap with you, we’re getting used to it!'

On a more positive note Alesha added: 'What I love about you is that when you have a mishap you just carry on. It doesn’t throw you, so I have to commend you for that. I thought the use of steps was really good, my only criticism was that when it got to half way through the routine you lost a bit of that upper-strength, and I want you to maintain that throughout the whole dance'

Forgiving attitude: Guest judge Jennifer Grey was the most positive about Lulu's performance, while Alesha Dixon, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli all found fault

Acerbic Craig Revel Horwood was less enthusiastic, commenting: 'The head and neck placement for me was very, very poor. You were looking down an awful lot – I know Brendan has told you about that. Shoulders were very loose and that’s why everyone was talking about the frame.'

'You keep miming, which is driving me MAD… you need to stop that and tell the story,' he added.

Even he had a positive word however, finishing: 'But - I thought you had a lovely moment up on the bridge, a beautiful ronde, I saw what you did there and it was lovely and strong, and I really loved the routine.'

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Lulu opened yesterday's show performing the tango to Prince's Kiss with her professional partner Brendan Cole, which received a total of 27.

Boxer Audley Harrison and partner Natalie Lowe received a total of 27 for their Viennese Waltz to Avril Lavigne's I'm With You.

Alesha Dixon said: 'I much prefer you in ballroom dancing. You had such nice control. I just want you to push it a bit more. You're so charming and endearing.'

First to dance: Lulu and Brendan Cole opened Saturday's live show with a tango to Prince's Kiss

Mixed response: Both Bruno and Craig told Lulu she drove them 'crazy' and 'wild' with her miming

Tonioli added: 'I had no idea you could be so delicate, so charming. I could see the connection. You have to be careful on the drive. Sometimes it looked like you were walking.'

Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey bounced back this week as she topped the leaderboard after her bouncy Charleston.

The 23-year-old and her partner Pasha Kovalev received a 36 for their routine to Ray Henderson's Has Anybody Seen My Gal? - the second time they have topped the leaderboard this series.

Back on form: Chelsee Healey and Pasha Kovalev topped the leaderboard with 36 on Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing

Guest judge Jennifer Grey, who won the U.S. version of Strictly, Dancing With The Stars last year, made a comment related to her famous role in Dirty Dancing.

Grey enthused: 'You're the baby of the competition. But from one Baby to another, you keep dancing like that and nobody's gonna put you in the corner.'


Tonioli added: 'Chelsee the fabulous flapper. It was pleasing and teasing. You were driving the Charleston to the limit.'

Fast-paced: The couple's energetic Charleston drew praises from all the judges

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2058332/Didnt-quite-Shape-Up-Your-Dance-Lulu-s-moves-wanting-tangos-way-Strictly.html#ixzz1d3F8nXpv