By ANDREA MAGRATH

Flop: While Lulu had a lot of fun on the dance floor during the first episode of Strictly Come Dancing, she forgot most of her choreography and received the lowest score of the night

After the first episode of 2011's Strictly Come Dancing, the contestants to beat are Holly Valance and Anita Dobson.

The Australian pop star and former EastEnders actress tied first place on the premiere episode of the season with a score of 28.

Miss Valance was the first to take to the dance floor and despite looking gorgeous in a tiny glittering gold number and bouffant hair, the 28-year-old showed her nerves.


Impressive: Holly Valance was the first to perform and received the tied highest score of the evening, a 28 for her Cha-cha-cha to Who's That Chick


Sizzling: The Australian popstar looked gorgeous in a tiny gold dress and bouffant hair

'I'm struggling with the Cha-cha-cha,' the Kiss Kiss singer, paired with last year's winner Artem Chigvintsev, said. 'Artem doesn't give out compliments willy-nilly.

Artem's been hard enough to please, hopefully I'll impress the judges.'
She needn't have worried. Dancing to Who's That Chick by David Guetta, Valance dazzled the audience and judges with her natural rhythm.

Judge Alesha Dixon gushed over the performance. 'You are a very good dancer, you look sensation and you've got the sexiness down,' she enthused. 'Your technique is already at a very high standard. You're going to be sensational!'


One to beat: Holly showed some nerves after the performance but needn't have worried, winning high praise from the judges

Len Goodman admitted, 'It's not the best first dance I've ever seen... but it was close. It could have been a bit crisper. The rest have got to be bloomin' good to beat that though.'

'You are eye candy,' Bruno Tonioli told Holly, 'but you need more bite. You need to go for it with more strength - go for it because you've got it.'


Judges' favourite: Former soap star Anita Dobson gave Holly a run for her money with an elegant and emotional waltz to Three Times A Lady


High praise: Even Craig was uncharacteristically generous, telling her he 'thought that whole routine was gorgeous'

Craig wasn't too harsh either, telling Valance she needed 'sharper arm placement throughout. A lot to work on but a lot of good actually.'

The judges awarded Holly and Artem a high score of 28, with Alesha's eight the highest individual score of the evening.


Giggles: While many were expecting good things from singing superstar Lulu, hers was deemed the worst performance of the evening


Entertaining: 'It had the energy, but the steps went down the toilet,' Bruno told Lulu and partner Brendan


Stiff: Presenter Lobb performed a romantic waltz but was criticised for not showing enough love to partner Katya, and was told he 'looked like Adrian Chiles on the sofa'


Still impressive: Despite the criticism Lobb walked away with the next highest score of 24


Surprising: Boxer Audley Harrison said he was nervous but did very well with his waltz to Angel, receiving a score of 20


Powerful: 'You are so graceful for someone the size of Everest!' Bruno remarked


Standing still: The judges were unimpressed that Robbie Savage's partner Ola Jordan did most of the dancing while he stood still for much of the routine


Blondies: 'At least their hair matched,' said Len Goodman


'It couldn't have been camper if you tried': Russell Grant received a standing ovation for his performance to Venus by Bananarama


Dazzling: Craig was less complimentary, saying 'That was the birth of something darling, it certainly wasn't Venus'

Tomorrow night the remaining dancers Jason Donovan, Nancy Dell'Ollio, Harry Judd, Chelsee Healy, Alex Jones, Edwina Currie and Rory Bremner will take to the dance floor.


Russell Grant and Flavia Cacace - Cha Cha Cha - Strictly Come Dancing 2011


Anita Dobson and Robin Windsor - Slow Waltz - Strictly Come Dancing 2011


Robbie Savage and Ola Jordan - Cha Cha Cha - Strictly Come Dancing 2011


Audley Harrison and Natalie Lowe - Slow Waltz - Strictly Come Dancing 2011


Lulu and Brendan Cole - Cha Cha Cha - Strictly Come Dancing 2011


Dan Lobb and Katya Virshilas - Slow waltz - Strictly Come Dancing 2011


Holly Valance Strictly Come Dancing 30-09-2011




source: dailymail