With the Strictly Final resulting in the recent crowning of Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal as winners of the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing Competition last weekend, what better time to look back on all of the iconic Charleston routines that have made this series great and discover the judges highest scoring routine. Can you guess who it is?
First up was Football Manager Tony Adams with his professional partner, Katya Jones who were the lowest scoring couple of the night after dancing their Charleston to ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’ by Foster & Allen.
Tony Adams and Katya Jones:
Judges Scores: 4+6+6+6= 22
Our Score: 5
Kaye Adams and Kai Widdrington
Next up, we have Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams and her partner, Kai Widdrington who danced the second Charleston of the night to the Jazzy tune, ‘Music! Music! Music! By Dorothy Provine.
Judges Scores: 4+6+6+6= 22
Our Score: 6
Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima
The following week was Movie Week, and we were treated to not one, but two Charlestons. Actress Kym Marsh and her professional partner Graziano Di Prima danced a Sweet Charity themed routine set to the tune, ‘If My Friends Could See me Now.’ Partners Tyler West and Dianne Buswell danced the second Charleston of the evening to ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop!’ by Tommy Steele from the 1963 Musical Comedy; Half a Sixpence.
Judges Scores: 9+10+10+9= 38
Our Score: 8
Blue Peter Presenter, Helen Skelton and Comedian Jayde Adams celebrated 100 years of the BBC with their professional partners with TV Show inspired Charleston routines. Up first, with their performance set in a replica of the Blue Peter Creation Station, we had Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez who danced to the Blue Peter Theme Tune. Following on from this, we then had Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer who paid tribute to the late icon Victoria Wood with their Charleston set to the tune, ‘The Ballad of Barry and Freda.’
Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez
Judges Scores: 6+7+7+8= 28
Our Score: 6
James Bye and Amy Dowden
Strictly Come Dancing’s spook-tacular Halloween Week featured a Bee-themed Charleston danced by Eastenders Actor James Bye and professional partner Amy Dowden to the song, ‘Bumble Bee’ by Lavern Baker. However, this routine was the last dance that the pair performed on the show as they were voted off in the dance-off.
Judges Scores: 6+7+7+7=27
Our Score: 6
Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin
We are now half-way through the competition, and it was Para-Olympic Swimmer Ellie Simmonds and Professional Partner Nikita Kuzmin’s turn to dance the Charleston. However, despite their routine set to the jazzy tune, ‘Too Darn Hot’ from the Musical Kiss Me Kate, being their highest scoring dance of the series, it was not enough to save them. As a result, Ellie and Nikita were the next couple to leave the competition.
Judges Scores: 7+9+8+9= 33
Our Score: 7
Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe
In the week before Blackpool, the competition standards were beginning to skyrocket as everyone wanted a chance to dance in the famous Ballroom. In a bid to earn their place, Comedian Ellie Taylor, and Professional Partner Johannes Radebe, opened the show with a Charleston set to the tune, ‘Friendship’ by Elaine Paige and Bernard Cribbins.
Judges Scores: 7+8+8+8= 31
Our Score: 8
Will Mellor and Nancy Xu
Next up, we had, Actor, Will Mellor and Professional Partner Nancy Xu take to the stage with their unconventional, yet innovative Charleston to, ‘Hush’ by Kula Shaker.
Judges Scores: 9+10+10+9= 38
Our Score: 9
Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu
Following on from this, Musical’s week then blessed our TV Screens, and we were treated to a jam-packed evening featuring some of the nation’s favourite musicals. In amongst all the pizazz, CBBC Star Molly Rainford and professional partner Carlos Gu opened the show with an awe-inspiring Charleston number to, ‘Hot Honey Rag’ from Chicago.
Judges Scores: 9+10+10+9= 38
Our Score: 10
Watch our Hot Honey Rag Charleston Routine here
Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal
The final Charleston dances of the competition were danced by Wildlife Cameraman and Strictly Come Dancing 2022 Champion Hamza Yassin, and BBC Radio Star Fleur East. Up first, with their Scottish inspired performance, we had Hamza Yassin and professional Partner Jowita Przystal who danced to the iconic tune, ‘Pencil Full of Lead’ by Paolo Nutini. (Check out our Pencil Full of Lead Inspired Routines here). Following on from this, we then had Fleur East and Vito Coppola’s transport us to Naples with an unconventional, yet traditional Charleston set to the tune, ‘Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano’ by Fiorella.
Judges Scores: 9+10+10+10=39
Our Score: 10
There have been many wonderful Charleston routines throughout the 2022 series of Strictly Come Dancing, however, the Top Three Charlestons, in reference to the Judges scores, are the following:
1. Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal, Fleur East and Vito Coppola= 39
2. Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, Will Mellor and Nancy Xu, Tyler West, and Dianne Buswell= 38
3. Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima= 35
Which Charleston routine was your favourite, and do you agree with the overall winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2022? We would love to hear your thoughts.
By: Eleanor O’Donnell