Strictly Come Dancing season is officially here and the 2022 series kicked off with a bang. The launch show, which revealed this year's partners, aired on Friday, September 23 and was followed by the first live show on Saturday, September 24.
Following week one, Will Mellor and Nancy Xu and Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal found themselves at the top of the leaderboard, with 34 points each. Meanwhile, Tony Adams and Katya Jones placed last with just 15.
This year Welsh professional dancer Amy Dowden, who is from Caerphilly, has been partnered with EastEnders actor James Bye. As the pair met for the first time, James said: "I'm so relieved and I couldn’t be happier, I feel like the winner already!"
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For their first dance, Amy and James chose a rock and roll themed jive, scoring 22 points from the judges. Following the first live show, Amy shared a picture of herself with James and his wife Victoria Bye as she told her partner how "proud" she was.
The 32-year-old wrote: "What a fantastic show and evening! So much love for these two! Thanks so being so welcoming! James I was so proud of you last night and I just know your family are bursting with pride!"
James' wife, with whom he shares three sons, also provided an update and shared the following message on Instagram: "Ladies and Gentlemen… introducing - Jimmy the shimmy. And didn’t he do well. As I suspected, I didn’t breathe for the entire thing as he flicked and kicked and sparkled all over the show… and then it was over. And I was on my feet, clapping and whooping and feeling so damn proud."
Sharing his worry, she continued: "Every minute, every ache, every moment had led up to this… and well, I thought they were both bloody marvelous.
"He's worrying a little bit… Desperately not wanting to let anyone down. Wanting the boys to be proud… and they are. Do they think he’s the best dancer in the world - er no. Are they desperate to watch him bust a few moves again next week - erm, also no. But are they proud of their bestie giving it everything he had - oh absobloominlutely."
She finished with a sweet nod to Amy, writing: "So thank you lovely Amy, for all the training, hard work and kindness. You're a keeper missus."
It comes after Victoria called Amy a "Welsh wizard" as Strictly Come Dancing announced her partnership with James. Taking to Instagram after the reveal, Victoria wrote: "It's Amy! Yay!! She's part of our family already! So much love for you our little Welsh wizard!" For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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