'First Lady of dance' Alesha tops the Strictly leader-board - while Gethin fights to survive - Showbiz

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Despite impressing judges with a sizzling tango, the Blue Peter presenter, who is dating opera singer Katherine Jenkins, failed to top the table and is languishing in third place with 70 points.

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Fighting for survival: Gethin Jones with dance partner Camilla

Sensation: Alesha and Matthew stunned the judges

Sultry singer Alesha Dixon and dance partner Matthew Cutler opened the show with quickstep to Amy Winehouse's hit Valerie which was hailed as "fantastic" by judges.

"You might be the last girl standing, but you look like the First Lady of dancing!," Bruno Tonioli gushed after watching the pair glide confidently across the dance floor.

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Sizzling: Matt and Flavia dance the tango

Perfect tens: The ex-Eastender is thrilled with his score

Coupled with a "great" Argentine Tango, the couple had a sensationally good night and ended up topping the leaderboard with 76 points.

Close behind were ex-Eastenders hunk Matt Di Angelo and his partner Flavia Cacace whose waltz to Mariah Carey's Open Arms left all four judges so ecstatic that they awarded them a quartet of perfect tens.

Len Goodman gave the pair a standing ovation before declaring: "Winners never quit, quitters never win, and you've come out and given it a winning performance."

Their tango, although impressive, failed to reach the giddy heights of the waltz and earned them 35 points, giving them overall second place with a score of 75.

Gethin, and dance partner Camilla Dallerup opened with a Paso Doble to Standing In The Way Of Control which won a mixed reaction and 34 points.

"At times it was not very pleasant like a Spanish omelette, at other times it was like a fine Rioja," Arlene Philips said.

Len Goodman however, disagreed, and told Gethin: "I though you came out and dominated that floor."

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Drama on the dance floor: Gethin and Camilla add a little panache

The pair closed the show with a tango to James Bond theme the World Is Not Enough - which judge Craig Revel Horwood said showed "real passion."

But it was not enough to raise them from the bottom of the leaderboard - and nor seemingly was Gethin's impromptu dance sessions in the park with girlfriend Katherine.

All three couples now face a dance-off tomorrow night for next week's final.

The scores:

1. Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler - 76

2. Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace - 75

3. Gethin Jones and Camilla Dallerup - 70