The 20th anniversary series of Strictly Come Dancing is well underway, and we want to know which glitterball-worthy jive is your all-time favourite - so make sure to watch the video above!
Nothing captivates an audience quite like a latin-inspired jive, which is full of energetic kicks, flicks and spins. Many contestants absolutely dread the jam-packed dance, but it often scoops a full house of 10s from the judges when performed correctly.
More than 200 star-studded celebrities have taken to the glitzy ballroom over the last two decades, but only a handful have made it into Strictly’s hall of fame. So, to find out who is the ultimate jive champion, we have whittled down the list to just five of the most iconic performances.
With Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani’s Pulp Fiction-themed jive being hailed the 'most memorable dance' in the show’s history, it had to be included in the line-up. The series 13 routine saw The Wanted star emulate John Travolta from the Quentin Tarantino classic during Movie Week.
The dance, performed in Week Three, scored the first tens of the series, as Craig Revel Horwood praised: "That is a level of technique we have never seen ever. Amazing darling," while Bruno Tonioli labelled it the "best dance ever".
Next on the list is series 17 finalists Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden with their show-stopping Hairspray jive, which they performed during Musicals Week. The dancing duo were awarded their first 40 of the series, after being placed in the bottom two the week before.
Impressed judge Bruno gushed: "A mind-blowing bravura performance, the best jive we’ve ever seen on Strictly," while Motsi Mabuse claimed she couldn’t sit down after the dazzling display. Fellow finalists and 2019 winners Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse have also been shortlisted for the award, after their Jailhouse Rock routine at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
The Emmerdale star channelled Elvis Presley’s 'snake hips', leaving head judge Shirley Ballas "speechless". She praised: "I don't know where to start but I do want to mention your flicks and your kicks, contra body, opposite arm to foot all the way through.
"Your coordination was superb, that's all I can say about that. You mixed your swing, you had some jive, you had great action." The routine received 39 points from the judges, with sharp-tongued Craig handing out just nine points.
In 2017, Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez received the first three 10s of the series with their energetic Proud Mary performance in Week Four. The Tina Turner inspired number stunned both viewers and judges, with Craig telling the X Factor star: "I have no idea where that came from. You were out there dancing to split the atom. My goodness, you created a nuclear reaction."
Professional dancer Gorka reflected on the routine in a recent interview, as he gushed: "That jive... I think it's one of the best numbers in my opinion in the history of Strictly. It was such a memorable moment. When I hear that song, I just think of that moment - she was incredible."
The final entry is Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev’s charming jive to Shake Ya Tail Feather by The Blues Brothers, landing the first perfect score of 40 in series 16. The memorable moment was made extra special being at the Blackpool Tower, as Bruno remarked: "It always happens in Blackpool, there are performances that become part of Strictly history. You did just that."
Former judge Darcey Bussell hailed: "Oh my goodness that was fast that was fantastic, the energy the attitude you give, it was good," while Craig labelled it: "Fab-u-lous."
So, who do YOU think deserves the title for the best jive? Make sure to watch the video above to see footage of these show-stopping routines and vote in our poll HERE to select your favourite. Let us know if we have missed any iconic performances from the line-up in the comments sections below!
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