Press Release
JOHN MAMETSA TUMBLES OUT OF STRICTLY COME DANCING
Former rugby player John Mametsa has lost his chance of scoring the 2014 Strictly Come Dancing crown after a tussle with Isidingo actor Ashish Gangapersad on Saturday night.
The hulking sports star who was a firm audience favourite saw his chances squashed after the judges failed to save him during the dramatic Strictly Come Dancing Results Show on SABC3.
Mametsa, with his diminutive dancing partner Nombulelo, had consistently wowed the audience and judges in previous weeks of the hit reality dance show.
He even beat off a challenge by the celebrity socialite Khanyi Mbau in a surprise twist which got audiences reeling two weeks ago when the Queen of Bling dramatically exited the show.
But going head to head with Isidingo star Gangapersad, who has remained at the bottom of the leader board week after week, proved too much and his Jive to ‘Hey Ya’ by Outkast left the judges unimpressed.
Ever the diplomat, the three times Currie Cup winner thanked the three judges - Samantha Peo, Michael Wentink and Tebogo Kgobokoe - for their support during his time on the show, going on to praise his partner Tebogo and his wife, Tumi, pointing out that due to the rigors of the show he had not “been able to change nappies for three months”.
“My going out tonight doesn’t mean I have lost. I have grown as a person,” said the former Blue Bulls player, as actor Gangapersad, who seemed convinced he was leaving, looked shocked.
Friday night’s episode of Strictly opened with the Isidingo actor and his partner Lindsey Waltz to ‘Kissing You’ by Des’ree from the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack.
“That was such a good start to the show. Ashish, I think something is switched on for you,” said Peo, in sentiments echoed by her fellow judges.
In stark contract, the actor’s second performance, a Samba to ‘I Go to Rio’ by Peter Allen, left the judges flummoxed.
“My goodness, it was terribly wrong. But it was nice,” said Kgobokoe, struggling to find something positive to say about his dance routine.
Meanwhile, Mametsa also seemed to fair better with his first performance, a Viennese Waltz to ‘One and Only’ by Adele which Kgobokoe described as ‘solid’, although pointing out that he needed to be more ‘consistent’.
And although the former rugby player’s Jive to ‘Hey Ya’ by Outkast got the audience on their feet, Wentink described his second dance as “Pretty ridiculous. Entertainment plus, but you’ve got to work on that Jive.”
Top Billing’s Jonathan Boynton-Lee and his partner Hayley were showered with praise for their Samba to ‘I Like’ from Freshly Ground which judge Kgobokoe described as reflecting “the magic of dance” while Peo continued with the metaphor when she said their second performance, a Viennese Waltz to ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ by Bruno Mars, was “a moment when all the stars aligned. It was a moment of pure magic”.
Leandie Du Randt on the other hand, seemed to divide the judges.
Her Jive with partner Brandon to ‘Stuff Like That’ by Bette Midler moved Peo to say the blonde actress was “fearless” to which Wentink retorted: “I actually contradict everything Sam said. It was heavy. It was sticky. I’m disappointed”.
Wentink, though, did come around for the Sokkie Bokkie’s second dance, a Foxtrot to ‘Just Haven’t Met You Yet’ by Michael Bublé, saying: “[That was] much, much better. You were in the dance, it was quality.”
Friday night also saw singer LeAnne Dlamini finally realize her wish of reaching the top of the leaderboard thanks to her two sterling performances – first the Viennese Waltz with partner Johannes to ‘The Crossing’ by Johnny Clegg, and then ‘Candy Man’ from Christina Aguilera.