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Saturday saw our ladies sizzle and burn their way across the dance floor, making such an impact they prompted Bruce to declare that they were "the best first dances we have ever seen from the ladies in any series of Strictly." They were also the most petrified ladies we've had too, with more first night nerves than we've had from all the previous series put together.

Jessie kicked off the proceedings in typically enthusiastic style with her trademark cheeky personality perfectly suited to the Salsa and she looked fabulous, sparkling in silver and gold. And the girls continued to shine Cherie's flawless foxtrot put her and her partner James at the top of the judges' leader board, beating Austin's top score from last week by just one point.

Then there was Rachel, christened Rrrrrrrrrrachel by an ecstatic Bruno, who was pure dynamite with her Italian stallion. Vincent's little princess wowed with her sensual salsa, while her fiancé Alex watched from the audience. These guys made one heck of an impact and aren't they just so cute together?

Heather, the most nervous of all our girls, was crowned queen of the salsa. And Jodie pulled it out of the bag in the dance-off with a foxtrot featuring some of the highest high-kicking ever seen on Strictly Come Dancing.

All of this meant that the lovely Gillian was the first of our ladies to exit the competition. So warm and bubbly, she had been hoping from the off that she would be partnered with Anton and was so thrilled when she was. Understandably, she was genuinely very sad it had all come to such a premature end and there were a lot of tears shed in the bar after the show.

Gillian has a nine-year-old son and I took him to one side, gave him a bit of a squeeze and told him that his mum is still a winner in all our eyes. Bless.

Christine's family, including her look-a-like blonde sister had all flown in en masse from Ireland. After the show, we all got acquainted in the bar and I asked them if they had block-booked their flights for the next few weeks, because if Saturday's debut was anything to go by, I think they'd better had.

It was a family affair all round in the audience. Lisa had her sisters cheering her on. Jodie had her sister Jemma. And Lilia's mother had flown over from Russia for her first ever Strictly visit and quite rightly, she was hugely proud of her gorgeous girl.

I can't wait until my little girl Phoebe comes to visit the show. Although she'll probably be watching from the green room since the last time she came to a dress rehearsal, upon spotting me on stage she jumped out of her seat and yelled 'Mummy, it's my Mummy' at the top of her voice. Probably best avoided during a live show...

Having said that, she's another year older now and at nearly four, she understands the whole filming process a little bit more. I had to laugh on the school run the other day when one of the other mums told me that her little girl calls Bruce 'Phoebe's Daddy'. Eh? That's news to me!

So, it's the men's turn next week and we await them with baited breath. So many questions to be answered...

Can Austin keep up the lead with his Latin?

Can all six-foot-six inches of Mark stay under control in the Tango?

And, can Andrew be persuaded into a look-a-like cat-suit to match Ola's?

All will be revealed and I'll see you there to find out next Saturday night.