Steps singer Faye Tozer tops the leaderboard on her Strictly Come Dancing debut

She and former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts both scored 29 out of a possible 40 in the first week of the competition, which was screened last night.

What Not To Wear presenter Susannah Constantine languished at the bottom of the rankings with a score of 12.

Faye, who lives in Boldon, was the last of the 15 celebrities to take to the dancefloor for the first live show of the BBC One series last night.

She performed a cha cha cha to Lullaby by Sigala featuring Paloma Faith with her partner Giovanni Pernice.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood praised her, saying it was "most certainly worth the wait and by no means a tragedy darling. It's amazing what you're doing week one".

Bruno Tonioli told them it was: "Clean, clear polish with plenty of sparkle.

"The performance level of all our contestants, you've given us a very good level of performance. It's very difficult to predict how this is going to play."

Roberts was cheered on by her bandmate Kimberly Wyatt for her Viennese waltz to Perfect by Ed Sheeran featuring Beyonce with partner Pasha Kovalev.

Head judge Shirley Ballas told her she showed "a beautiful musical ear, so feminine", while Bruno Tonioli said the dance was "all seamlessly beautiful" and Craig Revel Horwood said: "The whole thing was gorgeous."

The judges were less impressed with Constantine, who appeared with a large bowl of fruit on her head at the start of her samba to Tico Tico by Carmen Miranda.

Her partner Anton Du Beke emerged from under her large skirts to start the routine, before the huge dress was lifted up to the ceiling and Constantine was revealed to be wearing a much shorter ensemble for the dance.

Afterwards, Tonioli said: "I'm glad it's over. It was more like Car Crash Miranda than Carmen Miranda."

Revel Horwood said she looked like she was "staggering about lost and drunk at a party, the best part was when you fell on the floor at the end", prompting Constantine to ask him: "Will you come and show me how to do a few steps?"

Darcey Bussell told her: "I like a bit of comedy but I've seen you work hard and I know there is a dancer in you, I know the promise of you dancing is great, you don't need any props."

Revel Horwood disappointed the duo by awarding them just one point, while Bussell and Tonioli gave them four and Ballas gave them three.

However, they have avoided the threat of elimination this week because nobody will leave the competition until next weekend, when their scores are added to next week's totals.

Also impressing the judges were Red Dwarf star Danny John-Jules, YouTuber Joe Sugg and This Morning star Dr Ranj Singh, who all came joint second with 27 points.

Other stars to show off their first routines were Blue singer Lee Ryan, TV presenter and campaigner Katie Piper, newsreader Kate Silverton, radio DJ Vick Hope and Paralympic champion Lauren Steadman.

Rounding off this year's famous hopefuls were Casualty actor Charles Venn and cricketer Graeme Swann, while comedian Seann Walsh delighted the audience with his tango inspired by the BBC One hit drama Bodyguard.

The public vote will begin in the second week of the competition. Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One at 6.15pm on Saturday.