We’re back! It’s time once again for another weekend of tripping the light fantastic on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, which can only mean one thing – #StrictlyLiveBlogging is here once again!
As always, we’ll be bringing you all the dance floor action as it happens from the ten remaining celebrities and their professional dance partners. We have our warm up looking ahead to tonight’s dances at 6:15pm, before we go live with the BBC One show at 6:50pm.
Don’t forget to swipe down or press F5 to refresh to get all the action as it happens, and to leave your comments below or Tweet them to us using the hashtag #StrictlyLiveBlogging. Hope you enjoy!
Alex 💃📺🎉😄📝👍
6:15pm
Evening all! We’re back after a week away (sort of) and we’ve missed you! Can you believe we are now halfway through this series of Strictly? Nope, nor can I!
With just ten couples remaining, and two weeks to go until the show reaches Blackpool Week, this is where the stakes start to get raised and the competition gets even more competitive. Tonight, all ten couples will dance again in hopes of making it through to Week 8. Here’s their dances and what music they’ll be dancing to, as always, from the BBC Strictly Twitter:
And here are all the couples after completing dress rehearsals earlier today:
6:25pm
25 minutes to go! As the series now reaches it’s halfway point, the celebrities are feeling reflective about their journey so far, as this clip from yesterday’s It Takes Two proves:
6:35pm
15 minutes to go! The judges have felt in a similarly reflective mood tonight, Shirley in particular:
Bruno’s feeling excited ahead of tonight’s show as well:
6:40pm
10 minutes to go! Ruth is excited for her Paso Doble with Anton tonight:
And Gemma and Aljaz are ready to Salsa:
But what are Aston and Janette doing?
Jonnie meanwhile, is revelling in all the pampering before tonight’s dance:
6:45pm
5 minutes to go! Come on Alexandra and Gorka…!
6:52pm
Claudia looking very nice tonight in polka dot rhinestones!
6:54pm
Strictly super fan Miranda Hart is watching tonight! Wonder who her favourite is? Say hello to us if you’re reading along Miranda!
6:55pm
Alexandra and Gorka are up first tonight with a Cha Cha Cha set in a jazz club – will this bring some more 10s tonight?
6:56pm
Oooh we are liking this a lot! Alexandra’s definitely bringing the sass in bounty to this dance! Again capturing the musicality of the Cha Cha Cha beautifully.
Our score: 10. Their best dance since her Jive I think!
6:58pm
Shirley said what a way to start the show, and that she proved the Cha Cha Cha need not be a difficult dance as it has for others this series. Bruno said she is the Cha Cha goddess with the beauty and slick sex appeal of Naomi Campbell with precision and cleanliness! Craig said he spied with his little eye something beginning with T – turnout, which she has finally achieved. Darcey called her the dancing queen and that her hard work has paid off!
7:01pm
Alexandra and Gorka’s scores are in:
Craig: 9
Darcey: 10
Shirley: 10
Bruno: 10
Total: 39. Now that is a way to start!
7:03pm
Coming next tonight it’s Mollie and AJ, hoping to avoid the dance off that they were in last week and bounce back with an old school Hollywood inspired foxtrot…
7:05pm
Not that she lost it (or indeed deserved to be in the dance off last week) but oh. Such grace, class and elegance from Mollie here! Looking every inch the old school Hollywood star, this is a comeback dance and then some!
Our score: 9. A golden oldie of a Foxtrot bought up to date by Mollie and AJ!
7:07pm
Bruno said she did so well and that the first half was beautiful but a slight incident on a turn but that it was elegant and classy. Craig said there was some balance issues but that she maintained her top line in the transitions and that it was classy, stylish and elegant. Darcey said Mollie is turning into an elegant, classy lady and that she recovered from being off balance on the turn. Shirley said she appreciated her coming back from the dance off and having an elegant line and moved in time with the music beautifully!
7:09pm
Here come Mollie and AJ’s scores:
Craig: 6
Darcey: 7
Bruno: 7
Shirley: 7
Total: 27
7:11pm
Time for Joe and Katya now – they’ve got a Charleston dressed as toy soldiers from a cuckoo clock – will they be on time for some good scores?
7:12pm
Oops on the drumming there Joe!
7:13pm
I said a couple of weeks ago Joe’s Paso Doble was his best dance to date. This Charleston has just topped that! Up there with Debbie’s one last week!
Our score: 10. Fun and bouncy Charleston with so much joy from Joe!
7:14pm
Craig said it put a smile on his face (he’s actually smiling) and that he loved it and loved the characterization and coordination of the difficult moves! Darcey it was like a classy silent movie and that it was a great Charleston. Shirley said her new name is DJ for Joe – Detail Joe (or Dark Horse Joe) and that it was effortless! Bruno said it had a charm and a Nutcracker feel with an element of fun and games of child’s play with incredibly demanding choreography.
7:17pm
The scores for Joe and Katya are in:
Craig: 9
Darcey: 9
Shirley: 9
Bruno: 9
Total: 36
7:18pm
Gemma and Aljaz are up next tonight with a Polynesian inspired salsa – so will they bring the party tonight?
7:20pm
Wow, Gemma! Great hip action and certainly channelling J.Lo vibes again as she did in Week 1 with this Salsa – but even better! Definitely felt the chemistry with her and Aljaz in this dance.
Our score: 9. Spicy and sharp salsa with plenty of party vibes from Gemma and Aljaz!
7:22pm
Darcey said it was hot and saucy with impressive lifts – but she felt it got a bit laboured towards the end. Shirley said she agreed with Darcey on the lifts and that it was beautiful to see her rotate her feet and great upper body coordination. Bruno said it was tasty with just the right amount of spice but that she has to let herself go. Craig said the lifts looked clunky and heavy with no figure of 8 rotation but that he loved the routine.
7:25pm
Gemma and Aljaz’s scores are in:
Craig: 5
Darcey: 7
Shirley: 7
Bruno: 7
Total: 26
7:28pm
Back following their two 10s for their Paso last week are Aston and Janette. How will they get on with their barber shop inspired Viennese waltz to Jackson 5?
7:30pm
Oh Aston is definitely channeling his younger self’s performance of MJ here! Graceful, romantic, elegant and captured the mood of the dance so brilliantly.
Our score: 10. I sense hopefully more coming after this!
7:31pm
Shirley said he always brings his own style to each dance which keeps it entertaining but said it wasn’t his best dance? Bruno said it was a Viennese waltz that lost it’s way into Funky Town in 1974 but said it needed to be more traditional and the style didn’t gel. Craig said it had too much attack and lacked any form of grace or posture with too much rise and fall. Darcey said there are high expectations for Aston but that the energy dies when he is in hold. Way too harsh tonight I think!
7:34pm
Here comes Aston and Janette’s scores:
Craig: 4
Darcey: 7
Shirley: 7
Bruno: 7
Total: 25
7:37pm
Ruth and Anton are next – will they bring the fire and attitude to their Victor Victoria inspired Paso Doble?
7:39pm
Oooh. I wouldn’t want to mess with Ruth with that Paso face! She’s bringing the attitude and flamenco arms to this dance – the foot work is a bit misplaced however. I do love her and Anton though!
Our score: 7. A Paso with attack but that ended with a crash bang wallop!
7:41pm
Bruno said it was murder on the dancefloor and what more do we want? Craig said it was a drag act that we got tonight with entertainment vs technique! Darcey said Ruth held onto narrative all throughout the dance and that she came alive and wanted to watch it again. Shirley said Ruth represents absolute joy and that she’s sure there was not a household who didn’t enjoy it!
7:44pm
The scores for Ruth and Anton are in:
Craig: 4
Darcey: 6
Shirley: 6
Bruno: 6
Total: 22
7:45pm
Birthday girl Debbie and Giovanni are next tonight with a Tango to Black Eyed Peas. Will the newly appointed Queen of Latin maintain her crown this week?
7:48pm
Hmm. Good but not as good as last week this, mind you any dance like their Charleston would be hard to follow. Just not got the Wow factor that she had last week.
Our score: 8. Good but not as good as last week from Debbie and Giovanni (in my view)!
7:49pm
Craig just bowed down before Debbie! Darcey got tingles down her back and said she is extraordinary and that she’s never seen a Tango like it. Shirley said it was a beautiful international Tango with no rise and fall. Bruno said it was like watching a Tango masterclass and flawless. Bit overscored I think!
7:52pm
Here’s Debbie and Giovanni’s scores:
Craig: 10
Darcey: 10
Shirley: 10
Bruno: 10
Total: 40. First perfect score of the series and top of the leaderboard!
7:54pm
Jonnie and Oti are next tonight. Can they get back in the judge’s good books with the Salsa after last week’s ill recieved Cha Cha Cha?
7:56pm
Good armography from Jonnie, but it’s obvious he struggles with the Latin dances as the footwork is really letting him down here. A shame cause we love him and Oti!
Our score: 6. Didn’t bring the party for me unfortunately. Sorry Jonnie and Oti!
7:57pm
Darcey said he had a hot series of lifts and armography and managed all the twists and turns and hip action and fearlessness. Bruno said Jonnie always delivers and agreed with Darcey on his fearlessness and a nice groove in the upper arms. Shirley said Jonnie had a natural pulse with his upper body and finding rhythms that suit him. Craig said he wanted to see a bit more salsa but that he showed Oti off and the lifts were spectacular!
7:59pm
Jonnie and Oti’s scores are in:
Craig: 6
Darcey: 7
Shirley: 7
Bruno: 7
Total: 27
8:01pm
Time for Susan and Kevin now – will they bring the house down with their Jive to Shakin’ Stevens?
8:03pm
I say this all the time about Susan – what she lacks in technique she makes up for in joy and boundless energy like a pocket rocket! Love her and Kevin and hope they get to Blackpool.
Our score: 7. Susan and Kevin got this ole’ house feeling very good indeed!
8:04pm
Shirley said she could jive around her kitchen any day of the week – she had plenty of flicks and kicks and that she did very well. Bruno said Susan is back on the market and that she gazumped this jive! Craig said it was a vast improvement on last week but a bit flat footed, although the timing and synchronicity was spot on. Darcey said she loved her facial expressions and that this was definitely her dance!
8:07pm
The scores for Susan and Kevin are in:
Craig: 6
Darcey: 7
Shirley: 8
Bruno: 8
Total: 29 – their best score to date!
8:08pm
Closing the show tonight are Davood and Nadiya. After a poorly (and in my view unfairly) received Rumba, how will they get on with their American Smooth?
8:11pm
So much character and elegance from Davood and Nadiya here – it’s like a end piece from an old Hollywood movie! Classy from start to end!
Our score: 9. Showstopping closer to the show from Davood and Nadiya!
8:12pm
Bruno said they were like movie stars and that Davood was a natural leading man with the twinkle of Gene Kelly in his eye! Darcey said the smooth transitions and Hollywood glamour were so impressive and fabulous. Shirley said he was totally awesome and that he was able to move well today.
8:14pm
Here comes Davood and Nadiya’s scores:
Craig: 8
Darcey: 9
Shirley: 9
Bruno: 9
Total: 35
8:15pm
So that’s it, the couples have now all danced and the vote is now open – who is your favourite after tonight? We’ll be back tomorrow for the results with our warm up at 6:30pm and live blog at 7:15pm. See you then and in the meantime…keeeep live blogging! 💃📺🎉📝😄👍
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