Hoofing halfway mark next weekend
Thanks for watching along with me, televisual trick-or-treaters. Our nine surviving pairs now progress to the seventh live show, a non-themed week which marks the midway point of the competition.
It airs next Saturday at 7.05pm on BBC1. Meet you back here to pore over all the sequin-spangled action.
In the meantime, please write it on a Post-It and stick it to your fridge door: keeeeeeep dancing! Goodnight, gang.
And finally, some fond tributes to Zara McDermott from the glitterati below the line.
emilyscatnaps says: “Fare thee well Zara my darling. At least you’ll be going out on very definitely your best dance. I thought you were so much better this week, well done for giving it your all xx”.
acanthe says: “Aww, poor Zara, it’s so hard to be dignified when you’re crying and your whole face is like an exaggerated toothy smile. I always think it’s particularly difficult to go out when you’re in an awful costume.”
Last word goes to Canterbury345: “Ooh! A lift in the final dance, go Zara! Such a sweet young lady, do hope she cherishes lovely memories from her time in Strictly. A lesson to us all. Even if things don’t come easy to us, we can pull the joy from everything we put our heart into.”
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MarkRoche says: “As the widely recognised weakest dancer has gone each week so far, today is likely to be the last week where we can all pretty much guess who’s going home.”
judysmum says: “Blimey, Bobby. That was scary. I think he needs to up his game next week. He’s my favourite but if he doesn’t improve, he’s not going to be.”
Pancake01 astutely observes: “If Kai had an arrow through his neck, he’d look like Pat from Ghosts.”
Wonder if he’s going to the shed for a Watney’s now?
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Readers’ verdicts
A rapid round-up of your comments. Lots of love for Rick Astley.
Lushattic says: “Wow, another results show guest that can sing. Is this a record?”
SecretPuddleJumper adds: “Rick would be excellent on Strictly.” Hellayeah. Please implement, BBC talent bookers.
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Tonight’s other TV tips
Viewers can now flip to Windrush drama Three Little Birds on ITV1, Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker on Channel 4, Shakespeare night on BBC4 or stay tuned to BBC1 for the second episode of Survivor (aka Shipwrecked: Grown-Up Edition).
At 9pm on BBC1, it’s the return of Jimmy McGovern’s gut-punch prison drama Time, with Jodie Whittaker, Bella Ramsey and Tamara Lawrance thrown together in a tough women’s prison. Films of the night? At 9pm, Blade Runner 2049 is on BBC3. At 11pm, The Sixth Sense is on Channel 5. Altogether now: “I see dead people.”
Graziano needs to raise his game
Sicilian-born pro Graziano di Prima probably thought he’d hit the lottery when he landed the leggy, athletic and hard-working Zara McDermott as a partner.
However, she struggled with the performance side of dance, often looking paralysed with nerves on show nights. After being consigned to three dance-offs, he ultimately did well to get her this far.
Graziano won friends and reached the semi-final with Kym Marsh last year but otherwise, has never finished higher than 10th, exiting early with Vick Hope, Judi Love and now Zara. He seems like a lovely bloke but isn’t the best choreographer among the pro troupe - see that confusing clutter of a Charleston (skeletons in a spa with towels around their necks, anyone?), so needs to improve if he’s going to go further in the contest next year.
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Zara saying ta-ra felt inevitable
Very few Strictly celebrities survive three dance-offs. It duly proved third time unlucky for Zara McDermott. With an average score south of 25 points, she never notched more than a seven and has resembled a dead dancer walking for the past fortnight. She’s looked happier in lifts than she has on the floor, so partner Graziano Di Prima kept her in the air as much as possible.
Zara is a Strictly superfan from a family of devotees, so thoroughly enjoyed herself. She was a genuine dance novice, in contrast to certain fellow contestants, so had the potential for a transformative experience. Sadly, she never quite conquered her nerves. There was a ballroom girl in there waiting to get out. Her Viennese waltz and American smooth were her highlights but she was too often stiff and tentative.
Still, she reached two of the themed weeks, Movies and Halloween, and snuck into the final 10, so can swivel (or should that be twizzle?) off home with her head held high.
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Sighs of relief for half the field
It wasn’t just Adam Thomas who had a narrow Halloween escape here. The entire bottom half of the leaderboard did. Nigel Harman, Bobby Brazier, Annabel Croft and Krishnan Guru-Murthy all scored fewer points than Adam Thomas - five points fewer, in Krishnan’s case - so have viewer votes to thank for lifting them clear of the dance-off.
Krishnan is now the lowest scorer left in the contest. Luckily for him, he’s popular with viewers but he needs to improve next week, as does Annabel. If 32 points doesn’t always guarantee safety in a high-standard fielder, our hoofers need to start notching eights and nines ASAP, darling.
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Zara and Graz’s last dance
As the departing couple take their last turn around the dancefloor to Kylie’s 1990 banger Better The Devil You Know, the credits roll and their castmates descend for consoling cuddles.
That’s two Stock Aitken Waterman alumni in one show. What no Reynolds Girls? Please stay with us for analysis and reaction.
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Zara gets touchingly tearful. They’re going to be friends forever. Cut to her wobbly-chinned proud parents in the studio audience.
Keep off the Graz
Her dance partner Graziano Di Prima returns the compliment: “She has been great for me, from 8am to 9pm. Never stopping, asking just for a half an hour break. She is literally what Strictly is all about. A real novice, coming in, doing the hard job. You have such a good soul. You are so humble and I’m grateful that I found a friend like you. I am so proud of you, honestly.”
Sweetly said by the Italian stallion.
Zara’s farewell speech
In her exit interview, Zara McDermott tells Tess: “I’ve had the time of my life. I’ve wanted to do Strictly since childhood, so just to be here is incredible. Thank you to the judges and my amazing partner, obviously. My fellow contestants are just incredible. It’s been the most amazing experience. I can’t believe it’s over but I’m going to be here in spirit every week supporting them.”
Nice on-brand Halloween mention of spirits there.
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Head judge Shirley Ballas agrees
The Wicked Queen of Snow Whiteland confirms that she would also have saved Adam, so it’s the fifth unanimous decision on the trot.
Zara McDermott is eliminated
There we have it. The Love Island alumna becomes this year’s sixth celebrity to depart the dancefloor.
Anton Du Beke choose to save…
Adam and Luba, saying “both couples put their best foot forward but they had more quality”.
Motsi Mabuse chooses to save…
Adam and Luba, saying “there was fighting spirit from both couples and both couples improved remarkably”.
Craig Revel Horwood chooses to save…
Adam and Luba, saying “they did remarkably well and nailed that routine”.
Verdict time
I fear this is only going one way but let’s consult the quartet who’ll have the final say.
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Zara takes her turn
Zara McDermott and her pro partner Graziano Di Prima reprise their bony, bouncy Charleston to Jeepers Creepers by Al Donahue & His Orchestra.
The judges said last night that it lacked energy, flow and power, awarding it 25 points. Can she improve enough to close the seven-point gap on Adam? I mean, it’s a massive ask.
Adam goes first in dance-off
Adam Thomas and his dance partner Luba Mushtuk have another go at their wizard-themed American smooth to Magic Moments by Perry Como. Foxtrot steps, nice lifts and cutesy storytelling.
The judges said last night it had delightful footwork but was a bit saccharine with timing issues and Adam needs to work on his arms, awarding it 32 points - seven more than Zara scored. Adam’s main aim here is surely not to make mistakes or have a dance dis-ah-ster.
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More Clauditroium revelations
Bobby Brazier says Strictly is “a rollercoaster – fun and then not fun”. Kai Widdrington will miss his stick-on moustache. Angela Rippon very much won’t.
Nikita Kuzmin looks uncannily like Adam Ant and does a decent impression of Layton Williams – who gets five missed calls from his mum after every dance. Aww. Nigel Harman’s daughter made him a banner and he cried. Aww again.
Zara McDermott in her third dance-off
As predicted by bookies, the Love Island alumna turned documentary-maker is consigned to the dance-off for the third time. She was last night’s lowest scorer and hasn’t been saved by viewer votes.
She survived against Nikita Kanda and Eddie Kadi. Can she make it a hat-trick against Adam Thomas?
Angela Rippon is safe
So are Layton Williams and Nigel Harman. Which means it’s Bobby Brazier or Zara McDermott in the dance-off.
Make-or-break time again
The crimson light of danger is back to do its dastardly thing.
Motsi Mabuse pays tribute to how much Adam Thomas has improved and says she’s “shocked and a little bit sad” that he’s in the dance-off.
Craig Revel Horwood explains why he scored Angela Rippon higher than his colleagues. U ok hun?
Anton Du Beke raves, rightly, about Ellie Leach. Shirley wants sharper footwork and clearer body positions from Layton Williams.
Dance debrief
The judging panel perch their pert posteriors on the Clauditorium’s banquette for a closer look at last night’s dances. Actually, Shirley Ballas is more Arlene Phillips. Strong pink shoe from Claud too.
He’s no stranger to Latin love
He knows the ballroom rules and so do I. Musical performance now from Rick Astley with his new single Forever & More.
The well-preserved Lancastrian is 57, scarily. I remember when he was the tea boy at Stock Aitken & Waterman’s Hit Factory studio. Neil Jones and Jowita Przystal provide the hoofing accompaniment.
Ellie Leach pays sweet tribute to how much her partner Vito Coppola has boosted her confidence. Those tight white slacks and bare chests probably don’t hurt either.
“You birthed Craig,” says Claud upon hearing that Angela Scanlon’s daughter intently judges her dances.
Krishnan dances a Couple's Choice next week
And it’s set to You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon. Can. Not. Wait, my long-lost pal.
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Shirley Ballas, who seems to have dressed as a Claudia Winkleman tribute act, is “in absolute shock” that Adam is in the dance-off.
Adam Thomas in the dance-off
A slight surprise as Adam and Luba are consigned to the dance-off for the first time. He was fifth-paced on the scoreboard last night, so has plummeted a long way. But who will he face?
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Angela Scanlon is safe
So are Annabel Croft and Krishnan Guru-Murthy. They were second and third from bottom of the scoreboard, so this is interesting.
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Red light of doom
Shut the front door and go to the foot of our stairs. The results are in. It’s time to find out who’s waltzing through to next week and who’s tangoing into trouble.
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Last night’s live show recapped
A rewind of Saturday’s spooktacular on-screen now. A feast of fright night fancy dress! Ellie Leach’s green-faced salsa! Vito Coppola’s eye-watering white trousers! Rippon as Lansbury in an Angela mash-up! Layton Williams’ backflip in heels! Krishnan Guru-Murthy’s monster mash! (Say hi to his teenage son Jay, as per. Hi, Jay.)
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Frockwatch
Give yourself a big CGI hand, Jowita. Here’s our hostesses with the mostest, so time to run the rule over their rig-outs. Tess Daly is in a bright green asymmetric jumpsuit. Claudia Winkleman in classic black off-one-shoulder number. Claudia clinches it.
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It’s Wednesday on a Sunday
We open with a suitably spooky group number from the professional troupe. It’s a Wednesday Addams-inspired routine with Polish pro Jowita Przystal playing the mischievously moody psychic teenager.
It’s set to Bloody Mary by Lady Gaga. Lots of quirky characterisation, deadpan facial expression and goth trimmings. A spot of umbrella-ography. They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky, the Strictly family.
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And we’re off!
Roll clap-along credits. Five of these smiling pairs have already waved goodbye. Who’s next, do we predict?
Slip in your vampire fangs and fetch some fake blood. We’re about to go back to the Elstree Studios ballroom…
I wonder if the Strictly production team got a job lot of green facepaint at knockdown price a few years ago? Someone seems to be slathered in it every Halloween.
Frankie Bridge, Tilly Ramsay and Sara Davies fell victim in previous years. Ellie Leach had gone green last night. Queasy. Just five minutes to wait now…
Stunning nature series Planet Earth III drawing to a close on BBC1 right now. All manner of marine marvels from the Natural History Unit and the mighty Sir David Frederick Attenborough.
It’s a mere 10 minutes until we go from sea lions to salsas…
Ellie Leach emerged from Layton’s shadow
Coming into this weekend, Layton Williams had topped the leaderboard three times in five weeks. Having been second-placed twice (and only once outside the top three), pocket rocket Ellie Leach’s face had gone green with envy.
However, she finally claimed top spot for last night’s show-closing zombie salsa, eclipsing Layton by two points. This pair have emerged as the clear pace-setters and likely finalists. Just 15 minutes until sequin o’clock…
Strictly gets Rickrolled
Tonight’s musical guest is 80s pop survivor Rick Astley - a man who will never give you up, let you down, run around and desert you, make you cry, say goodbye, tell a lie and hurt you. Which, in these troubled times, is always reassuring to hear.
Carve a pumpkin and paint your face green. It’s 20 minutes until we’re back in the ballroom…
Zara fears a double dance-off
Coming into this spooktacular Halloween weekend, bookies’ odds-on favourite for elimination was poor Zara McDermott, who has already survived two dance-offs. She duly finished rock bottom of the standings with just 25 points for her skeletal Charleston.
Will viewer votes come to Zara’s rescue? If not, who might she face in the dreaded eliminator? And could we see our first shock result of the series? It’s 25 minutes until showtime…
Who’s going home in a pumpkin-shaped carriage?
Halloween is about to spell doom for somebody’s hoofing dreams. Good evening and welcome to the fifth results show of Strictly Come Dancing 2023. I’m Michael, your partner in choreographic crime. Please watch along with me as another celebrity falls agonisingly short of next weekend’s midway milestone of the hoofing contest.
After last night’s live Halloween spooktacular, our terrifying 10 pro-celebrity couples - already one down after the shock withdrawal of Amanda Abbington - will become a nasty nine. The judges’ scores have been combined with the public vote and tonight, the bottom two pro-celebrity pairs will dance-off for survival. So who’s about to bite the poison apple of elimination?
Zara McDermott was left propping up the leaderboard after her skellington Charleston, with monstrous Krishnan Guru-Murthy second from bottom. But will voting viewers agree with the judges? If not, it could be squeaky bum time for the likes of Annabel Croft, Nigel Harman and Bobby Brazier.
It’s showtime at 7.20pm on BBC One. I’ll be liveblogging from 6.50pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, analysis, reaction and pumpkin-spiced sarcasm. So pop the central heating on, pour yourself a blood-red beverage and see you on the sofa.
As always, I’d love to hear from you too. You can tweet me @michaelhogan, email me at michael.hogan.freelance@guardian.co.uk and the comments section below is open for Halloween hubbub. I’ll Charleston-swivel down there from time-to-time to gauge your reaction and relay your opinions.
Bwa-ha-ha, ballroom fans. Nearly time to staaaaart spooky eliminating!
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Fang you and goodnight
That completes Saturday’s liveblog but the weekend’s Halloween hoofing isn’t over. Lord no. Meet you back here for the results show, which airs at 7.20pm Sunday on BBC1. I’ll boot up the blog at 6.50pm for build-up, so please rejoin me then. In the meantime, I’m @michaelhogan on Twitter, so do salsa along with a green face and say hello.
Thanks, as always, for watching along with me. Your comments have certainly been treats, not tricks. And don’t forget to put your clocks back an hour tonight. Yep, even the ones on the oven and car dashboard.
See you tomorrow but in the meantime, keeeeeep spooky dancing! I wish you a ghostly goodnight.
Everyone from A to Z
So Ellie Leach finishes top of the scoreboard for the first time and deservedly so, with Layton Williams in second spot.
The judges’ scores are now combined with the public vote and the bottom two couples will hoof for survival on Sunday evening. Zara McDermott will surely be under that red light of doom for a third time but who could she face?
It might be an anxious wait for Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Annabel Croft, the only others to score below 30 points. Pray for Jay.
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Finally, Pancake01 says: “I’m calling it early. Ellie for the win. Vito is so lovely and seems like such a good trainer. She is obviously very talented.”
On Shirley’s “watch it back” tic, Storm says: “Next year: Strictly with VAR.”
shazza2704 adds: “I loved that from Nigel and Katya. He looks crushed by Shirl’s comments, which I felt were harsh.”
Gardener_Maidhc says: “Layton and Nikita tango. This is so good! Backflip in heels! Nikita in that outfit! The drag! So much fun to watch! Love them!”
Heartticker says: “A nine for Angela and Kai, Craig, really? Three marks more than you gave Bobby? I’m having a Halloween nightmare.”
Lilitia adds: “So if Murder She Wrote is now considered Hallowe’en fodder, does that mean we can look forward to the Midsomer Murders-themed dance next year?”
Let’s hope so, Lilitia. Maybe a Diagnosis Murder, Jonathan Creek or Columbo number?
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acanthe says: “I love what Strictly brings out in people. Who’d have thought Adam would have turned into such a ballroom boy or that Krishnan would be such a happy groover?”
pretentiouspenguin says: “Krishnan is quite good at acting in the little clips. He makes me cringe the least!”
emilyscatnaps adds: “Jay wearing a ‘Hello Claudia’ t-shirt is absolutely why I love this programme.”
Readers’ verdicts are in
A swift straw poll of your comments. Heartticker says: “Poor Angela S has the curse of going first again. Love that she doesn’t succumb to the fake tan craze.”
Mike Moonlight adds: “Hang on, wasn’t that just a rehash of Holly Valance and Artem’s Swan Lake routine from about 10 years ago?”
Well spotted, Mike. That was an American smooth and the music wasn’t a remix but it was on Halloween, so otherwise…
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Rugby balls and fava beans
TV viewers can stay tuned to BBC1 for the reboot of reality contest Survivor or flip to ITV1 now for the second half of New Zealand vs South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final. Come on you All-Blacks, he whispered, staying completely impartial.
Elsewhere, weeeeeeeeeellllllll, it’s Lulu Night on BBC2. At 9pm, there’s Stephen King On Screen on Sky Arts. Britain’s Human Zoos is a fascinating but distressing documentary at 9,25pm on Channel 4.
Film-wise, tonight’s picks are The Babadook (9pm on BBC3) and Silence Of The Lambs (10.30pm on ITV4).
It’s the Golden Glitterballs: Ghoulish Edition
Check under your bed and in your wardrobes. Here are this week’s ghostly gong-getters…
Best dance: Ellie Leach’s show-closing salsa was scarily good and defied the “Shrek/Hulk/Wicked” curse of green-face.
Worst dance: Zara McDermott was frighteningly bad but it pains me to say that Annabel Croft and Krishnan Guru-Murthy weren’t much better.
Best music choice: Black Swan was dramatic, Murder On The Dancefloor banged but Kiss From A Rose clinches it. Kudos to Tommy Blaize’s vocals.
Worst music choice: In a week where many grumbled there weren’t enough “proper” Halloween songs, Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampire was particularly ropy.
Best outfit: Motsi’s spider dress, despite the web drooping during the show, or Craig’s Severus Snape. “Ah, Potter. A spell dis-a-ster, darling.”
Worst outfit: Zara and Graziano’s skeleton garb. They might bow out, all bones and teeth.
Best judges’ comment: Anton after Layton’s standing backflip in high heels: “I did a backflip into my seat tonight. Shame the camera wasn’t on me.”
Worst VT: Despite the theme overload, they were surprisingly bearable, even actually amusing at times. Booby prize goes generally to the overload of creaky CGI and “augmented reality”. Whatever that actually means.
Best Claudia quip: Her ongoing obsession with the excellent Jay Guru-Murthy. Everyone in the Clauditorium wore Jay masks. He got his own back with a “Hello Claudia” T-shirt. Score draw.
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Credits roll
“Happy Halloween and keeeeeep dancing,” chirrup Tess and Claud, bringing the curtain down on a spooky, kooky and really rather ooky show. Please stay with us for analysis, reaction and a round-up of your comments.
Routines recapped on-screen
Zara looks in serious trouble again but who might join her in the bottom two? I worry it will be one of our favourites.
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The vote is now... open!
A cloaked and hooded Traitor is on the balcony. Craig is under a sheet. Is it even Craig? Vito makes Claudia laugh and she says “Thank you, puppy”.
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Judges’ comments for Ellie and Vito: Anton says “spectacular, power-packed, you pocket rocket, well done”. Craig says “loved the cross genres, broke it up, disco salsa, incredible”. Motsi says “dance of the night, no playing around”. Shirley concludes “what a way to close, killer on the dancefloor, it had groove and joy”. Nines and 10s to end on a high?
Judges’ scores: 9, 10, 10, 9 for a total of 38 points. Top of the scoreboard. Her best. Second highest score of the series. Vito is hilarious. Adorable team. I’m beginning to want them to win. Am I wrong?
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Ellie and Vito’s salsa
Last dance now. Their paso doble last week was power-packed and the Coronation Street actress is proving a pocket rocket. Now she’s going from paso to party dance. Nice dance, shame about the green face. Fast and free with intricate armography and lots of hip action. Vito has been incorporating advanced steps and Ellie’s executing them well. Shaking and shimmying, maybe lacking flow in patches but tricks, spectacular lifts and strong finish. Oof.
Song: Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Herself a Strictly finalist in a decade ago, the kitchen disco diva sent them a good luck message this week. This 2001 banger was co-written by Gregg Alexander of the New Radicals and its video centres around a dance contest where Ellis-Bextor sabotages, injures and poisons her rivals, then seduces the head judge. Don’t go getting any ideas, Ellie.
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Judges’ comments for Nigel and Katya: Shirley says “too many mistakes, you’re a leading man in his contest but stay focused”. Anton says “it’s true, unfortunately, it’s so good then you have little mess-up but brilliant hip action”. Craig says “timing got out twice but you gave it rigor mortis, great job”. Motsi concludes “amazing when you do it right, musicality and character, you’re just teasing us with the mistakes”. Eights?
Judges’ scores: 8, 7, 7, 8 for a total of 30 points. Mid-table.
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Nigel and Katya’s cha cha cha
Penultimate dance now. A little mistake meant he lost his place in the foxtrot last week, marring what was otherwise a belting routine. Can actor Nigel Harman get in the zone and eliminate the errors? They’re playing a corpse bride and groom, coming back to life on their wedding anniversary. Cracking connection and excellent storytelling. Leg and hip action, fast rhythms, dragging her along like a hot John Sergeant. A daring drop lift. Not sure the corpse characterisation is helping the fluidity but he can dance. A great number but some oopsies.
Song: I Was Made For Lovin’ You by KISS. The 1979 stomper was written within hours, after the masked metal band band made a bet they could write a disco hit in an hour.
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Judges’ comments for Annabel and Jojo: Motsi says “a different character for you, I saw some devilish looks, started strong but weakened”. Shirley says “flat and good frame to start but hiccups and hesitations”. Anton says “like classic Strictly, Len would’ve loved this, joyous and done very nicely”. Craig concludes “maintained body contact but shoulders came up, a great improvement on last week”. Sevens a-coming?
Judges’ scores: 7, 7, 7, 8 for a total of 29 points. Third bottom so far. Dance-off danger.
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Annabel and Jojo’s tango
Annabel’s dances so far have been chic and elegant but a little too polite. She’s plateaued somewhat, scoring lots of sevens. Can she unleash her devilish side to raise that to eights and nines? The tango is the dance she really wanted to learn. They’re dressed as demons with Annabel in all-red. Close hold, flames and fierce drama. Lacking snap and staccato, she’s being steered around too much. Frame wobbling and timing off but great dips towards the end.
Song: Need You Tonight by INXS. The Australian funk-rock band’s signature 1987 hit was later covered by Kylie Minogue in tribute to her ex, late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. Its guitar riff was sampled on Dua Lipa’s Break My Heart. Slide over here and make me sweat.
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Judges’ comments for Angela R and Kai: Craig says “that, my dear, was a swivel masterclass”. Motsi says “natural, easy movement, co-ordinated and beautiful presentation”. Shirley says “delightful on the eye, there were a couple of mistakes but stunning”. Anton concludes “a joy to watch”. Eights, do we reckon?
Judges’ scores: 9, 8, 8, 8 for a total of 33 points. You don’t often get Craig as the highest scorer. She’s joint second so far with the other Angela. Not Lansbury, darling, we mean Scanlon.
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Angela R and Kai’s Charleston
Her fastest dance yet and her first side-by-side choreography, so this could test the 79-year-old’s stamina. Her tap training should help with the bouncy footwork. She’s portraying sleuthing novelist Jessica Fletcher, played by the great Dame Angela Lansbury. Two Angelas, together at last. Kai Widdrington is her moustachioed policeman sidekick. He’d never seen an episode of the 80s crime classic before this week, bless his annoyingly youthful heart. Crime scene setting and typewriter-ography to start. Fast, energetic, precise footwork. swivel on-point. This routine has been choreographed by Oliver Award-winning Bill Deamer, an old friend of Angela’s, and she’s doing a decent job. Too much walking around and sitting down but understandable why. Timing off in places, lacked bounce but spectacular lifts and strong finish.
Song: Murder, She Wrote theme tune. It might have been a CBS series but its Emmy-winning composer was a Brit, John Addison, whose other credits include films scores for Tom Jones, A Taste Of Honey and A Bridge Too Far.
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Judges’ comments for Krishnan and Lauren: Anton says “enjoyable, perfect reverse turn, footwork super but frame needs firming up, too floppy, your right arm is a problem”. Craig says “chunky and too placed so it lacked flow but I did not recognise you, darling, loved the characterisation”. Motsi says “you’ve improved so much in control and delivery but you adjusted yourself in the transitions”. Shirley concludes “good attempt but you got stuck in the turns, lacked flow and finish with your hands”. Getting picky but fair play at this stage. Seveeeeeens?
Judges’ scores: 6, 7, 6, 8 for a total of 27 points. Second bottom so far. Too popular to be in dance-off danger?
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Krishnan and Lauren’s Viennese waltz
We’re past the halfway point now. The Channel 4 newsreader interviewed Arnold Schwarzenegger this week and got the Austrian oak to record a motivational message. Wonder what Krishnan’s teenage son Jay made of that? After last week’s razzle-dazzle quickstep, he’s back in ballroom hold but the judges will be scrutinising his frame. Krishnan had “rattly arms” last week, so needs to be still and smooth, fly flat and skate elegantly across the floor. Victorian London setting. He’s playing Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, flipping between debonair charm and darkness. A little stiff and lacking softness, hesitant in the rotation but otherwise lovely and nice finish.
Song: Kiss from a Rose by Seal. He wrote the Trevor Horn-produced song in 1987 but it didn’t top the charts until eight years later when it was used as the love theme in Batman Forever. It was also memorably used in Yellowjackets, for the hallucinogenic “Doomcoming” party scene, and EastEnders when long-lost Rose Knight was unmasked as Cindy Beale. Doof doofs. It’s been heard on Strictly before, sountracking David James’ American smooth and Colin Salmon’s waltz.
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Judges’ comments for Bobby and Dianne: Shirley says “flexible hips, keep pushing on the legs and feet”. Anton says “great lock-steps and energy”. Craig says “too rigid and a wayward free arm, hips on fire and a Mick Jagger bottom but technically not there”. Motsi argues with Craig and says concludes “attack, movement, powerful, you’re going all the way, well done”. Eights and nines a-coming?
Judges’ scores: 6 (boo), 9, 7, 8 for a total of 30 points. Bonkers scoring. A three-point differential between Strictly’s squabbling spouses, Craig and Motsi. Dianne made Bobby “open his hips to Shirley”, apparently. Ooh I say, Matron.
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Bobby and Dianne’s cha cha cha
The EastEnders actor has been scoring between 29 and 32 points every week. Consistent but it’s time to show some improvement. In Halloween week last year, Dianne did a cha-cha with Tyler West, got a 10 from Anton and finished joint top. That’d do nicely again. They’re playing breadcrumb-following siblings Hansel and Gretel. Bouncing hips, popping bottoms, tight and tidy bar a mistake right at the start. His long limbs make the co-ordination tricky for Latin, so is Bobby nailing that technically tricky leg action? High performance value but counting aloud, looks a bit messy, mistake-littered and timing not great.
Song: Come-On-a-My House by Della Reese. Originally a 1951 hit for Rosemary “aunt of George” Clooney. She hated the song but was forced to record it by her label and later said that when she listens to it, she can hear the anger in her voice.
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Judges’ comments for Layton and Nikita: Motsi says “first standing ovation of the night and my heart is beating so fast, you entertain my soul, you’re talented but push the boundaries and show your quality”. Shirley says “laser-focused, you’re an exceptional dancer but ballroom fundamentals and footwork lacking”. Anton says “almost perfection but too ‘toe-toe-toe’, which gives you something to strive for”. Craig concludes “a theatrical triumph but your lead isn’t as strong as your follow and take that sticky-up thumb down”. Nines? Maybe an eight from Twirly Shirley?
Judges’ scores: 9, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 36 points. Top score so far. Layton’s grandparents are weepy with pride in the audience. Aww.
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Layton and Nikita’s tango
Layton Williams notched a series high score of 39 points last week. His Latin has been better than his ballroom so far, so maintaining that sky-high standard could be tricky here. He’s in feminine clothing again, with a midnight blue skirt, lace top and high heels. French revolutionary period setting. They’re both playing vampires, so this is tangy and fangy. Swapping roles so they take turns leading. Covering the floor well but the judges will be looking carefully at his frame and footwork. Fab kicks and leaps but lacks sweep. An incredible backflip in heels to finish, mind you. Don’t try this at home. Health and safety, more than my job’s worth.
Song: Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo. This summer’s heartbreak goth-pop anthem was written when Rodrigo was upset and sat down alone at a grand piano, where she says it “just poured out of me, almost like an out-of-body experience”.
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Judges’ comments for Zara and Graziano: Craig says “a bit Charleston-by-numbers, lacked energy and power, you made it look heavy but loved the lifts and great swivel”. Motsi says “nice characterisation but too careful, take some risks and go wild”. Shirley says “some nice details but flow between movements”. Anton concludes “you’re a perfect student but we want the next level, connect the dots”. Sixes? Sympathy sevens?
Judges’ scores: 6, 6, 6, 7 for a total of 25 points. Bottom so far and dance-off danger. Again.
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Zara and Graziano’s Charleston
Love Island alumna and double dance-off survivor Zara McDermott has a good dance to bounce back. It’s been her first week with a specialist choreographer, in this case Matt Flint. She needs to conquer her nerves, unleash her cheeky side and demonstrate some showmanship here. She’s been working hard on her swivel, even though she keeps calling it “twizzle”. Expressive skeleton characterisation and lots of solo side-by-side stuff to show off her progress but Graz is still lifting her as much as possible to keep her off the floor. Towel-ography. Lacking bounce and energy. A bit pedestrian and flat-footed.
Song: Jeepers Creepers by Al Donahue & His Orchestra. The Oscar-nominated jazz standard was written for 1938 film Going Places. Its title is a euphemism for the oath “Jesus Christ”, course.
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Judges’ comments for Adam and Luba: Anton says “we had a magic moment watching your footwork, it was a delight”. Craig says “a bit sickly and saccharine, timing issues but clean footwork”. Motsi says “your best dance, you’re best at ballroom, I see you in the final”. Steady on. Shirley concludes “lovely job, Luba, quirky moments, good footwork, soft knees and body connection but work on your arms”. They liked it more than me. Eights and over-inflated nines?
Judges’ scores: 7, 9, 8, 8 for a total of 32 points. The highest scoring American smooth of the series but a point fewer than Angela S. Luba says she choreographed it for Adam’s children.
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Adam and Luba’s American smooth
After last week’s boyband number, actor Adam Thomas is back to ballroom. He’s been under the weather again this week but loves being in hold. A kiddie-targeted number with them playing young wizards - Barry Cotter and Hilary Stranger, perhaps, for copyright reasons. Foxtrot steps and cutesy characterisation. He’s driving from his standing leg in an attempt to nail that crucial smoothness. Some nice lifts and jazz-hands but a smidge safe.
Song: Magic Moments by Perry Como. Bacharach and David’s 1958 swing hit got a new lease of life in the 80s on Quality Street ads and was used as the name of a Surprise Surprise-style pastiche in Victoria Wood’s Pat & Margaret (“I can’t be seen to have a blood relative with a Lancashire accent and a perm you could go trick-or-treating in.”)
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Joel Dommett on the Ts & Cs
The host of the rebooted Survivor is this week’s Clauditorium guest, reading out the voting smallprint and plugging tonight’s new BBC1 series. He’s wearing a gold sparkly jacket. Take it off! Take it off!
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Judges’ comments for Angela S and Carlos: Queen Shirley says “balletic details were exquisite but work on your breathing”. Mad scientist Anton says “loved the drama, Anna Pavlova arms but breathing would absorb the energy, what a start to the show”. Craig says “lost flow in transitions and there was a footwork fumble but loved the drama and creative storytelling”. Motsi concludes “full of intent but extend your movements”. Eights ahoy?
Judges’ scores: 8, 8, 8, 9 for a total of 33 points. Is Anton going one louder going to be a theme again?
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Angela S and Carlos’ paso doble
La Scanlon opens the freakshow. Apart from that scoreboard-topping Charleston, they’ve been stuck in mid-table. Can they return to top form with a paso? It’s Carlos Gu’s favourite dance and he’s choreographed a challenging contemporary-style routine. There are CGI black swans. Angela’s in a rhinestone-spangled silver-and-black frock. It’s got pace, intensity and passion. Fluttery arms, flicky legs and flamenco moves. Slow, moody opening. Too much smoke to see the footwork. It’s got drama but has it got accuracy, power and curved body shape?
Song: BLACK swan SWAN lake by District 78. The LA electro group’s remix of Tchaikovsky’s ballet score was previously used on US edition Dancing With The Stars.
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Our Strictly stars™
The 10 surviving couples are announced by Alan “Deadly” Dedicoat, voice of the lottery balls. They’ve all been raiding the creepy costume box.
Ellie Leach is a queasy green zombie. Kai Widdrington is sporting a luxuriant moustache. Skeletons! Victorian monsters! Bespectacled wizards that aren’t quite Harry Potter for intellectual property reasons!
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Key event
Judges ahoy
The paddle-raising quartet arrive in full fancy dress. Motsi Mabuse is a spider complete with web, Anton Du Beke is Dr Frankenstein meets Doc from Back To The Future, Shirley Ballas is the evil queen from Snow White and Craig Revel Horwood is resplendent as Severus Snape. Dumbledore, darling.
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Frockwatch
Here come our hosts, so let’s rate their Halloween fright-frocks. Tess Daly is in a red mini-dress with split and tassels. Claudia Winkleman is in a black puff-sleeved lacy affair. There are probably better terms for all this but Claudia wins.
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Roll clap-along titles
One in three of these couples have departed now. But who’ll be next to join them in the glittery graveyard? Cue Craig cackle.
Aaaaand we’re off!
Cue the inevitably spook-themed VT. But also: a Traitors teaser! Exciting!
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Stand by your creaking coffin lids, glitterball ghouls. We’re about to go over live to Elstree Studios…
Alan Carr’s Numberwang/Picture Slam just drawing to a close on BBC1. It’s enough to make you long for the good ole days of Pointless Celebrities. Or even The Hit List.
A mere five minutes to wait now…
Running time tonight is a round 100 minutes, finishing at 8.25pm - in time to flip to ITV1 for the climactic hour of the Rugby World Cup final, if you like grunting men in shorts chasing oddly shaped balls. And frankly who doesn’t?
It’s fast approaching sequin o’clock……
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Last weekend in summary
Layton Williams topped the leaderboard for the third time with his near-perfect 39-point salsa, followed by Ellie Leach’s rave paso doble. Angela Rippon’s leggy Argentine tango and Krishnan Guru-Murthy’s Hollywood quickstep also impressed.
Eddie Kadi finished bottom of the scoreboard with his Afrobeats samba and departed after dance-off defeat to Zara McDermott.
Now we’ve refreshed our memories, it’s just 10 minutes until the sparkly curtain comes up….
Bwa-ha-ha, it’s Halloween horror show bingo
Tick them off when they happen on-screen! Take a drink for each! End up at a fancy dress party with a fuzzy recollection of how you got there! Here’s your 10-point spotter’s guide for tonight:
The judges wield pumpkin or ghost-shaped scoring paddles
Shirley mentions “fundamentals” or “flying flat”
Halloween prop overload means it takes too long for dance to get going
Judging table is draped in cobwebs with skull ornaments.
Routine “enhanced” by ropy CGI creatures
Craig describes an error-strewn dance as “a horror show, darling”
Band leader Dave Arch is dressed as a musical vampire
Over-elaborate costumes and dry ice fog mean you can’t see footwork
Neil Jones is dressed as a ginger werewolf
Production team’s names are “spookified” with puns on the closing credits
On your dance cards tonight
Tonight’s 10 routines include two terrifying tangos, two chilling Charlestons and two cha cha chaaaaaarghs. Plenty of chances to compare and contrast.
Not long until that ba-ba-da theme tune…
Ten will become nine
Zara McDermott is bookies’ odds-on favourite for elimination this weekend, having already survived two dance-offs and with the lowest average score of any celebrity.
But will tonight’s totals and the public vote go according to form? Adam Thomas and Annabel Croft might just find themselves in dance-off danger too. Fifteen minutes until curtain up…
Adam Thomas still in the sparkly sickbay
Adam Thomas has been suffering with flu for over a week now and was still feeling under the weather yesterday - so much so, his partner Luba Mushtuk appeared on spin-off show It Takes Two without him.
Happily, we hear he’s rested up and well enough to dance tonight. Twenty minutes until showtime…
Amanda’s unexplained withdrawal
It’s been the talk of Strictlyland all week. Amanda Abbington missed last weekend’s shows for “medical reasons”. On Monday, it was announced that she’d decided to withdraw from the competition for personal reasons.
Despite widespread speculation, nobody knows exactly why. There’s been online trolling, concerns about her mental health and reports of clashes with her pro partner Giovanni Pernice. Inside sources said she was “fed up” after “a series of setbacks” and “feeling frazzled and fragile”.
On Tuesday, the 51-year-old Sherlock actress posted a message thanking her fellow contestants and the Strictly production team but not, many noted, her dance partner Gio.
Her exit isn’t unprecedented. There have been 10 mid-series dropouts in the previous 20 series - the likes of John Sergeant, Kelly Brook, Robert Webb and Will Young - usually due to injury or illness. It’s a shame because Amanda proved an excellent, expressive dancer - never out of the top four on the leaderboard and the third-highest average scorer this series.
It all means Gio has lost his “King of Halloween week” crown and tonight’s show has been shortened by five minutes, with the start time bumped back from 6.40pm to 6.45pm. Chances are this series will now climax with a three-way final, rather than a four-way one, as has been the case in previous years when the show found itself a contestant short. In the meantime, we wish Amanda well.
It’s Spooky Come Dancing
Twinkle-toed trick or choreographic treat? Good evening and welcome to week six of Strictly Come Dancing 2023. I’m Michael, your paranormal dance partner for tonight’s annual spooktacular. I’d love you to watch along with me as our pro-celebrity pairs perform Halloween-themed routines. It promises to be a scream.
Last weekend, comedian Eddie Kadi shook his hips all the way home. This was followed by the surprise withdrawal of Amanda Abbington from the contest. More on that later. Now our 10 surviving pro-celebrity pairs take to the Elstree Studios dancefloor once more, bidding to make it to the contest’s midway mark next weekend.
Tonight’s scores will be combined with viewer votes and the bottom two pairings will dance for survival on Sunday night. Who’ll be a fright night victim and fall short of the halfway point?
It’s showtime at 6.45pm on BBC One (five minutes later than advertised due to the shrinking field). I’ll be liveblogging from 6.15pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, analysis, reaction and pumpkin-spiced asides. So stock up on magic potion and supernatural snacks, and I’ll see you on the cobweb-draped sofa.
As ever, I’d love to hear from you too. You can tweet me @michaelhogan, email me michael.hogan.freelance@guardian.co.uk or chat away in the comments section. I’ll zombie-shuffle down there from time-to-time to report on your opinions.
You can almost hear Tess and Claud practising their Halloween puns. Nearly time to staaaaaart spooky dancing!
