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Judges’ scores: 4, 6 (after dropping her paddle), 6, 6 for a total of 22 points. His best yet.
Judges’ comments: Motsi says “I see improvement, less shy and better posture, stood tall but listen to the music”. Cynthia says “you did the active breathing we spoke about but relax the face, there’s more in you”. Shirley says “several steps up from last week, strong with good intention, pleased with you, stay on that track”. Anton says “much better, love your presence, want more”. Craig concludes “ploddy, placed and square but a slight improvement in personality”. Fives and sixes, do we say?
Chris and Nadiya’s paso doble
Dance-off survivors Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova come out fighting and the paso’s a good dance to do it. His hammer-wielding alter ego should help Chris get into mean and moody character. Can he bring the thunder? Capes, mullets, biceps. Suitably powerful but lacking drama and attack. Walking through it, throwing away his moves.
Song: Sweet Child O’Mine from Thor: Love and Thunder. The Guns N’ Roses anthem was composed during a jam session on Sunset Strip. Singer Axl Rose (anag, ahem) wrote the lyrics about his girlfriend Erin “daughter of Don” Everly.
Updated at 19.37 CEST
Claudia on the Ts & Cs
No surprise guest in the Clauditorium to read out the voting smallprint. Somebody pulled out, do we reckon? Online-only, remember. Something about QR codes. I’m with Claud, no idea.
Judges’ scores: 8, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 35 points. Highest score of the series so far. Too much, too soon, too good?
Judges’ comments: Craig says “very good, my darling, clean and fluid, coped well with the benches, Oscar-winning”. Motsi mistakenly thinks it’s Musicals Week (and in many ways it is) says “stunning and super-light”. Cynthia says “I feel like a proud parent, beautiful”. Shirley says “beautiful footwork and timing, exquisite”. Are we about to get our first nine of the series?
Updated at 19.32 CEST
Amber and Nikita’s American smooth
Late arrival Amber Davies has hit the ground running and topped the combined scoreboard last week, which made the perfect birthday present. Pro partner Nikita Kuzmin has choreographed a packed foxtrot-style routine, with park benches and bike-o-graphy. Sweet mood, swinging and swaying. Lots going on and lovely lifts. The judges told Amber to build from the foundations of footwork and I’d say she has. Splendid start to the show.
Song: Sixteen Going on Seventeen from The Sound of Music. The Rodgers and Hammerstein song was memorably spoofed by Dawn and Jennifer as “I am French/And you are Saunders”.
Cynthia will be commenting but not scoring. Shame or wise? I err towards the latter.
Our Strictly stars™
Our couples come out for welcome waves and it’s a fancy dress frenzy. Lion King African prints! Pigeons on hats! Mullet wigs and massive Thor mallets! Preposterous Thunderbirds costumes are go!
Judges get a plus-one
Here come our paddle-raising panel of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas. They’re in best black tie for the occasion. Motsi looking fabulous. Their ranks are swelled by, you guessed it, Cynthia Erivo, who gets the middle chair.
Cynthia Erivo introduced
They sure are holding a lot of space for her tonight. Donny Osmond and Carlton from The Fresh Prince didn’t get this treatment.
Frockwatch
Here come our Hollywood hosts, so time for the weekly couture clash. Tess Daly is pink tassels. Claudia Winkleman is in a chic black V-neck number. Claudia wins.
More suited to Halloween Week, arguably. A tale of broomstick-riding, pointy-hatted, green-faced forbidden love with all the pros getting to play both roles. Lovely storytelling and a big spinning lift sequence to finish.
The pros cast a spell
Something wicked this way comes. We open with the professional dancers performing the first of two filmic group numbers this weekend. This one, choreographed by Jason Gilkison, is based on upcoming fantasy film Wicked For Good – sequel to one of the highest grossing movie musicals of all time and starring, of course, a certain Cynthia Erivo.
That VT introducing Cynthia Erivo felt “a bit ITV”, didn’t it?
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