It’s been a red-letter week for Claudia Winkleman, who somehow kept a straight face as a visibly guilty Alan Carr coasted to victory in The Celebrity Traitors. But things felt far less fraught on Strictly, where her final season under the Glitterball reached the halfway mark with precious little in the way of drama.
An enjoyable yet spectacularly unspectacular instalment saw fresh contenders emerge, as Vicky and Kai’s Taylor Swift-themed tango fell just one point short of a perfect 40.
Also showing new fire were Amber and Nikita, whose sizzling salsa earned them two tens and a gold-plated “a-ma-zing” from Craig. After a hesitant start to the competition, Amber is finally coming into her own – and could yet blossom into a serious contender.
Surprises were few and far between – unless Amber’s piñata-meets-dungarees outfit counts, which it should. Then there was the curious case of Harry and the off-green trousers, which looked as though they’d been stitched from Kermit the Frog’s skin. His samba with Karen was all enthusiasm and little technique, but enough to keep him off the bottom of the leaderboard, a spot occupied by La Voix. Still, week by week, the Gladiator’s charm is starting to fade – and sooner or later, he’ll run out of lives.
Was it a Strictly classic? Hardly. But not every Saturday needs to be an all-time great. Rather than a salsa into the unknown, this was a gentle spin through the familiar – lifted only by Balvinder’s moving Couple’s Choice, a heartfelt tribute to her late mother. It was a rare lump-in-throat moment on an otherwise predictable night.
Here’s hoping Sunday’s dance-off brings the fireworks this series now sorely needs.
08:26pm
Our Telegraph Strictly superfans give their assessments
Sisters Hannah (28) and Laura Dadson (25) at home in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire – Andrew Fox
08:16pm
Three couples in dance-off danger…
And that’s it – all over bar the public vote.
Frontrunners Vicky and Kai sit pretty at the top with a near-perfect 39, closely followed by Amber and Nikita on 38.
At the other end, La Voix and Aljaž prop up the table with 29 and look likely contenders for the dreaded dance-off, while Harry and Karen and Alexi and Johannes hover just above on 30 apiece.
Three couples in danger – but only two can fall into the bottom two. Time to grab your stress ball: results night is going to be tense.
The scores:
La Voix and Aljaž: 29
08:00pm
Harry’s high-energy samba earns a generous 30
Bursting with colour and energy – and that’s just Harry’s open shirt flapping in the breeze. His green trousers look as though they’ve been stitched together from leftover bits of Kermit the Frog, but there’s nothing muppet-like about this full-blooded routine.
The judges do their best to be kind. “Not the best from me… not the worst,” says Shirley.
Harry and Karen bring infectious energy to their samba to Gloria Estefan’s Samba
“Like Morse code,” adds Anton cryptically, before praising Harry’s energy – the sort of comment usually reserved for routines where enthusiasm outweighs technique.
A generous 30 follows, proving that sometimes vibes alone are enough to get you over the line.
07:55pm
Harry looks to turn his luck around with a tricky samba
Pro partner: Karen Hauer
Dance: Samba
Song: Samba by Gloria Estefan
Week Six score: 26 (10th of 10)
The gurning Gladiator hit rock bottom last week – and it was a sheer miracle he avoided a dance-off. He and Karen face the potential banana skin of a tricky samba.
And you do have to wonder about the slightly too-on-the-nose choice of a Gloria Estefan bopper with the same name as their dance. Any more on the nose and Harry’s nostril hairs would be out of alignment..
07:49pm
Vicky and Kai’s near-perfect tango wows the judges
Vicky and Kai deliver a mesmerising tango to Taylor Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia – Guy Levy/BBC
Green is the colour as they tango across an emerald floor to Taylor Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia.
The judges are spellbound. “Absolutely marvellous,” says Anton, having recovered the power of speech. “Your head is so natural,” he adds – a good thing, presumably.
Motsi declares it the “dance of the night”, telling Vicky, “Last week I said you were a contender for the final – you’ve confirmed my intuition.”
Could this be the performance of the evening? With a near-perfect 39, it just might be.
07:46pm
Will a Taylor Swift song usher in Vicky’s victorious era?
Pro partner: Kai Widdrington
Dance: Tango
Song: The Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift
Week Six score: 31 (6th of 10)
Nobody much liked Taylor Swift’s new album – even Swifties were a bit lukewarm – but Vicky and Kai are tangoing to its best song, The Fate of Ophelia, about a woman dragged into oblivion by public expectation.
Vicky will hope to avoid the fate of the character in the tune.
07:41pm
Amber and Nikita’s gravity-defying salsa scores two 10s
A salsa with sizzle! Amber is dressed like a human piñata, while Nikita appears to be made of 90 per cent sparkles. They gyrate as if their futures on Planet Strictly depend on it – and in a week full of knock-out turns, this one’s a stunner.
The judges are speechless – as they should be after that gravity-defying performance. Anton is lost for words, resorting instead to jumping up and down with his arms in the air. “A-ma-zing,” declares Craig.
They score 38, including two 10s. “We got a tennnnn!” shouts Amber.
Amber and Nikita dazzle with their high-energy salsa to You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Sylvester
07:35pm
Amber aims for lift-off with a cheeky disco salsa
Pro partner: Nikita Kuzmin
Dance: Salsa
Song: You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Sylvester
Week Six score: 35 (3rd of 10)
Amber had fun dressing as Little Red Riding Hood for Hallowe’en – but will she deliver a fairytale performance as she gyrates to Sylvester’s 1978 disco wrecking ball? She was told last week that her Viennese Waltz “didn’t come to fruition”. Can she achieve lift-off with a cheeky salsa?
07:31pm
George waltzes his way to his highest score yet
George and Alexis dance a Viennese Waltz to Somebody to Love by Queen
It’s epic, that’s for sure – and the audience is on their feet. George looks thrilled just to have made it through, and the judges feel much the same. “I’m happy to see you dance like this… I feel you’ve got the nerves down,” says Motsi.
She’s right – the uptight George of previous weeks has been replaced by the King of Chill. Well done to him for silencing those negative voices and learning to vibe with the Viennese Waltz.
“Proper, proper dancing,” says Anton – who can’t decide whether he’s delighted or astonished. Craig begs to differ, drawing boos as he observes that George “got a little bit too skippy at times.”
Still, George will be pleased with a score of 34 – his highest yet.
07:24pm
George wants to win back the judges
Pro partner: Alexis Warr
Dance: Viennese Waltz
Song: Somebody to Love by Queen
Week Six score: 29 (7th of 10)
“I want to show that I’m not plateauing – that I’m improving,” George said last week, after Anton questioned his confidence. He’s given himself every opportunity to excel – if Freddie Mercury strutting his way through Somebody to Love doesn’t fill you with self-belief, nothing will.
07:21pm
Balvinder brings the house down with a powerful, heartfelt routine
The piece, inspired by Balvinder’s Indian roots, has everything – fireworks, twirling blue lights, more confetti, and a rapturous ovation from the audience. “You keep coming back with even more energy,” says Motsi. “I love that you dance that way… I thought it was a joy,” agrees Shirley.
Balvinder and Julian dance to Sapphire by Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh – Guy Levy/BBC
Craig has a few quibbles, but the consensus is clear: this was an emotive routine celebrating both Balvinder’s heritage and her mother’s life. It may not have been the most technically accomplished dance of the evening, but it was certainly the most moving.
A score of 34 – third overall – feels well deserved.
07:14pm
Can Balvinder shine to Ed Sheeran’s Sapphire?
Pro partner: Julian Caillon
Dance: Couple’s Choice
Song: Sapphire by Ed Sheeran & Arijit Singh
Week Six score: 28 (8th of 10)
Balvinder will hope to avoid a second consecutive dance-off, and the Couple’s Choice gives her and Julian a chance to raise their game. That said, questions must be asked about their decision to shake a leg to Ed Sheeran – nobody in the history of music has ever set the dance floor alight bopping to the Suffolk chart-slayer. Balvinder will have it all to prove.
07:10pm
La Voix finds her footing with a graceful foxtrot
La Voix has come on in literal leaps and bounds since scoring a paltry two early in the contest.
She and Aljaž clearly revel in their foxtrot to Cass Elliot’s Make Your Own Kind of Music. It’s an emotional number – full of sweeping turns, Disney-musical goosebumps and a grand confetti finish. That terrible two has never felt further away.
La Voix and Aljaž dance a graceful foxtrot to Make Your Own Kind of Music by Cass Elliot – Guy Levy/BBC
Anton is all in for this new, poised and upbeat La Voix. He praises her “homemade version of the heel turn,” though laments there was “too much trot” – quite an achievement for a foxtrot, you’d think. Still, the message is clear: La Voix shall go to the ball.
Craig is positive too. “What I love is your presentation and performance,” he says – high praise from the Strictly Grinch with Christmas still two months away.
Shirley agrees that La Voix “brings sunshine to everything,” though she can’t resist a sting in the tail: “Unfortunately, downstairs it’s all rain.” Dark clouds indeed over the judging panel.
The score is 29 – hardly blockbuster stuff, but a world away from that early two.
07:03pm
La Voix aims to keep her momentum
Pro partner: Aljaž Škorjanec
Dance: Foxtrot
Song: Make Your Own Kind of Music by Cass Elliot
Week Six score: 35 (joint 5th of 10)
There was an emotional moment in Week Six when La Voix said that, for the first time, the idea of Strictly as a fun experience started to make sense.
Until now, it’s been a bit of a right royal slog for the drag queen. After that breakthrough, fans will hope lightning strikes twice.
07:01pm
Alex Kingston and Johannes bring fiery flair to a thrilling Paso Doble
Alex and Johannes dance a dramatic Paso Doble to Amparito Roca by Jaime Texidor – Guy Levy/BBC
How do you top dancing on a table while dressed as the devil?
Alex Kingston goes from fiery to flamboyant as she and Johannes deliver a stunning Paso Doble. It’s epic, energetic and full of thrills and twirls – though Alex admits she could do better if given another go, having struggled with the routine in rehearsals.
The judges do their best to be supportive – but it’s clear they’re underwhelmed. “You looked a little nervous,” says Anton. “Lovely detail, little nervous,” he adds, achieving Peak Anton just 30 minutes in.
Craig has misgivings too: “Dancing really carefully… lacked showbiz pizzazz.” He wonders where her stage presence went. “Middle of the road,” he concludes – though isn’t that exactly where Saturday night BBC entertainment belongs?
Alex reveals she’s “numerically dyslexic” and can’t count, which makes keeping time a challenge. Still, she scores a respectable 30 – her sixth 30-or-better in as many weeks, surely putting her in Strictly record territory.
06:56pm
Can Alex top her devilish turn on Hallowe’en night?
Pro partner: Johannes Radebe
Dance: Paso Doble
Song: Amparito Roca by Jamie Texidor
Week Six score: 35 (joint 5th of 10)
The former ER star gave heart palpitations to unsuspecting viewers on Hallowe’en, marking the season of all things spooky by romping on a table in a bright red bodysuit.
“I’ve never seen that kind of rotation!” gasped Shirley – who looked as though she might start spinning herself, like the barfing child in The Exorcist.
But that success means Alex and Johannes have set a high standard they’ll do well to match.
06:54pm
Karen and Carlos dazzle with a daring Charleston to score the night’s first 10
They’ve knocked it out of the studio – or so thinks Craig. “You’ve nailed it,” he gushes, sounding like Simon Cowell praising a boyband after a Leonard Cohen cover on The X Factor.
Motsi agrees: “You bring it on – your expression is so natural, you’re never fake. I love you!”
Karen and Carlos dance the Charleston to Upside Down / Think by Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin – Guy Levy/BBC
Still, there are quibbles. Shirley feels it “didn’t feel solid on the feet”, suggesting it could have used more precision. Anton doesn’t see it that way: “The Lindy section was exquisite – I just loved it.”
Out of breath, the pair admit just how much effort went in. “The most difficult dance I’ve ever done on Strictly,” says Carlos.
Their reward? The first ten of the night – from Shirley – and a total of 35, putting them level with Lewis and Katya.
06:50pm
Karen swaps Peaky Blinders grit for Charleston glamour
Pro partner: Carlos Gu
Dance: Charleston
Song: Upside Down / Think by Diana Ross / Aretha Franklin
Week Six score: 38 (2nd of 10)
Karen somehow sold us on the idea of a Nick Cave-themed Strictly when she delivered her interpretive Peaky Blinders routine in Week Six. Now she faces a daunting Charleston. Everyone on Team Karen will hope she didn’t peak with Peaky Blinders.
06:45pm
Lewis and Katya’s Cha Cha brings the heat – but no 10s
Lots of hip action from Lewis, with a high-energy routine that never lets up. If the favourites have any jitters about peaking too soon in the contest, they don’t show it – and the deafening applause suggests they may have smashed it yet again.
Katya and Lewis perform a lively Cha Cha to I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez – Guy Levy/BBC
But cue the nit-picking: Anton is blown away by Lewis and Katya, though he wonders if this was a Cha Cha with a little too much choo-choo. “A little bit too hard,” he suggests.
Craig agrees, implying the duo were trying a touch too hard, while Motsi is all aboard the more-is-more vibes. “Those hips were on fire!”
Lewis and Katya blaze their way to a dazzling 35 – a step down from last week’s perfection, but at least it gives them something to aim for.
06:36pm
Can Lewis boogaloo to the top of the leaderboard?
Pro partner: Katya Jones
Dance: Cha Cha
Song: I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez
Week Six score: 40 (1st place)
Bopping to a jazzed-up Radiohead track while dressed like a goth Bagpuss would be the kiss of death for most Strictly hopefuls – but Lewis and Katya made it work on Hallowe’en night.
Now they’ve got the tricky Cha Cha to master, soundtracked by Pete Rodriguez’s boogaloo classic I Like It Like That.
Will it be a bountiful pre-bedtime boogaloo for the frontrunners? Let’s wait and see.
06:33pm
Let the mayhem begin…
And so, accompanied by the U2-esque stylings of Melbourne stadium-rockers The Temper Trap, Strictly Week Seven kicks off.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly bring their trademark sparkle and poise to Strictly – Guy Levy/BBC
First up are frontrunners Lewis and Katya, performing a Cha Cha to Pete Rodriguez. Lewis knows he’s under pressure after last week’s streak of tens. How do you improve on perfection? Let’s wait and see…
06:12pm
Keep up with the Telegraph readers’ judging panel
Twins Geraldine (left) and May Corry (right) live in Belfast – Charles McQuillan
Three pairs of Telegraph-reading superfans have joined up to share their verdicts on everything from the dances to the costumes, so look out for their contributions later this evening.
Please welcome Geraldine and May Corry from Belfast, Hannah and Laura Dadson from Warwickshire, and Lois and Brian Rock from Southampton. You can find out all about them – and their predictions for this year’s series – right here.
05:56pm
What you need to know tonight
Lewis and Katya are in pole position after their perfect score on Hallowe’en. Anton dubbed their Couple’s Choice “the best dance of the series” – and even allowing for the fact that it’s Anton, and that he’s generally 30 per cent more enthusiastic than required, the duo remain clear favourites.
Meanwhile, Amber goes into the episode with a bit of a flea in her ear after Shirley praised her Week Six Viennese Waltz – with the caveat that it was “a bit more American style” than Viennese.
She’ll need to deliver a proper salsa if she wants to avoid more spicy feedback from the judges.
05:50pm
Week Seven songs and dances
Coming off Icons Week and Hallowe’en Night, and with Blackpool fast approaching, this week’s Strictly has the relative novelty of not coming with any novelties attached. It’s just nine dances requiring the celebrities to sweat, gurn and try not to fall over as Claudia Winkleman watches on – much like Nick Mohammed when he discovered Alan Carr was the baddie on Celebrity Traitors.
Music-wise, Taylor Swift is perhaps the biggest name to feature, though Queen’s Somebody to Love promises classic-rock melodrama and Ed Sheeran’s Sapphire will remind us of the existence of Ed Sheeran (thanks, Strictly).
Alex and Johannes – Paso Doble to Amparito Roca by Jaime Texidor
Balvinder and Julian – Couple’s Choice to Sapphire by Ed Sheeran & Arijit Singh
George and Alexis – Viennese Waltz to Somebody to Love by Queen
Harry and Karen – Samba to Samba by Gloria Estefan
Karen and Carlos – Charleston to Upside Down / Think by Diana Ross / Aretha Franklin
La Voix and Aljaž – Foxtrot to Make Your Own Kind of Music by Cass Elliot
Lewis and Katya – Cha Cha to I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez
Vicky and Kai – Tango to The Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift
Amber and Nikita – Salsa to You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Sylvester
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