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A glittery goodnight
Well, who’s Blackpool-bound and who’s doomed for minibreak heartbreak? That concludes tonight’s liveblog action but meet you back here for the Remembrance Sunday results show, which airs at 7.20pm Sunday on BBC1.
I’ll kickstart the blog at 6.50pm for build-up, so please rejoin me then. In the meantime, I’m @michaelhogan on Twitter, so please feel free to give me a follow or say hi.
As always, thanks for watching along with me, glitterball gang. Hope to see you at the same time, same place tomorrow. Until then, it’s the fab-ew-lous family motto: keeeeeep dancing! Goodnight.
Finally, MJfromStaunton says: “Can’t listen to Shirley being critical to the likes of Sarah, Jamie etc and then scoring JB a 9 against Pete Wicks 10. She is ridiculous.”
MikeMoonlight adds: “Evening all. Sorry I’m late but I promised myself that I wouldn’t post a comment tonight until the Deliveroo guy had dropped off my Indian flatbread. So yes, this one’s for me Naan.”
On Chris McCausland’s Couple’s Choice, neverhopeful says: “Brilliant comments from Chris. It’s not blind or disabled people that need to be inspired, it’s the rest of us that need to change our thinking and our expectations of disabled people.”
whistledownthewind says: “In a week that’s felt pretty dark for many of us, it’s wonderful that Chris has brought us a little bit of joy and sunshine. How he dances so well is a wonder. I truly believe that Strictly doesn’t get any better than this.”
MarkRoche adds: “Chris is a better dancer than I ever will be and Dianne’s teaching is phenomenal but I feel he’s on a downward trajectory these last couple of weeks.”
On Montell Douglas’ paso doble, TheMathDiva says: “I don’t like this modern twist on the paso. I’m too much of a traditionalist. Sorry, Mojo.”
GorillaChops says: “Great dancing from Montell but that song was a dismal choice. Plus all those effects on the floor and the purple outfits made it feel like I was looking into a box of Quality Street.”
yorkshirecoast adds: “I do love a paso. Might watch that again with the sound down and some different music, though. I think they were dancing to a different song but I’d still give it a 10!”
On Jamie Borthwick’s Argentine tango, ReclinedPotato says: “Remarkable dancing by Michelle. Pity she didn’t give her partner something else to do apart from showcasing her.”
NonIronLady adds: “That tango gave me the impression it was Jamie’s first behind-the-bike-shed fumble with a girl in the year above.”
On Wynne Evans, diamondcat says: “Poor Wynne always looks so anxious when he faces the judges. I wish he wouldn’t, he’s so watchable.”
On JB Gill’s samba, acanthe says: “Now that was a samba! I am gutted we’ve lost Amy but it’s so good to see Lauren with a partner.”
Heartticker says: “Well, well, well. JB has found his groove with Lauren and is peaking at the right time. Good job.”
Phoebe adds: “A great samba from JB. A welcome cheerful burst of fun and colour after the melodrama from Pete.”
On Pete Wicks, tomatopincushion say: “The most ‘couples choice’ couples choice of the series so far. Didn’t do it for me. I did miss all the story leading up to it, though.”
YodaknowsAll adds: “I feel that ‘s the first time Pete has really danced, as opposed to just following the steps. Really good.”
On Sarah Hadland’s American smooth, jagadox says: “Wow! Those lifts. Outstanding. Yet the judges always seem to carp at her.”
LilywhiteDub says: “Seeing as tens are being flung about this series like confetti, I give a ten for Sarah’s smile during that dance. She is everything that this programme should be about . Loved it.”
AndyPandy21 says: “Sarah and Vito are just such a great dance pairing. Wonderful match in physicality, phrasing and musicality.”
MsChuffy adds: “Sarah and Vito. UNDERMARKED. That’s all I got to say.”
When it comes to Shayne Ward, whistledownthewind says: “If the 10-paddle crazy Motsi and Shirley are critical of your rumba, I suspect the dance-off may beckon for Shayne.”
MartGray adds: “Holy smoulder, Batman, I know nowt but I’d give that Shayne and Nancy-dancy a ten. Extra points for Shayne’s much-improved hair.”
Your verdicts are in
A swift straw poll of readers’ comments. On Tasha Ghouri, MarkRoche says: “Smashing quickstep (appalling music choice notwithstanding).”
Pancake01 says: “Frock too long, couldn’t see her feet for a lot of it. Felt a bit skippy?”
Tomatopincushion says: “Years of watching Strictly and I have finally learnt I love a quickstep. Gorgeous, Tasha!”
SnailyWhaley adds: “This old fuddy duddy thinks quickstep should not be a midriff-baring dance.”
Non-themed week was welcome
After two themed live shows in a row – the traditional Halloween Spooktacular, followed by the fun but slightly gratuitous Icons Week – it was something of a relief to cast off the fancy dress and concentrate on dancing, don’t you think?
That scoring was a lot, though. Shirley’s 10 for Pete a particular case of heart over head. From the head judge, it seemed particularly inconsistent.
Remembrance and romance on TV tonight
TV viewers can now flip to Ultimate Covers Versions on BBC2 or choose from a pair of quizzes: Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel on BBC1 or The Chase: Celebrity Special on ITV1.
At 9pm, it’s the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance 2024 on BBC1. At 10pm, David Baddiel: The Not the Trilogy arrives on Sky Arts. At 10.05pm, The Pixies, Max Richter and Neneh Cherry are on the bill of BBC2’s Later.
It’s you fancy a film, at 9pm, there’s Bridget Jones’s Baby on 5Star. At 10.05, The Man With The Golden Arm is on Rewind. I can also heartily recommend gorgeous French love story Paris, 13th District at 10.30pm on BBC4. Ooh and, if you will, la la.
Hold your calls, it’s the Golden Glitterballs
They’re golden, glittery, spherical and totally imaginary. Here are this week’s gong-getters…
Best dance: JB Gill’s firecracker samba. Never easy for celebrity males but he made it look like a body-rippling riot.
Worst dance: Shayne Ward’s rumba. It scored the same as Jamie Borthwick’s Argentine tango but wasn’t as watchable.
Best music choice: Arctic Monkeys and Cyndi Lauper were both belters.
Worst music choice: Mika and Tina Turner both creaked at the seams.
Best outfit: Loved Motsi’s dress and Michelle’s eye make-up but the prize goes to Sarah Hadland’s green frock, despite gusset-ography worries during the lifts.
Worst outfit: Tasha Ghouri’s dress was too long to see her footwork but poor JB’s brown pleather slacks were worse.
Best judges’ comment: Anton admonishing Vito for not pointing his toes during a cartwheel: “I told you this last series and it’s getting on my nerves.” “Sorry, Anton,” said an endearingly sheepish Vito like a cheeky schoolboy.
Worst VT: Shayne’s beanie hat of sincerity in the park.
Best Claudia quip: A dead heat between her mouthing “Help me” during the pros’ balcony antics and “going a bit Yoda” when she got a link in a tangle.