Before tonightās Strictly Come Dancing even started there was already drama with the announcement that former Coronation Street star Natalie Gumede would not be dancing in tonightās show after fainting twice during dress rehearsal earlier today.
We wish Natalie a speedy recovery and weāre gutted we wonāt get to see her and Artem Chigvintsev dancing this week. Natalie and Artem get a pass into next week as per the Strictly rules but the remaining 9 couples still danced to keep their place in the competition.
One week away from Blackpool and the celebs were desperate to pull out all the stops to make sure they will be dancing at the world famous ballroom next week.
Kicking off the evening was former rugby star Ben Cohen and his partner Kristina Rihanoff. Last week Ben impressed by taking his shirt off for a stunning Paso Doble. Was his technique better? We canāt say we noticedā¦ This week Ben and Kristina were dancing the Jive and during training Ben was struggling but he called on last yearās winner Louis Smith for help. Did it pay off?
Well what a way to start the show! The audience gave Ben and Kristina a standing ovation for their Navy themed routine but what about the judges? Len said it was āmostly smooth sailingā and told Ben he needs to work a bit harder on his feet. Bruno said he had the urge to ājoin the Navyā but told Ben he needs to hit the beat more precisely. Craig disagreed with the other judges and said it was āleadenā which caused Len to argue with him. Darcey agreed with Bruno and Len saying that Ben proved himself tonight.
Ben and Kristina scored 26 out of 40 from the judges.
Fiona Fullerton was second to dance with her partner Anton Du Beke. Last week the judges werenāt all that pleased with Fionaās Charleston calling it ātoo politeā. This week Fiona was dancing the Paso Doble and to get into character Anton took her to ride a mechanical bull. Weāre not altogether sure that it would be much help but Fiona was confident it would help her get into character. Was she right?
Despite Anton forgetting his steps Bruno seemed to like Fionaās performance and said her timing was better than her pro partner. Craig said Fionaās timing was great but said the routine was a bit āindifferent, adequate and forgettableā. Darcey said Fiona convinced as a dramatic diva and called it āvery niceā. Len said he enjoyed the āwaftingā but told Fiona she could have given it a bit more āwowā.
Fiona and Anton scored 26 out of 40 from the judges.
Model Abbey Clancy found herself in the dance off last week which was a huge surprise considering she was nearly top of the leaderboard. We all saw that Abbey was quite emotional at the end of last weekās results show but sheās picked herself up and is determined to carry on. With her partner Aljaz Skorjanec, Abbey danced the Charleston tonight. Did she do enough to sail through?
Craig said that Abbey had done enough to get through to Blackpool and told her that the attention to detail was amazing. Darcey said she loved this side of Abbey and told Aljaz āwell doneā. Len said the routine didnāt break down and told them heāll see them in Blackpool. Bruno said he loved the Fosse touches in the routine and called it āwonderfulā.
Abbey and Aljaz scored 36 out of 40 from the judges.
Actor Mark Benton and his partner Iveta Lukosiute were next to dance. Last weekās disco-infused Paso Doble wasnāt warmly received by the judges but the audience loved it. This week Mark and Iveta had to explore their serious and romantic side for a sensual Rumba. In his VT Mark said he doesnāt want anyone to think he isnāt taking the competition seriously and is determined to get to Blackpool. Did he do enough tonight with his James Bond inspired Rumba?
Darcey said the Rumba should be āsensual, earthyā but told him the routine was too bitty. Len said Mark had gold in his fingers but ālead in his bumā but admitted he loved his characterisation. Bruno said Goldfinger ended up as āfish fingerā criticising the lack of flow in the movement. Craig said he hoped Mark manages to get to Blackpool and told him his hands are still a mess.
Mark and Iveta scored 23 out of 40 from the judges.
Next up tonight was BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid and her partner Kevin Clifton. Last weekās Charleston was well-received by the judges and the audience. Tonight Susanna and Kevin were dancing the Waltz which couldnāt be more different from the last few weeks. During the week Chris Hollins, former Strictly champion, paid Susanna a visit to give her a few handy hints. Did Chrisā visit give Susanna a confidence boost?
Len said that Susanna ālit up his lifeā and the ballroom. Bruno said it had āa wonderful sense of timeless eleganceā and told Susanna it was beautiful. Craig said Susanna ābrought that frock to lifeā and admitted he āloved itā. Darcey said Susannaās precision was beautifully done but told her to stretch even further in her legs.
Susanna and Kevin scored 36 out of 40 from the judges.
Hairy Biker Dave Myers was next to dance with his partner Karen Hauer. Despite the judges criticising his Jive last week, Dave is determined to pull it out of the bag this week and get to Blackpool. During rehearsal Dave and Karen got into the Scottish spirit for their Tango. Did Dave prove he can really dance?
Bruno said there was ātoo much haggisā and told him it was very stompy. Craig said that Karen could write a book about āhow to survive a grizzly bear attackā and told Dave he could see there were Tango moves in there. Darcey said the routine contained the most dancing and called it one of Daveās best dancing. Len said Dave was āunforgettable, unpredictable and unmissableā.
Dave and Karen scored 20 out of 40 from the judges.
Despite not dancing tonight Natalie Gumedeās VT was shown so we could see how her Jive was coming along. She admitted that sheād been fading out part way through the routine and during dress rehearsal she fainted. Artem Chigvintsev explained how worried he was about her as she was determined to dance. Artem was in the studio and said he hoped Natalie would be back next week.
Back to the dancefloor Ashley Taylor Dawson was up next with his partner Ola Jordan. Last weekās Halloween Tango scored well but Ashley was told to polish his technique to take things to the next level. Tonight Ashley and Ola danced the Quickstep and during the week Ola went to the Hollyoaks set to check that he was practising his steps. Whilst there she had a quick dance with his co-star Danny Mac. Did Ashley sort out his posture tonight?
A standing ovation from the audience. Darcey said Ashley was āamazingā and told him the routine was āconsistent all the way throughā. Len said Ashley kept his energy up throughout the dance and called it āTaylor madeā. Bruno said after a bit of āspit and polishā the sparks were flying. Craig said Ashley had to fix the gapping in his technique but admitted he thought it was āamazingā.
Ashley and Ola scored 35 out of 40 from the judges.
The penultimate couple to dance was Sophie Ellis Bextor and her partner Brendan Cole. Last weekās Halloween Jive failed to impress the judges so Sophie had to work harder tonight to pull it out of the bag. This week Sophie and Brendan were dancing the Argentine Tango and they were the first couple to dance it this series. Did Sophie climb back to the top of the leaderboard this week?
Another standing ovation from the audience! Len said the Argentine Tango is a more flirtatious dance and told Brendan the choreography was āfantasticā. Bruno likened Sophie to a āhigh-class courtesanā but agreed with Len that Sophie needs to let go more. Craig said there were a few unstable moments but admitted he āloved the routineā. Darcey said Sophie held beautiful positions in every lift but agreed with the other judges that she needs to work on her characterisation.
Sophie and Brendan scored 32 out of 40 from the judges.
The last couple to dance tonight was Casualty actor Patrick Robinson with his partner Anya Garnis. Last week the judges loved the coupleās Quickstep and they managed to stay out of the bottom two. In his VT Patrick said he wants to make it to Blackpool and this week he celebrated his 50th birthday. How did Patrick get on with his American Smooth?
Bruno said the routine was āpure Hollywoodā mixing Jazz and ballroom. Craig said Patrick did a tremendous save at the end and told him heās āthe best male celebrity in the competitionā. Darcey said Patrick āoozes styleā and told him she wasnāt bothered by the fluff at the end. Len said ātake him to the Towerā.
Patrick and Anya scored 37 out of 40 from the judges.
The leaderboard for the evening was:
Patrick Robinson and Anya Garnis – 37
Abbey Clancy and Aljaz Skorjanec ā 36
Susanna Reid and Kevin Clifton ā 36
Ashley Taylor Dawson and Ola Jordan ā 35
Sophie Ellis Bextor and Brendan Cole ā 32
Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff ā 26
Fiona Fullerton and Anton Du Beke ā 26
Mark Benton and Iveta Lukosiute ā 23
Dave Myers and Karen Hauer – 20
Tune in to the Strictly Come Dancing results show tomorrow night to find out which couple will be leaving the competition. Check out photos from todayās dress rehearsal below: