Key events
Bobby and Dianne’s paso doble
Two very contrasting dances for them. The mood could hardly be more different to their quickstep. Time to lose Ballroom Bobby and let serious bullfighter Bobby take over. He’s this year’s youngest contestant but this is a mature dance style, so be needs to dig deep and deliver. Bags of drama, frowny faces and CGI forest setting. He’s been working hard on finessing his arm. Cape work, knee walk and curved shapes. A slight lack of resistance and Spanish line, getting a tad stompy, but lovely tango section. He drags her across the floor for a killer finish.
Song: Run Boy Run by Woodkid. This 2013 chamber pop hit by French artist Yoann Lemoine has become something of a fixture on ad soundtracks and film trailers. Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer danced a paso to it four series ago.
Midway mark now. Costume changes coming up. On-screen, I mean, I’m not demanding a sofa outfit change.
Judges’ scores: 9, 10, 9, 9 for a total of 37 points. Second on the night and second overall. Claudia tees up Vito for a textbook ramble about tarantella and mozzarella. Drink!
Judges’ comments for Ellie and Vito: Motsi says “difficult content and basics, neat and tidy, quick on the feet, you deserve that place in the final”. Shirley says “beautiful energy and personality towards your partner, unique leg actions, one hiccup in a lift, otherwise leg action to die for”. Anton says “smooth technique enabled an elevated performance, made it look easy, great job”. Craig concludes “a bit too polite, wanted more attack and cheek, but clean, fantastic footwork, out-of-this world choreography”. Nines? Maybe a 10 or two?
Ellie and Vito’s cha cha cha
Ellie has called the notoriously tricky technique of the Cuban carnival dance “cha-cha-challenging”. Remember Motsi’s instructions in last week’s Dance Debrief? She wants to see a strong core, straight leg and natural hip action. “It’s really simple,” she concluded. Yeah, right. A full-on routine with foot swivels, hip action, straight leg. Ellie is remarkably consistent. She hasn’t scored below 35 since week 4 and there’s only half a point’s difference between her Latin and ballroom averages (34.2 compared to 34.75 points). This is another ripper. Sassy and spicy. She’s rasing the performance value, which Craig wanted to see. Fast feet, lovely shapes, some tricks ad spinning lifts. Lots of solo work in the middle. Hip wiggles. Skirt swishes. Body ripples. Packed with content and stayed in character at the end. Wallop.
Song: Mambo Italiano by by Bette Midler. Originally a 1954 novelty hit for Rosemary “aunt of George” Clooney, this mambo pastiche has also been covered by Dean Martin and Lady Gaga. It appeared on the soundtrack to crime comedies Married To The Mob and Mickey Blue Eyes. Forgetaboutit.
Judges’ scores: 8, 8, 8, 8 for a total of 32 points. Lowest score so far tonight. Dance-off danger? Jojo is tearful and says Annabel is his mum’s age. “Can you imagine me asking my mother to backflip into my arms?”
Judges’ comments for Annabel and Jojo: Goes down a storm in the studio. What do I know? Craig says “lacked fluidity, spiky and leg placement went awry but you threw yourself entirely into it and should be commended”. Motsi says “perfect is boring, we saw joy and love, you’ve gone from novice to putting that on the floor”. Shirley says “you work so hard, energy much better, you’re what the show’s about, bum spin went wrong but recovered well”. Anton concludes with a series of noises. Nines a-coming?
Annabel and Jojo’s salsa
Ballroom is Annabel Croft’s strength but she surprised us with her samba four weeks ago. Can she let herself go and embrace the Latin party spirit again? It needs to look spontaneous, free and fun. Flouncy feathery opening. Lots of hip action, lifts and tricks. Drops and spins. Spectacular splits. Lovely partnering, as you’d expect from these two but too disco and lacking bounce for me.
Song: You’ll Be Mine (Party Time) by Gloria Estefan. The queen of Latin pop performed her 1996 hit at the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Stevie Wonder three years after its initial release and enjoyed a new lease of life commercially. It’s been used twice before for Strictly salsas – in series seven by Natalie Cassidy and series 10 by Fern Britton. The latter was eliminated afterwards. Let’s hope that’s not an omen.
Judges’ scores: 9, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 36 points. Highest scoring rumba of the series.
Judges’ comments for Layton and Nikita: Anton says “accomplished, great musicality and mood but a little hard and too much attack”. Craig says “missing rumba hip action, too punchy but upper body great, intense, superb emotion”. Motsi says “love the control, very few people can handle that, well done, you softened and reacted”. Shirley concludes “beautiful musical elements and fluidity but one or two footwork issues”. Nines a-hoy and maybe an 8 from Craig?
Layton and Nikita’s rumba
They’re dancing their quickest and slowest dances of the series tonight. Huge contrast in pace. First up it’s a romantic and sensuous rumba – usually tricky for celebrity males but Layton is the king of Latin. He needs to settle into his hips and nail that undulating, earthy action. Contemporary feel to start but smouldering and passionate. Lots of rumba walks and balance tricks. It’s like a love letter to their partnership. Is it rumba-ish enough? Lacks continuous motion, a bit stop-start for me. Awkward at times but lovely mood.
Song: Lift Me Up by Rihanna. This R&B ballad by the by Barbadian megastar was the lead single from the soundtrack of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It acted as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and was Oscar-nominated for Best Song.
Mr Tess on the Ts & Cs
Up in the Clauditorium, Vernon Kay is this week’s VIP guest, reading out the voting smallprint. Wonder if they shared a minicab? He’s tall. And did brilliant work for Children In Need recently. He romantically hands back to Tess.
Judges’ scores: 9, 9, 10, 10 for a total of 38 points. His highest score and the top quickstep of the series.
Judges’ comments for Bobby and Dianne: Shirley says “I strip Anton of his King Of Ballroom title and give it to Bobby, you had the frame, no gapping, beautiful partnering, shifted across the floor”. Anton says “it took me years to get that title and you got it in five minutes, I got a bit emotional watching that, you’ve come so far, swept across the flor, transitions smooth, proud of you”. Craig says “lacked swing and sway, banana hands but amazing improvement, brilliant”. Motsi concludes “clear intentions, one of your best ballroom dances”. Two 10s and two nines?
