Well on that bombshell, it’s all over for another week – get ready for a MASSIVE SEMI next week, when our four remaining couples will be dancing TWO DANCES; kick-off is at 7pm, so please join me then. Thank you all for joining in; you are the chorus line every liveblogger needs, and let’s face it you’ve been making me look good for years. See you next week!
We get to see Alex and Neil’s best bits, and they both say lovely things about each other as it all gets a bit emotional. They take to the floor for their final dance, to Circle Of Life from The Lion King.
Which means ALEX AND NEIL are leaving Strictly. I’m sad about this, but much as I think ‘gospel hiphop samba’ should be a dance genre we ALL embrace in future, it was pretty risky for the quarter final.
So how will the judges vote? Craig saves Alex and Neil, as does Motsi. Good work both. Bruno saves Chris and Karen, however, which gives Shirley the deciding vote.
Shirley saves Chris and Karen, based on ‘personal taste’ – she thought their dance had more content and was more entertaining. I mean it definitely had content, it just wasn’t FOXTROT content. FFS Shirley.
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Alex and Neil are up next – it’s definitely could have done with more Samba content, but Alex actually dances this really well. I’m not sure she can blamed for the lack of Samba, she didn’t choreograph it. If it were me, based on that dance, I’d keep Alex and Neil over Chris and Karen.
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Dance-off time! First up it’s Chris and Karen, and their ‘Foxtrot’. This is much like last night, other than the timing is worse and the bits in hold are even more lethargic. Not a great performance, and it may well finish Chris off.
Well, this is interesting – a battle of the non-dancers doing dances with limited relevant content. Alex and Neil scored one point fewer last night, but I’d argue they’ve made more progress overall this series. It really is going to come down to this one dance – personally I’d love to see Alex and Neil stay, but I know there are plenty out there who are very much team Chris and Karen.
So who is joining Chris and Karen in the dance off? Kelvin and Oti are safe, which means ALEX AND NEIL are in the bottom two.
Next week is TWO DANCES. Farewell technique, we barely knew you.
Loving Idina’s red pantsuit, it’s fabulous. Dance-wise, Idina is accompanied by Giovanni and Karen contempo-wafting, but only Karen is barefoot. Brr.
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Time for a musical interlude, courtesy of Idina Menzel. For those of you who have been on a different planet these last few years, Idina is the voice of Elsa from Frozen. Tonight she is singing ‘Seasons Of Love’ from Rent, and also her new festive album.
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So will this reflect tonight’s bottom two? Karim and Amy are safe, along with Emma and Anton. First couple in the bottom two: CHRIS AND KAREN.
If they’re up against Kelvin and Oti, they’re toast. If it’s Alex and Neil, it could go either way.
Meanwhile lowlights were Chris and Karen’s Oliver! Foxtrot, which looked fun but lacked actual Foxtrot, and Alex and Neil’s Sister Act 2 Samba which was joyful joyful to watch but was a bit hiphop heavy and Samba lite.
Last night on Strictly: Musicals Week! I’ve watched all the dances again this morning (with both eyes, such a novelty!) – highlights were Kelvin and Oti’s Beauty and The Beast American Smooth, which was pure Gaston perfection, Karim and Amy’s Hairspray Jive, which got Craig’s first ten out, and Emma and Anton’s Throughly Modern Millie Charleston, which was their best dance by far despite Anton not really keeping up.
TESS AND CLAUDIA DRESS WATCH: Tess in a derelict post box, Claudia in a black velvet sack. Don’t forget your letters to Santa.
Dance-wise, it’s midnight blue organza contempo-waft. But not barefoot, winter has finally arrived. This is splendid.
And we’re off! Tonight’s musical opener is Beverley Knight, singing Memory from Cats. Based on Facebook photos, it would seem I have an uncle who is good friends with Beverley Knight. I’ve never properly got to the bottom of this family link but probably should, because she is amazing.
Missed the Countryfile Casual Weather earlier, but the comments tell me that it was a solid effort from the excellent Darren Bett. Good work Darren, you can come to our Strictly Casual Christmas party.
SUNDAY NIGHT RESULTS SHOW UPDATE!
Evening all, and welcome back for this week’s quarter final results! Last night was a fun show, but if we’re ever going to make it to Christmas we need to send another couple off into the Strictly sunset. I don’t make the rules.
Based on last night’s dancing, it should be a Chris/Karen vs. Alex/Neil dance-off, but we can’t underestimate the power of the public vote, particularly where Chris is concerned. Of course there were a few other factors at play last last night, like not being able to vote, being able to vote 412 times, not being sure if you’d actually voted, and having no idea who you’d actually voted for. LOVE a bit of live TV voting chaos.
Kick off is at 7.20pm – I see there were some spoilers down below which the moderators had removed by the time I woke up this morning. Can people please not do this? It’s selfish and inconsiderate and makes me cross.
See you in a bit!
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Thanks so much for joining in tonight and being hilarious down below as always – I’m off to eat pizza whilst reading your comments. We’re back here tomorrow night from 7.20pm for the Results Show, so please join me back here then! Hx *CURTAIN FALLS, HOUSE LIGHTS GO UP*
Goodness, the dancing’s over! That was quick. The lines are open, so get voting for your faves. Kelvin, Karim and Emma are very much centre stage this week, whilst Alex and Chris are propping up the chorus. Surely those two have to be in the dance off tomorrow?
Time for a recap – my favourite performances this evening was definitely Kelvin and Oti, but it was a pretty epic show all round.
Scores: 9,10,10,10 – a total of 39 for Emma and Anton. The tens have gone WILD this evening.
Shirley thought Emma fast-tracked her way to the final – it was fantastic. Bruno liked that it was a genuine 1920’s Charleston, Emma was a perfect high-class flapper. Craig loved the swivel – it was classic, classy and fab-u-lous. Motsi thought Emma was the icing on the top of a fantastic evening.
Good to see the Flavia wig having an outing, it’s been in its tiny cage too long. Emma has great swivel and characterisation in this dance, it could be strongly argued that she’s out-dancing Anton right now. I absolutely loathe this kind of musical number, but Emma is smashing it. Enjoyed that very much.
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And finally tonight it’s EMMA AND ANTON! This week they’re dancing the Charleston to ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’, which is the only musical in this year’s clutch that I haven’t seen on either stage or screen. Having watched a bit on YouTube, it seems to be heavy Jazz Hands, which is definitely Emma and Anton’s happy place.
Scores: 10,10,10,10 – a top score of 40 for Karim and Amy. DRINK.
Motsi hands Karim her ten paddle and gives him a hug. Shirley thought it was a flawless performance with high quality technique. Bruno has shivers going down his spine – it was a mind-blowing, bravura performance and the best Jive they’ve ever seen on Strictly. Craig is forced to give a standing ovation – tens all round?
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Karim is rocking the Corny Collins white suit, whilst Amy has a kind of fringy chessboard thing going on, along with weird hair horns. Karim is very much in his element here, some nice kicks and flicks and lovely timing. Is is (as ever) all a bit frantic, but an extraordinary Jive by any standards.
I think my biggest issue with this couple is the lack of chemistry – Karim looks like he’s doing his own thing and Amy is just making up the numbers. Just me?
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Next up it’s KARIM AND AMY! Their Musicals Week choice is a Jive to ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ from Hairspray. How has Karim got this far without doing a Jive? This kind of technical detail dance is very Karim, so have high hopes for this after last week’s angsty Couple’s Choice.
For those of you reading but not watching, sorry for the lack of photos so far, they don’t appear to be on the system yet. I’ll add them as soon as I can.
Scores: 9,10,10,10 – a total of 39 for Kelvin and Oti.
Craig thought the timing in the Viennese section was a bit off, but fantastic characterisation and a brilliant dance. Motsi thought we saw all of Kelvin’s skills come together, it was beautiful and elegant and Kelvin did a great job. Shirley thought it was outstanding on so many levels, and she absolutely disagrees with Craig on the timing. Bruno thought Kelvin had flair, pizzazz and a touch of camp – the character, storytelling and timing were perfect.
Kelvin looks oddly like Howard Donald from Take That, I can’t get past it. There is however lots of furniture in this dance, so DRINK. Lovely footwork from Kelvin, and he’s doing a great job of capturing the spirit of Gaston. This has got all kinds going on, and I absolutely love it. AGAIN.
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It’s time for KELVIN AND OTI! This week they’re dancing the American Smooth to ‘Gaston’ from Beauty and the Beast. I mean, Kelvin is just a pair of sideburns away from being actual Gaston, so this is an amazing choice. Please let this be as spectacularly camp as the original.
Scores: 6,7,7,7 – a total of 27 for Alex and Neil.
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Bruno thought it was a street/commercial Samba, and it didn’t have the right bounce in the traditional Samba sections, so Bruno can’t really judge them on that. Craig quite likes weird positions and really enjoyed it, whilst Motsi thought they were having the time of their life, even thought she wanted more Samba. Shirley loved the personality from the waist upwards, but there was too much repetition and not enough Samba.
In summary: not enough Samba.
Sadly neither Alex or Neil are dressed as nuns, but there are some nice purple robes going one. Oh hang on, they’ve gone – now Alex is ready for a spot of decorating and somebody from 1983 appears to have been sick on Neil’s shirt.
Alex is doing her best to give this some Samba bounce, but the trainers are hampering her frame and her neck appears to have disappeared. This is also a hip-hop Samba with very little Latin flavour, and whilst Alex appears to be having the time of her life, I’m a bit worried for them after that.
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Next (in the slot of Samba death) it’s ALEX AND NEIL! This week they’re dancing the Samba to ‘Joyful Joyful’ from Sister Act. I’m both intrigued and a tiny bit worried about how a gospel classic is going to work as a Samba, and after last week’s Argentine Tangle Alex could really do with a showstopper. Fingers crossed, but hopefully not Alex’s feet.
Reading tonight’s Terms & Conditions: celebrity choirmaster/Harry Potter impersonator Gareth Malone.
Scores: 6,7,8,7 – a total of 28 for Chris and Karen. Common sense finally prevails.
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Shirley loved the theatrical bits, but in hold it needed more swing. Bruno loved how the Artful Dodger put on a show, but the Foxtrot felt like intermissions between musical theatre acts, and needed to be more refined. Craig thought it lacked movement around the floor and the Foxtrot was too carefully placed, but the characterisation was fantastic. Motsi thought the open parts were fantastic, but she’s not going to mention the tiny bit Foxtrot she saw.
Huge marks all round then?
So this looks great in the ‘cor blimey guvnor’ solo bits, but once Chris is in hold he looks a bit stiff and constipated, all the flow disappears. Not a huge amount of actual Foxtrot either, but hey ho.
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First up tonight it’s CHRIS AND KAREN! This week they’re dancing the Foxtrot to ‘Consider Yourself’ from Oliver! Who doesn’t love a bit of Lionel Bart? I feel like Chris is going to embrace the role of Dickensian workhouse ruffian with some enthusiasm.
TESS AND CLAUDIA DRESS WATCH! Tess in rainbow tinsel, Claudia in a silver chandelier. They both look spectacular. Haha only kidding, it’s a hot mess all round.
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We open with a bonus Feem Week pro dance, which has a Hello Dolly thing going on. As someone who briefly went to a school that had straw boaters (don’t ask), I can confirm that they smell terrible.
Oh lord, Anton and Kevin are leading the singing. Very much here for Craig singing in spectacular drag, however. Give the 189 a paper bag to breathe into, we’re raising the bar every week.
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And we’re off! It’s the quarter final, so our five remaining couples are expressing their angst in shadow form, like some kind of neon Tales Of The Unexpected. Bit weird.
You’d think it would be quite tough to make a prime time pop music quiz on BBC truly terrible, but this one really nails it.
This week’s Strictly Come Bingo – have a swig of warm interval wine (please place your order at the bar now) for any occurrence of the following:
- Household furniture
- Craig getting his ten out
- Pyrotechnics
- Tess being patronising
- Early mentions of TWO DANCES
It's the Strictly quarter final!
Evening all, and welcome to this week’s Strictly Come Dancing liveblog! We’ve made it Week 11, which means three things:
- It’s Musicals Week! Prepare yourself for jazz hands, rictus grins, insane props and squashed-in superfluous backing dancers. Hold me closer tiny dancefloor.
- It’s also the quarter finals! When this season started we were enjoying the sunshine and quietly stockpiling pesto, blissfully unaware that by Week 11 we’d be stuck in a revolving news hell with Pinocchio politicians and pervy princes. Thank goodness for Strictly.
- The show is less than an hour long! It’s the shortest show of the series, before we move to TWO DANCES next week. After those 2 hour 20 minute liveblog marathons in the early weeks, this is going to be a breeze.
Heidi’s Hunches has been pretty poor so far this season, but we’ve come this far so I will doggedly plod on. I have no choice but to put Chris and Karen in the top group, as the judges and public seems to love him – also Alex and Neil have a Cursed Samba this evening which may well finish them off.
- Group 1: one eye on the final – Kelvin and Oti, Chris and Karen, Karim and Amy
- Group 4: dodging the dance-off – Emma and Anton, Alex and Neil
Curtain up is at 7.10pm, so gather appropriate snacks/drink/blankets/loved ones and settle in! See you in a bit.
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