So that’s it for the Quarter Finals! It’s the Semis next week, so don’t forget to wear roomy trousers. The remaining five couples will be dancing TWO DANCES EACH, but what it will lack in dance quality we’ll more than make up for in party spirit.
Thank you all for joining in with your brilliant comments, you are the best thing about this blog by a country mile. Come and say hello on Twitter @heidistephens if you’re passing, and I’ll see you next week! Keeeeep dancing! Hx
Updated
Still, Trixie have delivered some fantastic quality dancing over the past 11 weeks, and I confess to being a tiny bit sad that we don’t get to see them do a Flowers In The Attic Argentine Tango.
So somewhat unexpectedly, PIXIE AND TRENT are going home! Didn’t see that coming, assumed they were guaranteed finalists.
Suspect that will prompt some grumbling in some quarters, but such is the way of Strictly – the best dancer at the start very rarely wins, because the audience invariably gets behind the improvers (like Mark and Caroline), or the entertainers (like Jake).
So who will the judges save? Craig saves Pixie and Trent, but Darcey saves Simon and Kristina! Bruno saves Pixie and Trent, so it’s all down to Head Judge Len! PERIL! PERIL!
Len has to judge on this ONE DANCE rather than what’s gone before, so he saves SIMON AND KRISTINA! Simon collapses, and the crowd goes wild.
A good effort from Pixie and Trent too, but her leg action still isn’t right. However you could hardly expect her to sort that our in the space of an hour. Sorry, a DAY. A DAY.
COME ON SIMON, give it everything you’ve got. I want mild peril and a week without a foregone conclusion, just for once. I really enjoyed this American Smooth last night, and it’s good to watch again – Simon looks confident and his footwork is great. Can he get the final lift right? YES HE CAN! WOO!
Well this is interesting – both scored 35 from the judges last night, with Simon losing points for a shonky lift, and Pixie for shonky leg action. So if Simon sorts the lift out in the dance-off, he could arguably deliver the better dance. But Pixie won the Waltzathon, and is overall the more talented dancer. But Simon’s the most improved.
Personally I’d keep Simon and Kristina, but I’m a sucker for a journey. Can’t see the judges doing likewise, somehow, and by the looks of it Simon knows it too.
Which makes me sad, because I think Simon’s been brilliant this year. Boo, Strictly, you cut so DEEP.
So who is joining Pixie and Trent in the dance-off? Frankie and Kevin are safe, and so are Jake and Janette.
Which means SIMON AND KRISTINA in the dance-off.
I’m transfixed by Claudia’s outfit. Is she being punished by the wardrobe department for something? Several acres of purple curtain and some geisha shoes. NO.
Updated
Claudia appears to be wearing a purple kaftan and massive platforms. Can she actually walk in those?
Musical interlude! OneRepublic. They’re actually quite good.
So despite being bumped up the leaderboard by the points from the Waltzathon, Pixie must have surely have come bottom in the public vote. The curse of stage school strikes again, and good to know that the public can still have their say. Can’t imagine the judges saving anyone else over them, however.
DRESS UPDATE: Tess in a ghastly black halterneck. So who is safely through to next week’s semi-final, and who is in the dance-off? First couple safe is MARK AND KAREN, proving once again that my predictive powers are entirely useless. Also safe is Caroline and Pasha, which is slightly more expected.
First couple in the dance-off: PIXIE AND TRENT. Ooh! OOH! Didn’t see THAT coming.
Last night on Strictly: a jazzy Smooth from Simon and Kristina, a passion-free Argentine from Caroline, a psychedelic Cha-Cha from Pixie and Trent, a charming Foxtrot from Mark and Karen, a bonkers Charleston from Jake and Janette, and a dodgy nightclub Salsa from Frankie and Kevin. Let’s pretend the Waltzathon never happened.
Out come Tess and Clauds! DRESS WATCH: hard to tell, they’re both wearing bright yellow anoraks. Ah, new dancer was world Latin champion Neil Jones. Maybe it was part of his job interview.
Updated
And we’re off! Tonight’s pro dance: Electro Annie Lennox/Rihanna paddling pool Latin oddness, with umbrellas. Who’s the ginger pro dancing with Karen? Have they snuck a new one in?
All a bit weird, but kind of filthy.
Updated
Countryfile Casual Weatherman update – horrid elastoplast-pink shirt with white collar and cuffs. Shirtfront gaping, jeans. Somebody have a word.
Updated
SUNDAY NIGHT RESULTS SHOW UPDATE!
Evening all, it’s Sunday night results show time! Last night’s show was a bit of a mixed bag, with Caroline and Pasha flying high and looking like a shoo-in for the final. Barbie and Ken, meanwhile, were drifting at the bottom of the leaderboard, until the judges swiftly rectified matters with the Waltzathon. So all back to normal, then.
My prediction last night for the bottom two was Simon and Kristina and Mark and Karen, mostly because they’ve both spent most time in the bottom two, and I think Jake will get the public vote. It’s hard to call which couple might go, but let’s see what happens. Personally I think this has been the most interesting final six in a while – any one of them could conceivably win the show, so it should be an exciting final couple of weeks.
Apparently there was a spoiler down below last night, but looks like it’s been moderated now – thanks to all who posted warnings this morning. Never had this problem in all my years of liveblogging Strictly – if you’re thinking of posting a spoiler, could you please not? If we wanted to know, we’d go and look. Thanks.
See you at 7.20!
So that’s it’s for the quarter finals! I’m predicting Mark and Karen and Simon and Kristina in the dance off, because I suspect the public will vote for Jake and Janette. Thank you to everyone who joined in down below - I’ll be back here at 7.20pm tomorrow for the results, so do come back. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday! Hx
Bit of an odd show tonight. My favourite was Mark and Karen, but I suspect they’ll be in dance off. Ho hum.
Updated
Bruno thought it was wonderful, and they should all be very proud.
Scoring: 1 point for Jake and Janette, 2 points for Mark and Karen, 3 points for Caroline and Pasha, 4 points for Simon and Kristina, 5 points for Frankie and Kevin, 6 points for Pixie and Trent.
See? Other than getting Mark and Jake the wrong way round, I was spot on.
Updated
Everyone is trying not to bash into anyone else. It’s like anti-dodgems. Pixie and Trent are carving everyone else up, but otherwise I can’t really tell what I’m looking at.
It’s time for the Waltzathon! This is a brief dance interlude where the couples all Waltz together, and the judges rannk their performance from 1 to 6.
Previously this has been a Swingathon, but that sounds a bit like a fundraising orgy, so they’ve gone for something that sounds like an endurance fairground ride instead.
Basically this is an opportunity for the judges to tell us who their favourites are, whilst the actual waltzing is largely irrelevant. My predicted order (from bottom to top) is Mark, Jake, Caroline, Simon, Frankie, Pixie.
Updated
Scores: 8,9,8,9 – a total of 34 for Frankie and Kevin, which I think might be the lowest score of the night.
Will the waltzathon change everything?
Bruno thought their Salsa had plenty of ingredients, but the mount and dismount between lifts was a bit shonky. Craig thought it was a bit haphazard and it lost a bit of fluidity. Darcey thought it was hot, spicy and full of moves, but the lifts weren’t as assured as they could have been. Len thought it was a bit rough around the edges.
Frankie is wearing a sparkly welding mask, doing a spot of lazy sanding. Nope, no idea. This is very much a nightclub salsa, with plenty of butt-shaking in both camps. Frankie loses her energy towards the end and the lifts are a bit rough in places, but nice enough.
I think I’ve worked out why I can’t wave the flag for Frankie and Kevin – they’re both adorable, but there’s very little by way of chemistry between them. They’re like brother and sister, albeit not in a creepy Pixie and Trent way. So, you know, it’s all relative.
Updated
Oh hang on, Kev is sick. Are pro dancers allowed to be sick?
Next up it’s Frankie and Kevin! This week they’re dancing the Salsa to the Freemasons’ remix of ‘Work’ by Kelly Rowland. Kevin from Grimsby’s choreography has been blisteringly fast so far this series, can Frankie keep up with a speedy Kev Salsa?
Scores: 9,9,10,10 – a total of 38 for Jake and Janette. It was great, but was it a ten? Or do we just dole out tens for anything these days? I’ve got no idea.
Len thought it was a circus of delights, and Jake has taken a giant step into the semi-finals. Bruno thought it was a riot of surreal slapstick – totally involving with a performance level that was out of this world. Craig thought it was strong and quirky – Jake is a strong character dancer. Darcey thought it was goofy and imaginative.
Well this is fun – great energy and plenty of slapstick from Jake, although his swivel action is a little windmill-esque and the transitions and lifts are a little clunky. Love the character and personality, however, great fun and just what we needed to see from Jake.
Updated
Jake’s kids are entirely adorable. Just saying.
It’s time for Jake and Janette! This week they’re dancing the Charleston to ‘Entry of the Gladiators’ by Ken Griffin’s Circus Band. After last’s week Tangoshambles, hopefully Jake has been given a brilliant routine that shows what he can actually do. COME ON JAKE.
Scores: 8,9,9,9 – a total of 35 for Mark and Karen.
Darcey liked it very much – the shaping of his frame has improved, and it had style and quality throughout. Len thought it was charming - if Mark’s the underdog, “that dog’s got bite”. Bruno thought it was smooth with real ease of movement, and the timing was perfect throughout. Craig thought Mark is really beginning to look like a dancer – it had great energy and he loved it.
Mark is looking rather splendid in tails, and this is a rather charming and joyous Foxtrot, with some nice footwork from Mark and some nice skippy bits out of hold too. By no means perfect, but I really enjoyed that.
Have you noticed that Tess has stopped pointing out that the audience is on its feet? I wonder why.
Next up it’s Mark and Karen! This week they’re dancing the Foxtrot to ‘L-O-V-E’ by Nat King Cole. Mark and Karen were in the bottom two tonight with a slightly chaotic Vegas Salsa with very dubious timing. Mark is going to have to pull something rather fabulous out of the bag if he’s going to stay out of the bottom two this week. Could this be Strictly’s first half-naked Foxtrot?
Scores: 9,9,8,9 – a total of 35 for Pixie and Trent.
Craig thought it was spectacular, although Pixie’s legs were a little stiff. Darcey loved the zest and energy, although Pixie’s leg action was inconsistent and a bit awkward. Len points out that he’s been lenient on the matter of illegal lifts up to now, but from next week he will start penalising as they did three lifts and there shouldn’t have been any. Pixie’s leg action was also a distraction. Bruno thought they captured the ebullience of the swinging sixties, and he likes to see Pixie pushing the boundaries even though she’s “a bit of a rebel”. Hahahaha.
Pixie is dressed as a giant prawn, and this is a suitably psychedelic Cha Cha, with Pixie and Trent giving a great performance, although I do get the impression they’re dancing with the crowd rather than each other. It all goes a bit weird and drunk at the end, however.
It’s time for Pixie and Trent! Tonight they’re dancing the Cha Cha to the Dave Arch version of the Glee Cast version of the B52’s ‘Love Shack’. I was 16 when this song came out. Hated it then, can’t imagine this is going to help.
Scores: 9, 10, 10, 10 – a total of 39 or Caroline and Pasha. I’ll watch it again later. Maybe I’m just grumpy.
If you were a violin, you would be a Stradivarius, says Bruno. They pitched it absolutely perfectly, with the best lifts he’s seen this season. Craig thought she lost balance twice, but it was one of the most thrilling Argentines he’s seen. Darcey loved the shape Caroline creates with her legs, and her lifts were effortless. Len loved the passion and intensity.
I’m clearly watching something else this evening. Left me cold.
This is a solid Argentine, but it feels like it could have more punch and aggression, and Caroline’s legs feel a bit soft in places. Also zero sex appeal, but a very decent job.
Caroline is stressing out about the Argentine. And you know what everyone really needs when they’re stressing out? OLLY MURS.
Next up it’s Caroline and Pasha! Tonight they’re dancing the Argentine Tango to ‘La Cumparsita’. We’ve only had two Argentines in the show so far – a brilliant Blackpool one from Simon and Kristina, and last week’s Zorba hell from Jake and Janette. At this rate the last two weeks are going to Argentine and Rumba-tastic, as everybody seems to be avoiding them.
Scores: 8, 9, 9, 9 – a total of 35 for Simon and Kristina. Simon is just happy to be there, in case he hasn’t made that clear.
Len liked the swing and sway and the nice mix of steps, and Bruno thought it had plenty of wow factor, and he “could open in Vegas with that number”, despite the mishap at the end. Hmm. Craig thought Simon lost his frame a little in frame, and they missed the last lift, but he has come a really long way. Darcey out-butchering Tess on the earring front – his finger snapping could have been snappier, apparently.
Kristina is dressed in a dress of slaughtered Elmos. It’s a jazzy Smooth, but the spin at the end is a complete fiasco. Not sure that’s good enough for this stage in the show, to be honest.
Updated
First up it’s Simon and Kristina! Tonight they’re dancing the American Smooth to ‘Heartache Tonight’ by Michael Buble. I’m anticipating some kind of “will you give them your vote, or will it be heartache toni..sorry, tomorrow night?” pun from Claudia.
Here come the celebs! Pixie and Trent appear to be dressed as Barbie and Ken. It was only a matter of time.
Out come Tess and Clauds! DRESS WATCH: Tess in a full length black number with bulky straps, Pat Butcher earrings and giant boobage, Clauds in a horrible black number with nasty braiding. No. NO.
Still, at least they’re not wearing Darcey’s mink coffin lining.
Updated
And we’re off! Previously on Strictly: Austrian windmills in Amsterdam, a grisly Greek Argentine and a godawful globetrotting Strictly theme that should never have been granted a visa. Sunetra and Brendan became the ninth couple to leave the Strictly dancefloor. They both looked a bit relieved, to be honest.
Come on, pick Eurovision! Oh, how disappointing.
Pointless answers: onomatopeia, portmanteau, neologism, synonym, palindrome. We should totally go on this show. All of us.
Updated
BAKE OFF ROUND ON POINTLESS! I know ALL the answers.
So I went to the filming of the Strictly Christmas Special on Monday, and it was FAB. U. LOUS – well worth a watch at 4pm on Christmas Day when you’re in a post-lunch turkey coma. Also met lots of Strictly people who love this blog and all your comments, so keep the good work.
Good evening, and welcome to this week’s Strictly Come Dancing liveblog! The technicolour trip-hazard of last week’s transcontinental shambles is behind us, so we can get back to some proper dancing. Don’t know about you, but that prospect definitely gets a ten from me.
So it’s quarter-final time, which means only six of our original 15 couples remain. Our final four is too close to call at this point, although I suspect it won’t include Mark and Karen, who have been in the bottom two enough times to consider a timeshare. Will they go tomorrow/technically tonight?
I’ll be here from 7pm to keep an eye on all the floaty Foxtrots and cheeky Cha Chas, so do join in below with your thoughts, comments and dance-related puns. Optional Strictly drinking game just for this evening – a swig of sloe gin every time someone says “Waltzathon”.
See you at 7!
