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Haigin88 says: “Brilliant news on no dance-off! The faithful, quality dancers were losing out, de facto, due to injuries harming lesser dancers. Excellent decision-making by the BBC. Lovely to see the dancers going apeshit with joy there.”
KarimaKat says: “Lovely Bal crying with relief. Sad she feels it’s going to be her at the bottom every time. She’s really quite good. Go girl!”
MikeMoonlight adds: “No one is leaving Strictly this week. You are all safe...” Somewhere, Vicky Pattison is currently throwing a bottle of Newcastle brown ale at the TV. The bad news is that tomorrow’s results show is now requiring so much filler that Anton has offered to perform his 2017 album From The Top in it’s entirety.”
Readers’ verdicts are in
Time for a grab bag of your Blackpool feedback. MartGray says: “Poor La Voix but from an Instagram message the other day. it sounded as if he risked breaking something and being out of action for eight weeks if it got worse.”
ReclinedPotato adds: “Gutted about La Voix. She’s been so entertaining. I can only wish her well/ I hope she finds her way Up North with her show one day. I’ll be there!”
How are we feeling about no dance-off? It sort of drained proceedings of jeopardy but did create a celebratory, end-of-term atmosphere.
It's the Golden Glitterballs: Pleasure Beach Edition
A trip to the seaside wouldn’t be complete without some entirely theoretical awards. Here are this week’s liveblog gong-getters…
Best dance: Lewis Cope’s Charleston and Karen Carney’s paso doble were both numbers for the ages.
Worst dance: For me, Alex Kingston was disappointing. I know, I know.
Best music choice: O Fortuna was impressive from Dave Arch andhis Latin-singing combo. The big band Arctic Monkeys was also fun.
Worst music choice: Supertramp didn’t suit the Argentine tango and the Geri/Shirley mash-up didn’t work.
Best outfit: Amber’s gold frock and Alex’s green one.
Worst outfit: George and Alexis seemed to be dressed for different routines.
Best VT: Alex Kingston, both for emotion and nice kitchen. Also Carlos asking the fortune teller “Will my costume look fabulous?”.
Worst VT: Amber playing the nan card. Also, one presumes that George’s self-filmed one was an attempt to be all modern and content creator-y but it just looked like the camera crew had phoned in sick.
Best judges’ comment: Craig telling Amber she “flew around the floor faster than a seagull swooping for a chip”. By contrast, Anton kept making noises and saying wow.
Best Claudia quip: Not knowing what a cummerbund is and asking Tess “Shall we get Blackpool tattoos? Good girl.”
In other self-indulgent plugging news, my debut novel The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency is available on ebook for a wag-ulous reduced price of 99p for one more week only. It’s also out in paperback and audiobook, if you’re so inclined. Right, I’ll shut up about that now and get back to the dancing.
Serpents (and my silly face) on telly tonight
TV viewers can now stay on BBC1 for Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, flip to BBC Two for Kim Wilde At The BBC or head to ITV1 for The 1% Club. At 9.05pm, there’s Wild Cherry on BBC One or I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! on ITV1.
At 10.05pm, star-studded historical drama The Serpent Queen arrives on Channel 4 or there’s The Most Embarrassing TV Moments on Channel 5 - which might just feature a certain Strictly liveblogger as a talking head. I can only apologise in advance.
If you’re in a filmic frame of mind, tonight’s top picks are Nobody (9pm on Film4), The Bourne Ultimatum (9pm on 5Star), Nights of Cabiria (9.05pm on Talking Pictures) or The Holiday (9.05pm on BBC3). You’re supposed to be the leading lady in your own life, for God’s sake!
Blackpool leaderboard in full
Lewis Cope tops the seaside standings, with George Clarke and Karen Carney tied in second spot.
Balvinder Sopal is way down at the bottom, with Alex Kingston just above and Amber Davies in mid-table. No dance-off but it will all get carried over to next week, as will the publuc vote.
Credits roll
Tess and Claud tell us to “Keeeeeep dancing!” with one eye already on their traditional post-show Blackpool night out. Now even larger due to no dance-off, one hopes.
As everyone folds up their windbreaks and shakes out their sandy towels, please stay with us for analysis, reaction and a round-up of your comments.
The casting vote goes to…
Nobody! There’s no dance-off! Have we mentioned that?
Tonight’s super six routines get rewound on-screen. Which seaside superstars will get your vote? Which dancing donkeys definitely won’t?
And the vote is… open!
Online-only, of course. Phonelines are sooooo last century. The usual mayhem kicks off with a fancy-dressed Blackpool twist.
Judges’ scores: 9, 10, 10, 10 for a total of 39 points. Overmarked but joint second.
Judges’ comments: Motsi says “wow, wow, this is how you shut down Blackpool”. Shirley says “a new day, a new George with a fantastic vibe, loved you being front and centre on your own, best dance so far, a humble warrior and you want to make that final, I feel it”. Anton says “so good, gave it the salsa face, a magical Blackpool, not sure I’ve experience a better one”. Craig concludes “your salsa base was a little bit wide but hips were swinging, incredible lifts, loved the armography, you’re a true star”. Nine and a 10 or three?
George and Alexis’ salsa
Closing the show in a big contrasting mood to last week’s emotive rumba from YouTuber George Clarke and his pro partner Alexis Warr. Getting his hips out for a party salsa. Fairground-ography and slightly 90s boyband moves to start. Embracing the flavour and the fun. Feeding off the energy of the club anthem, the extra dancers and the Tower Ballroom crowd. Lacking a little Cuban spice and flirty connection, maybe, but fast and rhythmic. More streetdance than salsa but lifts, tricks and entertainment. Dave Arch seems to have drafted in Fatman Scoop on vocals.
Song: Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) by Bob Sinclar. The French DJ and producer’s 2006 hit samples the 90s club classic by C+C Music Factory. Jump to the rhythm, jump, jump to the rhythm, jump!
Judges’ scores: 8, 9, 9,9 for a total of 35 points. Second from bottom as it stands but hey – no dance-off!
Judges’ comments: Shirley says “celebrated life for sure, elegant and expressive, flicks and kicks and sassy feeling, enjoyed it immensely”. Anton says “right up my street, stylish, sophisticated and so you”. Craig says “little stop moments could have had more definition, timing got out and an awkward underarm turn but I love the sultry temptress story and held your own completely, pure theatre, darling”. Motsi concludes “slick, tight, sensational, the right dance for you”. Nines ahoy?
