Strictly Come Dancing: the quarter-final – as it happened

So that’s it for another Strictly week, and only two to go! Thank you all for joining in, and I’ll see you next Saturday at 6.50pm for the semi-final, which involves TWO DANCES. It’s the final push, so let’s make it count. See you next week! Hx

Judge Rinder thanks the judges, because he knows how difficult it is to be a judge. He then makes Oksana cry by being entirely lovely.

They dance their final dance to Defying Gravity from Wicked, and I am already missing Rinder’s sense of fun (a lot), his latin hips (a bit) and his dancing sex face (less so). Rinder has without doubt been on the biggest journey of this year’s Strictly quarter finalists, and I’m sorry to see him go. Things might be decidedly light on laughs from here on in.

As expected, all the judges save Ore and Joanne, which means JUDGE RINDER AND OKSANA are going home.

Judge Rinder’s Samba is still an absolute joy, albeit entirely shambolic – it won’t be enough to save him, but he’s been an absolute delight this series.

So Ore and Joanne are up first. This is still a bit sedate for my liking, but I thing Ore’s top line has definitely improved. I’d still love to see him in the final, ideally with Claudia and Louise, but that isn’t going to happen.

So who is joining Ore and Joanne in the dance-off? As expected, it’s Judge Rinder an Oksana, who immediately gives the crowd a wave. He knows he’s going home. Boo.

It’s time for a musical interlude, courtesy of legendary musical theatre luvvie Elaine Paige bellowing Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, wearing a dress made of cobwebs and jellyfish.

Alas the picture desk doesn’t seem to have a shot of that dress. Either it’s an endangered species, or we’re all being encouraged to pretend that never happened.

Apparently there are two dances next week. I had no idea, they should have mentioned it sooner.

You know what would improve Ore and Joanne’s Foxtrot, Bruno? Taking a scythe to the superfluous flowers.

So who is safely through to the semi-finals (TWO DANCES), and who is the first couple in the bottom two? Claudia and AJ are safe (hooray!), along with Louise and Kevin!

First couple in the bottom two: Ore and Joanne!

So it’s either Rinder or Danny, which would be a massive upset.

Last night on Strictly – a slightly lacklustre Musicals Week, with far too many superfluous backing dancers and some odd music choices. Highlights: Rinder’s Samba hips, Oti’s Beyonce hair, Louise looking like she’s having fun, the West Side Story pro dance.

Lowlights: Anton’s impression of Bruce Forsyth, Bruno’s impression of Donny Osmond, Kevin’s chaps, no Ed Balls.

Tess and Claudia Dress Watch: Tess in an apron with a faux-split crotch, Claudia wrapped in parma ham. I really like Tess’s, which is a first.

This week’s opening pro dance is Chicago’s All That Jazz. So many Flavia wigs, and all the café chairs. Somewhere out the back is a stack of redundant tables.

And we’re off! Feel free to drink at any mention of TWO DANCES, but don’t blame me if you can’t go to work tomorrow.

This week’s Countryfile Casual Weatherman is the rogueish Matt Taylor, rocking a classic blue shirt/brown belt/blue jeans combo. Although rather too much use of the word “moisten” for my liking.

Here’s a duck joke:

A duck walks into a shop and asks for a Countryfile Calendar. The shopkeeper puts it on his bill.

#hereallweek

Cute piglets on Countryfile! Mmm, crackling.

So who will be in tomorrow’s dance off? I’m thinking Judge Rinder and Oksana, and maybe Ore and Joanne, in which case Judge Rinder will go. Although worth noting that this was the week last year that the public saved Anita and Gleb and the dance-off was between Helen and Aljaz and Georgia and Giovanni, so really anything could happen.

We’ll just have to wait until tomorrow at 7.20pm to find out, so join me here then. Thank you as always for joining in and being brilliant and hilarious - enjoy the rest of your Saturday! Hx

Ooh, a bonus pro dance! It’s a bit of West Side Story, featuring scaffolding and attitude. This is reminding me how much I’m missing Aljaz and Giovanni. Janette and Aljaz dancing together is sooo dreamy, more of this please.

Well this is my favourite pro dance in ages – LOVED that.

So that’s it for tonight’s show! Goodness that went quickly, and the absence of some Glitterballs madness was sorely felt in my house. The daughter’s votes have gone to Claudia and AJ, Ore and Joanne and Louise and Kevin.

Scores: 9,10,9,10 – a total of 38 for Danny and Oti. Danny wasn’t expecting tens. Neither were we, Danny, but Bruno’s doling them out like sweets.

Len thought Danny’s footwork wasn’t quite working (good, not just me), but Danny is one heck of a dancer. Bruno thought Danny was the star of the show, but Craig thought it lacked heel leads, although otherwise it was dynamic and he loved it. Darcey loved the focus, and she was totally absorbed in Danny’s character.

Oti is looking entirely fabulous as ever, less keen on Danny’s Ben Elton sparkly jacket. This is a fast and furious Tango, so much so that’s it hard to see what’s going on. Weird disco interlude that absolutely does not belong in a Tango, and something isn’t right about Danny’s legs, but I’m not sure what. Meh.

This week’s VTs are just massive adverts for Musicals Currently Playing In The West End, aren’t they?

And finally it’s Danny and Oti! Tonight they’re dancing the Tango to ‘One Night Only’ from the musical Dreamgirls. Their Samba last week scored a perfect 40, and demonstrated that Danny is very much in a league of his own this year. But I’m not sure that means he will (or should) win - Danny was so far ahead of the pack experience-wise right from the start, it feels a bit like he’s just phoning it in now.

Scores: 9,9,9,10 – a total of 37 for Claudia and AJ. Oh Bruno, really?

Darcey thought it was high energy with lots of lovely detailing, but she’d have liked a little more character. Len loved how it captured the flavour of Salsa, and Claudia is a terrific dancer. Bruno loved how Claudia showed her spice girl side, but Craig didn’t like some of the dismounts and it needed more pressure through the floor in the salsa, but otherwise amazing.

Claudia appears to be dressed as spiral-permed 80s lion, but this is a brilliant Salsa with great footwork and hip action from Claudia. A bit clunky in and out of the (incredible) lifts and not nearly enough actual Salsa, but a really confident performance from Claudia – enjoyed that very much.

Next up it’s Claudia and AJ! This week they’re dancing the Salsa to ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’ from the Lion King, which is basically the song where Simba wishes his father was dead.

I’d love to see Claudia roar her way into the semi-finals, but first AJ needs to park his own ego and deliver a Salsa that properly showcases Claudia’s talent, without leaving her scrambling to keep up.

Scores: 9,9,9,10 - a total of 37 for Louise and Kevin. Someone needs to check Bruno’s meds.

Craig loved the routine, and the timing and characterisation was brilliant. Darcey loved how clean and light it was, and she became Calamity Jane. Len thought it was *pause to look at what’s written down* good enough for the West End Stage, but there was a bit too much musical and not enough dance for his liking. Bruno thought they whipped the number into perfect shape.

Louise is jiggling in a carriage, and already I love this, despite Kevin in chaps. Great characterisation from Louise and fab Quickstep footwork, albeit she messed up the timing there. A bit too much jogging about out of hold for my liking, but a really nice routine and nice to see Louise letting her hair down. She’s definitely growing on me.

It’s time for Louise and Kevin! Tonight they’re dancing the Quickstep to ‘The Deadwood Stage’ from Calamity Jane. I’m intrigued to see if Louise can pull off some ass-kicking Doris Day attitude, or whether this is all going to be a bit Little House On The Prairie.

Scores: 7,8,8,8 - a total of 31 for Judge Rinder and Oksana.

Incidentally, we only need a mention of two dances next week and it’s a Bingo full house. We’re only two dances in.

Bruno starts singing, and appears to have been on the vodka red bull. It was flat-footed, but great fun. Craig agrees, but his hip action was great and Judge Rinder’s bottom was dancing for Brazil. Darcey loved Rinder’s individual style, and she loves watching him. Len thought it was sunny and hot, and a joy to behold. He’d like to watch it again (but not in the dance-off).

And there’s Rinder’s Samba Sex Face - DRINK! Great hip action though (DRINK MORE), and some slow-motion Samba rolls. I’m not sure this is the best song choice for a Samba, but he’s giving it both barrels, and I love him. More superfluous backing dancers (DRINK EVEN MORE), albeit none of them dressed as flowers, so that’s an improvement. Enjoyed that very much.

Next up it’s time for Judge Rinder and Oksana! This week they’re dancing the Samba to ‘Oh! What a Night!’ from Jersey Boys. The judge is in serious danger this week, so this either needs to be good enough to save him in the dance off (unlikely), or entertaining enough to stop him ending up there in the first place. I’m very much hoping for the latter, although the Slot Of Death in tonight’s running order won’t help.

Out comes Brendan dressed as Joseph in his technicolour dreamcoat to read the Terms & Conditions. He has a sheep tucked under his arm, and it’s all got a bit surreal.

Scores: 9,9,9,9 - a very decent 36 for Ore and Joanne.

Len thought it was delicious, it had style and elegance, although there were a couple of unsteady moments. Bruno thought Ore conducted himself like a gentleman, it was very stylish. Craig thought it had swing, sway, elegance and class, and Darcey loved how Ore lead Joanne around the stage and captured the suave and cheeky character of Mr Wonka.

Well I entirely missed that.

So Joanne is dressed as a big purple Quality Street, and Ore is dressed as Barney the Dinosaur. Superfluous backing dancers are dressed as sweets and flowers, so DRINK! It’s a nice Foxtrot, albeit a bit sedate for my liking – would have been nice to capture a bit of Wonka bonkers-ness. Ooh, it’s picked up a bit, but I can’t see them as they’re surrounded by giant flowers. I did not like that very much at all.

First up it’s Ore and Joanne! Tonight they’re dancing the Foxtrot to ‘Pure Imagination’ from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with Ore as Willy Wonka. This is such a great song from a brilliant musical, and I have a sneaky feeling this is going to be quite magical.

Ore’s got a hat! So has Kevin! DRINK!

Tess and Claudia Dress Watch: Tess in a split bin bag, Claudia in an ill-fitting paisley nightie. 4/10.

As usual, Darcey looks glorious.

I assumed that Anton could sing. Not so much, it turns out. This is terrible.

It’s a Feem Week, so we’re being treated to Anton’s Big Opening. Apparently this homage to musical theatre was specially penned by Strictly’s music producer Matt Howes.

I had a heads up from the BBC about this earlier, so I’ve had time to mentally prepare. The rest of you can come out from behind your sofas in about three minutes.

And we’re off! Time for a moody VT. They’re all in the quarter finals, and it’s amazing. Everyone’s giving it everything they’ve got. Dancing will be nailed.

This week’s Strictly Come Bingo – a swig of something sparkly for any occurrence of the following:

• hip action
• superfluous backing dancers
• any mentions of TWO DANCES next week
• Rinder sex face
• hats
  

Evening all, and welcome to this week’s Strictly Come Dancing liveblog! We’ve made it to the quarter finals, which means it’s time for *jazz hands* Musicals Week! Expect glitter, wobbly props, big band belters and VTs packed with sub-Pasha acting (AJ, I’m looking at you). The good news (for my tennis elbow, at least) is that there are only five couples left and tonight’s show is only an hour; the bad news is that Ed Glitterballs is gone, so we don’t get to see him and Katya do their Shirley Bassey Rumba. Can you imagine how amazing/terrible that would have been?

As usual I’ll be keeping a beady eye on things from up here in the royal box, while you guys are actively encouraged to sprinkle wit and wisdom down in the cheap seats. Curtain up is at 7pm, so I’ll see you then!