Strictly Come Dancing 2021: week four – the results

And on that (not) bombshell, Week Four is over! Thank you for keeping me company – I’ll be back next Saturday at 7.05pm for another whirl around the Strictly dancefloor, or you can find me on Twitter in the meantime @heidistephens. Please join me then, and in the meantime have a FAB-U-LUSS week! Hx

By rights it should be Greg and Karen leaving the show tonight, but this is Judy’s third time in the dance-off and we can’t discount the judges deciding to put her out of her misery. Or Greg actually doing that Samba properly, you never know.

So who is joining Judi and Graziano in the dance off? Tom and Amy are safe, along with Rhys and Nancy, Rose and Giovanni, John and Johannes and AJ and Kai.

Which means GREG AND KAREN in the dance off!

This dating/dancing show with Jamie Laing on BBC3 looks like a colossal pile of shite. There, I said it.

Dancing accompaniment provided by Gorka and Luba dressed as a human disco ball.

Nadiya’s skirt is pure Ferrero Rocher - keep her away from naked flames. Also, if I was Tilly I’d kick OFF about that outfit. Send your dad round to wardrobe, Tilly. Get him to have a word.

So which couples are safely through to next week? Adam and Katya are safe, along with Dan and Nadiya, Sara and Aljaz and Tilly and Nikita.

First couple in the bottom two: JUDI AND GRAZIANO. Not a huge surprise, and I fear that only Greg and Karen can save them.

Last night on Strictly: a post-Movie Week reality check.

Highlights: John Whaite’s trousers, Sara’s Tango, Rose’s cheeky Cha Cha, Motsi’s festive jumper, Adam and Katya serving super-hot Argentine realness.

Lowlights: Rose’s trousers, death by Samba, sniping judges, random scoring.

And we’re off! Tonight’s opening pro dance is a funktastic affair to Chaka Khan’s ‘Like Sugar’. The wardrobe for Blues Brothers in the West End has been comprehensively emptied.

Currently on BBC1: a sex-fuelled frog chorus. Suddenly the noodly Paul McCartney 80s novelty song has taken on a whole new dimension. We All Bang Together.

(If you popped in for Strictly results, I’m so sorry. Normal service will resume shortly).

Currently on Countryfile: exotic man pheasant attempting to woo bored-looking lady pheasant by making a noise like a Clanger and doing some impressive tail-feather wafting.

I’m beginning to think this might not be Countryfile.

Apparently fireflies flash their glowsticks to communicate ‘I am here and I’m ready to mate’. I went to raves in the 90s and have seen this tactic in action.

I’ve just switched on Countryfile, and it features some teeth-grinding monkeys with rainbow butts. Looks like Adam Henson’s sheep farm has diversified.

Scores: 5,7,8,8 - a total of 28 for AJ and Kai. See? Justice for Tom Fletcher.

Craig thought it was technically poor and not AJ’s dance. Motsi loved the conviction but it needed more leg co-ordination. Shirley loved the vibrancy and attitude, but her leg action needed to track better. ‘All you need for this dance is to look great and dance well,’ says Anton ‘and you looked great’. Eeeeek.

AJ’s dressed as a Quality Street tin full of empty wrappers, and I love it. She makes a big old mistake at the beginning, but recovers it well and starts to bring the party. It’s a bit shaky in places and definitely not AJ’s best dance, but a nice way to wrap up the show.

Mum and dad on video! DRINK!

Scores: 8,8,8,8 - a total of 32 for Adam and Katya.

Anton thought it was one of the most impressive series of lifts he’s ever seen. Craig thought it was a bit blocky and square, but otherwise right up his alley. Motsi thought Adam picked it up a notch, and Shirley agrees - the lifts were immaculate, but Adam needs to find the music in his own body. Probably not that version of Tango In The Night, but maybe that’s just me.

By the standard of previous weeks Adam is somewhat overdressed, especially for dancing in a swimming pool. This is actually quite haunting and sexy, and I’m very much enjoying fierce Adam bringing the power. But it’s mostly just throwing Katya around and not much actual Argentine-ing from Adam. Some nice arms at the end and love the intent, but the legs definitely needed more work.

Ooh, all gets a bit hot and flustery at the end.

Many family members. DRINK.

Scores: 4,6,7,7 - a total of 24 for Judi and Graziano. Who rattled Craig’s cage? That was never a 4.

Shirley felt Judi’s emotion and pain, and Judi gave it everything. Anton thought Judi made a lovely connection between the dance, the music and the sentiment, although it was a bit hesitant in the leg action. Craig thought it was dance with intent and isn’t going to mention all the bad stuff. Motsi wanted Judi to push it a bit more and focus on the details, but it was beautiful.

I love the connection between these two, and this dance has real romance and a lovely elegance to it. Gorgeous footwork from Judi, and a really nice bit of storytelling. LOVED that.

Also round of applause for fake Mariah. You smashed that.

Scores: 5,7,7,7 - a total of 26 for Dan and Nadiya.

Motsi thought it was fun to watch but it needed hip action. Shirley thought it was highly entertaining and Dan looked like he believed in himself more, and now he needs to work on his flexibility. Anton enjoyed how Dan performed it, but Craig wasn’t fussed about the crab and the running man, even though he loved the commitment.

On the upside, Dan is wearing a Connect Four shirt rather than low-crotch Hammer pants, so that’s a relief. On the downside, Nadiya is dressed as a brillo pad.

I mean, this is fun and Dan’s leg action is really pretty great, but his hips are set in stone. If Dan did this Cha Cha in Trafalgar Square, he’d be the fourth plinth.

I actually weirdly enjoyed that, but I’m not sure why.

Mention of the whole Davies family - DRINK!

Scores: 9,9,9,9 - a total of 36 for Sara and Aljaz.

Craig thought it was spectacular, despite Motsi screaming in German throughout. Motsi loved the control and strength, she’s so proud of Sara. Shirley can’t believe the progress Sara has made since Week 1, even if the head placement was a bit off. Anton thought it was almost perfect, but she needed to lean her head rather than turn it. Or something.

I didn’t love that as much as they did, but maybe I missed something. I’ll watch it again later.

Love the traditional tango music, but Sara’s footwork feels a bit soft and lacking intent to me. Her timing is amazing, but it needs more drama and attack. Not my favourite Tango, but then the Tango isn’t my favourite dance. What do I know?

Scores: 8,8,7,8 - a total of 31 for Rhys and Nancy.

Anton found it a bit frenetic and big, but he loves Rhys’s energy and style. Craig liked that it was something different and Motsi enjoyed how Rhys shined - he’s a power packet (no idea). Shirley thought it was highly entertaining, but Rhys needs to tidy up the loose ends.

Nancy’s outfit has a whiff of ‘IKEA Employee gets caught in shredder’ about it. It’s a Health & Safety tribunal waiting to happen.

Rhys has all the moves, but his hip action lacks Latin flow. In and out of the lifts is a bit clunky and some sections of this are a bit frantic and off the pace. Not Rhys’s best, but you can’t fault the energy.

Scores: 6,7,8,8 - a total of 29 for John and Johannes.

Shirley loved the gear change from last week, and they had a nice combination of open and closed choreography. Anton thought John is a super dancer - he has lovely grace and charm but the sections out of hold were better than in hold. Craig thought it was odd and there was gapping galore in hold - it didn’t come together tonight. Motsi was feeling the power.

Well, this is gorgeous. Great storytelling and you really feel the connection and trust between these two, and it’s a nice mix of fun and joy and bromance - really enjoyed that, despite the vast gapping and because of the breathtakingly restrictive nature of John’s trousers.

Scores: 3,5,5,6 - a total of 19 for Greg and Karen. Three votes for them later, just so we don’t have to watch that again.

Motsi wanted more from Greg’s body. NOPE. Shirley thought there was no mistaking Greg’s personality, but the mistake at the beginning was too big for Week Four. Sorry, says Greg. Anton thought it was fluid, boppy and flamboyant, and he enjoyed it. Craig thought it looked like Greg had just come out of a double hip replacement, and it was technically really quite bad, even though he loved the shirt and Greg’s smile.

Greg blows into a big shell, and this is already horrible beyond anything we could possibly have imagined. It’s like watching a box of Kleenex being ripped apart by a dog. MY EYES.

Anyone fancy a cleansing watch-along of Sense & Sensibility later, just to remind ourselves of a time when Greg Wise didn’t wear pastel samba frills?

Mention of Tilly’s father (no idea who he is, Gordon someone) - DRINK. Also Tilly’s nan on video - DOUBLE DRINK.

Scores: 6,8,9,9 - a total of 32 for Tilly and Nikita.

Craig loved routine but it felt stop-starty to him. Motsi does NOT agree - she felt the determination and attack from Tilly. Shirley agrees - Tilly challenged Nikita and stayed poised and focussed throughout. Anton thought it was Tilly’s best dance of the season so far - he enjoyed the intensity and the acceleration.

There’s a mention of Amy’s grandad, if not an actual sighting. Drink anyway.

Scores: 7,8,7,7 - a total of 29 for Tom and Amy. Remember that very sensible score when they dish 9s for some old guff later.

Tom’s wife is in the audience. DRINK. I’m so sorry.

Anton thought it was marvellous - the whole thing was charming and delightful, but Tom needs to work on his footwork. Craig wanted Tom to lead the dance a little and it lacked swing and sway, and Motsi agrees - needs more work on Tom’s standing leg, but classy. Shirley loved the ambience and Tom made a good effort, he just needs to do a little work on his feet.

Amy’s pink feathery frock is as gorgeous as this Foxtrot – this has bags of class and old-school charm. Love the little side-by-side interlude - Tom’s footwork isn’t perfect, but enjoyed that very much.

First nanna of the evening - DRINK.

Scores: 7,6,6,8 - a total of 27 for Rose and Giovanni. Indications are that Shirley is marking down for mistakes this week, but the evening is young.

Shirley thought Rose lifted the level of her Latin, even though there were a couple of mistakes. Anton thought it was a refreshing spritz of something fabulous and uplifting, and Rose’s foot action has improved. Craig wanted more extension in Rose’s line but he liked the hip action and the strong partnership between her and Giovanni. Motsi loved how Rose is gaining confidence - she’s getting stronger and stronger.

Once again, am loving Motsi’s look. It’s never too early for a festive jumper.

Obviously I’m thrilled that Rose is wearing an actual raspberry beret, even though there’s not a second-hand store in the land that would attempt to sell those fugly trousers.

Rose is doing a nice job of this Cha Cha - she’s got great precision to her leg action. The trouser fringing makes it quite difficult to see what’s going on, but to me it looks like a fun and simple Cha Cha, well delivered.

Out come the stars! How are there still so many of them, despite losing three since last week? I feel like we’ve been here for MONTHS.

Crikey, who did Rose upset in Wardrobe this week? Those trousers look like some kind of lockdown craft project.

Meanwhile Greg and Karen appear to be dressed as Princess Jasmine and BoBo The Clown, which is the Aladdin spin-off none of us asked for.

And we’re off! Everyone’s loving Strictly and having a lovely time, nobody wants this experience to end. Ba-ba-ba etc.

Interestingly, I went back and looked at 2019 Heidi’s Hunches in Week Four, when my ‘nailed down top four’ included Michelle Visage and Dev Griffin. Dev went home that week in a shock elimination, and Michelle was the first and only person to actively sabotage her Strictly journey through the medium of Couple’s Choice. So, you know, there’s a long journey ahead of us.