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Thank you and a glittery goodnight – for now
That concludes Saturday’s twinkle-toed liveblog but we’ll be back in ballroom hold tomorrow. The results show airs at 7.15pm Sunday on BBC1. I’ll reboot the blog at 6.45pm for build-up, so I hope you’ll rejoin me then. In the meantime, I’m @michaelhogan on Twitter (we still don’t call it X, right?), so please do samba-bounce over and say hi.
Thanks for watching along with me and your excellent company as always. Meet you here for the third elimination tomorrow. Predictions welcome. I’d hazard a guess at a La Voix vs Chris Robshaw dance-off with La Voix to go. But this is Strictly, darling, so anything goes.
In the meantime, you know what to do: keeeeeep dancing! Take care, my Tumnus-trousered favourites.
Updated at 16.55 EDT
And before I go, it would be frankly remiss of me not to mention that for some autumnal reading – involving mutts, murder and mirth in a seaside setting – my debut novel The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency has just been published by Penguin Michael Joseph. I see a few of you in the comments are already reading and being lovely about it, which is making me glow like a glitterball. All orders gratefully rewarded with tail-wags and face-licks (don’t worry, not from me).
Finally, some of your thoughts on Ellie Goldstein’s Couple’s Choice show-closer. joanieloves says: “So much energy and enthusiasm from Ellie. She’s clearly having the time of her life.”
ADreamOfWhiteHorses says: “Life affirming.”
Jennifera030 says: “Ellie is living her best life and I wish I had a quarter of her confidence and skill. She is great and this dance is bringing me joy.”
Toesturnedin says: “Well. I’m very glad to have watched that. Yes I’m very dusty. Who cares? Bloody lovely end to the show.”
Somersetlass says: “Oh, Vito. ‘When Ellie comes into the room, everything lights up. All of a sudden the world is in colours’. My heart.”
EmmyHarb adds: “I’m so glad that Vito didn’t go down the sweet, schmaltzy route with Ellie’s CC. That was fun and funky. She smashed it!”
Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.18 EDT
On Amber Davies’ Argentine tango, JoMK73 says: “I loved that AT. Pure filth, not clean as a whistle. Loved the choreography.”
Vicc says: “That final shot of Amber and Nikita was excellent. Gave the atmosphere precisely.”
Audreyshandbag adds: “They look like they’ve been shat on by the goose that lays the golden eggs!”
Nikita Kuzmin and Amber Davies. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.19 EDT
On Chris Robshaw, Poppieshen says: “Nadiya really can dance. Chris can chuck her around but can’t dance.”
IvanTiger says: “Chris still needs to loosen up more, but that wasn’t bad and better than before. Fab arms.”
Southoftheriver1 adds: “Big improvement from Chris, although he sometimes just forgets to dance and walks between marks. Unbelievable lifts, though.”
Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.19 EDT
MarkRoche says: “Alex Kingston was sensational but Shirley overcompensating for earlier behaviour, methinks.”
heroica says: “I just love Alex and Johannes. That was so beautiful and I’m a bit weepy. The lyrics are poignant.”
LazyMillennial says: “The bit in Fast Car where the song just explodes is still one of my favourite moments in popular music.”
Shazza2704 says: “Was that a Shirley equivalent of a Paul Hollywood handshake?”
anniebygaslight adds: “Greetin’ like a Christmas card for Alex and Jojo.”
Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.20 EDT
MartGray says of Balvinder Sopal’s paso doble: “Great costumes, authentic music, but horribly distracting laser beams.”
MikeMoonlight says: “Balvinder must be the first contestant to actually play their Naan card.”
AndyPandy21 adds: “Public .don’t you dare put Balvinder in the dance-off. She does not deserve it. Her moves are very clean and such a good recognisable paso routine with Julian.”
Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.21 EDT
SparklingDormouse says: “Not good from La Voix. Just didn’t suit her. No hip movement and messy. I’m afraid. Shame as I love the jokes and she’s been better!”
bewilderedpenguin says: “Well, that’s a first: Aljaz looking awful. And I loathe boxing. Grump grump grump. Must refill my glass.”
MarkRoche says: “Not for the first time, the theme got in the way of the dance. Slightly disappointed with that from La Voix and Aljaz.”
MissMartini adds: “I don’t think that was entirely La Voix’s fault. Terrible choreography, music and concept. I think she has more to give, so she may get all my votes.”
Aljaz Skorjanec and La Voix. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.22 EDT
Pancake01 says: “I love George Clarke and I like Alexis. However, I think Alexis has fallen into the trap that many new pros fall into. She needs to make him work on his ‘fundamentals’ more. I think the new pros are so concerned with doing the routine correctly, performing and looking good, and they assume that the celebs have more skill than they actually do. I think George is definitely a dancer though and I want him to go far.”
irreverentnurse says: Yes, agree with Anton, George does have a calm quietness about him which I like.”
diamondcat adds: “I honestly cannot believe that George hasn’t danced before. He’s extraordinary!”
Alexis Warr and George Clarke. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.23 EDT
On Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, VictoriasSecret says: “Lovely family, nice sentiment. Still don’t approve of Couple’s Choice.”
Miranda07 says: “Jimmy totally took me back to my childhood. Just fabulous and he is pure joy personified.”
SnailyWhaley says: “Sorry, didn’t love that. I thought Lauren showed him up rather than showing him off.”
Somersetlass adds: “Jimmy is a REVELATION! That hip work was wonderful, and he’s got real musicality. The whole dance was full of joy.”
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.24 EDT
On Lewis Cope, ReclinedPotato says: “What a gorgeous routine from Katya and Lewis. That dismount from the step ladder was worth an extra point alone.”
heroica says: “smooth foxtrot. Didn’t really need that spin on the floor, I thought. Spoilt the mood. Lovely otherwise.”
Toesturnedin adds: “Oh. that was cute off the stepladder. I’ll try that with the lads at work.”
Lewis Cope and Katya Jones. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.25 EDT
joanieloves says: “Thought that was a great routine from Stefan Dennis. Dianne is a genius at playing to her partner’s strengths.”
Jennifera030 says: “That was a big improvement from Stefan, who definitely wasn’t spending last week in remedial dancing classes.”
IvanTiger adds: “Once they got round to it, some really nice moves from Stefan, but needed more dance and less staging.”
Dianne Buswell and Stefan Dennis. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.26 EDT
On Vicky Pattison’s La Isla Bonita samba, elfwyn says: “I see I’m not the only one who sings ‘Young girl with eyes like potatoes’! Up there with ‘I can see clearly now, Lorraine has gone, I can see four lobster claws in my way.’”
Somersetlass says: “Vicky full of party spirit there. Lots of hip and fringe movement (those trousers never stopped moving), and real attitude. Great fun.”
LekisP adds: “Loved that from Vicki, she brought the party. Really enjoying her patter.”
Kai Widdrington and Vicky Pattison. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.27 EDT
irreverentnurse says: “I do like Harry’s long legs, find him quite graceful given he’s muscle bound, with great posture.
MikeMoonlight says: “It’s notable that even Vito has actually worn more buttons this series than Harry.”
Lidoswimmer adds: “Not quite as good as Jimmy’s but we’ve had two really decent ‘difficult for the man’ rumbas.”
Karen Hauer and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.28 EDT
Readers’ verdicts are in
Time to take the temperature of your comments. On Karen Carney’s quickstep, jagadox says “Carlos seems another pro who has been finding his feet and that quickstep was bright, breezy and bouncy.”
Bianco says: “Great song, amazing dress and she seemed to have a good time! A lovely start to the evening!”
girlpanic says: “Fab-u-lous from Karen & Carlos. Her feet were great and she seemed to really enjoy it. Her upper body could be more elegant but I loved it overall.”
ReclinedPotato adds “Oh, Karen is ever so slightly maniacal when she dances and I absolutely love it. Talk about going glitterballs deep!”
Karen Carney and Carlos Gu. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAShare
Updated at 16.29 EDT
Hold the front page, it’s the Golden Glitterballs
They’re the most coveted made-up awards this side of a Scottish castle where the corridors smell faintly of Celia Imrie’s farts. Here are this week’s gong-grabbers…
Best dance: Alex Kingston’s rumba, say the judges. Ellie Goldstein’s showstopper, say I.
Worst dance: La Voix’s cha cha travesty by a long chalk.
Best music choice: Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. Also loved Nat King Cole and Dance Monkey.
Worst music choice: La Voix’s uneasy combo of music, concept and styling did her no favours at all.
Best outfit: A tie between Karen Carney and Alexis Warr’s gowns.
Worst outfit: La Voix as Tina Turner-meets-Rocky. Why oh why? Vicky’s Mr Tumnus trews in second place.
Best VT: Ellie Goldstein’s proud mum. Something in my eye.
Worst VT: Balvinder taking Julian for a curry, merely because it made me hungry.
Best judges’ comment: “I heard somebody scream, then I realised it was me” – Anton on Harry’s rumba.
Best Claudia quip: That kisscam spoof with her beloved Dave Arch. Be still, my beating satire.