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Thank you and a glittery goodnight – for now<\/p>\n
That concludes Saturday\u2019s twinkle-toed liveblog but we\u2019ll be back in ballroom hold tomorrow. The results show airs at 7.15pm Sunday on BBC1. I\u2019ll reboot the blog at 6.45pm for build-up, so I hope you\u2019ll rejoin me then. In the meantime, I\u2019m @michaelhogan on Twitter (we still don\u2019t call it X, right?), so please do samba-bounce over and say hi.<\/p>\n
Thanks for watching along with me and your excellent company as always. Meet you here for the third elimination tomorrow. Predictions welcome. I\u2019d 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.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, you know what to do: keeeeeep dancing! Take care, my Tumnus-trousered favourites.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.55 EDT<\/p>\n And before I go, it would be frankly remiss of me not to mention that for some autumnal reading \u2013 involving mutts, murder and mirth in a seaside setting \u2013 my debut novel The Dogwalkers\u2019 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<\/a> gratefully rewarded with tail-wags and face-licks (don\u2019t worry, not from me).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Finally, some of your thoughts on Ellie Goldstein\u2019s Couple\u2019s Choice show-closer. joanieloves says: \u201cSo much energy and enthusiasm from Ellie. She\u2019s clearly having the time of her life.\u201d<\/p>\n ADreamOfWhiteHorses says: \u201cLife affirming.\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifera030 says: \u201cEllie 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Toesturnedin says: \u201cWell. I\u2019m very glad to have watched that. Yes I\u2019m very dusty. Who cares? Bloody lovely end to the show.\u201d<\/p>\n Somersetlass says: \u201cOh, Vito. \u2018When Ellie comes into the room, everything lights up. All of a sudden the world is in colours\u2019. My heart.\u201d<\/p>\n EmmyHarb adds: \u201cI\u2019m so glad that Vito didn\u2019t go down the sweet, schmaltzy route with Ellie\u2019s CC. That was fun and funky. She smashed it!\u201d<\/p>\n Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.18 EDT<\/p>\n On Amber Davies\u2019 Argentine tango, JoMK73 says: \u201cI loved that AT. Pure filth, not clean as a whistle. Loved the choreography.\u201d<\/p>\n Vicc says: \u201cThat final shot of Amber and Nikita was excellent. Gave the atmosphere precisely.\u201d<\/p>\n Audreyshandbag adds: \u201cThey look like they\u2019ve been shat on by the goose that lays the golden eggs!\u201d<\/p>\n Nikita Kuzmin and Amber Davies. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.19 EDT<\/p>\n On Chris Robshaw, Poppieshen says: \u201cNadiya really can dance. Chris can chuck her around but can\u2019t dance.\u201d<\/p>\n IvanTiger says: \u201cChris still needs to loosen up more, but that wasn\u2019t bad and better than before. Fab arms.\u201d<\/p>\n Southoftheriver1 adds: \u201cBig improvement from Chris, although he sometimes just forgets to dance and walks between marks. Unbelievable lifts, though.\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.19 EDT<\/p>\n MarkRoche says: \u201cAlex Kingston was sensational but Shirley overcompensating for earlier behaviour, methinks.\u201d<\/p>\n heroica says: \u201cI just love Alex and Johannes. That was so beautiful and I\u2019m a bit weepy. The lyrics are poignant.\u201d<\/p>\n LazyMillennial says: \u201cThe bit in Fast Car where the song just explodes is still one of my favourite moments in popular music.\u201d<\/p>\n Shazza2704 says: \u201cWas that a Shirley equivalent of a Paul Hollywood handshake?\u201d<\/p>\n anniebygaslight adds: \u201cGreetin\u2019 like a Christmas card for Alex and Jojo.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.20 EDT<\/p>\n MartGray says of Balvinder Sopal\u2019s paso doble: \u201cGreat costumes, authentic music, but horribly distracting laser beams.\u201d<\/p>\n MikeMoonlight says: \u201cBalvinder must be the first contestant to actually play their Naan card.\u201d<\/p>\n AndyPandy21 adds: \u201cPublic .don\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.21 EDT<\/p>\n SparklingDormouse says: \u201cNot good from La Voix. Just didn\u2019t suit her. No hip movement and messy. I\u2019m afraid. Shame as I love the jokes and she\u2019s been better!\u201d<\/p>\n bewilderedpenguin says: \u201cWell, that\u2019s a first: Aljaz looking awful. And I loathe boxing. Grump grump grump. Must refill my glass.\u201d<\/p>\n MarkRoche says: \u201cNot for the first time, the theme got in the way of the dance. Slightly disappointed with that from La Voix and Aljaz.\u201d<\/p>\n MissMartini adds: \u201cI don\u2019t think that was entirely La Voix\u2019s fault. Terrible choreography, music and concept. I think she has more to give, so she may get all my votes.\u201d<\/p>\n Aljaz Skorjanec and La Voix. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.22 EDT<\/p>\n Pancake01 says: \u201cI 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 \u2018fundamentals\u2019 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.\u201d<\/p>\n irreverentnurse says: Yes, agree with Anton, George does have a calm quietness about him which I like.\u201d<\/p>\n diamondcat adds: \u201cI honestly cannot believe that George hasn\u2019t danced before. He\u2019s extraordinary!\u201d<\/p>\n Alexis Warr and George Clarke. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.23 EDT<\/p>\n On Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, VictoriasSecret says: \u201cLovely family, nice sentiment. Still don\u2019t approve of Couple\u2019s Choice.\u201d<\/p>\n Miranda07 says: \u201cJimmy totally took me back to my childhood. Just fabulous and he is pure joy personified.\u201d<\/p>\n SnailyWhaley says: \u201cSorry, didn\u2019t love that. I thought Lauren showed him up rather than showing him off.\u201d<\/p>\n Somersetlass adds: \u201cJimmy is a REVELATION! That hip work was wonderful, and he\u2019s got real musicality. The whole dance was full of joy.\u201d<\/p>\n Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.24 EDT<\/p>\n On Lewis Cope, ReclinedPotato says: \u201cWhat a gorgeous routine from Katya and Lewis. That dismount from the step ladder was worth an extra point alone.\u201d<\/p>\n heroica says: \u201csmooth foxtrot. Didn\u2019t really need that spin on the floor, I thought. Spoilt the mood. Lovely otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n Toesturnedin adds: \u201cOh. that was cute off the stepladder. I\u2019ll try that with the lads at work.\u201d<\/p>\n Lewis Cope and Katya Jones. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.25 EDT<\/p>\n joanieloves says: \u201cThought that was a great routine from Stefan Dennis. Dianne is a genius at playing to her partner\u2019s strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifera030 says: \u201cThat was a big improvement from Stefan, who definitely wasn\u2019t spending last week in remedial dancing classes.\u201d<\/p>\n IvanTiger adds: \u201cOnce they got round to it, some really nice moves from Stefan, but needed more dance and less staging.\u201d<\/p>\n Dianne Buswell and Stefan Dennis. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.26 EDT<\/p>\n On Vicky Pattison\u2019s La Isla Bonita samba, elfwyn says: \u201cI see I\u2019m not the only one who sings \u2018Young girl with eyes like potatoes\u2019! Up there with \u2018I can see clearly now, Lorraine has gone, I can see four lobster claws in my way.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Somersetlass says: \u201cVicky full of party spirit there. Lots of hip and fringe movement (those trousers never stopped moving), and real attitude. Great fun.\u201d<\/p>\n LekisP adds: \u201cLoved that from Vicki, she brought the party. Really enjoying her patter.\u201d<\/p>\n Kai Widdrington and Vicky Pattison. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.27 EDT<\/p>\n irreverentnurse says: \u201cI do like Harry\u2019s long legs, find him quite graceful given he\u2019s muscle bound, with great posture.<\/p>\n MikeMoonlight says: \u201cIt\u2019s notable that even Vito has actually worn more buttons this series than Harry.\u201d<\/p>\n Lidoswimmer adds: \u201cNot quite as good as Jimmy\u2019s but we\u2019ve had two really decent \u2018difficult for the man\u2019 rumbas.\u201d<\/p>\n Karen Hauer and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.28 EDT<\/p>\n Readers\u2019 verdicts are in<\/p>\n Time to take the temperature of your comments. On Karen Carney\u2019s quickstep, jagadox says \u201cCarlos seems another pro who has been finding his feet and that quickstep was bright, breezy and bouncy.\u201d<\/p>\n Bianco says: \u201cGreat song, amazing dress and she seemed to have a good time! A lovely start to the evening!\u201d<\/p>\n girlpanic says: \u201cFab-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.\u201d<\/p>\n ReclinedPotato adds \u201cOh, Karen is ever so slightly maniacal when she dances and I absolutely love it. Talk about going glitterballs deep!\u201d<\/p>\n