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Goodness gracious, Ed Balls Of Fire!
These old pics and home videos of the pros and judges at Blackpool are cute, though. Well, until Ann Widdecombe comes along.
Blackpool gets the big build-up now with a VT. Drink again!
ShareOur Strictly stars™
Our couples emerge on the sparkly staircase for welcome waves. George Clarke had the industry standard chest-out-for-rumba shirt. Nikita Kuzmin is topless in pleather dungarees. My eyes.
ShareJudges are in the building
Enter the paddle-raising panel of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke. Shirley’s in a nice frock with flouncy statement sleeves.
They’ve dished out 14 perfect 10s so far this series. Will there be more tonight or will they save them for Blackpool?
ShareFrockwatch
Here’s our two-headed hostly hydra, so let’s do our traditional couture clash. Tess Daly is in a mauve sparkly turtleneck. Claudia Winkleman is in a black, one-shouldered, drop-waisted frock with hair in a chic updo. Claud wins by a mile.
ShareCue clapalong titles
Which of these smiling pairs will be starved of fish and chips on Blackpool beach?
ShareAaaaand we’re off!
Roll ye olde scene-setting VT. Blackpool-themed, obv. Drink!
Gulp some rosé to stop the nervous sweating. Listen out for a Celia Imrie parp. We’re about to be go live to Elstree Studios…
Alan Carr’s Picture Slam just wrapping up on BBC1 – a new series of the comedian and Celebrity Traitors winner’s Numberwang-type quiz.
Well, I suppose it beats Amanda Holden’s Inner Ring. Just five minutes to wait now…
ShareOn your dance cards tonight
Seven different dance styles on the menu tonight, with American smooths from both Balvinder Sopal and Karen Carney the only doubling-up. We’ll also see a Couple’s Choice number from La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec.
It’s 10 minutes until the glitterball starts spinning…
ShareEyes down for Strictly bingo
Cross them off as they happen! Take a drink for each! Veer so far off the rails that friends are officially worried! Here’s your 10-point spotter’s checklist for tonight:
Blackpool gets mentioned so much that you begin to hear imaginary seagulls
Couple’s Choice routine gets wildly over-marked because nobody knows how to judge it
A cute cartoon Pudsey bear dances across the screen during a Children In Need plug
Anton says of an American smooth “That’s the sort of number I’d like to dance”
Motsi and Shirley gang up on Craig when he criticises a hand placement or sticky-up finger
George Clarke’s rumba has Tess Daly fanning herself with her cue cards
La Voix gives Craig some lip and his poker face dissolves into laughter
Claudia interrupts a rambling post-dance interview with “Good luck, the scores are in”
Shirley is harsher on Balvinder Sopal’s footwork than she is on the male celebs
Craig wears a kiss-me-quick hat or knotted hankie on his head when the voting lines are opened
ShareA field in form
Half of our remaining eight contestants – namely Amber Davies, Balvinder Sopal, George Clarke and Vicky Pattison – secured their highest score of the series last Saturday.
Can they build on that momentum? Just 20 minutes until we find out…
ShareHoofing heroes to reprise their greatest hits
News this week four former finalists will return for a spectacular group dance in Blackpool. Ashley Roberts, Danny Mac, Jay McGuiness and Layton Williams will return to the ballroom for one night only, joining the pros for a dazzling routine that will see them each revisit one of their most famous Strictly moments.
The Blackpool specials will also feature performances from Lewis Capaldi and Steps. It all sounds like a fitting celebration to mark Tess and Claudia’s farewell trip to the Tower Ballroom. It’s 25 minutes until sparkly showtime….
ShareWho might miss out on a seaside minibreak?
Should Albert Square hang out the “welcome home” banner? Once again, EastEnders actor Balvinder Sopal is the bookies’ odds-on tip for elimination this weekend – as she has been for about a month now – followed by her fellow dance-off survivor La Voix.
Can this resilient duo defy the odds again? Half an hour until we get our first choreographic clues…
ShareThe ballroom battle for Blackpool begins
The prestigious Tower Ballroom and the bright lights of the Pleasure Beach beckon – but somebody won’t get a seat on the sparkly bus. Good evening and welcome to the eighth live weekend of Strictly Come Dancing 2025. I’m Michael, your cyber-dance partner for tonight’s live show. I’d love you to watch along with me as our eight remaining pro-celebrity pairings bid to make it to next week’s Blackpool spectacular
Last week, Vicky Pattison topped the leaderboard with a near-perfect 39 points, followed closely behind by Amber Davies with an impressive 38. After drag queen La Voix turned it on for the dance-off, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was eliminated.
Our surviving duos have successfully passed the contest’s midway mark and now take to the Elstree Studios dancefloor again, with the annual trip north to the fabled home of ballroom squarely in their sights. As always, tonight’s scores will be combined with the public vote and the bottom two will dance for survival on Sunday night. Will we get a pre-seaside surprise?
It’s showtime at 6.30pm on BBC One. I’ll be liveblogging from 6pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, analysis, reaction and ballroom backchat. So start mentally packing your overnight bag with your most spangly disco garb and I’ll see you on the sofa.
As usual, I’d love to hear from you too. You can tweet me @michaelhogan, contact me on Bluesky or Threads @michaelhogan100, email me michael.hogan.freelance@guardian.co.uk and the comments section below is open for hoofing hubbub. I’ll knee-walk down there from time to time to see what you’re all saying and report on your reactions.
It’s week eight, so don’t be late. Nearly time to staaaart seaside qualifying!