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Judges’ comments: Anton says “chracterisation and open work tremendous but not quite as good in hold”. Craig says “misplaced footwork but sharp, staccato and entertaining”. Motsi says “engaged and powerful but went blank, work on consistency and control”. Shirley concludes “tuck your bottom underneath, work on the frame, work on footwork but you are shining”.
ShareLawrence and Jowita’s terrifying tango
Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb got a score last week when his error-strewn jive left him second from bottom of the scoreboard but he was saved from the dance-off by viewer votes. Now he’s back to ballroom with the technically tricky tango. Channelling Bill Murray’s character Peter Venkman, he chases and kills a shonky augmented reality Slimer, then into close hold with pro partner Jowita Przystał. Lots of sharp turns and pivots. Keeping low with slow, stalking promenades. Terrible music for tango but he’s going OK, if a tad hesitant. Footwork faults. Slimer burps him over at the end, just to rub salt in the wound.
Song: Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. The title song of the 1984 film was Oscar-nominated but lost out to Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called to Say I Love You from romcom The Woman In Red. Parker Jr only had a few days to write it and was struggling to incorporate the film’s title, as per his brief, until he turned on the TV late one night and heard “Who ya gonna call?” on a cheap commercial for a local service.
Updated at 16.03 EDT
Email just in from Elaine Topping:
double quotation markI thought I’d imagined Bob Downe. No one I know has ever heard of him! Thank you for confirming I haven’t been hallucinating his polyester clad form all these years.
Happy to help, Elaine. No spoilers but make sure you check out Colin From Accounts season three.
Judges’ scores: 8, 8, 8, 8 for a total of 32 points.
Judges’ comments: Motsi says “clever choreography but vary your timing”. Shirley says “very good performance, be more solid and more synchronised but creepy, strange, good for you”. Anton says “you need more clarity of movement and musicality to make you more special”. Craig concludes “I can’t agree with old Dusty Springfield, I loved the theatricality”.
ShareWill and Dianne’s Couple’s Choice
Will Best and pro partner Dianne Buswell performed the highest-scoring cha-cha of the series last week, despite “chewing a toffee with his bottom”. Now it’s a high-concept Couple’s Choice, playing puppets in maroon Victorian costumes. Shades of Faye and Giovanni’s lonely goatherds. As soon as Will leaves the fatherhood theme of recent weeks behind, we’ve got a rather literal song choice for the Big Brother presenter. Side-by-side work with elastic between them. Tough, tricky choreography but less technical than the ballroom and Latin styles. Embracing the character, staying synchronised and selling it. Flat-footed and lacking bounce for full Bob Fosse vibes but full of character and quirk.
Song: Nu Flow by Big Brovaz. The 2002 debut single by the London R&B collective, who were dubbed a softer version of So Solid Crew.
I’m being told that Johannes is saying “papi”, not “puppy”. Apologies. Dog mad, I am.
Judges’ scores: 7, 7, 5 (boo!), 8 for a total of 27 points. Quite a spread. Jaime is being lovely and talking to the viewers about self-doubt and insecurity, telling them to get up and dance. Carlos is sweetly supportive.
Judges’ comments: Shirley says “executed the tricks well but you were totally in front of the music, pushed it so hard that it was out of time”. Anton says “I disagree, you were right on the front foot, great power, love that”. Craig says “great forward and back basic, fantastic hip action”. Motsi concludes “entertaining choreography and acting but a bit hectic and breathless, work om musicality but you have a strength and aura”.
ShareJaime and Carlos’ scary salsa
Actor Jaime Winstone and reigning pro champion Carlos Gu are now double dance-off survivors. They’re fighting back with a fierce, fiery number. Jaime is Frankenstein’s bride in a black-and-white feathered frock with punky safety pins and should enjoy the characterisation. App-swiping gimmick to open. Lots of spins, lifts and tricks. Jamie’s spending a lot of this routine upside down but she’s throwing herself into it with gusto. Fun and flirty with shimmies and shakes. Bringing the Halloween party spirit but is she controlling her energy and nailing the spicy, saucy Cuban technique? Cracking choreography, maybe just lacking a bit of salsa content.
Song: Filthy/Gorgeous by Scissor Sisters. The 2005 single was the band’s first UK top five single and was used as the theme music to the US remake of cult Australian sitcom Kath & Kim. Look at moy, Kimmy, look at mooyyy.
Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu. Photograph: Guy Levy/PAShare
Updated at 15.54 EDT
Judges’ scores: 7, 9, 8, 9 for a total of 33 points. Second as it stands. Cach is wiping away tears, bless him. Jojo calls him “puppy” which is even better.
Judges’ comments: Craig says “feet need to caress the floor, calm your upper boy but I’m being picky because you are brilliant, impassioned and dynamic”. Motsi says “take that standing ovation in, you’re moving people, feeling is more important than technique, love the control and chemistry”. Shirley says “so much better, you’re invested, connected and steamy enough to melt this ice queen”. Anton concludes “you’re extraordinary and do anything, you gave to Maddie and it was magic”.
ShareCach and Maddie’s Argentine tango
Love Islander Cach Mercer’s cha-cha got a judgely pasting last week and left him third from bottom on the leaderboard. He has more than enough natural ability to bounce back strongly here. They’re playing ghosts in Edwardian costumes. Moosy solo start with dry ice obscuring the footwork. Close hold and lots of body contact with pro partner Maddie Ingoldsby. Intense atmosphere. Lots of spectacular lifts. Cach needs to satisfy the judges with proper technique. Expressive legs, with fast pivots and fiery flicks. Sharp, powerful, passionate. A few footwork and frame imperfections but mean, moody and rather magnificent.
Song: Pas De Deux by Michael Abels. It’s part of composer Abels’ hip hop-influenced score to Jordan Peele’s 2019 horror film Us, inspired by both Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and soundtracking Lupita Nyong’o’s fight scene with her “untethered” doppelgänger.
The Strictly ghost (Ginger Neil, obv) does the link. Heart hands from Emma and Josh.
Judges’ scores: 7, 8, 7, 8 for a total of 30 points. Her best. Hope she’s safe.
Awkward moment there, when Emma forgot what she was going to say. We’ve all done it. What did I come into the kitchen for?
Judges’ comments: Shirley says “haunting narrative, very good jive, I can tell you’ve worked hard on your footwork and soft knees but start going for it”. Anton says “you sold it well but flagged towards the end, work on your leg speed”. Craig says “slight lethargy in your legs and body, add energy, but fantastic kicks and flicks”. Motsi concludes “one of your best dances, you’ve improved, great attention to detail and musicality, let go and keep pushing”.
ShareBethany and Nancy’s jeepers-creepers jive
House of the Dragon actor Bethany Antonia and her pro partner Nancy Xu will doubtless be relieved to be back in flat shoes after last week’s Argentine tango in vertiginous heels. Balance issues and lifts in stilettos? Don’t try this at home. They’re now changing the mood to play little monsters for a high-energy jive. Cheeky choreography with CGI creatures on the floor. Flicks and kicks, twists and twirls, goofy facial expressions. Lacking a little sharpness, precision and retraction, a little stilted at times perhaps, but bags of quirky fun.
Song: I’m In Love With a Monster by Fifth Harmony. The American girl group’s song for 2015 animated film Hotel Transylvania 2 was widely compared to The Supremes.