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Judges\u2019 scores: 6, 8, 7, 8 for a total of 29 points. Bottom as it stands.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Judges\u2019 comments: Anton says \u201cuplifting, enjoyed it enormously, heel turns a little home-made and stride pattern got short, try to elongate the backward steps but lovely feel and musicality\u201d. Craig says \u201cleft shoulder raised, free arm needs attention and it lacked togetherness but love your exuberant presentation\u201d. Motsi says \u201cI see your new-found love of dance, translate that sunshine into your body, keep on shining\u201d. Shirley concludes \u201csunshine upstairs, raining downstairs, a bit flat-footed and out of sync but always a joy to watch\u201d. Sevens and eights?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>La Voix and Alja\u017e\u2019s foxtrot<\/p>\n Drag queen La Voix joined the 30s club with last week\u2019s Queen Of Hearts paso doble, by far her best dance. Can she maintain momentum while going from power to softness? She hasn\u2019t done ballroom for four weeks but the foxtrot is partner Alja\u017e \u0160korjanec\u2019s favourite dance. Lying down on the dancefloor to start. Woodstock hippy vibes in a shimmery rainbow frock. Gliding, flowing and fluid. Topline wobbles and posture not perfect with the odd bit of gapping. Lacks a little smoothness but petals fall and high performance value as always. Lovely.<\/p>\n Song: Make Your Own Kind of Music by Cass Elliot. The 1969 bubblegum pop anthem by Mama Cass featured prominently in plane crash drama Lost. It was later covered by Paloma Faith of \u201cmurdered in plain sight by Alan Carr on The Celebrity Traitors\u201d fame *touches face with poison pollen*.<\/p>\n La Voix and Aljaz Skorjanec. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Judges\u2019 scores: 7, 8, 7, 8 for a total of 30 points. Alex is weepy but gets a group hug on the Clauditorium.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Judges\u2019 comments: Motsi says \u201cthe first time I\u2019ve felt insecurity from you but you move like a queen, come back and show us your fire\u201d. Shirley says \u201cstumbled on a few steps but technicalities were fantastic elsewhere, lacked passion, fire and spatial awareness\u201d. Anton says \u201cregal, well-schooled and studious but looked a little nervous\u201d. Craig concludes \u201ctense shoulders, lacked shaping, too placed and careful, lacked showbiz pizzazz, too middle-of-the-road\u201d. Sevens incoming?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Alex and Jojo\u2019s paso doble<\/p>\n Alex Kingston has excelled at Latin so far, with her rumba, salsa and samba all scoring highly. Now she and pro partner Johannes Radebe are telling the story of the bullfight, clad in black lacy outfits. Imperious characterisation. Packed with content and traditional steps. Great chemistry. Fiery and passionate, as you\u2019d expect from an actor who always brings the drama. She\u2019s been working hard in training on that contorted banana shape but those curved Spanish lines are a little lacking. Flat-footed at times but powerful and punchy. A high-class paso, if not a spicy one.<\/p>\n Song: Amparito Roca by Jaime Teixidor. The famous 1925 piece, named after one of the composer\u2019s 12-year-old piano students. McFly\u2019s Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden also performed a paso to it during the 2021 series.<\/p>\n Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Judges\u2019 scores: 8, 10 (woah!), 8, 9 for a total of 35 points. Same as Lewis. Carlos says it\u2019s the most difficult routine he\u2019s ever done on Strictly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Judges\u2019 comments: Craig says \u201ca right little bobby-dazzler, incredible, could\u2019ve done more swivel and lifts got sticky but your energy was amazing\u201d. Motsi says \u201cdynamic and on-top, naturally expressive, I love you\u201d. Shirley says \u201cfast-paced and difficult but swivelling was a little missing and off-balance in places but lots to like\u201d. Anton concludes \u201ccongratulations to Carlos for keeping up, lindhop part tremendous\u201d. Eights and nines?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Karen and Carlos\u2019 Charleston<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been looking forward to this. Former Lioness Karen Carney, riding high after scorting her first 10s for last week\u2019s Peaky Blinders-capped Argentine tango, should have the sporty stamina and fast feet required here. Her pro partner Carlos Gu\u2019s previous Charlestons have scored 35 and 38 points. No pressure. Gimmicky upside-down opening, then into a quirky, happy dance packed with lifts, tricks, flicks and kicks. Loads of steps and bounce. Cute outfits, with Karen in \u201cskorts\u201d, braces and blouse. Craig \u201cSwivel\u201d Horwood will have a beady eye on those ankles. Out of sync at times and a little messy in the upper body. Giving it welly, fast as hell but not quite gellling for me.<\/p>\n Song: Upside Down\/Think by Diana Ross\/Aretha Franklin. A funky mash-up of the Niles Rodgers-produced 1980 disco classic and the 1968 soul anthem which was famously featured on The Blues Brothers soundtrack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.55 EST<\/p>\n Judges\u2019 scores: 8, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 35 points. Setting a high bar for the next eight couples.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Judges\u2019 comments: Shirley says \u201cI like it like that, well-balanced, did a grand job\u201d. Anton says \u201che\u2019s barely out of breath and barely dressed, timing and fluidity brilliant, a little bit hard in the base\u201d. Craig says \u201ca little try-hard and hit the shapes too hard but insane rhythm and hips on fire\u201d. Motsi concludes \u201cI loved it like that, cool Cuban vibe\u201d. Nines ahoy?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Lewis and Katya\u2019s cha cha cha<\/p>\n Vest-clad actor Lewis Cope goes from Hartlepool to Havana. Last week\u2019s triumphant Couple\u2019 Choice scored a perfect 40 (only the second ever maximum for pro partner Katya Jones) and was hailed as one of the best dances in Strictly history. A lot to live up to, so the technically tricky Cuban party dance could see Lewis come crashing back to earth \u2013 or perhaps not. Lots of exposing solo work which he handles with style. Low, deep and grounded down below. More fluid and free in the upper body. Cheeky, flirty feel with wiggling hip action. A large helping of Cuban sauce. Man, he\u2019s good. Katya clearly loving having a great partner. Phew, a spicy start to the show.<\/p>\n Song: I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez. The 1967 boogaloo hit was covered in the 90s by Latin supergroup The Blackout All-Stars version. Its use in a Burger King ad also contributed to its resurgence in popularity, More recently, it was sampled by rapper Cardi B (full name: Cardigan Buttons).<\/p>\n Lewis Cope and Katya Jones. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.37 EST<\/p>\n Our Strictly stars\u2122<\/p>\n Our couples come out for a staircase welcome wave. Nitro\u2019s got his pecs out. So has Aussie Julian. Some singalong air-punching to Bon Jovi, oddly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Judges ahoy<\/p>\n We welcome the paddle-raisibng panel of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke. All in black, with Shirley\u2019s frock oddly matronly. They raised six 10s last week. Will we see any maximums tonight?<\/p>\n