The curtain is up on Strictly Come Dancing‘s musicals week quarter-final, which saw Anton Du Beke label Amber Davies’ performance the best ever seen on the show in all 23 series.
Musicals week is a favourite theme with viewers every year, and has seen some of the most memorable performances in Strictly history including Alexandra Burke’s Mary Poppins routine, Helen Skelton’s Cabaret dance, and Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice’s Charleston inspired by The Sound of Music.
Of course, it was a week with high expectations for Amber Davies. Not only as she come under fire for her previous dance experience, she is actually a West End musicals star as her job, a controversy that Burke also faced in 2017.
Luckily, Davies lived up to expectations and more as she delivered “the best dance in Strictly history”, while for co-star Balvinder Sopal the stresses and strains of five dance offs caught up with her as she broke down in tears.
The remaining five couples put on a showstopping opening routine, proving they’ve earned their places in the competition. But they didn’t just have to impress faithful musicals fans – this was also the quarter-finals, so the grand final is now within touching distance for those left.
As we wait to see who makes it through to the semi-finals in Sunday’s results show, here’s what played out in the musicals week live show.
Amber Davies does ‘best dance in Strictly history’
The Charleston scored a perfect 40. (BBC screengrab)
If this wasn’t going to be Davies’ week, we’re not sure what was. It came as no surprise that the West End star and her partner Nikita Kuzmin turned out the performance of the night, but no one could have predicted just how amazing it would be.
The couple performed a Guys and Dolls-themed Charleston that could have sold out any theatre as they didn’t put a foot wrong, picking up a perfect score of 40 points.
In their comments, the judges made it clear that the routine deserved more than the top score, calling it the best in Strictly history.
Motsi Mabuse told them: “I have never, ever seen anything like that. One word, perfection.” Craig Revel Horwood’s dry joke about it being too perfect didn’t quite land with a confused Kuzmin, who said: “I thought you were saying mean things! I thought you were being a Craig!”
Anton Du Beke summed up the mood in the ballroom as he said: “We say this a lot, ‘I’ve never seen anything like that’, but it would be very difficult to find a dance better than this ever in the history of Strictly Come Dancing. My only disappointment is that I can’t give you a 25.”
Motsi Mabuse throws shade at the male pros
Motsi Mabuse was on form as the most entertaining judge this week, not shying away from some on the nose comments to the male pros.
Neil Jones, known for rarely getting a celebrity partner despite his many years in the wider cast, heckled her from the balcony as she judged Karen Carney’s Samba.
Motsi Mabuse pointed out Neil Jones’ lack of partner. (BBC screengrab)
Mabuse turned to him and called out: “Neil! You get a partner next year and I’ll be careful which numbers I’ll be pulling,” as she held up a two paddle. “No more noise from you!”
Later, while praising Balvinder Sopal’s Viennese Waltz she admitted to forgetting her partner Julian Caillon’s name as she told the EastEnders star: “Your dance partner…his name is Julian. Just reminding my perimenopausal brain.”
Mabuse has the casting judges’ vote this week, so she could have the final say on who stays or goes in the results show.
Balvinder Sopal’s tears and hugs
Poor Sopal has been in the dance off five times so far this series, far outweighing what any other contestant has had to face.
The judges loved her Viennese Waltz, scoring her 35 as Mabuse acknowledged: “It must be so demoralising, what you’ve been through in this competition.”
Motsi Mabuse offered Balvinder Sopal a hug. (BBC screengrab)
Sopal broke down in tears as she said: “You’re going to make me cry now.” Mabuse got out from behind the judging desk to offer Sopal a hug.
It wasn’t her only hug of the night – host Claudia Winkleman also embraced her ahead of hearing the scores, praising her for coming back fighting every week.
The EastEnders star finished her dance alone. (BBC)
Partner Caillon explained why he had choreographed the dance for Sopal to finish standing on her own: “I’m lost for words, you are such an incredible woman…I wanted you to finish on your own, to stand there and say ‘I am Balvinder Sopal. I am proud of my journey, I deserve to be here.'”
Tom Fletcher makes Strictly return with Paddington
The McFly star was a popular contestant dancing with Amy Dowden in 2021, so is always welcomed back to the ballroom with open arms.
Tom Fletcher made a welcome return with Paddington Bear. (BBC screengrab)
But Tom Fletcher made a particularly heartwarming appearance in musicals week, this time partnered by Paddington Bear as he performed a song from Paddington the Musical which he wrote.
Strictly’s stars were left looking emotional as they cheered him on, while he sang to the audience holding Paddington’s hand.
Strictly Come Dancing airs every Saturday night on BBC One, with the results show airing on Sunday nights.