Key events<\/p>\n
Show key events only<\/p>\n
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n
Thank you and a ghoulish goodnight – for now<\/p>\n
I\u2019m closing my coffin lid now but will be rising from the dead tomorrow. The results show airs at 7.15pm Sunday on BBC1. I\u2019ll reanimate the blog at 6.45pm for build-up, so I hope you\u2019ll rejoin me then. In the meantime, I\u2019m @michaelhogan on Twitter aka \u201cX\u201d, so please do creep past, covered in blood, and say hello.<\/p>\n
Thanks for watching along with me and your deliciously devilish company. Meet you here tomorrow to see who\u2019s being sent to their glittery grave. In the meantime, as is traditional: keeeeeep dancing! Take care and a ghostly goodnight.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Finally, Somersetlass says of Alex Kingston: \u201cWow! Dance of the night for me. Alex positively sizzled and Jojo was his most outrageously camp self. A. May. Zing.\u201d<\/p>\n TiggyStardust says: \u201cJohannes looked like he was living his best Kylie life.\u201d<\/p>\n girlpanic says: \u201cI love Jojo\u2019s outfit. Alex looks great too. I\u2019m not sure her hips were quite there for the salsa but she gave it her all as ever. Another fun dance.\u201d<\/p>\n Heartticker says: \u201cLove Alex. She throws herself into every performance and acts her way through every dance as a different character. I do think JoJo out-danced her a little. I enjoyed it but not as much as the judges. Hated the music with a passion, though.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PA<\/p>\n whoarethesepeople says: \u201cI loved Amber\u2019s dance, it looked fluid and flowy. Not to Shirley\u2019s taste but that is the fault of the choreography.\u201d<\/p>\n gladarvor adds: \u201cOh, that was a Viennese waltz with an edge. Very, very nice.\u201d<\/p>\n Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.04 EDT<\/p>\n IvanTiger says: \u201cExcellent Argentine tango to superb music, brilliantly sung. Karen was brilliant at that dance. Impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n paperview says: \u201cGood Lord, Karen just smashed that Argentine Tango. She was absolutely brilliant. What a dancer! In bits of that, she was better than Carlos. Wow.\u201d<\/p>\n SparklingDormouse says: \u201cGenerally a fan of a traditional Argentine tango but here in a big way for that from Karen and Carlos! Loved the styling and staccato of that. Really different and fab! Yes!\u201d<\/p>\n fihema says: \u201cThat tango from Karen and Carlos just made me smile. So, so good. Great, even. Electric. Maybe even a better show than Peaky Blinders. She\u2019s really changing the footballers\u2019 rep on the dancefloor. Bravo.\u201d<\/p>\n Vicc adds: \u201cI wasn\u2019t expecting anything particularly amazing from Karen\u2019s AT as it is such a difficult dance. I was delighted to have my expectations smashed to smithereens. Fantastic!\u201d<\/p>\n Karen Carney and Carlos Gu. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.05 EDT<\/p>\n acanthe says: \u201cWhy does no one really mention Balvinder\u2019s beautiful hands and arm movements?\u201d<\/p>\n Sebnose says: \u201cLoving Balvinder\u2019s outfit. I do love a sequin. Will the paying audience remember to vote for this, though, in the shadow of Lewis and Katya\u2019s brilliance?\u201d<\/p>\n Somersetlass says: \u201cAn expressive, controlled rumba from Balvinder. She\u2019s gained in confidence and has improved so much. Julian seems a great partner.\u201d<\/p>\n Aine183 says: \u201cIs Harry trying to be voted out? Ridiculous costumes, weird setting and a lacklustre dance.\u201d<\/p>\n gliese says: \u201cI feel like Happy-Go-Lucky Harry is dancing in a muscular straitjacket and is a bit bound by that. But lovely guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Heartticker adds: \u201cNow I LOVE an American Smooth but I didn\u2019t really like that. I\u2019m quite disappointed. I wanted to like it because Harry and Karen are a great partnership but think he might be in trouble this week. Maybe it was lost to the Halloween theme, music and costumes.\u201d<\/p>\n Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.07 EDT<\/p>\n Sparkling Dormouse says: \u201cExcellent from La Voix! Loved that! The drama was brilliant. Didn\u2019t expect that from her.\u201d<\/p>\n Lidoswimmer says: \u201cWell, that was rather good. La Voix (and Aljaz) are doing a good job of keeping her personality but actually bringing the dancing chops when it could all have just been a turn. Proper music helped too.\u201d<\/p>\n LegTheory says: \u201cCreep as a show tune? What would Thom say? I kinda like it.\u201d<\/p>\n IvanTiger says: \u201cLewis is dancing better than Katya. Total joy to watch and a fab Couple\u2019s Choice to show off his range with. Loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n Miranda07 says: \u201cUntil now, I didn\u2019t think anything would top the Gio\/Faye Halloween Couple\u2019s Choice. That dance from Katya\/Lewis was A-MA-ZING!\u201d<\/p>\n pubbore adds: \u201cThis is just musical theatre, so we are literally watching two professionals. They can\u2019t even lean on the usual ringer excuse of \u2018just because you\u2019re a dancer it doesn\u2019t mean you can do ballroom\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Lewis Cope and Katya Jones. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.10 EDT<\/p>\n ACSCD1 says: \u201cBloody lighting, very difficult to see if Ellie and Vito were in sync all the way through, especially as they moved back up the stairs. Still looked good from what I could make out.\u201d<\/p>\n Irreverentnurse says: \u201cWell done, Ellie, that was a seriously serious face.\u201d<\/p>\n LazyMillennial says: \u201c\u2018This week we needed to be a bit more serious,\u2019 says Vito, while dressed as a rabbit.\u201d<\/p>\n Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PA<\/p>\n MarkRoche says: \u201cMmm, well, Alexis Warr was astounding in that routine. George Clarke seems to have gone off the boil the last couple of weeks, but I\u2019d like to think he\u2019s still a contender.\u201d<\/p>\n ReclinedPotato says: \u201cGeorge must have had a busy week, judging by the lack of content and effort. Surprising after his bottom placement last week.\u201d<\/p>\n Pancake01 adds: \u201cAlexis has new pro syndrome. Wants to show she is a good dancer, rather than showing off her partner and focusing on the basics. Fundamentals again. Sorry. Drink!\u201d<\/p>\n George Clarke and Alexis Warr. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.11 EDT<\/p>\n On Vicky Pattison, paperview says \u201cVicki\u2019s arms were great but her feet were all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n fihema says \u201cI enjoyed that from Vicky, though either her feet were a touch shovel-like or the white shoes caused an optical illusion now and again. Possibly the shoes. Good, though. Very different mood from her previous dances, and easy to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Somersetlass adds \u201c:I love Total Eclipse but it\u2019s very hard to dance to. Still, Vicky was appropriately smooth and beautifully yearning. I rather loved that.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Readers\u2019 verdicts are in<\/p>\n Time for a vox pop of your petrifying thoughts. pretentiouspenguin says: \u201cI miss when they used to dance to music from horror films or horror-themed tracks for Halloween week. Now it\u2019s just like a normal week but in fancy dress.\u201d<\/p>\n AndyPandy21 says \u201cA big thank you to the whole Strictly team for a fabulous Halloween. You threw the kitchen cauldron at it and I for one was under the spell!\u201d<\/p>\n ReclinedPotato adds \u201cShirley plugging her dancing school! Shameless self=promotion. You may however be interested that our beloved blogger has recently written a book.\u201d<\/p>\n Funny you should say that, ReclinedPotato! My debut novel The Dogwalkers\u2019 Detective Agency has been chosen as a Kindle Monthly Deal for November. This means the ebook is available for a wag-ulous 99p for a limited time only. You can order here<\/a>. Canine cosy crime! Ideal autumnal reading! Commercial interlude ends!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Golden Glitterballs: Ghoulish Ediion<\/p>\n Who\u2019s taking home the skull-shaped prizes on fright night? Here are this week\u2019s grateful gong-getters\u2026<\/p>\n Best dance: Lewis Cope was spectacular but Karen Carney\u2019s was arguably even more of an air punch moment.<\/p>\n Worst dance: For me, a tie between George Clarke and Nitro off of TV\u2019s Gladiators.<\/p>\n Best music choice: That big band version of Radiohead\u2019s Creep.<\/p>\n Worst music choice: Charli XCX would be turning on her grave if she was dead. And less of a Brat.<\/p>\n Best outfit: Karen and Carlos\u2019 androgynous Peaky Blinders costumes were pipped at the last by Jojo\u2019s drapey devil number.<\/p>\n Worst outfit: Nitro and Karen Hauer weren\u2019t done many favours with that Bacofoil.<\/p>\n Best VT: Either Ellie\u2019s family surprising her in training or Lewis visiting his huge family in Hartlepool.<\/p>\n Worst VT: Nitro and Karen, er, eating ice cream. Seemed to be phoned in.<\/p>\n Best judges\u2019 comment: Anton to Tess: \u201cDon\u2019t you start. I\u2019ve told you before, they\u2019re my own teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n Best Claudia quip: When Amber expressed nerves about closing the show: \u201cI won\u2019t mention it again. You dance whenever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.32 EDT<\/p>\n From glitterballs to girlbands<\/p>\n You can now stay on BBC1 for Michael McIntyre\u2019s The Wheel, head to ITV1 for The 1% Club or flip to BBC2 for Girlband Night \u2013 the centrepiece of which is new docuseries Girlbands Forever at 9.20pm.<\/p>\n Also at 9.20pm is Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue on BBC1, Romesh Ranganathan\u2019s Parents\u2019 Evening on ITV1 or The Meghan Effect: How She Shook Up the Royal Family on Channel 5. There\u2019s also a rerun of classic 80s drama Edge of Darkness at 9pm on BBC4. I\u2019d recommend treating yourself or recording it if you\u2019ve never had the pleasure.<\/p>\n Tonight\u2019s film picks are Minority Report (8.30pm on ITV2), M3gan (9pm on Film4), Out Of Sight (9pm on Great TV), Tremors (10.50pm on ITV4), Trainspotting (11.20pm on Film4) and One Fine Morning (12.50am on BBC2). We call him Mother Superior on account of the length of his habit.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Halloween Spooktacular standings<\/p>\n Lewis Cope tops the supernatural scoreboard after the first perfect 40 of the series. Cheeky, peaky Karen Carney is in second spot. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey languishes way down at the bottom, with Ellie Goldstein just above.<\/p>\n As always, though, the public vote helps decide which two pairs will face tomorrow night\u2019s dance-off. It could also be a nervy wait for Balvinder Sopal, George Clarke and Amber Davies.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Shirley gets tomorrow\u2019s casting vote<\/p>\n You know, like the head judge normally does.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Credits roll<\/p>\n \u201cKeeeeeep dancing,\u201d howl Tess and Claud at the Hertfordshire moon. As the jack-o-lanterns are extinguished and the pumpkins repurposed as soups\/curries\/compost, please stay with us for analysis, reaction and a round-up of your comments.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tonight\u2019s spookacious routines get rewound on-screen. Which scarily good duo are you voting for? Which terrifyingly bad pair are you certainly not?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>And the vote is\u2026 open!<\/p>\n Online-only, remember. Don\u2019t come around here with your old-fashioned \u201cphone vote\u201d, you dance dinosaurs. Prop-heavy pandemonium ensues Elstree Studios.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Judges\u2019 scores: 9, 9, 8, 9 for a total of 35 points. Joint third. Nikita takes blame for the choreography.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Judges\u2019 comments: Motsi says \u201cstorytelling on point, absolutely beautiful\u201d. Shirley says \u201cyou executed it well but it was American style and too open\u201d. Anton says \u201cextraordinary piece of theatre, tremendous fleckerl and exquisite movement but shoulders were a problem in hold\u201d. Craig concludes \u201cdon\u2019t listen to old witchy-poo and grandma down there, I loved what you did with it\u201d. Well. Scores could range from eight to 10.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Amber and Nikita\u2019s Viennese waltz<\/p>\n Amber Davies got an early Halloween fright in last week\u2019s dance-off but she\u2019s going from red light to Red Riding Hood. Forest setting. Pro partner Nikita Kuzmin is the big bad wolf and whips off her crimson cape, then into hold for a spinning, floating waltz. Twirling romantically around the floor. Decent frame and footwork but with such a gifted dancer as Amber, the judges are bound to be pernickety. Lovely storytelling and loads of drama.<\/p>\n Song: I See Red by Everybody Loves An Outlaw. The Texan duo scored a viral hit when this was featured on the soundtrack to Netflix \u201cerotic thriller\u201d 365 Days. The famously bad film was compared to 50 Shades Of Grey but worse and nominated for six Golden Raspberry Awards.<\/p>\n Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Judges\u2019 scores: 8, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 35 points. Joint third with one number to go. \u201cAs camp as Christmas,\u201d says Jojo. \u201cMy horns ended up in some dangerous places,\u201d says Alex.<\/p>\n