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That concludes Saturday\u2019s greasepaint-scented liveblog but please feel free to continue the backstage gossip. Meet you back here tomorrow for this year\u2019s penultimate (!) results show. It airs at the slightly later time of 7.45pm Sunday on BBC1, featuring a Chicago-inspired pro dance and a performance from hit comedy musical Titanique.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll spark up the blog at 7.15pm for build-up, so please rejoin me then. In the meantime, I\u2019m @michaelhogan on Twitter\/X and @michaelhogan100 pretty much everywhere else, so please feel free to drop in for a luvvie-ish airkiss. Also, of course, feel free to order my debut novel<\/a> for cosy December reading or ideal Christmas gifting. (Well, I couldn\u2019t go a week without mentioning it).<\/p>\n Thanks again for watching along with me, my triple threat friends. See you tomorrow but in the meantime, it\u2019s the traditional thespian motto: keeeeeep dancing! Goodnight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Finally, on a certain furry VIP, MikeMoonlight says: \u201cThe Daily Mail is apparently absolutely furious that an undocumented Peruvian has been given a prime time spot on the BBC<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n wtrukus adds: \u201cWow. Paddington sounded way better than some of the musical guests they\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n Paddington and Tom Fletcher. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.39 EST<\/p>\n Lewis Cope and Katya Jones. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PA<\/p>\n On Lewis Cope, EmmyHarb says: \u201cI found that too stop-start and it felt like a group dance much more than the two of them.\u201d<\/p>\n ReclinedPotato says: \u201cOh, I love that manly athletic style of dance that Lewis just gave us. Reminds me of Gene Kelly. Absolute magic. Didn\u2019t like the music or the staging but it\u2019s a dancing show, no?\u201d<\/p>\n DougandDinsdale says: \u201cLewis\u2019 \u2018salsa\u2019 wasn\u2019t very salsa, more running around and doing stuff he does every week.\u201d<\/p>\n SnailyWhaley says: \u201cLove West Side Story but I don\u2019t think Lewis had the best music for that dance. The track makes so much difference. Amber and Bal had music perfectly suited to their dances, which helps so much.\u201d<\/p>\n Gardener_Maidhc says: \u201cFeel like they decided to do the original West Side Story level of intensity choreo for this dance but forgot that it\u2019s so famously extremely difficult and high energy that even the pros have to spend weeks learning.\u201d<\/p>\n JoMK73 adds: \u201cLewis did some amazing things in that dance but to me, it didn\u2019t seem like a natural fit for him, which Shirley explained better in terms of his breathing. Amazing lift and wonderful spins. Was I the only one who was reminded of Patrick Swayze sweating in a vest?\u201d<\/p>\n Lewis Cope and Katya Jones during the Dance Relay. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.52 EST<\/p>\n On Amber Davies, Poppieshen says: \u201cWell, that Charleston felt like a proper musical theatre routine and to a song I love. Sadly, despite how good Amber is, I just can\u2019t get interested in her.\u201d<\/p>\n Lushattic says: \u201cBlimey, that\u2019s ripped the roof off the joint. It\u2019s a 10 for me.\u201d<\/p>\n SnailyWhaley says: \u201cSpectacular from Amber. As it should be. She lucked out getting a Charleston on Musicals Week.\u201d<\/p>\n MsChuffy adds: \u201cHonestly, if I\u2019d paid to see Guys n Dolls and seen that, I\u2019d be EXTREMELY happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.41 EST<\/p>\n On Balvinder Sopal, MarkRoche says: \u201cBalvinder looks gorgeous tonight. I\u2019m a sucker for a Viennese and by golly, that was exquisite.\u201d<\/p>\n MarianneRow says: \u201cLoved the dress, loved the music, loved the sway and total immersion in the dance.\u201d<\/p>\n Toesturnedin says: \u201cI\u2019ve been very fond of Balvinder since the series started and that dance just made me fall in love with her a bit. She has an elegance that you can\u2019t teach. Beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n ladyglencora says: \u201cBal has come so far. She has such a connection with Julian and that was a beautiful, moving performance.\u201d<\/p>\n Startingfromnow adds: \u201cBal has come from five dance-offs, no dance training and working on EastEnders at the same time as training. She is the hardest working woman I know and deserves your votes tonight. And thank you for being so kind on here. Her friends and family follow along!\u201d<\/p>\n Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.42 EST<\/p>\n On Karen Carney, Ireeverentnurse says: \u201cWell done, Karen, you gave it some welly, even if there was what looked like a small mishap. You recovered it so well.\u201d<\/p>\n Heartticker says: \u201cI didn\u2019t hate that samba as much as I thought I was going to. Would have liked to have seen her dance a proper samba, though.\u201d<\/p>\n Swalk77 says: \u201cOh, I love Carlos so much. He\u2019s definitely the Keith Brymer Jones of Strictly. Him and Karen are fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n Gardener_Maidhc says: \u201cThis is psychedelic in all the wrong ways. Karen is trying bless her but seems like a mess to me. Can we just pretend that didn\u2019t happen?\u201d<\/p>\n Jockette61 says: \u201cWell, that was horrible. Can\u2019t comment on the dancing but the WORST ever costumes in 23 series.\u201d<\/p>\n EmmyHarb adds: \u201cForget Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ian Wright is an actual legend.\u201d<\/p>\n Karen Carney and Carlos Gu. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.43 EST<\/p>\n On George Clarke, emilyscatnaps says: \u201cAaaaarrrggghhhh. I already hate this Argentine tango to a completely inappropriate song. No! How can you simmer with passion in an Argentine to this nonsense?\u201d<\/p>\n Heartticker says: \u201cWell, well, well, George. A bit of a slow start and rather strange music for an AT but I really liked that.\u201d<\/p>\n Lidoswimmer says: \u201cWell done, George, that was a performance. And it takes some skill and strength to be able to lift and swing her so cleanly.\u201d<\/p>\n jagadox says: \u201cI didn\u2019t think George was the Argentine tango type of bloke. Brooding, sexual and commanding. And I\u2019m not sure I did, although Alexis was on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n diamondcat adds: \u201cLoved that AT. Very dramatic and wonderful lifts. I was rather put off by the singing, though, which sounded like it was coming from the bottom of a drain. Appropriate, I suppose, as it all takes place underground.\u201d<\/p>\n George Clarke and Alexis Warr. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.44 EST<\/p>\n Readers\u2019 reviews are in<\/p>\n The notices are here, darlings. Here\u2019s a rapid-fire round-up of your comments. Somersetlass says: \u201cWow! Loved, loved, loved that Dance Relay. It was all mildly chaotic but utterly joyous! What a way to start the show.\u201d<\/p>\n YodaknowsAll says: \u201cThe standard is so high this year that the celebs are part of the opening number. I really enjoyed that.\u201d<\/p>\n yorkshirecoast adds: \u201cJust had to take a Benadryl as I suffer from an allergy to all things Cockernee.\u201d<\/p>\n Dance Relay. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.45 EST<\/p>\n Golden Glitterballs (theatrical edition)<\/p>\n Who needs standing ovations or Olivier Awards? Not us, no siree. Here are this week\u2019s lucky liveblog gong-getters\u2026<\/p>\n Best dance: Amber\u2019s Charleston just eclipses that Dance Relay and Paddington Bear busting a move.<\/p>\n Worst dance: Karen\u2019s samba finished bottom of the scoreboard, which seems harsh but here we are. It\u2019s week 11, innit. Standards are high.<\/p>\n Best music choice: A tie between Never Enough and Rhythm Of Life. Both bangers, brilliantly performed by Dave Arch and his merry band.<\/p>\n Worst music choice: That Phantom of the Opera dirge.<\/p>\n Best outfit: A tie between Balvinder and Katya\u2019s dresses. Also liked Nadiya\u2019s green frock for the bear bit (as opposed to bearpit)<\/p>\n Worst outfit: George\u2019s phantom mask somehow looked rather medical. Karen\u2019s hippy get-up didn\u2019t do her any favours either.<\/p>\n Best VT: After all the visits to West End productions, I enjoyed the stripped-back simplicity of Lewis and Katya watching West Side Story on a projector, while she explained the dancing to him. Comfy-looking beanbags, too.<\/p>\n Worst VT: Andrew Lloyd Webber was awkz. Sorry, m\u2019lord. Apols, Andy.<\/p>\n Best judges\u2019 comment: \u201cYour partner, who is called Julian,\u201d said Motsi to Bal. \u201cJust reminding my perimenopausal brain.\u201d<\/p>\n Best Claudia quip: \u201cI almost prefer it when you cry,\u201d to an overexcited Carlos. Honourable mention to \u201cMy mum is here!\u201d when Nikita lifted her up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.16 EST<\/p>\n From Tony and Maria to Tony Montana<\/p>\n TV viewers can now stay on BBC1 for Michael McIntyre\u2019s The Wheel or flip to Channel 4 for Sandi\u2019s Great Riviera Rail Trip.<\/p>\n At 9pm, it\u2019s The Veiled World of Nick Cave on Sky Arts or I\u2019m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! on ITV1. At 9.05pm, there\u2019s Wild Cherry on BBC1 or Christmas TV We Loved & Lost on Channel 5.<\/p>\n If all those musicals-which-are-films-really has put you in a movie mood, tonight\u2019s picks are About Time (9pm on Comedy Central), Knives Out (10.05pm on Channel 4), The Northman (11.15pm on Film4), King Richard (11.30pm on BBC2) and Scarface (12.35am on Channel 4). Say hello to my little friend\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Musicals Week leaderboard in full<\/p>\n Amber Davies takes top billing on the quarter-final scoreboard with her perfect 40. <\/p>\n Lewis Cope, Balvinder Sopal and George Clarke are all tied in second spot. Down the bottom is Karen Carney, albeit just one point behind that cluster.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Safety curtain comes down<\/p>\n Chorus line leaders Tess and Claud instruct us to \u201cKeeeeeep dancing!\u201d. As the end credits roll, please stay with us for analysis, reaction and a round-up of your comments.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The casting vote goes to\u2026<\/p>\n This week, the deciding vote in the dance-off goes to\u2026 Motsi Mabuse! This plot twist will be interesting one week, probably.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Tonight\u2019s action recapped<\/p>\n An encore for the night\u2019s five routines on-screen now. Which West End wendies are you voting for? Which Broadway berties are you definitely not?<\/p>\n