Strictly Come Dancing 2017, Halloween Week results show: chef Simon Rimmer sent home after dance-off defeat to Mollie King

• Chef Simon Rimmer and pro partner Karen Clifton become fifth couple eliminated from Strictly 2017

• Mollie King made shock appearance in dance-off but got unanimous judges' decision

• Nineties popsters Steps were musical guests on Sunday night's results show

It was a dance-off shocker with the right result. Here’s all the talking points and social media reaction from Sunday night’s show… 

Simon Rimmer certainly deserved to go

His latest appearance in the dance-off proved third time unlucky for stompy Scouse chef Simon Rimmer. Facing the far superior Mollie King, there was only ever one likely outcome - especially as her devilish cha cha scored 11 points more than his cannibalistic American smooth on Saturday night.

The 54-year-old duly became the last of the dad-dancers to leave the contest, after Reverend Richard Coles and Brian Conley. Flat-footed Simon did well to get this far, since his scores never climbed out of the teens. The fact that he lasted until week six was thanks to the sterling efforts of partner Karen Clifton and perhaps some Liverpudlian bloc voting after that emotional waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone in week two. 

Rimmer’s dancing was lumberingly mediocre so he’ll mostly be remembered for his outfits: that Hawaiian samba shirt, those matching Rupert The Bear checked ensembles last week, the Buzz Lightyear and Sweeney Todd fancy dress. 

In Strictly’s chef hall of fame, he’s outlasted Gary Rhodes and Ainsley Harriott but couldn’t quite match Dave Myers or James Martin. Back to the kitchen for you, Sweeney Todd. Yes, chef!

Dance-off survivor Mollie got a shock

Finishing precisely midway up the leaderboard last night with a respectable 27 points, popstrel Mollie King probably thought she was safe. Like Davood Ghadami a fortnight ago, though, the “curse of the middle” struck: too few viewers voted for her and Mollie plummeted five places into the bottom two.

Her devilish cha cha was by no means perfect - too much posing, not enough foot placement or leg-straightening - but she was a class above stompy Simon. Still, she needs to connect with viewers more and increase the wow factor if she wants to make it to Blackpool. Better in ballroom than Latin, she looks the part but needs a breakthrough dance soon.

Steps took us back in time

The musical guests on this results show were a treat for Nineties nostalgia fans: disco-pop quintet Steps - aka the Poundstetcher Abba, aka the even less cool S Club 7 - who have reformed for their 20th anniversary and performed their recent single Scared of the Dark. 

It was a Eurovision-esque number that started slow, then built into a euphoric floor-filler. Claire, Fay, Lisa, Lee and H and Lee looked well-preserved in all-red outfits which mirrored Mollie King's. They also seemed to be singing live, which was refreshing. Overall, a misty-eyed hit. You could almost taste the Hooch and smell the CK One.

The curse of Tom Jones is born

Was it merely coincidence that this was the second Sunday in a row where the eliminated couple danced to a Tom Jones classic? Probably, yes. But last week, Brian Conley was sent home after a jive to It's Not Unusual. This week, it was Simon Rimmer's American Smooth to Delilah. 

If Strictly producers ask any couple to dance to Green Green Grass Of Home or Sex Bomb next week, we recommend they just say no. Otherwise, they might find themselves out of luck, look you.

Four couples had lucky escapes

A quartet of celebrities were breathing sighs of relief tonight. Scottish comedian Susan Calman was lifted clear of the bottom two by public votes but has had a poor two weeks. She needs to recapture her earlier form if she’s going to last much longer. 

The other three who finished between Simon and Mollie on the scoreboard - Jonnie Peacock, Ruth Langsford and Davood Ghadami (who looked particularly relieved) - also had viewers to thank for keeping them out of the dreaded dance-off. 

Second group dance of weekend was high-concept hit

On Saturday night, the celebrities joined the professionals for a group dance set in the haunted Strictly museum. 

Tonight saw an even more impressive number from the pro troupe, which saw Brendan Cole playing a Gothic prince having nightmares of dancing demons emerging from under his bed. Set to a how-modern mash-up of Fleetwood Mac's Dreams and Rockwell's Somebody's Watching Me, it was atmospherically other-worldly with eerie storytelling and climaxed with Brendan flying up to the ceiling.

Sleep well, Strictly viewers. Don’t have nightmares. Bwa ha ha ha. 

Contest reaches halfway point

The remaining 10 couples now dance on to next weekend, which marks the midway point of the series and is mercifully theme-free. 

The seventh live show airs next Saturday at 6.50pm on BBC One. Please join us back on the liveblog to rate or slate the routines. Until then, it almost goes without saying: keeeeeep dancing! 

8:35PM

Results show recap

Here's the Sunday night action in full...

7:58PM

Simon and Karen’s last dance

As the eliminated couple take a final turn around the floor to All By Myself by Eric Carmen (you know, that one by Celine Dion from Bridget Jones' Diary) and the other couples crowd in for a group hug, stay with us for analysis and social media reaction. 

7:56PM

Perma-hungry Karen says thanks for the grub

“You were a complete beginner but you’ve grown to be such a great performer,” says Simon’s partner Karen Clifton - who has a famously voracious appetite. “I’ve loved every second and it’s been a privilege. And thank you for all the food!”

7:56PM

Simon says his farewells. At some length

In his farewell interview, Simon tells Tess: “Strictly has been the most amazing experience ever. Every single person involved in it is so positive. All the rest of the class of 2017 are just magnificent people. All the pro dancers are amazing. When I danced the Waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone and it touched people, I will never ever forget that. Our Charleston last week was a giggle, too. Every person who has come up and said hello, and all the thank you messages have been brilliant. But the biggest thank you obviously is to Karen who has convinced this lumbering 54 year-old bloke that I could stand-up on a Saturday night and dance in front of millions of people. She’s become a proper friend - not just to me but to all my family.” Not a short and snappy speech, then, but a sweet one.

7:55PM

Head judge Shirley Ballas agrees

The Queen of Latin confirms that, were her casting vote needed, she would also have saved Mollie. Quelle surprise. 

7:55PM

Simon Rimmer is eliminated

The stompy Scouse chef becomes the fifth celebrity to depart Strictly 2017, following in the two-left-footsteps of Chizzy Akudolu, Reverend Richard Coles, Charlotte Hawkins and Brian Conley. 

7:54PM

Bruno Tonioli chooses to to save…

Mollie and AJ, saying: “They did the better performance in regards of content and performance value.”

7:54PM

Darcey Bussell chooses to to save…

Mollie and AJ, “just because they had a more competent performance.”

7:53PM

Craig Revel Horwood chooses to save…

Mollie and AJ, saying: “Well, I loved this routine. It was more technically demanding and, simply put, danced better.”

7:53PM

Decision time

One of the easiest judgely decisions ever approaching, surely?

7:52PM

Good golly Miss Mollie

Popstrel Mollie King and her partner AJ Pritchard now reprise their demonic cha cha to to Better The Devil You Know by Kylie Minogue. Lots of trident-and-tail-ography and confidently coquettish solo sections. It lacks a little hip action and AJ is somewhat dancing around Mollie while she strikes poses, but it’s a different league to Simon. 

Mollie scored 11 points more on Saturday night and Craig Revel Horwood gave Simon a two (cue audience boos). Surely this is a foregone conclusion?

7:50PM

Simon goes first in dance-off

Chef Simon Rimmer and his partner Karen Clifton reprise their Sweeney Todd-themed American Smooth to Delilah by Tom Jones. It’s still stiff, lumpen and lumbering. Why, why, why indeed? 

7:49PM

Daenerys congratulates Susan

Claudia shows Susan Calman her message from the "real" mother of dragons, Emilia Clarke. Who looks a little like she's enjoyed a long lunch and all the more fabulous for it. 

7:43PM

Simon Rimmer in his third dance-off

Scouse chef Simon Rimmer is consigned to the dreaded dance-off again. Will it be third time unlucky? Facing Mollie King, the Sunday Brunch host should be toast. 

7:42PM

Who will face Mollie King in the dance-off?

Not Susan Calman, who's safely through. Possibly by the skin of her lovely Scottish teeth. 

7:40PM

Clauditorium chat continues

Darcey Bussell sings Debbie McGee's praises. Craig Revel Horwood shimmies the shoulders of his frankly preposterous jacket, then coos about Joe McFadden's storytelling. Bruno Tonioli picks up on Aston Merrygold's Joaquin Cortes-style flameco moves. 

7:38PM

Dance debrief

Time for the regular feature formerly known as Len’s Lens (sob, wipes something from eye). Shirley Ballas praises Alexandra Burke's core strength and has a mild grope of Claudia Winkleman in the process. Ledgebantz.

7:34PM

Do not adjust your set. It’s Steps

Nineties nostalgia fans rejoice, because musical guests are reformed poppers Steps - aka the Poundstretcher Abba, aka the even less cool S Club 7 - singing their recent single Scared of the Dark. It’s a floor-filling disco banger with the distinct whiff of Eurovision. If you want to feel old, incidentally, it’s 20 years since the release of Steps’ debut single 5, 6, 7, 8.

7:31PM

Mollie King in dance-off shocker

Blimey. Saturdays popstrel Mollie King is consigned to the dreaded dance-off. “Curse of the middle of the scoreboard” in operation? She finished exactly halfway up the standings last night for her devilish cha cha. 

7:29PM

Dreaded dance-off looms

Time to discover our first dance-off couple. Cue tension-building music and the dreaded red light. Davood's through and looks slightly surprised. 

7:24PM

Saturday night’s show recapped

Last night’s Halloween-overloaded action gets a rewind. Lots of  make-up! Debbie McGee’s lift-packed charleston! Aston Merrygold’s showstopping paso doble! Dancing ghosts, zombies, devils and spiders! Scariest of all, Simon Rimmer’s wig!

7:22PM

Frockwatch

Here come our "co-ghosts", so let’s do the traditional fashion face-off. Claudia Winkleman’s in black lace over white with a fancy flouncy fuffy neckline. Tess Daly’s also in black, sparkly with sheer sleeves. I think it might be a rare win for Tess.

7:21PM

Kiwi flying high

Tingly moment there as Brendan floats up on a high wire.

7:20PM

Group dance goes Gothic

We open with a nightmare-themed group number from the pros, set to the mighty Fleetwood Mac's Dreams. Brendan Cole is a prince being haunted by dancing demons, coming out from under his bed. Oh hang on, it's a mash-up with Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell.

7:17PM

And we're off!

Roll clapalong credits, featuring some couples we'd forgotten already. 

7:14PM

Credits roll on Countryfile

It's a farewell from fleecy Matt Baker on BBC One now, after a moving episode of the rural affairs show - which means we're about to go over to "Hellstree" Studios. Hold tight, glitterball gang.

7:10PM

Steps. Yes, those Steps

Tonight's musical guests are Claire, Faye, Lisa, Lee and "H". Otherwise known as Nineties pop quintet Steps. I know, right? Five minutes until that ba-ba-da theme tune. 

7:05PM

Third time unlucky for Simon the pie man?

Chef Simon Rimmer was rock bottom of the scoreboard last night after his Sweeney Todd-themed American not-terribly-Smooth. He has already edged out Reverend Richard Coles and Brian Conley in the dreaded dance-off but might not be so fortunate if he's in the frame again. Ten minutes until showtime...

7:00PM

Who’ll be heading home in a Halloween pumpkin carriage?

Tonight sees the fifth elimination of Strictly 2017, as the 11 surviving pro-celebrity pairs find out if they’re doomed to face the dreaded dance-off. 

On Saturday night’s Halloween-themed spooktacular, thelovelyDebbieMcGee™ charleston-swivelled her way to the top of the leaderboard for the second successive week, just ahead of Aston Merrygold, who got two perfect 10s for his stompin’, stonkin’ paso doble.

At the foot of the scoreboard was chef Simon Rimmer, whose American smooth wasn’t remotely, well, smooth. Second bottom was comedian Susan Calman, whose Game Of Thrones-inspired foxtrot got a wintry reception from the judges.

Scores will be combined with the public vote tonight and the bottom two couples will dance for survival - but will viewers agree with the judges? If not, the likes of Jonnie Peacock, Ruth Langsford or Davood Ghadami could come into choreographic contention. 

The results show airs at 7.15pm on BBC One. I'm Michael, the Telegraph's trick-or-treat correspondent, and I'll be liveblogging from 7pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, analysis and mild sarcasm, so do join me and watch along with this blog.

And please join in too - you can email me on michael.hogan@ telegraph.co.uk, tweet me on @michaelhogan or leave comments at the bottom of this blog. I'll keep an eye on them all and report the highlights here. 

Nearly time to staaaaart spooky eliminating!