Strictly Come Dancing 2018, week 5: Danny John-Jules jives to top of scoreboard, scandal-hit Seann Walsh second from bottom
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We saw high scores, a guest judge and a brand new style of dance. Here are all the talking points and social media reaction from Strictly's fifth live show...
Danny John-Jules' jumpin' jive gets first 10 of series
At 58, he's the oldest celebrity in this year's contest but boy, did the Red Dwarf and Death In Paradise actor roll back the years. Danny John-Jules' aviation-themed jive was high-energy, full of attack, sharp flicks and kicks.
He's shown promise up until now but never scored out of the late 20s. That all changed as Danny notched three nines and a maximum from Darcey to top the leaderboard and secure the highest total of the series so far. Danny was so out of breath by the end, he could barely speak but his broad grin did all the talking.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood called it "a dance for the final". Could he go one better than last year's flying veteran Debbie McGee and make it all the way to glitterball glory?
Gooooooo Danny! #strictly
— anita rani (@itsanitarani) October 20, 2018
DANNY. That was incredible! Best routine of the night. So much energy! #Strictly
— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) October 20, 2018
Danny’s jive blew me totally away. It was brilliant, full of energy and made me want to get up and dance. It was a ten from me. #Strictly
— LOC (RosNaRun) (@thebigloc) October 20, 2018
Danny being ahead of Ashley on the leaderboard - even though it's only one point - makes me extremely happy #Strictly#StrictlyComeDancing
— Sarah ❤ (@SarahLizzie94) October 20, 2018
Charles Venn makes breakthrough but will he get votes?
Casualty actor Charles Venn has been subjected to two successive dance-offs and didn't seem to be getting the viewer votes. Hopefully that will all change tonight. Sure, he did a heartstring-tugging VT about his council estate upbringing, late father and nearby Grenfell Tower. But more importantly, he tore up the dancefloor.
Picking streetdance in the new Couples' Choice category, he and partner Karen Clifton ripped through a zoot-suited routine full of style, swagger and cool details. There were props, bodypops and drops into the splits. It raised the roof, wowed the judges and got a clean sweep of nines for 36 points - shattering Charles' previous best of 25.
He finished joint second on the scoreboard and if there's any justice, will be way clear of a third dance-off on the bounce. Get up offa that thing indeed.
OH MY GOD THAT WAS SO EFFING AMAZING WHY IS NOBODY VOTING FOR HIM!!!!
— Mariaaaaarrrghhn Eeeeeeks �������� �� (@MarianKeyes) October 20, 2018
That was VERY good. Dare I say Charles was better than Karen? There’s no way he can be in the bottom two again this week. He just can’t be! #Strictly
— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) October 20, 2018
If I were a BBC executive watching tonight’s #scd , I’d be thinking ‘mmm that street dance seems a whole lot more fun than yer old #viennesewaltz’ #strictly
— tonedeafchas (@tonedeafchas) October 20, 2018
I'm not sure about the couple's choice thing. It would make more sense if they were all doing it on the same show. Would be more fair to judge too. #Strictly#SCD
— Amy (@geordiegalg) October 20, 2018
This couples choice thing isn’t fair! They can do something spectacular while the others have to do the ordinary routines. Unfair advantage, they should all do it on the same week! #Strictly
— Catherine Ross (@Lilacrose109) October 20, 2018
Pace-setting women put in the shade
So far this series, it's the female celebrities who have been setting the standard but Danny and Charles outscored and overshadowed them tonight.
Ashley Roberts' rumba was passionate and packed with impressive technique. Faye Tozer's autumnal-themed foxtrot was lovely if a little over-marked.
Most enjoyable of all was Stacey Dooley's super-camp showgirl samba, which started a party at Elstree Studios. The adorable "Stace" has become bookies' favourite to win and you can see why: she's fast-improving, very funny and crucially, had no dance experience whatsoever before the series started.
Tonight's show, though, blew the contest wide open again.
Ashley is a professional dancer it bemuses me each week that the judges are actually impressed it would be odd if she couldn’t perform as well as she does #strictly
— Debbie (@DebbieMags) October 20, 2018
my thing is that yes ashley obviously has had experience but she is getting choreography is that is 10 times harder than the other male pro's choreography. We all know pash's choreography is some of the hardest, so she's getting put through her paces. #scd#strictly
— �� (@toxicstrictly) October 20, 2018
Tad patronising there, Shirley. Not sure why. Faye is so good. #scd
— gibbzer (@gibbzer) October 20, 2018
Stacey is terrific. A party popper in human form. Marvellous stuff #ShakeThoseFeathers#Strictly ������
— Corrie Corfield (@corrie_corfield) October 20, 2018
#Strictly I think this is Kevin's year.......Stacey's stealing Strictly, #likeability ����
— Kay Bosett (@Bosett) October 20, 2018
The best thing about #Strictly is watching the celebs without dance experience nailing it. Stacey is a revelation.
— Elizabeth Bananuka (@ebananuka) October 20, 2018
Seann Walsh backlash could come a week late
Last week's cheeky pizza-themed "charleston of shame™" saw scandal-hit illicit snoggers Seann Walsh and Katya Jones score highly and defy the media backlash to survive against the odds.
However, the hirsute stand-up could be at risk of elimination this time. His busker-themed "quickstep of contrition™" was riddled with mistakes and got short shrift from the judges, leaving him joint second bottom of the scoreboard. It was also noticeable how the pair kept a low profile on the "Clauditorium" to the point of invisibility.
If viewers disapprove of tabloid scandals taking the focus off the dancefloor, Seann might find himself lacking support and in serious dance-off danger. As Jake Bugg might put it, the moral backlash could come with the force of a Lightning Bolt.
If Seann and Katya stay in they’ll have to do a sultry dance again at some point. They can’t just make them do Philip Larkinesque pre-sexual-intercourse-began-in-1963 jigs every week #Strictly
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) October 20, 2018
Well nobody heard a word of that Sean(n)/Katya/Claudia chat. We were all too busy looking what Neil was doing #Strictly
— Paul Stanworth (@paulstanworth) October 20, 2018
Why are seann and Katya not standing with the rest of the dancers for the results?? #strictly
— Sara Meehan (@saragebbett) October 20, 2018
I have to laugh at the people saying vote for Sean(n) based on his dancing not his personal life & yet Charles & Karen seems to be ending up in the bottom despite good dances... not that her divorce to Kevin has anything to do with it #Strictly
— Roisin (@RoRoSuperRo) October 20, 2018
Katya’s husband in the background again, still perfecting his death stare. #Strictlypic.twitter.com/ha82Kyiy1c
— Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) October 20, 2018
Sean & Katya should be voted off. There’s just too much tension. It’s spoiling Strictly #Strictly
— Bard Pritt (@BardPritt) October 20, 2018
Alfonso Ribeiro was no Donny Osmond
Behind the judges’ table, Bruno Tonioli was having a week off and replaced by guest panellist Alfonso Ribeiro: best known as Carlton Banks from The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air and a former winner of Strictly’s US sister show Dancing With The Stars. As he mentioned at every opportunity.
We were worried about a repeat of Strictly's last disastrous flirtation with stand-in judges four years ago, when Donny Osmond wildly over-scored dances and got on everyone's wick.
Thankfully, Ribeiro proved a breath of fresh air. He was infectiously encouraging, relentlessly upbeat and frequently amusing, from his impression of Bruno to his mild flirtation with neighbour Shirley Ballas. His scores copied Shirley's at first and "went a bit Osmond" towards the end but he'd done his research and was a worthy addition.
He didn't even crowbar in an excuse to bust out the infamous “Carlton dance” - although there's still time on tomorrow's results show. It's not unusual.
Alfonso is a lovely judge. Funny and positive. He seems to be bringing out the happy side of the other judges too. Craig definitely looks happier. #scd#strictly#StrictlyComeDancing
— pami kaur (@princesspkh) October 20, 2018
#Strictly The judges have clearly fed off of Alfonso's positivity...not as critical...they seem to be having more fun...even Craig!
— Johanna Alexander (@XANDERV6) October 20, 2018
Hope they've fixed Bruno's rickety chair before Alfonso tries to sit on it, would hate for him to fall off it the way Bruno repeatedly does completely accidentally #scd
— Steven Perkins (@stevenperkins) October 20, 2018
LOVE the new dance options idea on strictly, the fill in judge bloke however is a massive cock
— Jenny Eclair (@jennyeclair) October 20, 2018
How many times is Alfonso going to mention he won Dancing with the Stars? #scd2018
— Gary Redrup(Gatford) (@thegaryshow) October 20, 2018
Hope Alfonso doesn’t talk about himself all the way through - makes him sound bigheaded but don’t think he means it that way #Strictly@bbcstrictly
— anne hewson (@AnneHewson) October 20, 2018
Alfonso is basically just looking over Shirley's shoulder at score time, isn't he #Strictly
— Chris Down (@PlingetheElder) October 20, 2018
Vick and Lauren in dance-off danger
Along with Seann and possibly the disappointing Dr Ranj Singh, it's DJ Vick Hope and Paralympian Lauren Steadman who look most at risk tonight.
Lauren danced the first Couples' Choice of the series, with a contemporary sport-themed routine. The lifts were spectacular, the storytelling emotional but it was too much like a sequence of poses, lacking lyrical flow and fluidity, and left her joint second bottom on the judges' scoreboard. Lauren's scores are stuck in the 20s and she's still to truly let herself go.
Vick tackled this year's dance of death, the challenging cha cha cha, and got harshly marked by the judges. Shirley Ballas in particular seems to have taken against the likeable Geordie lass. OK, so her saucy, nightclubby routine lacked leg technique but neither the choice of music nor her pro partner did her any favours.
In his debut series, Graziano Di Prima's choreography is deficient. Many viewers also seem to have taken against the Italian stallion's hair-tossing and preening.
I like Vick a lot but I hate this. I hate Cha Cha anyway but it was a weird tempo, the footwork was off at times, and I still don't like Graziano's choreography. #Strictly#scd
— FRANKENBANANAS��♀️ (@fatherbananas) October 20, 2018
Graziano to blame, but can't bear to watch much more of Vick being squandered - rather hope they go out #strictly#scd
— Marianka Swain (@mkmswain) October 20, 2018
Poor Vick saddled with Grazziano as a partner. If she had Pasha she could be in contention #scd#strictly
— Allison Pearson (@allisonpearson) October 20, 2018
"Let the inside continue to come out into your body" - so glad they introduced this genre I cannot tell you #scd
— Chris Rubery (@Chrisrubery) October 20, 2018
Not Lauren and AJ's fault but that just proved what I suspected - contemporary should be kept for final showdances #Strictly
— Katie (@xredsexydevilx) October 20, 2018
I think Lauren might be in trouble tonight. It definitely wasn’t a crowd pleaser. #scd
— Janet Kearns (@Jan2555) October 20, 2018
Claudia was on top form, Tess wasn't
This was one of co-host Tess Daly's off-nights, mainly down to her patronising treatment of waltzing vlogger Joe Sugg. Her mention of his "little bottom" saw Joe give a weary eye-roll. Tess also referred to "his little face" not once but twice. It was as if she was talking about a rosy-cheeked toddler, not a 26-year-old millionaire.
Fortunately, her co-presenter Claudia Winkleman was even wittier than usual, cracking corny but highly amusing gags about bottom-kissing, duck down and band-leader Dave Arch. She did seem to be having some mic trouble though, with crackly audio up on the balcony.
Well stop putting him down!! ���� his little face and bum!!! STOP IT,
— susie coombs (@susiecoos) October 20, 2018
“You always give 100% commitment Seann”
His ex might not agree with you Tess... #Strictly#strictly2018— Chris Whyte (@whytology) October 20, 2018
Claudia has a rustly mic �� #Strictly
— Bennie and the Jess (@Jess5_11) October 20, 2018
Most unpredictable results show of series so far
Anything could happen in Sunday night's results show, which airs at 7.45pm on BBC One. There's a baseball-themed group dance from the pros, the annual performance by pop-soul chipmunk Paloma Faith, as well as the dreaded dance-off between lord-knows-who.
Please join us back on the liveblog then. And in the meantime, of course, keeeeeep dancing!
Saturday night's action in full
Here's your routine-by-routine recap...
Voting lines are open
As they recap on-screen and the credits roll, stay with us for reaction and analysis. Keeeeeeep dancing!
Charles and Karen's Couples' Choice
Closing the show, it's last week's dance-off survivors. They've been stuck on 25 points for a remarkable four weeks, can they break that barrier? Emotional VT from Charles, talking about his late father and the Grenfell estate. He's the first male of the series to try the new dance style and they've opted for a street/commercial routine. Matching yellow and red baggy zoot suits. Card sharp theme to start and then into a funky routine full of swagger and street moves. He plunges into a jazz split, does some bodypopping, chair-ography, hankie-ography and a cute shoe-shine. Huge fun and very cool. I approve.
Music: 'Get Up Offa That Thing' by James Brown
Judges’ verdict: Darcey says "strong command of the style, loved the isolations and controlled descent, physically demanding but wow, you pulled it off". Shirley says "a major breakthrough, suave, funky, fresh, you were sporting to be in the dance-off and I applaud you". Alfonso says "that's what I'm talking about, that is my jam, you were killing it, great choreography, you are now a contender to win this thing". Craig says "slightly late on the hankie (boo!) but if you're in the dance-off again, I feel sorry for whoever is up against you".
Judges' scores: 9, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 36 points. Shattered the 25-point barrier. Second on the scoreboard. Karen falls to the floor and "needs chicken". Don't we all, babes?
Faye and Giovanni's foxtrot
Penultimate pair now. Giovanni scored 36 points for his foxtrots with Georgia May Foote and Debbie McGee. Can Faye help him match that? Takes too long to get going and awkward posture from Faye. Better in hold but still some head position and timing issues. Sweet autumnal feel and improved as it went on.
Music: 'Just the Way You Are' by Bruno Mars
Judges’ verdict: Craig says "you hit each other's legs and wobbled, but I just about liked it". Darcey says "relaxed, natural quality, beautiful topline, very nice". Shirley says "you need to be over to his right side, decent footwork but stride not there and a bit bumpy". Alfonso concludes "nailed it, a few issues but fun and fantastic".
Judges' scores: 8, 9, 8, 8 for a total of 33 points. Joint third. Generous.
Danny and Amy's jive
Can the oldest contestant handle the high-energy jive? Biggles-style aviation theme with some propellor-ography to open. He then launches into an impressively flicky, kicky and bouncy routine. Great attack. Balance suffers in places and pace drops a tad, understandably, but superb and Amy's delighted. Three out of four judges on their feet.
Music: 'Flip, Flop and Fly' by Ellis Hall
Judges’ verdict: Alfonso says "sharp feet, flying, great energy, you got down into the floor, mother earth is where the power comes from". Craig says "a dance for the final". Darcey applauds him and says "extraordinary, precise feet". Shirley concludes "you broke the seal and are on your way up, absolutely amazing".
Judges' scores: 9, 10 (first of the series!), 9, 9 for a total of 37 points. Highest score of the series and top of the leaderboard.
Kate and Aljaž's Viennese waltz
The newsreader struggled with the samba last week and finished second bottom. Now it's back to ballroom and Uncle Alijaz is a good teacher. Soppy storytelling: she's writing a letter to her long-lost lover and he appears in a daydream to dance with her. Hesitant start, then they twirl romantically around the floor. Fleckerls and pivots, missing smoothness and she loses the footwork towards the end but sweetly sentimental.
Music: 'Finally Mine' by Juliet Roberts
Judges’ verdict: Shirley says "a little bit better, lost at the beginning but loved your left arm, frame improving". Alfonso says "elegant, content in his arms, beautiful ride". Craig says "not good but not bad, falling into the mediocre, you're capable of being more exceptional". Darcey says "nice quality, sophisticated performance but my bugbear is your back yes?" "She's so strong!" protest the ever-supportive Alijaz, bless him.
Judges' scores: 6, 6, 6, 8 (what?) for a total of 26 points.
Vick and Graziano's cha cha cha
They were the biggest improvers last week. Can they continue that upward trajectory? It's a sped-up house version of the En Vogue anthem and a nightclubby feel as they slink down the staircase. Graziano gets his bare chest out. Anything that AJ can do... Disco moves, pose-striking, lacking a little snap in the legs but fast, full-on and frisky.
Music: 'More Than Friends' by James Hype featuring Kelli-Leigh
Judges’ verdict: Darcey says "wow, incredibly sexy, not typical but you had conviction, went for it and sold it but inconsistent in the legs". Shirley says "16 bars until you did any recognisable cha cha, no straight legs, one Cuban break, you gave it welly but it lacked body action". Alfonso says "great fun, girlfriend, some technical issues but you enjoyed it". Craig says "it had passion and energy but the technique suffered, which is a shame, technically quite a dis-as-tah".
Judges' scores: 4, 6, 4, 6 for a total of 20 points. Bottom so far. Dance-off danger? I hope not.
Joe and Dianne's waltz
A ballad from The Muppet Movie, which means a lot to Dianne as she performed it onstage at school. Joe’s been doing Kermit impressions in training this week and trying to teach Dianne to do Miss Piggy. He's also dedicating the dance to hGeneric HTML is 96-year-old nan. Starts sitting on a log by a pond. Slow, sweet and controlled. A little flat-footed but lilting and lyrical. Good frame and hold, too.
Music: 'Rainbow Connection' by Sleeping At Last
Judges’ verdict: Craig says "gorgeous movement but the log had more impression, you're improving and one to watch". Darcey says "poise, elegance, sweet romance, got out of sync I was really impressed, you're leading her and becoming a ballroom gentleman". Shirley says "innocence, vulnerability, I got so excited by the footwork, I didn't know what to do with myself, beautiful". Alfonso says "magical connection, small but right". Tess refers to Joe's "little face" not once but twice. Patronising much?
Judges' scores: 6, 7, 8, 8 for a total of 29 points. Mid-table.
Stacey and Kevin's samba
Last week's leaderboard toppers go Latin with this number from Strictly Ballroom. Will it prove an intoxicating cocktail from the new bookies’ favourites? She's a showgirl in a feathery dress, he's a fan on the front row and this is super-camp. Stacy struggling with the footwork and hip action but it's pacy, packed and full of gear-changes. More Romford than Rio but who cares when it's this much fun? Whooping crowd love it.
Music: 'Tequila' by The Champs (David Hirschfelder and The Bogo Pogo Orchestra version)
Judges’ verdict: Alfonso, aka "Charlton", says "it's a hard dance but you found the beat and it was fantastic". Craig says "I want to book you for my next party, dah-ling, that was insane". Darcey says "it was all in the mix, carnival spirit, travel, timing, it got a bit wild but gorgeous". Shirley concludes "you brought a basic routine to life, lovely slow rolls and timing changes, boom-boom-boom with the hips".
Judges' scores: 8, 7, 9, 9 for a total of 33 points. Second so far. No cake for Kev this time.
Seann and Katya's quickstep
Time for the quickstep of contrition. A busker-themed routine for the snoggees, with Seann strumming a guitar at "Strictly station". Some guitar-ography to start - guitar between them so they can't touch? - and then into hold. Lots of skipping and travel. He lags behind her at at times, struggling to keep up. Flat-footed and fluffed footwork but he's stuck to her like glue, packed with content and a fun finish.
Music: 'Lightning Bolt' by Jake Bugg
Judges’ verdict: Shirley says "you looked anxious and were pushing it, made mistakes, frame improving but not your best dance". Alfonso says "I didn't get this dance either, lost energy midway through". Craig says "messy footwork, big steps made it look like a hoedown but lovely and vibrant performance". Darcey concludes "light, fast but you got over-excited, potential is there, yes?".
Judges' scores: 5, 6, 6, 7 for a total of 24 points. Joint bottom with Lauren so far.
Ashley and Pasha's rumba
The second rumba of the series now, following her rival Faye’s last week. Slow,moody, lots of control and connection between them but for me, lacking that earthy hip action. Leggy shapes and long extensions. A long run of Shirley Ballas-style spins. Strong routine.
Music: 'Something About The Way You Look Tonight' by Elton John
Judges’ verdict: Darcey says "strong trust between you two, off-balance extensions and pulls, resistance through the feet, lovely but a little jerky, yes?" Shirley says "great spiral, lovely timing, stilted at the end". Alfonso says "passion makes me happy, awesome strength and control". Craig says "I also love that passion, dah-ling, absolutely a-may-zing!".
Judges' scores: 9, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 36 points. Top of the pops.
Graeme and Oti's tango
Cricketers tend to do well with the tango. Tuffers, Ramps and Goughy all scored in the 30s with it. Can Graeme get serious after a couple of light-hearted routines? He's in black, she's put on the red light. Some table-ography to start and a few Argentine touches. Graeme's got his moody face on. Strong shapes, intense storytelling, lacking some staccato bite but a floor slide and rose-in-mouth to finish. Oti's delighted. Crowd on their feet. Dance of the night so far.
Music: 'Roxanne' by The Police
Judges’ verdict: Craig says "low in the knee, enormous amounts of attack, I was just missing a little passion". Darcy says "not bad at all: intense focus, good frame, fierce performance". Shirley says "you're versatile: Spiderman, spaceman, tango man. You struck the correct blend". Alfonso concludes "packed, solid, you make me smile". Graeme gives Tess the red rose and a peck on the cheek, the big brown-noser. I mean, charmer.
Judges' scores: 6, 7, 8, 8 for a total of 29 points. Top of the leaderboard so far.
Lauren and AJ's Couples' Choice
The first couple of the series to tackle the brand new category and the ballroom babies are doing a contemporary routine. It's themed around the support Lauren gets from her friends and family around events like the Paralympics. Anthemic song, winners' podium, starting line shapes and air-grabs. Strong lifts, choreographed like a showdance. Lauren's doing lots of pose-striking rather than fluid dancing but this is emotional and expressive. Hugs for her family in the front row to finish. Aww, how lovely.
Music: 'Runnin' by Naughty Boy featuring Beyoncé
Judges’ verdict: Alfonso says "keep telling that emotional story". Craig says "a set of still pictures that were unconnected, just need to live through the moment". Darcey says "strength, control, athletic references, great effort but you have to breathe and soften those landings". Shirley says "love the flex feet, you delved deep inside and were doing it for loved ones, just needs more fluidity".
Judges' scores: 4 (boo!), 6, 7, 7 for a total of 24 points.
Anita Dobson on the Ts and Cs
The former EastEnders star arrives on Claudia's balcony to read the smallprint. Merry Christmas, Ange.
Dr Ranj and Janette's American smooth
First out tonight is the smiley medic, who's the bookies' favourite for elimination this weekend. After last week's dramatic paso doble, he's all smiles for a beach-themed American smooth. Cute choreography but lacking a little lightness, a few footwork fluffs and not entirely in sync during the side-by-side sections. But bags of seaside fun and some decent lifts.
Music: 'Wouldn’t It Be Nice' by The Beach Boys
Judges' comments: Shirley says "sunny, more comfortable in frame, better footwork". Alfonso starts with a Bruno impression which goes down a storm and says "you delivered your best dance yet". Craig says "Alfonso's just like me, always looking for the positive. Lumpy in hold, lacked leadership but loved the routine". Darcey concludes "core strengthening, hold improving, beautiful lifts but focus until the last beat".
Judges' scores: 5, 6, 7, 7 for a total of 25 points. Solid if unspectacular start.
Guest judge alert
Stepping into Bruno Tonioli's flamboyant dancing shoes, Alfonso Ribeiro's in a dapper but slightly naff maroon suit.
Frockwatch
Time for our weekly fashion face-off. Claudia Winkleman's in sequinned black with batwing sleeves, Tess Daly's in a white trouser suit. Claudia wins
And we're off!
Roll pre-credits VT! Roll clapalong credits! Roll me in glitter and call me Craig!
Who'll go home next?
The men look most in danger, with Charles Venn, Dr Ranj Singh, Graeme Swann and Seann Walsh all needing a strong performance tonight. Not long now...
Time to take risks
Judge Craig Revel Horwood told the couples last week that the contest was at the stage where playing it safe was no longer enough and he wants to see some riskier routines. Will he get his wish? Ten minutes until we go live to the Elstree Studios ballroom...
Back to earth last week
After everyone raised their game for Movie Week, last Saturday saw the judges get picky and scores cluster in the 20. Nine couples had just a four-point gap between them. Will we get some totals up in the 30s this time? Fifteen minutes until we find out...
Last week's hoofing headlines
Stacey Dooley topped the leaderboard, Seann Walsh and Katya Jones survived, Charles Venn was subjected to his second dance-off in a row and Katie Piper went home. Twenty minutes until showtime...
First came the “charleston of shame™”. Now it's the quickstep of contrition
After Seann Walsh and his pro partner Katya Jones went safely through last week, despite the media storm over their illicit kiss, it’s another high-tempo, light-hearted and decidedly non-sexy routine next up.
Still, the pair won’t be the sole focus this weekend, because there are plenty of other talking points. “Couples’ Choice” is the first new dance style to be introduced to the show in nine years and we’ll see our first two examples on Saturday, as Lauren Steadman performs a contemporary routine and double dance-off survivor Charles Venn tackles street/commercial. It’s not Strictly ballroom but it will surely add extra excitement.
Behind the judges’ table, Bruno Tonioli is having a week off and will be replaced by guest panellist Alfonso Ribeiro, best known as Carlton Banks from The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air and a former winner of Strictly’s US sister show Dancing With The Stars. Will he find an excuse to bust out the infamous “Carlton dance”? And will Ribeiro prove more of a hit than Donny Osmond during his much-derided guest stint four years ago? Let's hope so.
Out on the ballroom floor, meanwhile, can new bookies’ favourite Stacey Dooley continue her scoreboard-topping form? Can Charles Venn escape a third consecutive dance-off? And who will follow Katie Piper out of the contest?
Strictly 2018’s fifth live show airs at 6.45pm Saturday on BBC One and promises to be another cracker. We'll be liveblogging from 6pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, recaps, analysis and wry asides. Please join us - and 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 staaaaaaart the quickstep of contrition!