Strictly Come Dancing 2018, results: Seann Walsh and Katya Jones' charleston of shame sends them through
Katie Piper and her pro partner Gorka Marquez become the third pair eliminated from Strictly 2018
Charles Venn survives his second consecutive dance-off
"Strictly curse" couple Seann Walsh and Katya Jones safely through to next week
Read Joe Sugg's Strictly diary: 'There is a curse – but it's not what people think'
Ballroom Bulletin: sign up to our Strictly newsletter, your essential weekly companion
Katie Piper joined Lee Ryan and Susannah Constantine on the sparkly scrapheap, while the Strictly cursers sailed though.
Here are all the talking points and social media reaction from Sunday night’s results show…
Katie Piper deserved to go
It was her 35th birthday on Friday but presenter and campaigner Katie Piper probably didn't want this particular gift. After finishing bottom of Saturday's scoreboard for her tentative, off-time jive, the result was a foregone conclusion once she failed to get enough viewer votes to lift her clear of the dreaded dance-off.
It's been a tough week for Katie, with her acid attacker was reportedly released from prison on Wednesday, so it's perfectly understandable if she was a tad distracted during training this week.
Katie has been this year's most nervous contestant and made a slow start to her Strictlyjourney™. By no means a natural performer, her score only once climbed out of the teens, for her yellow-frocked La La Land foxtrot in Movie Week. She was undoubtedly the weakest dancer left in the contest, as Katie herself acknowledged in her farewell interview, so the right call was made.
Not only is Gorka adorable in his geek self, I love how he did that routine for Katie. He made it suit her, he made it to give her confidence and never tried to out dance her or show off #scd
— ����♂️��♀️Claire T ���� (@claire2281) October 14, 2018
Feel v sorry for Katie but there's no contest...it has to be Charles goes through #scd#strictly
— Dorina (@Dorina335) October 14, 2018
Katie piper is the weakest dancer and should go. I agree in the real world she is inspiring but sadly not in dance. #strictly#scd
— Jasmine Storm (@Jasminestormy) October 14, 2018
She’s a sweetheart but she can’t dance, can she? #SCD
— Kate Neilan (@Magic_Kitten) October 14, 2018
Seann and Katya scandal rolls on for another week
Why, it's almost as if this is a dance competition and not a popularity contest. Despite a week of tabloid tittle-tattle and being bookies' strong favourites for elimination, Seann Walsh and Katya Jones sailed safely through to next week.
After being caught on camera indulging in an illicit drunken kiss, Seann's girlfriend writing him an open Dear John Letter and Katya's marriage coming under media scrutiny, a backlash was widely predicted. A campaign was even launched to get them kicked off.
Yet not only did they defy the odds to deliver a surprisingly accomplished charleston but the couple must've got some viewer votes too. After all, they finished fifth on the judge's scoreboard but were only three points ahead of Charles Venn.
They looked rather surprised to progress but were careful to restrict their celebrations to high-fives and platonic hugs. It will be intriguing to see what they dance next week. We discovered it will be busker-themed but could it involve more body contact and skimpier costumes than their chaste charleston?
Seann and Katya will not be in the bottom two! The public like to watch carnage and torture folk! #Strictly
— �� Jude �� (@JMACL1673) October 14, 2018
Omg the faces seann and Katya keep pulling at each other...so awkward #strictly
— Helena Horton (@horton_official) October 14, 2018
Strictly only introduced Couples Choice so that Seann and Katya could keep up this awkward distance thing and do a Morris Dance #strictly2018
— �� Annargghh Thomas �� (@annattthomas) October 14, 2018
Gossip has been good for business
The BBC might publicly disapprove of showmances and scandals on their flagship family show but behind closed doors, corporation execs must be secretly delighted.
Saturday night's ratings hit a series high of 10.6m viewers on average and reached a peak of 11.9m - more than half the people watching TV at the time. Quick! Someone else snog their dance partner!
Not a chance Sean(n) is going out. The delicious awkwardness of last night will be something viewers will want to see again. It'll be Katie or Charles I reckon. #strictly
— Gill Alexander (@gillalexander) October 14, 2018
Dance-off survivor Charles got another scare
Two dance-offs in a row should sound serious sirens for Casualty actor Charles Venn and his pro partner Karen Clifton. He's not learning and nailing the proper technique, instead relying on his charisma, seemingly bullet-proof confidence and high performance levels to carry off routines.
The judges aren't buying it, scoring him 25 points four weeks in a row, and he's clearly not winning over the public either. Unless he improves fast, cha-cha-Charles could be out next. Not many contestants survive a third dance-off.
Charles Venn looking a little less cocky and stopping referring to himself in the third person might also help Charles Venn, if Charles Venn doesn't mind us saying so.
Charles shouldn’t be in the bottom two again. Not sure what the public have against him? Katie really just needed a bit more umph and I think she’d have smashed it. She clearly has rhythm and can dance. #strictly#SCD
— F I O N A ����♀️ (@fiona2608) October 14, 2018
blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Lol wow people don’t really like Charles and Karen. There are far worse dancers. #Strictly
— Tolu (@tlash__) October 14, 2018
"I'm shocked that you are here again even though you were mid-table and it's clear no one really cares" #scd
— Steven Perkins (@stevenperkins) October 14, 2018
Charles is too confident for the GBP. Down with that sort of thing etc #scd
— ����♂️��♀️Claire T ���� (@claire2281) October 14, 2018
Karen's never really excelled in the teaching core ballroom technique area - dooms her partners - but getting an entitled attitude problem from him too. (Mind, bet Oti would have whipped him into shape) #strictly#scd
— Marianka Swain (@mkmswain) October 14, 2018
Charles Venn is now retweeting praise of Charles Venn, that's Peak Charles Venn #strictly#scd
— Marianka Swain (@mkmswain) October 14, 2018
Whoa - Charles & Karen in the Dance-Off again. Has he not got a big fan base or is a Karen thing? #Strictly
— Sarah Terry (@seztez) October 14, 2018
Less Backstreet Boys, more Badback Men
Backstreet's back... alright! Musical guests tonight were 90s boyband Backstreet Boys, currently on the comeback trail, wearing a selection of hats and crooning a medley of their hits.
The Strictly set came over all stadium rock for the occasion but it was all a little cringe-inducing, watching middle-aged dads pelvic-thrusting in tight trousers. Backstreet's back... is giving them some serious gyp, probably.
Only tuned in to strictly to watch the Sean Walsh drama and some old geezers are singing backstreet boys, terrible karaoke #scd
— �� mus (@MuSa_Nkiwane) October 14, 2018
Loving singing along to the songs but it anyone else cringing at Backstreet Boys on #Strictly? It’s like their the embarrassing dads of the guys. It’s just awkward.
— Hannah Baker (@HanBaker) October 14, 2018
Kate and Lauren had lucky escapes
The two celebrities breathing the biggest sighs of relief tonight should be newsreader Kate Silverton and Paralympian Lauren Steadman.
Silverton scored five points fewer than Charles Venn for her lumpen samba, finished second from bottom on the judges' board and relied on viewer votes to haul her out of the bottom two.
Steadman has been flirting with the danger zone for the last few weeks and isn't showing much sign of improvement, with her scores stuck in the early 20s.
Both need to bounce back strongly next time out. Silverton is back to ballroom, while Steadman is going contemporary for the first ever Couple's Choice. Could this be the breakthrough she needs?
Phew. If we lost Kate and kept Sean(n), I would have burned this series to the ground. #strictly
— Not Seth (@guestofseth) October 14, 2018
Excellent! Well done Kate & Aljaž! (He's an uncle, you know)#Strictly
— Neil Davis (@WeeNeiller) October 14, 2018
With so many of the current dances being freestyled and the technical elements seen as optional extras, I am not sure we need the couples choice. Sounds like more posing and less dancing to me #Strictly
— Marina Gleaves (@mpmeg) October 14, 2018
"it's Ok to have celebs who are trained dancers compete cos they're not trained in Latin & Ballroom" then #Strictly introduces couples choice, so they can dance in styles they're trained in #aintfair
— michelle jones (@mitchie66_jones) October 14, 2018
Surely the new dance styles are basically just a show dance for people who won’t make the final #STRICTLY
— lauren winter (@lozwinter) October 14, 2018
Week five now beckons
The remaining dancefloor dozen are now halfway to Blackpool. The fifth live show airs next Saturday at 6.45pm on BBC One - with an all-new choreographic category and a guest judge in the shape of Alfonso Ribeiro, standing in for Bruno Tonioli.
Please join us back on the liveblog to rate, slate and hold up scoring paddles. Until then, as contractually obliged: keeeeeep dancing!
Oh Strictly Come Dancing, with zees Couple’s Choice and Alfonso Ribeiro, you are really spoiling uz! #scd
— Kate Neilan (@Magic_Kitten) October 14, 2018
Having Alfonso Ribeiro as guest judge next week is like having Donny Osmond again - and remember how that went down. I would prefer to just have the 3 normal judges ? @bbcstrictly#strictly
— BETTY REDONDO (@bettyredondo) October 14, 2018
Sunday night in full
Here's your minute-by-minute results show recap...
Credits roll on the results show
Stay with us for analysis and social media reaction.
Katie and Gorka's last dance
As the eliminated couple take a final turn around the floor to Gimme Just A Little More Time (tune!) and the other couples crowd in for the industry standard group hug, please stay with us for analysis and social media reaction.
Gorka the corker returns the compliment
Katie's pro partner Gorka Marquez sweetly adds: " “Thank you for being such a wonderful human. Everyone knows how much you have been through but to get the chance to know you see how strong you are, how you always wanting to be better and improve. For me, that’s the lesson I learnt from you.” .
Katie says her farewells
In his exit interview, Katie tells Tess: “ I have taken a lot from this experience, it's all been really positive and I’ll never forget this journey. Charles was the better dancer out of us two. There are some brilliant dancers in this competition and sadly I don’t think I was one of them! But I feel really privileged to have been here and thanks for your advice and thank you to Gorka for all the hours! The general public have been so supportive online, so I feel thrilled to have been here for four weeks. Thank you to everyone.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas agrees
Unlike last week, when she would've opted to go against her fellow judges and save Lee Ryan, the Queen of Latin agrees with their verdict this time.
Katie Piper is eliminated
The acid attack victim-turned-campaigner becomes the third celebrity to leave Strictly 2018, after Lee Ryan and Susannah Constantine.
Bruno Tonioli chooses to save…
Charles and Karen, saying: “They stood out.”
Darcey Bussell chooses to save…
Charles and Karen, saying: “they gave a stronger performance.”
Craig Revel Horwood chooses to save…
Charles and Karen, saying: “Theirs was the best dance for me .”
Venn's vest is back
Now Charles and Karen reprise their disco salsa to Use It Up and Wear It Out by Odyssey. It scored 25 points last night - as all four of Charles' dances have, in fact. The judges said it had swagger, charisma and rhythm but not enough compact salsa footwork or hip action.
Katie Piper goes first in the dance-off
Katie and Gorka have another go at their cute 60s jive to Why Do Fools Fall In Love by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers Her timing was out and it lacked sharpness last night, scoring 18 points. Barring miracles, surely this is a foregone conclusion?
Busker revelations and dance innovations
Up on the Clauditorium, Katya Jones informs Seann Walsh that he'll be playing a busker next week. Meanwhile, Lauren Steadman will be dancing the first ever Couples' Choice and they're going for contemporary. Should be intriguing.
Katie Piper in dance-off
Katie Piper and her partner Gorka Marquez will face Charles and Karen in the dance-off. She scored seven points fewer last night, so will need a considerable improvement to be in with a chance of survival.
Seann and Katya go through
They both look surprised. Katya squawks a thank you. Blimey.
Verdict time again
Who will face Charles Venn in the dreaded dance-off?
Bruno's week off
Signor Tonioli is off next weekend and Fresh Prince Of Bel Air star (and Dancing With The Stars winner) Alfonso Ribeiro is standing in. Will this be Donny Osmond Part II?
Dance debrief
Time for the regular feature formerly known as Len’s Lens. And which should now totally be called Bruno's Binos.
Backstreet's back... alright!
Musical interlude now, with naff 90s boyband Backstreet Boys, curently on the comeback trail, performing a medley of their hits. Hats and tembly vocals feature highly. In case you're struggling to remember their names, they're AJ, Howie, Nick, Kevin and Brian. Every boyband should have a Brian. See also Boyzone. And, er, the Beach Boys.
Danny John-Jules does a headstand
The Red Dwarf actor, the oldest contestant in the series, busts out some impressive gymnastics in the Clauditorium.
Faye Tozer's soaking her socks in vodka
Is that euphemism?
Charles Venn in the dance-off again
For the second week running, Charles Venn and his pro partner Karen Clifton are consigned to the dreaded dance-off. The Casualty actor clearly isn't connecting with viewers.
Judgement time again
Danny John-Jules, Graeme Swann's pink shirt, Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice's bare chest go safely through.
Ashley Roberts tackles the rumba next week
It's notoriously tricky but she's up for it. Dr Ranj will dance an American Smooth, according to the chats in Ms Winkleman's Clauditorium.
Results are in
Who's safe and who are those cruel producers going to leave hanging? Vick Hope, Dr Ranj, Stacey Dooley and Ashley Roberts all go through. No news yet on snoggees Seann Walsh and Katya Jones.
Saturday show recapped
Last night’s live show gets a rewind. Stacey Dooley's top-scoring foxtrot! First rumba of the series from Faye Tozer! Cashpoint and spacesuit props! Bruno Tonioli managing to remain seated on his chair!
Frockwatch
Here come our co-hosts, so let’s do the obligatory fashion face-off. Claudia Winkleman’s in a simple, summery black dress with silver star print. Tess Daly’s in a slashed-front midnight blue shift in brassy, shiny fabric. Claudia wins, as per usual.
Girl-powered group dance to open
We begin with a sharp, fiery and fiercely female-led group routine from the pros, set to Dua Lipa hit Hotter Than Hell. Who says dancing is sexually charged?
And we're off!
Roll clapalong credits. One of these couples will be gone soon. Sob.
Goodbye Doctor Who, hello Dr Ranj
Final scenes of the time travel romp on BBC One right now. Five minutes until we go over to the Elstree Studios ballroom...
Seann and Katya's thin and crispy charleston
Was it just me or did their routine make you peckish for pizza last night? Ten minutes until the result show arrives with side portions of garlic bread and glitter.
Backstreet Boys are tonight's musical guests
No, you haven't nodded off and woken up in the Nineties. The Orlando boyband will be performing a medley of their hits in the ballroom tonight. Try to contain your feverish excitement. Fifteen minutes until showtime.
Will the Strictly curse claim its victims?
Tonight sees the third elimination of Strictly 2018, as our 13 surviving pro-celebrity pairs find out if they’re doomed to face the dreaded dance-off.
On Saturday night, Stacey Dooley topped the leaderboard for the first time with her sweet, sparkling 60s foxtrot - followed by regular pace-setters Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer.
In the wake of last week's "snog-gate scandal", comedian Seann Walsh and his partner in both dance and drunken kissing Katya Jones finished in fifth place for their pizzeria-themed charleston.
Stranded at the foot of the scoreboard was Katie Piper for her stompy, off-time jive, with samba-struggling newsreader Kate Silverton just above.
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 Charles Venn and Lauren Steadman could come into choreographic contention.
The results show airs at 7.45pm on BBC One. We'll be liveblogging from 7.25pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, instant analysis and sarky backchat, 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.
Will the pizza-dispensing pair get cut into slices and taken away? Nearly time to staaaaart eliminating!
