Strictly Come Dancing 2019, week 10 results: tearful Saffron Barker sent home after dance-off defeat to Karim Zeroual
Anton Du Beke: ' I'd have loved to get Ann Widdecombe doing a street dance'
Under the Strictly Glitterball with Michelle Visage: 'We went out on our own terms'
Strictly Come Screaming: the truth behind Anton's orgasmic body language, plus why everyone's behaving like they've won
Another dance-off shocker but the right result - and we now have our five quarter-finalists.
Here are all the talking points and social media reaction from Sunday night's results show…
Two tough weeks put paid to Saffron’s hopes
A fortnight ago, the fast-improving Saffron Barker looked like a solid bet to reach the final. She’d topped the leaderboard twice in four weeks and dancing seemed to have clicked for the 19-year-old vlogger.
However, her progress then hit turbulence. Last week in Blackpool, her Great Gatsby quickstep contained a few mistakes but she survived a dance-off scare. Now she struggled with the notoriously tricky samba and made more errors. At this stage of the contest, two bad weeks in a row can prove fatal.
Saffron’s dancefloor demise followed the same pattern as the last eliminated contestant, Michelle Visage: surprise appearance in the dance-off one week, bottom of the scoreboard the next, second time unlucky and sent home.
Saffron looked suitably devastated, albeit partly on behalf of her pro partner AJ Pritchard. Her slight eye-roll when consigned to the dance-off and shorter-then-usual exit speech spoke not of a lack of grace but of her disappointment, frustration with herself and perhaps a lack of life experience.
However, Saffron can hold her head high - and her Nanny Pam and Nanny Ivy can be proud. One of Strictly’s youngest ever contestants (who was born in the year 2000, scarily), she held her own and became an accomplished ballroom performer. Her highlights were her classic Hollywood foxtrot and her romantic waltz, which moved head judge Shirley Ballas to tears and was hailed as “dance of the series” by Motsi Mabuse.
Following the success of Strictly’s first ever YouTuber, Joe Sugg, in reaching last year’s final, Saffron’s strong showing confirms the vlogging community as a source of potential contestants who’ll attract a younger audience.
So so many emotions..
I am so sad because my strictly journey is over but smiling because I so proud of myself for how far I’ve come. Sometimes you’ve got to give yourself a pat on the back and tell yourself you did good and that’s exactly what I’m doing right now.— Saffron Barker (@SaffronBarker) November 24, 2019
my nelly is so upset that @SaffronBarker and @Aj11Ace out they’ve been her favourites - you two have been awesome and we love you so much be super proud ✨✨✨✨
— Zoe Ball (@ZoeTheBall) November 24, 2019
Not surprising. But do feel for Saffron - she really pulled the short straw this week. (Don't speak and lose my goodwill please, Saffron) #scd#strictly
— Marianka Swain (@mkmswain) November 24, 2019
Is it me or is @SaffronBarker starting to behave like a petulant child when they don’t get their own way. Maybe I’m a bit harsh but after last week she needs to pull it together #Strictly#strictly2019
— Tom Owen (@stratfordtiger) November 24, 2019
Hard lines for Saffron - she’s truly developed & deserved to go a little further #Strictly
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) November 24, 2019
This just proves that youtubers are in fact NOT a 'threat' because of their 'huge following' on social media. If you're not as lovable as Joe Sugg was, you are not going to get enough votes from the general public to get you to the final. Simple as that. #Strictly
— daniella�� (@daca_nella) November 24, 2019
Saffron has been bloody amazing in this series and created some stunning performances
AJ and her have been a great partnership just got unlucky with dance choice
She seems like a lovely young lady and it’s sad to see her so sad.
It means a lot to all of them#Strictly— James Jordan (@The_JamesJordan) November 24, 2019
Really unexpected dance off, gutted for Saffron, one of this years best and highest rated dancers. @SaffronBarker did yourself proud every week, well done on getting to week 10���� #strictly
— Owen (@OwenCChild) November 24, 2019
Was Karim punished for ringer status?
CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual seemed to be flying high after scoring 38 points for his emotionally charged Couple’s Choice routine and tying at the top of the scoreboard for the second week running.
When the judges’ scores were combined with the public vote, though, Karim and pro partner Amy Dowden tumbled all the way down the standings into the bottom two.
Having scored 12 points more than Saffron Barker on Saturday night. there was only ever likely to be one result in the dance-off but shockwaves were still felt in the Elstree Studios ballroom. So why didn’t Karim connect with the public and garner enough votes?
The pre-dance VT telling his life story might have proved counter-productive. Sure, it elicited sympathy when Karim explained how he and his elder sister were raised by their single mother in a one-bedroom West London flat. It was duly emotional when he ran over to embrace his tearful mother Carol and proud sister Lianne in the studio audience.
However, when he spoke in glowing terms about the life-changing effect of getting into drama school aged 10, viewers might have been turned off. Having spent six years being trained as a performer, Karim suddenly looked like a ringer with too much prior experience.
Karim has scored more 10s than anyone else in the contest. He’s topped the leaderboard more than anyone else, with five times in 10 weeks. Yet he could have hit a wall in terms of the public vote - a fate that has befallen many a Strictly contestant before. Strictly fans like their celebrity hoofers to be good but not with a head-start.
WHAT???!!! Karim in the bottom two?! I AM SHOCKED. #Strictly
— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) November 24, 2019
If you ever need more proof that the British public shouldn't be trusted with an important vote, it is Karim being in the bottom two for that dance. #Strictly
— Paul Trueman (@paulwtrueman) November 24, 2019
Also, i just want to say I’ve no idea why @kayzer_1 was in the bottom two but there’s no one I’d rather leave for!! Well done karim your dance was a straight 40 from me, love you loads❤️ xx #Strictlypic.twitter.com/fNCI80bD75
— Saffron Barker (@SaffronBarker) November 24, 2019
Series of dance-off shocks continued
Just what is going on this series? Punters would have got long odds before tonight on a bottom two of Saffron Barker and Karim Zeroual but so it unfolded.
Chris Ramsey and, to a lesser extent, Alex Scott and Emma Barton surviving at the expense of far superior dancers demonstrates what a series of surprises this has been.
Meanwhile, the contest’s third, fourth and fifth highest average scorers - Michelle Visage, Saffron and Dev Griffin respectively - have all failed to reach the quarter-final.
Forget the “curse of Strictly”, perhaps we can coin “the curse of the Radio Times cover”. The listings magazine traditionally does a Strictly special in early November starring the four top-scoring celebrities. It’s usually a reliable indication of who’ll go onto the reach the grand glitterball final.
This year’s splash featured Kelvin Fletcher, Michelle, Saffron and Karim. Two of this quartet have since been eliminated and a third now looks in serious danger. At this stage, it’s anyone’s guess who might join Kelvin in the final.
So judges’ over marking put through Chris who Cannot Dance and put out Saffron who topped the leaderboard twice.
Worse and worse.... #scd#strictly2019— Allison Pearson (@allisonpearson) November 24, 2019
With Karim in the bottom 2 after being second on the leader board, this basically means Kelvin has won #Strictly
— Frankie and Clover (@strictlyblog) November 24, 2019
This series is mental. Cannot call it week to week #scd#strictly
— Marianka Swain (@mkmswain) November 24, 2019
Tricky samba technique vs empty contempowaft really does sum up this series' ballroom vs Couple's Choice dilemma, and how it's unbalancing the competition #scd#strictly
— Marianka Swain (@mkmswain) November 24, 2019
Third samba unlucky for pro AJ Pritchard
Pro dancer AJ Pritchard has gone out with a samba for the past two series, alongside celebrity partners Lauren Steadman and Mollie King. Both he and Saffron Barker were determined not to make it a hat-trick and trained ferociously hard all week but it still came to pass.
Poor AJ must be hoping he never hears the word “samba” again. It could be known as “the dance of death” up in Stoke-on-Trent. In his four years on the show, AJ has finished fourth, fifth, fifth and sixth. A slight downward trend, so he’ll be desperate to crack the top three soon.
The couple’s exit also continues the extraordinary trend this series for everyone being eliminated after Latin or speciality dances. The exit routines have been two sambas, two jives, two cha-cha-chas, a Charleston, a paso doble and a Couple’s Choice. Stick to ballroom and you’ll be safe - that seems to be the lesson of Strictly 2019.
Can't believe AJ established the lie during the week that he always goes home when he does a samba (Cloudia survived it) and then didn't even use it to get votes. Kevin would have said it at least SEVENTEEN TIMES as lines opened. #scd#getwithitkid
— Chris Rubery (@Chrisrubery) November 24, 2019
Samba is the dance of death....
I would bet a lot of money the Samba has knocked more people out in #Strictly than any other dance
It’s the dance you NEVER want to get at this stage of the competition.
In fact there are enough dances you could chose not to do it
I DID...— James Jordan (@The_JamesJordan) November 24, 2019
I’m so Happy & Proud of this young Lady. Saffron has defied my expectations at every turn, attacking each week with Positivity & a lust for life to inspire the nation. Just Thank You for Creating the most memorable & fanatic Strictly 2019 season for me. My Strictly Winner pic.twitter.com/FEEjNRno6T
— AJ Pritchard (@Aj11Ace) November 24, 2019
Narrow escape for Alex Scott
It’s usually comedian Chris Ramsey who’s breathing a huge sigh of relief on Sunday nights, as he continues to defy the odds and survive. This week, though, it was footballer-turned-pundit Alex Scott who was stunned to dodge the dance-off.
After decidedly mixed judgely reviews for her Argentine tango with pro parter Neil Jones, Alex ended up tied at the bottom of the scoreboard alongside Saffron Barker on 26 points. Alex got enough viewer votes to lift her clear of dance-off danger but Saffron didn’t - and neither did Karim.
Strictly viewers love improvement and a contestant “on a journey™”. Alex ticks both boxes. Could she be an outside bet for going all the way to the final? Or will Chris' popularity even make him a surprise finalist?
I sort of love that Alex and Chris- two complete wildcards- are in the quarter finals when no-one would have predicted it at the start #Strictly
— Steph (@wuthering_alice) November 24, 2019
Right so assuming Kelvin has #strictly win in the bag, my preferred course of events now is Emma and Anton out next week, Chris and Karen out in the semis, Alex and Neil / Karim and Amy in the final
— Shaun Kitchener (@ShaunKitchener) November 24, 2019
Greatest Dancer winner Ellie impressed on big stage
As well as a musical performance from operatic tenor Andrea Bocelli, accompanied by a gorgeously lyrical group number from the Strictly pros, this show also featured a special routine by Scottish teenager Ellie Fergusson.
A slot on Strictly was part of the West Lothian schoolgirl's prize for winning BBC stablemate contest The Greatest Dancer earlier this year - upon which her mentor happened to be Strictly's own Oti Mabuse.
Ellie was expressive, balletic and extraordinarily bendy. Her performance took in some seriously impressive leaps, somersaults and splits. Just imagine how good the 15-year-old will be in a few years' time.
Final five now dance onto Musicals Week
Our five surviving pro-celeb pairs now dance into the quarter-final, which is themed around West End and Broadway hits. Expect fancy dress, greasepaint and jazz-hands aplenty.
The 11th live show airs next Saturday at 7.10pm on BBC One. Meet you back here to discuss who was a sell-out smash and who bombed at the box office. In the meantime, it almost goes without saying: keeeeeep dancing!
Congratulations @IAmChrisRamsey on doing the best Beaker impression on @bbcstrictly this year. ��. #yourmyfavourite#Strictlypic.twitter.com/iDEvzouwJA
— Stephen (@oconnost76) November 24, 2019
A reader's plea for traditional dances
An email just in from reader Christopher Moorcroft, who says:
"I would dearly like to see a section of dances from the Standard Class ie. Old Tyme (as it used to be called ), Gavotte, etc. Viewers would love it, as most have never seen those disciplines yet they love the waltz and foxtrot, where the dancers are in tails and so elegant.
Regards CB Moorcroft, 82-years-old and danced most of his life from age 10."
Thanks for getting in touch, Christopher. Let's hope the Strictly producers are reading.
Sunday night as it happened
Here’s your blow-by-blow ballroom results recap…
Saffron and AJ’s last dance
As the eliminated couple take a final turn around the ballroom floor to Donna Summer's 1978 hit 'Last Dance' (tune!) and the other couples crowd around for air-kissing and commiserations, please stay with us for analysis and social media reaction.
AJ returns the compliment
Pro partner AJ Pritchard says: “Every single week, you’ve approached it with a positive mental attitude and you’ve inspired so many. As a non-dancer, I’m not going to lie, I was a bit scared starting out on week but performing those fantastic dances has been amazing. I'll never, ever forget that waltz. The best partner. Thank you.”
Saffron says her goodbyes
In her exit interview, Saffron tells Tess: “I’ve had the absolute time of my life and it’s all down to AJ. I’d like to thank him so much. Back in week one, I was so embarrassed and shy. He’s really taken me out of my shell. Thank you so much for everything.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas agrees
No need for Twirly Shirley - Queen Of Latin, first lady of Wallasey and giggler at mentions of “tightening up downstairs” - to use her casting vote this week, but she confirms that she would also have saved Karim and Amy.
Saffron Barker is eliminated
So the 19-year-old YouTuber becomes the 10th celebrity to depart the dancefloor, joining Michelle Visage, Mike Bushell, Viscountess Emma Weymouth, injury casualty Will Bayley, Catherine Tyldesley, David James, Dev Griffin, Anneka Rice and James Cracknell on the sequin-spangled scrapheap.
Bruno Tonioli chooses to save…
Karim and Amy, saying they’ve “proven to be the strongest, both technically and artistically”.
Motsi Mabuse chooses to save…
Karim and Amy, saying: “They left me no choice, it was a perfect performance.”
Craig Revel Horwood chooses to save…
Karim and Amy, saying the decision was “easy for me because technically, they did the best dance tonight”.
Karim takes his turn
Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden have another go at their Couple's Choice contemporary dance to “Drops of Jupiter” by With Confidence.
The judges said last night that it was engaging, spirited and dynamic but squabbled about its emotional impact. They gave it a whopping 38 points, which was on the generous side but still 12 more than Saffron.
Saffron goes first in dance-off
Saffron Barker and AJ Pritchard reprise their Samba to “Walking on Sunshine” by Take Me To Rio Collective.
The judges said last night that it was bouncy and bright but had footwork issues and lacked samba motion, especially in the body, awarding it just 26 points.
Can Saffron raise her game and close the gap on Karim?
Alex Scott is stunned
She was joint bottom of the scoreboard with Saffron but saved by viewer votes. Alex seems in shock but deserves to dance on.
Karim Zeroual in dreaded dance-off
Shockwaves around Elstree. Karim Zeroual and his professional partner Amy Dowden will face Saffron in the eliminator.
Chris Ramsey is safe
How the Geordie joker has reached the final five is something of a miracle and testament to his popularity with the voting public.
Who'll face Saffron in the dance-off?
Hold tight, hoofing fans, we're about to find out.
Craig gets a cuddle too
And some chocolate in an attempt to cheer him up. He laughs. Still not got out his 10 paddle this year, though. Well, except in jest for Bruno's song.
Dance debrief
Up to the Clauditorium now for a closer look at this week’s choreographic details.
It’s also our weekly chance to inspect the judges’ shoes as they emerge from behind the table. Craig's are very shiny.
Oti embraces Ellie
Oti Mabuse was her coach on The Greatest Dancer and skips onto the floor to give her protege a congratulatory cuddle. Bravo to both. But mainly young Ellie.
She's the greatest dancer
Time for a special routine by Scottish teenager Ellie Fergusson, for whom a slot on Strictly was part of her prize for winning BBC stablemate The Greatest Dancer.
Hailing from West Loathian, Ellie was 14 when she won the contest and is now 15. She’s performing to “Keeping Your Head Up” by Birdy - currently soundtracking the trailer for execrable festive film Last Christmas.
It's balletic contemporary fare as she dances atop a piano, then descends onto the floor to lead four male dancers in an expressive, leaping and leggy routine. Somersaults and splits. Seriously impressive.
Kelvin Fletcher's dad steals the show
Phone footage of Kelvin's Northern Soul-loving dad dancing around his kitchen there. Get him in for next series. He's as famous than some of the other contestants.
Saffron Barker in the dance-off
I suppose that was to be expected. Saffron Barker and her partner AJ Pritchard will dance for survival. But who against?
Saffron is tearful but can she bounce back, raise her game and survive a second dance-off?
Kelvin Fletcher also through
The bookies' favourite is safe.
Emma Barton goes through
Which also means that Anton du Beke dances through to the quarter-final. He nearly knocks her over in celebration.
Dancing light of doom
Right, it’s nitty-gritty time. Cue loooong… tension-building… pauses, hugs of relief and mimed “thank yous” to camera as we find out who’s safely through to next Saturday’s musicals-themed quarter-final.
Saturday's show rewound
Last night’s live show gets the highlights montage treatment. Kelvin does northern soul! Karim does contemporary! Bruno does, er, whatever that was!
Frockwatch
Our co-hosts arrive, so time for our traditional frockular face-off. Claudia Winkleman’s sporting a gold drapey flapper frock. Tess Daly’s in a bronze metallic mini-dress with one sleeve. Claudia wins comfortably.
Better than Bruno
Well, that was lovely. Beautiful dancing and one helluva closing note.
Andrea Bocelli opens the show
White-clad A-list opera star Andrea Bocelli kicks off proceedings, in what hopefully won’t become known as “the Bruno slot”.
The 61-year-old blind tenor is crooning a medley of tunes, beginning with 'Return To Love. Moody choreographic accompaniment from the Strictly pro troupe, all barefoot and in matching white outfits.
And we’re off!
Roll those now-familiar clap-along credits. One of these couples will have their last dance tonight. Any last predictions?
Sparkly six become famous five
Six couples await the verdict - but only five of them will return for next weekend's Musicals-themed extravaganza.
Who will suffer hoofing heartbreak? We go over to the Elstree Studios ballroom in just five minutes…
Blackpool comedown kicked in
It was a slightly flat show last night, as often occurs the week after the annual trip to Blackpool.
In fact, all six couples saw their scores decrease, by between one and nine points.
So who will ride out the dip and for whom will it prove fatal? Ten minutes until that familiar ba-ba-daaa theme tune...
Song and dance guests tonight
We'll be treated to not one but two guest turns this evening. The musical guest is operatic tenor Andrea Bocelli.
There’s also a special routine by Scottish teenager Ellie Fergusson, as part of her prize for winning BBC stablemate The Greatest Dancer.
Neither can do much worse than Bruno last night, surely? Fifteen minutes to wait now…
Bruno crooned last night
The strangest aspect of Saturday night's show was, without doubt, judge Bruno Tonioli swapping his scoring paddle for a microphone to sing a show-opening song.
What exactly does Bruno have on the Strictly producers? We might never know.
Just 25 minutes until results o’clock…
Who’ll miss out on Musicals Week?
At 7.20pm on BBC One, the next elimination of Strictly 2019 beckons as our pro-celebrity pairs find out who’s through to next week's quarter-final and who’s doomed to face the dreaded dance-off.
On Saturday night, the contest’s two “Special Ks” tied at the top of the scoreboard for the second consecutive week, with Kelvin Fletcher and Karim Zeroual’s contrasting Couple’s Choice routines both scoring an impressive 38 points.
Joint bottom of the scoreboard were Alex Scott and Saffron Barker, after their tangled Argentine tango and sloppy samba respectively.
As usual, the judges’ scores will now be combined with the public vote and the the two couples with the lowest combined totals will dance for survival - but will viewers agree with the judges? If not, Emma Barton or even Chris Ramsey could be in dance-off danger.
We'll be liveblogging from 6.50pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, recaps, analysis and withering remarks. 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 staaaaart quarter-final qualifying…