Key events
Back to the Elstree ballroom next time
Thanks for watching along with me, Tower Ballroom buddies. Our sparkly six couples now progress to the 10th live show, back in the familiar surroundings of Elstree Studios.
The dancefloor might be smaller and not sprung but as well as their usual routines, they’ll all be tackling the all-new Instant Dance challenge in a bid to make it through to Musicals Week. Could be choreographic chaos.
It airs next Saturday at 6.35pm on BBC1. Meet you back here to see who’s benefited from the sea air and who’s suffering a Blackpool hangover. In the meantime, you know the drill: keeeeep dancing! Have a lovely week and see you back down south. Goodnight everyone.
Finally, joanieloves says: “Will miss La Voix. They’ve been an absolute legend this year. Hope we get to see more of her on TV in the future.”
LazyMillennial says: “I’ve not watched enough Drag Race, so La Voix was all new to me. I loved her throughout this show. Not the best dancer obviously but she clearly got into it more and more, and she was hilarious throughout. That’s one of the main reasons why I watch this show.”
Pancake01 says: “It looks like she really couldn’t dance a step. Lovely to have met La Voix. Never heard of her before this, but think I would like to see her again.”
ReclinedPotato adds: “Oh, the care that Aljaž took with La Voix made me unexpectly shed a tear. I’ll miss them both.”
YodaknowsAll says: “I absolutely adore Lewis Capaldi. Beautiful song with gorgeous dancing.”
vickiinspain adds: “I loved the dancing in the Lewis Capaldi song. So graceful and mesmerising. Dianne and Joe’s baby should be born with a great sense of rhythm.”
ladyglencora says: “Loved Lewis’s Charleston. Could he be the one to break the ‘best dancers never win’ curse?”
HollyBB adds: “I always thinks there’s one contestant who’s being pushed by the BBC as their next big thing. Stacey Dooley, for example. It feels as if George might be in that category. On The Rest is Entertainment, Richard Osman said he thought George should be one of the new presenters. Any thoughts? I’m not sure myself, although I understand he brings the all-important social media following.”
On Frockwatch, JohnnyMidknight says: “Deffo a double win for Tess on the frock front.”
Lynne says: “Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, why not just comment on what they are wearing and leave it at that? We can all make up our own mind if we feel that one or other needs to ‘win’.”
EmmyHarb adds: “#justicefortess.”
On next week’s Instant Dance challenge, EmmyHarb says: “This sounds like a crazy idea. Remember the Lindy Hop chaos?”
jennyloo says: “Looking forward to the Instant Dance. I think it will be an enjoyable hot mess!”
Somersetlass says: “This could be brilliant or absolute carnage – or possibly both.”
Lidoswimmer says: “You’d assume the instant dance thing might be easier for the female celebs as they can be kind of flung around by the pros. Then again, Katya could throw most blokes about.”
MikeMoonlight adds: “I was kind of hoping that, as a tribute to the late Mani from The Stone Roses, they might get the contestants to perform a Madchester-themed ‘Bez-athon’, where they just just shuffle a few steps forward and back whilst shaking maracas in a state of wild-eyed ecstasy…”
ladyglencora says: “SPECTACULAR opening dance. Jay a tad outclassed perhaps but his jive remains my favourite Strictly dance. The lack of ‘tricks’ possibly the reason, just the perfect meeting of technique, style and effortless cool.”
TheMathDiva says: “It’s strange but I don’t get excited by returning contestants. I’m just not invested in them anymore. I’d rather watch their efforts on VT.”
IvanTiger adds: “Jay’s still got it big time! Layton still amazing. And Danny is magic. Those hips! Loved that mash-up routine. Brilliant. Oh, I’m wearing Claudia’s Attenbro leopard frock right now as a nightie.”
A seaside straw poll
Time for a swift vox pop of your Blackpool thoughts. Climbingrose says: “I think the email sent into Michael suggesting no eliminations in Blackpool week is a great idea. The dancers looked so much more relaxed and could enjoy it more.”
Sebnose says: “More padding tonight than an Alexis Colby shoulder.”
diamondcat adds: “Any more padding and this show will morph into a Chesterfield.”
Homecoming heroes were a hoofing hit
What a treat it was to see the quartet of Strictly alumni back on the dancefloor. Ashley Roberts, Danny Mac, Jay McGuiness and Layton Williams rolled back the years – admittedly, only two years in tumble-turning Layton’s case – by joining the professionals for a big production number and with each reliving one of their most memorable routines. A lovely way to connect Strictly past and present.
How about making it a regular fixture of Blackpool weekend? And who would you like to see return to the dancefloor? My personal wishlist would include Jill Halfpenny, Louis Smith, Alesha Dixon, Harry Judd, AJ Odudu, Natalie Gumede, Faye Tozer and Frankie Bridge. Plus some of the more mature finalists like Bill Bailey and Debbie McGee. Let us know yours in the comments section.
Hastily rejigged show was more padded than La Voix’s shoulders
It was the producers’ worst nightmare. This luckless series has already suffered three injury dropouts: Dani Dyer and Kristian Nairn before the contest even began, followed by Stefan Dennis in week four. Another withdrawal would mean either an elimination-free weekend or a two-way final. Tough choice but BBC bosses wisely went with the former option. Thanks to the combination of Blackpool and La Voix, they just about got away with it.
It meant a giddy celebratory mood on Saturday, even if the scoring did feel lower in stakes. With no dance-off drama and at least 10 extra minutes of airtime to suddenly fill, Sunday’s results show was frantically filled out with extended interviews, recaps, montages and copious chit-chat.
It sagged badly at times but if any primetime production embraces ye olde adage of “the show must go on”, it’s Strictly. What’s a crocked foot between friends when there’s this much goodwill beneath the glitterball?
Strictly and Traitors champions both on TV tonight
TV viewers can now flip to BBC Two for Chris McCausland: Seeing into the Future, the reigning glitterball champion’s exploration of how tech is changing disabled people’s lives. At 9pm, new drama Prisoner 951 starts on BBC1. At 10.05pm, Alan Carr’s sitcom Changing Ends returns to ITV1.
Tonight’s film picks are Warrior (9pm on Legend), Cyrano (9pm on BBC3), Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (9pm on E4), Night Of The Demon (9.45pm on Talking Pictures) and Planes, Trains & Automobiles (10pm on BBC Two). Those aren’t pillows!
Four of the field can count themselves lucky
Balvinder Sopal, who has already been consigned to four dance-offs and finished bottom of the Saturday scoreboard, looked the most relieved to get a reprieve this week. After her rollercoaster contest – an up-and-down ride to rival the Pleasure Beach Big Dipper – who could blame her?
Several of her rivals might have been mopping their brows too. Alex Kingston finished second from bottom after a Couple’s Choice which never quite caught fire. Amber Davies was third from bottom, has failed to connect with viewers and has already survived one dance-off. Even George Clarke, whose show-closing salsa was grossly overmarked, might have faced a nervy wait.
Karen Carney and Lewis Cope were the only two celebrities who looked clear of danger. This pair now look like nailed-on finalists, likely to be joined by either George or Alex. Your own predictions please?
Aljaž also bows out but he had a ball
Smiley Slovenian professional Aljaž Škorjanec is always a cheerful soul but he particularly enjoyed his Strictly stint this year. Being partnered with La Voix not only opened up a whole new avenue of dance for the popular pro. He was also able to step back and let the drag diva shine in interviews, taking particular pleasure in her backchat to the judges.
Since returning to the Strictly fold last year after paternity leave, former glitterball winner Aljaž reached his third final with Tasha Ghouri. Now he made Strictly history by partnering the first ever drag queen to compete in the main series. As we saw in that moving last interview, she brought joy to his life and broadened his horizons.
Since Giovanni Pernice left under a cloud after The Great Unpleasantness™, Aljaž and Vito Coppola have emerged as the leading male pros. A less ostentatiously alpha but far bigger-hearted pair to help lead Strictly into its new era. Aljaž will surely land a promising partner and be a contender again next year. Friends for life indeed.
At least La Voix had a fitting farewell
The drag queen also known as Christopher Dennis has lit up this year’s contest – if not always with her dancing, then certainly with her whip-smart wit and all-round fabulousness. Although it was a huge shame that La Voix was forced to withdraw with a foot injury, she departed in inimitable fashion – flying down from the ceiling on a pink heart into the arms of her pro partner Aljaž Škorjanec.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK runner-up and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist was never likely to get that far here. But with her musical theatre and cabaret background, she always entertained. She formed a strong bond with Aljaž, as seen in that genuinely emotional exit interview. Footwork technique aside, La Voix brought high performance value and regal charisma to every routine.
Her stated aim was always to reach Blackpool, where her drag career all began. As it turned out, she didn’t get to dance in the fabled Tower Ballroom but she got there and was fondly waved off amid a hail of glitter, group hugs and warm wishes.
La Voix had been carrying a foot injury since her foxtrot a fortnight ago and it eventually became too painful to dance on. You knew it was serious when she gave up her treasured Blackpool dream and, as per competition rules, got a bye through to next weekend. When it became clear that a week’s rest wouldn’t fix it, her Strictly adventure was over.
Never knowingly under-camp, her hoofing highlights were her Mary Poppins waltz, her Queen of Hearts paso doble and her showbizzy Couple’s Choice to Barbra Streisand (we need it!). Yet there were just as many off the dancefloor, not least her auditioning for various Strictly jobs, her affectionate mocking of Tess’ outfits and Claudia’s fringe, and her weekly wind-ups of judge Craig Revel Horwood, who could never resist cracking a rare smile. La Voix became La Danse and broke new ballroom ground. She sashays away with many new fans.
As the credits roll and La Voix’s castmates descend for airkisses and cuddles, please stay with us for analysis, reaction and a round-up of your comments.
No last dance, just a flight of love
There’s no eliminated couple to take a final twirl around the floor for once. Instead La Voix descends from the ceiling on a fluffy pink love heart and Aljaž twirls her around to the strains of Love Is In The Air by John Paul Young.
Memories of Strictly Ballroom. The Pan-Pacifics!
La Voix says her lovely partner has helped her leave the competition “braver, happier and more confident”. But at least her unexpected departure gives someone else a chance to win. Ahem.
Aljaž says that he’s made two friends for life: La Voix and Chris. Both him in stitches every day and she made his life a joy. She looks genuinely moved by that.
La Voix and her pro partner Aljaž Škorjanec chat to Tess and Claudia. She says her highlight is “being made to feel welcome, having come into the show as a minority – as a redhead”.
