Competition is fiercer than ever as the remaining eight Strictly Come Dancing couples head to the legendary Blackpool Tower ballroom for week nine of the series.
The show is usually held in the Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. But for one week each year, the show moves up north to the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool – an iconic and historical dancing venue.
It also marks a stage when the competition ramps up as the weaker dancers have typically been eliminated from the series.
Blackpool Week follows last week’s elimination of X Factor star Shayne Ward and his partner Nancy Xu, who faced singer Wynne Evans and pro partner Katya Jones in the dance-off.
Elsewhere, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley –who has stepped in for Amy Dowden who left the competition due to injury – and Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, held their position at the top of the leaderboard for the second week running.
Meanwhile, Pete Wicks stole hearts with a Couple’s Choice dance dedicated to his late grandma, Doreen, who died in 2022.
The vote is open
You can vote via phone or text, or (for free) on the Strictly website. Don’t waste any time in picking your faves as the vote closes at 8.45pm.
Rachel McGrath16 November 2024 20:12
Jamie’s scores are in…
He’s received three 8s and a 9, for a total of 33.
“I thought this was just a really fantastic way to end the show,” Motsi had told him.
“Another exciting and entertaining performance,” Shirley said.
Craig added: “I loved, loved, loved watching you, and how jubilant you were throughout the dance.”
Rachel McGrath16 November 2024 20:10
Jamie closes the show
He’s descended from the ceiling on a sparkly bottle of ketchup because why not? And the backing dancers to this “Ketchup Song” Jive are also dressed as condiments, which is amazing.
It looked like there was a small mistake at the end but that was pretty good!
Rachel McGrath16 November 2024 20:05
Tasha’s scores are in…
A 9 from Craig and three 10s give Tasha a score of 39, putting her joint top of the leaderboard.
Rachel McGrath16 November 2024 20:01
‘Dance of the night’
The judges are loving Tasha’s Paso.
“I would have liked to have seen it danced a little bit more into the ground,” Craig said. “But I’ve got to say, ah-may-zing.”
Motsi added: “I loved that you wre so fine and controlled with your movements. For me, the dance of the night.”
“It was the most beautiful, interpretive Paso Doble I’ve seen in a long time,” said Shirley.
“Absolutely top draw,” said Anton.
Rachel McGrath16 November 2024 19:59
Tasha brings the drama with a Paso Doble
Tasha has very strong ‘Paso face’, which I very much enjoyed. The lifts were beautiful and seamlessly pullled off, and she looked totally confident dancing out of hold. That will be really tough for Jamie (who is the last celeb left) to follow.
Rachel McGrath16 November 2024 19:57
JB’s scores are in…
He’s landed an 8 and three 9s, for a total of 35.
Anton labelled the routine a “super performance” but both he and Craig had problems with JB’s posture.
Craig did have something positive to say though. “I loved the fact you moved all around this humungous floor with ease,” he added.
Rachel McGrath16 November 2024 19:52
JB’s Quickstepping
He’s making this look easy!
The extra dancers really do up the level, and JB looks totally at ease while Quickstepping across the ballroom with Lauren and four backing dancers.
Rachel McGrath16 November 2024 19:48