As per usual, previous winners and the top three from this year’s competition came back to compete for the title of Christmas champion. Could Tom, Jill, or Alesha add another trophy to their cabinet, or would Rachel, Kelly and Lisa finally get their hands on the prize?

The routines- now with added Christmas music

• Matt and Alesha (Viennese waltz): Although I never thought Alesha was as amazing as the judges claimed, this was a nice Viennese waltz- it just felt a bit forced doing it to ‘White Christmas’. Good, but not memorable.
• Lisa & Brendan (quickstep): Now this is more like it- not the most polished of performances, but still an enjoyable and high energy routine. Even the music felt more fitting.
• Jill & Darren (American smooth): I had one major issue with this routine, and that was the music- the tempo seemed far too fast, and in the middle it just sounded downright messy. Had it not been so frenetic, this would have been a lovely dance, but as it was, it just needed to slow down and relax a bit.
• Rachel & Vincent (rumba): I know most will disagree, but as someone who didn’t really enjoy this rumba in the main series, I actually found myself preferring this version. It fit well with the music, and since it was the Christmas special, the lack of basic in favour of showiness was more in-place.
• Kelly & Brian (jive): With Brendan now partnering Lisa, Kelly Brook got to return with new boy Brian and make up for having to pull out after her father died in 2007. I must admit that this routine was very entertaining- although the non-jive start was confusing, it was enjoyable second time round, whilst the routine was good fun. A nice comeback.
• Tom & Camilla (foxtrot): The evening ended on a high note with this highly entertaining and polished foxtrot- the dress was nice, the routine was good and even ‘Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer’ somehow fit the bill.

Results

After a performance of ‘Let It Snow’ by Russell Watson- complete with a lovely accompanying foxtrot by Vincent, Flavia, Brian and Kristina, it was time to reveal the winner. After the others were eliminated, it was between Kelly and Jill; In the end, though, it was Jill & Darren who walked away with the trophy.

At last, the end is near, and so we face the final foxtrot- but who would lift the mirrorball trophy in 2008?

First up, every couple had to redo their highest scoring ballroom and Latin numbers from the main series; interestingly enough, this led to everyone doing a foxtrot for the ballroom, but allowed for a little more variety in the Latin.

As always, we also got interludes in which all the eliminated dancers (including John Sergeant) re-performed their favourite routines, although as Jodie was ill she couldn’t join in. Sadly, unlike most years where not being under scrutiny lets the knocked out celebs perform better in the final, this time around everyone except the near-finalists seemed as bad or worse than they had been.

Ballroom Round

• Rachel & Vincent (foxtrot): Although this routine will never be as memorable to me as the best Strictly had to offer in previous years, I must admit I liked it a bit better this time around. The dance had grace, lightness and elegance, and Rachel is certainly good at what she does, but she still never managed to really hit it off with me.
• Tom & Camilla (foxtrot): As the only celebrity who had to lead, Tom had a bit more of a challenge than the girls, and although his performance was largely very good, perhaps it was this that prevented him from quite reaching their standard. He was also plagued by a stumble in the middle, an unfortunate accident that marred the dance overall.
• Lisa & Brendan (foxtrot): Although it was hard to see the footwork because of the long skirt, Lisa seemed to being doing, and certainly put on a good performance. There’s really not much more to be said.

Latin Round

• Rachel & Vincent (rumba): Why can I not see what everyone else sees in this rumba? I just find it overacted and a bit lacking in actual dancing in favour of striking lines. It’s a bit of an ego pleaser for the performers, and borderline indecent and packed with performance though it may be, it doesn’t turn me on.
• Tom & Camilla (salsa): I would have preferred to have seen one of the five ‘main’ Latin dances in the final, as salsa tends to be a bit wild and frenetic (or not authentic), but at least Tom put energy into this routine. A crowd-pleaser, but not especially polished.
• Lisa & Brendan (cha cha): Everyone may be calling it the best cha cha of the series, but that doesn’t mean it’s anything special- it’s just the best of a bad lot. Once again I wasn’t wowed by this dance, and it just makes me wonder- is there something wrong with SCD6, or something wrong with me?

To finish up, Brucie performed ‘What the World Needs Now’ with the ladies as per tradition, and although Anton tried to get on stage, he was quickly seen off again.

The results show kicked off with the announcement of who was in third place, and predictably it turned out to be Lisa & Brendan. The remaining two couples performed a ‘group’ Viennese waltz- a classy and elegant routine with not much to tell between either of them.

Freestyle

As with season three, even though they were no longer in the running, Lisa and Brendan got to perform their freestyle.

• Lisa & Brendan: I have to admit that I really didn’t like this routine- it was clearly modelled on pure exhibition dancing, but all that meant that it was all lifts and no real dancing without even the technical expertise of the champions. Add in Lisa’s ‘swimsuit’ costume, and there wasn’t much to recommend it.
• Rachel & Vincent: If Lisa and Brendan went a bit too far, then Vincent definitely played it too safe with this Latin medley plus lifts. It was competent, but it didn’t really hold the power to wow me. Then again, I’m sorry to say that Rachel has rarely been memorable on the dance floor no matter how good she may have been.
• Tom & Camilla: With a rare ballroom style showdance, it was Tom who stole the show- perhaps it was not quite as polished as it could have been, but Tom still shone in this combination of quickstep, tango and comically inspired musicality. All showdances should be this much fun.

…and more

• Duffy performed ‘Mercy’ in what my brother calls a ‘Chihuahua’ voice with added arm waving, but at least it was ameliorated by some sharp moves from Brian and Kristina.
• James and Ola followed up with a cha cha, showing the celebs exactly how it should have been done. Now, where can I get that dress, complete with back finished?
• Previous winners: Jill, Alesha, Mark, Darren and their partners all came back for one fun, fabulous showdance- a great way to round off the evening.
• The final result: as anyone could have guessed after the public vote was revealed, Tom & Camilla walked away with the trophy. This wasn’t Strictly’s best year, but even amidst the controversy, over-marking and press hype, there have still been some fun moments. Let’s just hope the BBC don’t kill off the goose entirely come 2009.

It’s down to the wire now, with those two places in the final all depending on the highly technical Argentine tango, as well as our couples’ choice of favourite fance, redone with new music and choreography. Who would shine on the floor, and whose number was up?

Round One

• Lisa & Brendan (Argentine tango): It was clear that both Lisa and Brendan had put a lot of effort into this dance, and I did rather enjoy the routine, but there was something a little lacking- it didn’t quite have the necessary ease and fluidity. Still, a very good effort for a brand new dance.
• Tom & Camilla (jive): I have to admit that I’m with Craig on this one- it was a lot of fun and Tom put in an amazing amount of energy, but I felt the choreography itself was somewhat lacking. Camilla seemed to be using the same old tricks, and I would have just liked something a little bit different.
• Rachel & Vincent (Argentine tango): Vincent is a world tango champion, so of course my expectations were very high for this one, and in the main, they were met. The choreography was very complex here, but Rachel coped well, lending a fluidity to the dance that Lisa had lacked, whilst the lifts were utterly spectacular. My only complaint was that Vincent was perhaps too good, and could have toned it down a little bit to showcase Rachel more.

Round Two

• Lisa & Brendan (quickstep): It was with great flair and energy that Lisa tackled her second dance, bringing elegance and smoothness to the dance floor. I loved the dress, liked the music and enjoyed the dance- what more can you ask for?
• Tom & Camilla (Argentine tango): Although the choreography was not up to the level that Rachel and Vincent showed us, this dance still had its strengths- the performance side was strong and Tom really used his acting skills to tell a story. I preferred Gethin’s AT last year (and of course nothing matches Mark Ramprakash), but still a good effort.
• Rachel & Vincent (American smooth): I’m not sure what to make of this dance- the performance was lovely and filled with elegance and understatement, but Len was right to point out that there wasn’t any real foxtrot content in it- it lacked identity as a dance.

Results show

• Professional showdance: world champions Craig Smith and Natalie Woolf performed this year’s showdance, and as with Victor and Hanna, whilst I can appreciate the technical prowess and the incredible lifts, I prefer more traditional dancing rather than these shows of strength.
• Pro jive: Darren, Lilia, James, Ola, Matthew and Karen lit up the floor with an energetic jive.
• Chicago: the cast of Chicago and our professional dancers came together to perform a kicking chorus line performance of “All That Jazz”.
• Elimination: I’m very happy to report that no one was knocked out this week- instead they’re carrying over the votes and scores from this week to the final. Good decision, BBC- we’ll have a proper three person final this year!

Now that it’s down to the final four, there’s not much to choose between our remaining contestants- and it could take just one bad dance for someone to fall behind the pack. But who would end up waltzing into the final, and who would be stumbling home?

Ballroom round

• Austin & Erin (American smooth): Matt Dawson’s tips may have helped with the arms, but whilst this was a decent enough routine, it felt a little safe- perhaps because Austin has been so tired lately. Putting both lifts at the end made them feel a bit tacked on; overall it was good but not great.

• Lisa & Brendan (waltz): Although not perfect, this was still a lovely waltz- once again everything came together in terms of music, choreography and presentation, resulting in a beautifully elegant and understated routine.

• Tom & Camilla (foxtrot): Tom proved his worth in the ballroom once again with this routine, which was smooth, flowing and apparently effortless. It’s a close-run thing, but this may have been the best dance of the ballroom round.

• Rachel & Vincent (tango): I don’t really like the ‘fairy princess’ netted skirts they keep giving Rachel, but in fact the dance itself was rather good- it’s just that it felt too much like an Argentine tango, and with that dance just a week away, I would have liked something a lot more ballroom. And why can’t Rachel ignite my fire?

Latin round

• Austin & Erin (salsa): Salsa is something Erin isn’t familiar with, and it certainly showed here- this routine might have been okay for a night out but here it felt lacklustre with Erin concentrating so hard on her own steps that Austin wasn’t given a lot of help. Erin’s skirt was lovely, but more was needed from the dancing.

• Lisa & Brendan (jive): Although it was a good effort from Lisa, it didn’t quite come off- she lacked the bounce and it ended up feeling somewhat superficial instead of driving into the floor. At least it was fun.

• Tom & Camilla (rumba): I must admit I really didn’t like this rumba- it was basically a race from one line to another (with even Camilla looking rushed), with practically no basic or proper rumba steps at all. Far too unbalanced for my liking.

• Rachel & Vincent (cha cha): Rachel seemed to be borrowing Erin’s cha cha dress for this one, but while it was probably the best from the Latin round, once again she just didn’t strike a chord with me. I don’t know what it is; Rachel does all the steps but I just don’t feel them connecting with me or coming to life.

Results show

• Hustle: Brian and Kristina performed the hustle, a dance I’ve only recently become familiar with thanks to DWTS, and one which doesn’t particularly grab me. Indeed, this wasn’t a routine I’d go out of my way to see, but the talented Brian and the lovely Kristina are always good on the floor.

• Viennese waltz: The pros danced a nice enough Viennese waltz that somehow felt oddly frenetic due to lots of changes in hold- I would have preferred the dance to be entirely in hold, but I guess that was deemed too dull for the audience.

• Argentine tango: Vincent & Flavia and another pro AT couple showed the potential semi-finalists how it should be done with a sexy, steamy routine- personally I prefer the dances they’ve done in previous years (and the wonderful milonga), but this was still very good, of course.

• Barry Manilow performed ‘Copacabana’- he may look a bit strange these days but at least he can sing, and of course nothing could suit the track better than a samba from Darren, Lilia, Ian and Camilla.

• Elimination: surprisingly, Austin fell into the bottom two alongside Lisa, and instead of being able to do his American Smooth, he had to rely on his higher scoring salsa against Lisa’s waltz. Under those circumstances, even Austin, once tipped to win the whole thing, couldn’t triumph, and so ended up going home in fourth place.

The time has come to ramp things up a notch; with only five couples left, the four places in next week’s show are going to be hotly contested by not one but two dances. Who will up their game and who will take a nosedive into obscurity?

Ballroom Round

• Rachel & Vincent (waltz): I didn’t like the choice of music as the beat was hard to follow, and Rachel’s ‘princess’ dress obscured her footwork, but that aside, this was a very good dance. Rachel’s routines still aren’t proving as memorable as the best that Strictly has to offer, but she is still talented.

• Lisa & Brendan (foxtrot): An elegant and glamorous routine from Lisa, well choreographed to the music and a joy to watch. I may even prefer this to Rachel’s foxtrot last week- certainly Lisa and Brendan have turned it right around from the early weeks.

• Christine & Matthew (tango): Smiley Christine was never going to find the passion and aggression of the tango easy and indeed, as hard as she worked, it wasn’t really her dance. She managed not to smile, but she lacked the sharpness and precision that the dance needs to bring it to life. It’s just not a dance for a lovely softie like Christine.

• Austin & Erin (foxtrot): After failing to impress in last week’s Latin, Austin was largely back on form in the ballroom this week; time limitations and Austin’s lack of sleep meant it wasn’t quite as polished as usual, but it was still very good- as to be expected when his teacher is ballroom expert Erin.

• Tom & Camilla (waltz): Although it wasn’t perfect, Tom’s waltz was an excellent conclusion to the ballroom round- a gentle, understated routine carried off with elegance and grace.

Latin Round

• Rachel & Vincent (paso doble): After too much cape work from Vincent and nothing from Rachel at the start, this took a while to get going- Rachel seemed lacking in the toning and aggression needed. Towards the end the dance improved, but it felt like too little, too late- and the non-traditional music didn’t help matters at all.

• Lisa & Brendan (cha cha): The trouble with this routine was that although it was good, it just didn’t ignite my fire, although I think it may have been largely due to the music, which I didn’t like. Lisa owned the floor, but without the cha cha mood, it didn’t feel as good as it was technically.

• Christine & Matthew (salsa): Fortunately for Christine, this dance was much more up her street than the tango, but while she was having fun out on the floor, it’s become clearer than ever that she’s behind the others in terms of ability. As far as technique goes, Christine didn’t quite make it, and was lacking in footwork, speed and precision.

• Austin & Erin (paso doble): I’m afraid I’m with Len on this one- Austin did look like a waiter wandering around, and the dance was sorely lacking in content. I didn’t even like the performance much, so it did nothing for me- especially the ‘Ole’ at the start.

• Tom & Camilla (samba): This was another routine that was good at its core, but suffered somewhat in the execution, lacking sufficient bounce and coming across as not quite the right type of party dance- less of a carnival in Rio and more of a get-together with your mates.

Results Show

• Latin medley: Darren and Lilia showed us how it’s done with a variety of Latin rhythms that came together to create a lovely, enjoyable routine. Oh, and I need Lilia’s feathered skirt.

• Pro quickstep: Brian, Karen, Anton, Flavia, Darren, Lilia, James and Ola put on a new pro quickstep- the partnerships, the dark dresses and the modern music might have been unconventional, but the standard was consistently excellent.

• Estelle performed ‘American Boy’ and once again Brian got to dance to it, although this time it was with Karen, Flavia, Ola and James. These uneven partnership pro dances have been an interesting change of pace this season.

• Elimination: This week the dance-off was between Rachel & Vincent and Christine & Matthew- predictably, as the weakest remaining dancer, Christine was the one to go home.

It’s finally here- the star-studded conclusion to the most sequinned series on prime time TV. Three celebrities must battle it out in a samba smackdown and a freestyle showdance, but before that, they decided to revisit their favourite ballroom and Latin dances from the series, complete with clips to remind us of why their dancefloor antics ensure they deserve the crown.

Main show

• Memory Lane: I’ve already commented on these dances in their respective weeks, so I’ll just briefly recap them here. Brooke chose quickstep and paso doble; Lance picked his breakthrough tango and last week’s mambo whilst Warren opted for Viennese waltz and paso doble.
• Ballroom kids: I didn’t see their final round dancing (I think it was aired before last week’s results show), but Craig and Samantha won the audience vote and returned to collect a mini-glitterball and perform one last jive.
• Samba smackdown: This season’s answer to the cha cha face-off, the samba smackdown saw all three couples come out and dance a section to “Blame it on the Boogie” before performing together for the finale. Overall, Brooke probably put in the best celebrity performance, for whilst Lance and Lacey had a more dynamic routine, there were points where Lance stopped and let Lacey do all the work (probably not his fault). Warren finished up, but whilst he brought his customary sense of fun to the floor, his segment seemed short and not up to the standard of the other two.
• Brooke & Derek (freestyle): Brooke started out the freestyle round with a high energy swing routine to ‘You’re the One that I Want’. I would have preferred something a little more traditional, but I can’t fault the spectacular lifts and tricks and the sheer originality and sense of fun in this routine.
• Lance & Lacey (freestyle): Predictably, Lance and Lacey went for a hip hop routine, albeit one with a little bit of cha cha mixed in. It was fun and entertaining, but hip hop will never grab me as much as ballroom and Latin.
• Warren & Kym (freestyle): Technically, Warren couldn’t match the other two but his routine was still very enjoyable- they started off with a slow section and then whipped off their outer layers for some fast-paced Latin dancing. Great lifts, great fun- and possibly my favourite of the three as far as the actual routine goes.

Results show

• Alicia Keys was first to perform, with a song whose unimaginative lyrics (“I need you…I need you…I need you…so bad”) were quite amazing even by pop music standards. She even brought her own dancers for some standard gyrations- not that even our pros could have managed something good for this one.
• Eliminated couples return: As per usual, the eliminated contestants returned to the floor to perform their favourite dances. Jeffrey kicked things off with his quickstep, then Ted did a foxtrot and Kim completed the first group with a mambo. After a chat with Misty (now able to walk again), Rocco came out to mambo; then with Toni unable to dance due to recently having surgery (what is it with this season), she too had a brief talk before the inimitable Cloris came out to tango. Then it was over to Susan for a paso, followed by Maurice’s salsa and finally Cody’s jitterbug.
• Jeffrey Ross couldn’t dance, but he knows how to roast, and when let loose with our contestants, he had a whale of a time- very different to the usual American way of soaping it all up.

Next up was one last chance to snag points from the judges by re-performing one dance from the series.

• Warren & Kym (hustle): What an improvement- Warren will never be up there technically but this was a lot sharper and slicker than his first attempt. Whatever else, Warren will always be a fabulous entertainer.
• Lance & Lacey (jitterbug): This time, the shoe stayed on, and it was even better second time around- technique and performance were up there. It’s amazing how far these two have come, but after turning me off at the start, they really won me over in the end.
• Brooke & Derek (Viennese waltz): It was brave choice to pick the Viennese waltz over a flashy Latin routine, but Brooke carried it off well, with a poignant, beautiful and understated routine that couldn’t help but stand out amongst all the louder swing dances. Brooke has done so well this season, and this was a lovely way to conclude her journey.

• Mylee Cyrus performed ‘Fly on the Wall’, a mildly catchy song if nothing special in the grand scheme of things.
• …and the winner is: To my surprise, Lance & Lacey came in third, leaving it to dancing queen Brooke and crowd-pleaser Warren to battle it out for the title. After an eternity of faffing, the result was finally announced- the winners of season seven were Brooke & Derek. Congratulations on a well deserved win!

In what feels like the blink of an eye, we’ve come to semi-final week- the last leg on an intense road to getting a shot at that mirror-ball trophy. Who could pull it out of the bag, and who would be forced to hang up their shoes just one week short of the grand finale?

Round One

• Brooke & Derek (jive): Having mastered technique, Brooke decided she needed to focus on wow factor in this dance, but unfortunately it all went a bit pear-shaped. After a slow start in which Derek did all the work, the routine felt very shallow, filled with tricks and mistakes, and lacking in basic jive and Brooke’s usual fabulous precision and technique.
• Cody & Julianne (paso doble): The lovely Julianne came back to the floor this week, but unfortunately this wasn’t the best celebration of her return. Whilst the military costumes distracted me from any positives the performance might have had, for the most part Cody looked like some sort of dance android, proving stiff and wooden rather than strong and fluid.
• Warren & Kym (mambo): Warren always knows how to generate a good atmosphere, but in terms of actual technique this dance felt weak and lacking in content. I couldn’t help feeling that it was just a lacklustre reprise of things we’ve seen before.
• Lance & Lacey (mambo): Despite a slow start and a few moments where Lacey seemed to be doing all the work, on the whole this was the best dance of the entire first round. Once Lance got warmed up, his footwork was fast and sharp, and the whole routine was good fun to watch without compromising on steps or technique.

Round Two

Before the round proper began, we got treated to a professional salsa- a far cry from my pathetic beginner efforts.

• Brooke & Derek (salsa): After a dud jive, Brooke was back on form with this fantastic salsa, filled with lifts and tricks alongside basic steps. How can a mother of four be so incredibly flexible?
• Cody & Julianne (salsa): Maybe it was just the fact that he had to follow both Brooke and a pro routine, but Cody and Julianne’s salsa just couldn’t match up to what had come before. It was fun and reasonably entertaining, but it didn’t quite ignite my fire.

Next up was another pro performance- an insanely fast, high energy jitterbug. Could anyone even approach that level of quality?

• Warren & Kym (jitterbug): Once again the technique was rather lacking and there’s no denying that Warren was generally flat-footed, but once again it’s evident that he knows how to whip up a crowd. Another routine of good, plain fun.
• Lance & Lacey (jitterbug): This was another routine packed with fun, and a damned sight more technique than Warren managed- Lance even managed to carry on without missing a beat after accidentally kicking off his shoe! I still prefer Brooke’s number earlier in the season, but this was very good.

Results show

• Aretha Franklin was first up, performing the uninspiring Chain, although at least our pros managed to enliven proceedings with a cha cha. Later on, she performed her iconic song Respect, with accompanying performance from reigning champion Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas. It was great to see these two on the floor again-I’d forgotten how good they are together.
• Leona Lewis: there’s no escaping her, is there? Even a pro rumba from Maks and Karina could make me like this song.
• Julianne Hough got in on the singing act with her own country single; she has a surprisingly powerful voice but it doesn’t seem terribly polished and the song didn’t do her many favours. I wasn’t even enthralled by Mark, Derek and Lacey spinning and jumping in accompaniment.
• John Legend: just when you thought the singing was over, along comes John Legend with “Green Light”- not a particularly good song, but the best of a poor crop.
• Elimination: Although not necessarily the bottom two, Cody & Julianne and Warren & Kym were left to fight it out for one last place in the final. In the end, though, it was Cody & Julianne, who went home- the right choice at this stage in the competition.

The big story of the week was the withdrawal of John Sergeant, an event which somehow made the national news and even merited a press conference. With John gone, it meant another two person final, but at leas the show could finally get down to the dancing instead of the media circus.

Now only six remain…

· Lisa & Brendan (quickstep): The samba has always been Brendan’s Achilles’ heel but fortunately Lisa was saved to dance again, and she seems to be back on form with this energetic quickstep. Brendan finally seems to have got the hang of showing off his partner, ensuring that Lisa wasn’t overshadowed as she performed this worthy routine.

· Christine & Matthew (cha cha cha): I loved Christine’s dress and I was fully expecting her to come alive with this dance, but whilst the steps were there, it all felt a little underwhelming. Christine just didn’t seem to give it the cheekiness and energy that the dance requires- if she’d gone all out and sparkled, this would have been a much better performance.

· Jodie & Ian (jive): I feared for Jodie after learning she’d been ill and unable to practise, and indeed it had an adverse effect on her performance. Already a hard dance for taller people, the jive proved to be Jodie’s undoing after several weeks of steady improvement- although she at least seemed to be enjoying herself, she didn’t have the necessary precision and bounce, whilst the routine was understandably simplified to account for the reduced training time.

· Tom & Camilla (tango): Time and again, the tango has been called the actors’ dance, and Tom truly proved it this week- the music, the steps and the story all came together to produce a sharp, strong and passionate routine. Tom is in serious danger of overtaking Austin as my favourite.

· Rachel & Vincent (foxtrot): This was a gentle, subtly understated yet smooth and elegant routine, and certainly it was very good, yet I can’t shake the feeling that it didn’t quite deserve the perfect score of 40/40, because something, some tiny spark was missing. Where was the element that made Jill’s jive, Mark’s Argentine tango and Zoe’s tango so memorable? This was a good dance, but it isn’t one that will stick in the mind through the ages.

· Austin & Erin (cha cha): I’ve been supporting Austin most of the way but this cha cha was somewhat disappointing- and I ended up feeling that both parties were to blame. It would have been a good number at a party, but here the choreography felt uninspired, neither Austin nor Erin seemed to be giving it their all in technique, and Austin’s arms weren’t striking the right lines. Another Latin dud.

At the end of the show, John and Kristina also performed one last waltz.

Results show

· Milonga: Apparently a forerunner to the Argentine tango, this dance seems to play out like a country version of the tango, and in the hands of Vincent And Flavia it was spectacular to watch. I can’t believe how flexible Flavia is!

· Group dance- Saturday Night Fever: Arlene choreographed a Saturday Night Fever inspired routine, but for me it wasn’t all that great- I’m sure fans of the original will like it, but that disco style stuff has to be highly polished to have a hope of appealing to me.

· John Barrowman sang ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ with accompanying dancing from Brian, Darren, Lilia, Ola, Flavia and Hayley- an enjoyable routine overall if marred by over-singing and dodgy camera angles (no change there, then!)

· Elimination: This week, it was Jodie & Ian and Lisa & Brendan’s turn to compete in the dance-off, and while it was amazing how much both sides upped their game and gave it their all in what could have been their final number, in the end it was Lisa’s inherently superior performance that earned her a unanimous vote from the judges.

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The competition steps up a notch this week with everyone having to perform both a ballroom and a Latin dance- with a solo section in the Latin! Who would thrive under the pressure, and who would crack under the strain?

Ballroom round

• Cody & Edyta (foxtrot): After a shaky switchover to a new partner last week, Cody pulled it back together with his foxtrot, delivering a smooth and elegant that proved he wasn’t ready to back down just yet. Again, I have to complain a little at Edyta showing off a bit too much in the choreography, but a worthy dance nonetheless.
• Brooke & Derek (tango): An interesting tango from Brooke and Derek this week, combining traditional ballroom with a more Argentinean flavour to give a tango that sometimes felt a bit too static but at other times moved across the floor with all the sharpness you could hope for. Not my favourite dance from this couple, but still worthy in its own fashion.
• Maurice & Cheryl (quickstep): As someone who was once the world’s fastest man, you would expect Maurice to be able to handle the quickstep, and indeed he proved to be a dab hand at it. Although I found the running promenade section to be a bit too long, overall this was an energetic and well-performed dance- the best I’ve seen from Maurice in a while.
• Lance & Lacey (foxtrot): I didn’t have high hopes for this foxtrot- much as I’ve grown to like these two, their style didn’t seem to coincide with what is needed in the foxtrot. Fortunately, I was both wrong and pleasantly surprised when they came out with a slightly quirky but still largely traditional routine- not the best foxtrot ever, but still an enjoyable dance.
• Warren & Kym (tango): This is another one of those dances where I don’t know what to make of it- the music and costume were nothing like they should be for a tango, but at the same time it was a fun, James Bond inspired piece that showcased Warren’s aptitude for performing and drawing in the audience.

Latin round

• Cody & Edyta (mambo): Carrie-Ann was right when she said that Cody gave it his all when it came to effort and energy, but as the judges also pointed out, it didn’t quite come off on the floor. The routine had its highlights, but it was up and down all the way, with Edyta’s choreography seeming a bit repetitive and uninspired in places.
• Brooke & Derek (mambo): Now this is more like it- a lovely mambo with plenty of energy and hip action, wonderfully choreographed by Derek to make it look spontaneous instead of carefully practised. A commendable effort from Brooke.
• Maurice & Cheryl (paso doble): Having done the team paso last week, Maurice was at an advantage, and he put it to good use. Although there were a few weak moments, Maurice managed to get into character and deliver a strong, intense routine.
• Lance & Lacey (samba): The music for this routine was very odd- not only wasn’t it traditional, but it was played in a way that made the dance seem a lot slower than it was. There were some good samba elements, but it felt like it lacked bounce and energy, whilst the solo wasn’t anything to write home about.
• Warren & Kym (jive): Now this is what Warren’s dancing is all about- a truly fun routine that also showcases his fast (if a little flat) footwork as once again Warren proves that even big guys can move.

Results show

• Brad Paisley performed with Lacey and her brother doing an accompanying dance, again not my thing but I can still appreciate the amazing talent of all involved. Later in the show, he returned to perform with the pros from the live tour, who put on a lively and enjoyable show.
• Macy’s Stars of Dance: this week’s dance was chosen by a viewer poll on the ABC website, and the result was a high energy jive to ‘Great Balls of Fire’ from Derek and Julianne. Good fun all round.
• Elimination: With Warren, Lance and Brooke all safe, the two weakest remaining dancers were left to see who had claimed the final place in the semi-finals. Ultimately, however, it was Maurice&Cheryl who went home, meaning that Cody gets to dance with Julianne in the semis.

The big story of the week is that John Sergeant has decided to drop out of Strictly, but let’s put that aside for a moment and concentrate on what actually went on last Saturday.

Special- Children in Need

For Children in Need, Tess Daly and Terry Wogan each performed a dance with one of the Strictly pros.

· Tess & Anton (American smooth): Whilst not exactly marvellous, Tess did her best in this dance, and with the capable Anton leading her around the floor, she actually did quite well.

· Terry & Flavia (waltz): Terry may have once presented Come Dancing, but when it came to moving it on the floor he seemed to be in the John Sergeant school of dance, with a waltz that was average at best. Oh well, at least he gave it a go.

In the end, Tess came top with both the judges and the studio audience vote, ensuring that even if Anton never gets his hands on the glitterball, at least he has now won something.

Saturday Night’s all right for dancing

· Jodie & Ian (quickstep): Back in the safety of Ian’s arms, the samba could be forgotten as Jodie got down to what she has come to best- selling the glamour and elegance of a ballroom number. Although it was hard to look at footwork due to the long skirt, she certainly seemed to be doing well, giving the dance the speed and grace that it needed. There may have been a slight mistake in the middle, but a good performance overall.

· Lisa & Brendan (samba): As we so often find, the samba is a difficult dance for the celebs to master, and even though I’ve championed Lisa these last few weeks, this one didn’t impress me. She did try a variety of steps, but it lacked the bounce and the party atmosphere- perhaps a different song would have helped on that front.

· Christine & Matthew (waltz): What a lovely waltz- Christine has been quietly working away in the background this week, but each week she has been on a slow and steady climb, and finally everything has come together in this dance. A worthy effort, and one that was highly enjoyable to watch.

· Cherie & James (cha cha): Never mind about the dance- I want those legs! Anyway, although it didn’t wow me the first time, I rather enjoyed this cha cha on second viewing. It may have been a touch understated but Cherie completed a good range of steps; unfortunately, James was giving it so much that it made her look tamer in comparison. And no more leg guitar, please.

· Austin & Erin (tango): Great music, a great costume, and a dance to match- Austin and Erin have done it again. Perhaps Austin could have put a bit more than a single grim face into his performance, but even so he drove the dance, putting sharpness and aggression into it, and bringing Erin’s splendid choreography to life.

· Rachel & Vincent (rumba): While personally I would have preferred more basic and wouldn’t have given it 39/40, this was still a powerful rumba- the presentation was very intense and it was one of the rare occasions where you could actually believe the relationship between the couple, even if only for a moment (obviously I’m not including pro dances in that).

· John & Kristina (American smooth): To be fair anything would have been an improvement over that cha cha, but this time John actually seemed to dance just a little, and overall it was better than all of his recent Latin efforts.

· Tom & Camilla (salsa): Although this was by no means bad, it did seem a little inconsistent- at times it all went well, but occasionally it seemed as if Tom not really throwing his all into it. A good effort, although when he was dancing towards the judges it felt like a poor man’s version of Matt di Angelo’s shimmy for Arlene.

Results show

· Professional cha-cha: Brian, Kristina, Vincent, Flavia, James and Ola all showed off their skills in a cheeky cha cha- I must admit I preferred the part that didn’t involve the chairs, but the pros are so skilled that they’re always enjoyable to watch.

· Bruce and Anton performed ‘Me and My Shadow’ together in an entertaining routine that was something a little different from the norm and more in keeping with old style variety shows. Good, plain fun.

· Tom Jones performed his new single- I’m somewhat distressed at what’s happened to his looks but at least his voice hasn’t changed, and to distract me from the now scary sight of his face we had some Latin action from Darren, Lilia, Ian and Camilla

· Elimination: With the Sergeant effect in place, Lisa and Cherie ended up in the bottom two, and whilst Lisa really upped her game, Cherie couldn’t quite nail it and was ultimately voted out by the judges. And here I had her pegged for the final.

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