Week 8 Strictly Come Dancing

Tonight, Strictly is off to the seaside. Strictly is coming to

Blackpool. Fabulous. So excited. Strictly is back in Blackpool.

Fabulous. Love it. Strictly is coming to Blackpool. The home of

ballroom. Back in the ballroom where it belongs.

Keep dancing. Watch out Blackpool, Strictly is in town.

Live, from Blackpool, the home of ballroom, this is Strictly Come

Dancing. Please welcome your hosts, Sir Bruce

Forsyth and Tess Daly. Oh my goodness!

This is it. Stay here for a while. Put me down. I have a choice

tonight. Two legs instead of one. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen

and children, welcome to Strictly Come Dancing. It's nice to see you,

to see you nice! It's nice to see you Bruce. It's

lovely to be back in Blackpool. Isn't it just. I can smell the

pickled eggs from here. Lovely, lovely. Well done last night with

the ?31 million. APPLAUSE

Thank you very much. Are you having a good time in Blackpool. I am all

right now but last time I went out to get some dinner and I was walking

along the seafront and I was mugged for my fish and chips. I really was.

There were four of them and they were big. They sneaked up on me and

wham, took me completely by surprise. Did you give the police a

description? Of course not, seagulls...

APPLAUSE They all look the same, seagulls.

Grey with a bit of white. One of them had a big beak, a bit like

Tommy Cooper. Last week we had to say farewell to our Hairy Biker Dave

Myers and his parter Karen Hauer. Their Tango was unable to save them

against Mark and Iveta. It was a shame, a great shame. He was my

favourite as well. I know. I'll get over it. I'm over it.

The show must go on. Tonight our stars will dance in the world-famous

Blackpool Tower Ballroom. We have nine couples beside the

seaside beside the sea and they are ready to do battle in the home of

ballroom. I thought you were going to do a song then. So what are we

waiting for? Oh, me! It's time to meet the stars of our

show. Pop Princess Sophie Ellis-Bextor and

her partner Brendan Cole. Star of stage and screen, Mark

Benton and partner Iveta Lukosiute. Breakfast present presenter Susanna

Reid and Kevin Clifton. Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff. Coronation

Street star, Gumede and her partner Artem Chigvinstev. Model abbey

Clancy and her partier Aljaz Scornajec. Ashley Taylor Dawson and

Ola Jordan. Patrick Robinson and Anya Garnis.

Bond girl Fiona Fullerton and Anton du Beke.

There they are in all their glory. Just look at you. Welcome to

Blackpool, you have only been here for a day and look at those

wonderful tans. But you all look fantastic, especially you Anton. Did

you drive the bus up here? Tickets please. The competition is hotting

up and the the couples have their eye on the prize but what have they

got in store tonight. Let's find out. Our first couple tonight is

Sophie and her partner Brendan. They are dance dancing to The Lady

is a Tramp, one of my favourite songs, all about manners and

etiquette. I hate people with bad manners, don't you, dancers? Shut

up! I'm talking. So rude. Here they are in training.

Before I danced I felt like I was about to do something I never

thought I would be able to do. In last week's dance it went well,

lovely comments from the judges but a general note to start bringing

more character to the performance. I like more passion coming out. She's

got the right attitude, she wants to be here and deliver superb

performances. It was always going to be special coming to Blackpool, my

mum and I used to watch Come Dancing. It will mean the world to

me to be out on that dance floor. My mum trained as an actress, she is in

touch with her emotions, very theatrical. I am hoping she will

give me some tips on making my performance extra characterful on

Saturday night. I need to start performing it a bit. Your feet are

fine, give your head permission to be fine. In other words, have fun.

It is a nice thing when you are doing something and you feel it

first and somebody responds, that is what performance is all about. It's

been so nice you have been able to come to the performances? It is

amazing, you start dancing and it is you and me. You might as well be ten

years Noeled your ballet show and I feel beyond proud actually. I am

happy I made it to Blackpool. We went there when you were little and

I remember going to the ballroom, and little thinking you would be

dancing there one day. It was lovely to see my mum today and getting her

advice. Dancing the quickstep, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Brendan

Cole. APPLAUSE

How about that! How about that!

Great job, both of you. You must be so thrilled. It was amazing! It

looked good and if it felt good, you are there. Let's welcome our judges.

Earlier today in order to exercise his hip, Craig went for a long walk.

That's nice to know you are getting along, what a shame Blackpool hasn't

got any short piers! That was cruel.

I did like doing it. Len, how about that? I am telling

you what, shut up, close the door and call me Mary, you've come out

and full of character, it was full of intent, full of involvement. You

were flying around that floor. Your hair was wafting out like you were

walking down the prom on a windy afternoon. It was spot on, fast,

clean, clear, well done. I am so happy for you. Bruno, what do you

have to say? This lady definitely is not a tramp. You are a tease. You

were working those boys. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, book in advance to

avoid disappointment! I think this place worked its magic because your

performance level tonight was so much better, full of character. You

were playing the occasion, plague the audience. The tenning - playing

the audience, just check the top line, that is the only thing.

Craig. I loved the story, the fact that the moments you dance around

the table, the wonderful little things, very, very nice. However,

your top line I thought you lost on occasion. It was a little bit loose,

jagged the whole dance. And also you sometimes forgot about your left

hand, darling. But, I have to agree with Bruno, the story-telling was

absolutely phenomenal. APPLAUSE

The story-telling was round the chair we'll eat later.

You came alive Sophie, it was so beautiful. It was spirited and

energetic dance, just what I wanted from you. It's only that top line

with the arch, if you pulled out of your waist you would get more arch

up here, but divine, well done. Can't do better than that. Let me

tell you how wonderful you are, and you, what a team, what a start to

the show! APPLAUSE

First out on the floor tonight, what a routine, what does it feel like to

have a standing ovation in the Tower Ballroom? I have to change my CV.

This is such a special room, the atmosphere is incredible. It is very

special. Brendan, your girl has done you proud. I have a little twinkle

in my eye at the moment, I feel moist in the eye, because that was

delightful, young lady. You're a star. Craig said more story-telling.

I love this dance, I wanted to let people know that. Did you get the

message Blackpool, she loved it, did you? The scores are in.

Great score to kick off this evening. Did you like that, if you

did and want to see Sophie and Brendan quickstep into next week,

call: Please get permission from whoever

pays the bill. Voeting lines don't open until all the couples have

danced. The couple with the lowest scores

will be dancing off in tomorrow night's results show. Nobody wants

to be there. Definitely not. We are in for a big night.

For our next couple, Patrick and his partner Anya.

What a lovely couple as well. Remember their dance last week.

Patrick used to be a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. I starred

in Macbeth once. A dark and powerful production, about an evil man

Macbeth who kills king Duncan, then commits many more bloody murders,

becomes paranoid, then descends into madness and his ultimate death. It

is the worst pantomime I have ever been in!

Here they are in training. All the hard work from during the

week definitely paid off and I loved the music and loved the choreography

and loved doing it. That was exquisite, you are the best male

celebrity in this competition. I don't think you knew how to take

that. You are my movie star. He gave me 150%. It's been

inkretible to get those remarks -- incredible to get those marks from

the judges. It was incredible getting a ten last week and if I am

going to get better the samba has to be big enough to fill the Blackpool

Tower Ballroom. The quickest challenge is the rhythm between the

quick and slow. It's like a pulse. Patrick has a lot of natural rhythm

so I have to find a way how to channel that. Something to inspire

us, to help us get the groove. Bring the party, the full energy. Anya

took me to see a samba. When I came through the door and heard the

drumming beat, all I wanted to do was dance. Dancing with the band,

hearing the music, my rhythm was right there. You should give it a

go. If you insist! I can't wait to bring the carnival

to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Dancing the samba, Patrick Robinson

and Anya Garnis. APPLAUSE

How about that! That was wonderful. Acknowledge this

and enjoy it. What a professional you are. The way

you got out of that and carried on was wonderful. Not many people can

do it as well as that. Whilst you get your breath back it

is a good time to give a Blackpool welcome to our fabulous singers,

Dave Arch and his wonderful, wonderful ar chest tra. --

orchestra. They are great.

APPLAUSE Bruno, would you like to start off.

Patrick, that really was a blistering, hot samba. You captured

the flavour so well. I felt like I was in Rio. It was so hot at times,

a lady there was panting. The steps, the variety of steps, the rhythm,

everything was close to perfection, except you messed up a pass and

there was a tiny incident that just, oh, what a shame, stops me giving it

the perfect score, but you are one of the best male samba dancers we

have ever had. He wouldn't say that if he doesn't didn't mean it. Craig,

how about you? I have to agree actually with Bruno, I do think you

are one of the best, it is unfortunate it all went horribly

wrong. I just hope you get to do this again in the semi-finals

darling, or the final, because you are really a rit mick dancer,

confidence and that could have been dazzling, darling, it was almost

there. It was one step, Craig. He lost confidence. It was han

extraordinarily difficult dance, you came out and gave us a fast, pure

technical Sam bachlt there were a couple of faults, but it was superb,

well done. That's a wamba, you whammed it.

You just messed up one step, you got a little bit excited, but we were

all excited. You were out there, I am telling you what, shaking and

baking. It was fantastic, honestly. You are a terrific dancer Patrick,

please believe me. Get excited. It was wonderful. They all loved it, we

loved it, off you go. Well done. APPLAUSE

You brought the ballroom to life, that was a party dance, how did it

feel? I loved it, fantastic. Apart from me. That was beyond your

control, a wardrobe malfunction. It didn't happen in the dress run. He

is a natural Latin dancer. He tried to channel it. Bruno said that was

one of the best samba dances we have had. Craig wants to see you in the

semifinal. That would be fantastic. Scores are in.

A great score. If you thought Patrick and Anya brought Brazil to

Blackpool, then go coconuts and call:

We still have loads to come tonight in our seaside special. Fiona and

Anton are taking to the skies. Next up it's Big Ben time. Yes, Big

Ben is here! And his lovely partner Kristina.

Tonight Ben can't make up his mind, should he dance with his shirt off?

AUDIENCE: !

Are there any ladies that want Ben to dance with his shirt off?

AUDIENCE: ! Nobody, nobody? Shame, I am sorry

Ben, but I did ask. Here they are in training.

The jive was a fast-moving dance, I found it incredibly hard. To go out

there and have fun with it was the most important thing and I really

enjoyed it. Getting a four from Craig was disappointing. It was too

laboured. I tried my hardest and this weekend it will ab good

performance. To get through to Blackpool was amazing and experience

the home of ballroom dancing, fantastic. It is like me going to

play at the home of English rugby at Twickenham. Hopefully I will do the

ballroom justice. This week we are dancing the American Smooth, to

Fallin' by Alicia Keyes. Today we did more laughing than anything

else. I have lost my competitive edge, so Kristina brought in some

board games to bring out my competitive spirit. I was hanging

plastic sachels on a plastic donkey. Ben was in the zone. Never mind

lined up against the All Blacks, getting my foot on the red and hand

on the green was pretty intense! I lost both games. I won.

Winning Kristina's final challenge, hopefully has brought out some of

the competitive nature in me. Dancing the American Smooth, Ben

Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff. APPLAUSE

Ben, well done. When you look back over the weeks, I can't stop them,

Ben. I can't stop them. They all love you.

Craig, start us off. Big Ben is back, darling, in the ballroom.

Thankfully. Very quick convenient ease that was, you were motoring

around that floor. I would like to see more style, particularly out of

hold, but a vast improvement. Nice to see you so happy Craig. Ben

you carried that off with ease, that was an air and flow to some of those

moves and it really worked, especial especially what an attentive partner

you were, so controlled in the lifts, that is very difficult, you

made it look simple. I love that. It is true when you come out of hold,

you have to chor io graph those moves, think about what you are

going to do with your arms, especially when you are reaching for

Kristina. Such an improvement. Brilliant. He doesn't have to reach,

she's there. Len. For me, Craig saying you are back, you never went

away. Honestly, I thought last week the jive was fabulous. You have come

out again, fully committed yourself. Kristina I admire the fact that you

tried to teach him foot work, he was driving on those natural turns on a

heel lead which you don't see very often. When you are out of hold, it

gets a bit too whimsical in a way, but lovely, well done. When you look

back over the weeks, transformation. That was a performance, it had such

warmth. And involvement. The way you look after your partner, they are

right. And the most difficult part of it you did very, very well. What

you have to be careful of, when you are out of hold, side by side,

extend those lines, because of course you are very muscular, but it

has to be extended, keep the wonderful flow you have in hold

outside of hold as well. Well done. Get off quick, wonderful!

About Big Ben is back, that deserves a hug. Your competitive side has

kicked in, the competition is getting tougher. Have you got your

eye on the prize? I enjoyed it out there and I am embracing it as much

as I can. I am enjoying every moment of it. A vast improvement as Craig

and Darcey said. Last week you were unsurprisingly appalled by that four

from Craig, do you think Ben has done enough to better it this week?

I hope so. Scores are in. That is your top score for with the

Paso I believe. As well as watching the action on

the dance floor, you can go to the website for the back stage gossip

from this evening. Blackpool, are you ready for our next couple?

APPLAUSE You are ready for Ashley and his

partner Ola. Ashley has decided he's going to be

a cowboy and he will be dressed like a cowboy. I wouldn't mind but when

he told the costume department to get him a pair of wrinkly old chaps

they immediately sent for me and Len!

Why us? Why us? Grumpy old men, yes, both admit to that. But here they

are in training. Last week was a great week. My

posture was good and I did enjoy the dance. Ashley Taylor Dawson that was

tailor made. Len's comment was brilliant. To get it right on the

night was amazing. I think I made Ola proud as well. Ashley did so

well. As long as I keep on improving, I am going in the right

direction but that puts pressure on this week. This week I am doing a

Paso Doble and I have a Wild West theme. Ashley has to be powerful,

dark, cowboy. I don't take myself very seriously. Serious, you are a

bad cowboy. I was trying to get Ashley into a character so I brought

a lass soo in. Let's do it again. I really want to get it right. It's

not working. I have something in store in Blackpool. Where are you

taking me? Wait and see. I am going to turn you into a bad cowboy. Here

you go, this is yours. That's better. If I can get the

steps, the cape and character right on Saturday night, I am going to

smash it, we're going for a ride! Dancing the Paso Doble, Ashley

Taylor Dawson and Ola Jordan. Last week was good, but look at

this, Ola and Ashley, look at that. They're nearly jumping out of the

boxes. That was great. You can see how hard you have worked. You must

have worked very hard on that. Well the Paso Doble is all about the man

and his strong attitude, the cowboy will do nicely, it wasn't a matador

but you had that attack, you created some strong lines, the shapes, the

tuck was there, the shaping in the arms. Everything. I would have loved

more drama in that kill. That is the only thing. By the end for me... I

didn't want to kill her. By the end, it went down a bit for me. From the

beginning, it was brilliant. You didn't want to kill her. I thought

you got stronger and stronger. Ashley, I am telling you what, two

in a row, last week you were fabulous, you have come back

stronger than ever. What I love about the Paso Doble when I see the

speed and the stillness, whip in and wait and move on, and that is what I

saw. Ashley, it takes a lot to get me shocked. I am surprised how

powerfully you danced that Paso, well done.

Oh, yes, the lone ranger is back with a vengeance, I am telling you

that was fully loaded, powerful plenty of thrust. Those lines, I

agree with Len, you had the light and shade and you never lost the

focus. I did agree with them, I think you were on it all the way

through. Especially when you danced with two professional boys side to

side and I could not take my eyes off you. That takes some doing. That

makes all the difference. Craig. Cowboy defending himself with a cape

doesn't really do it for me, I have to be honest. Each to his own,

darling. The idea was a bit bizarre but I am into the bizarre and

extraordinary and that was extraordinary, darling!

It was wonderful, they were all on their feet, everybody loved it, off

you go, well done! The lone ranger is back with a

vengeance. A northern boy dancing in the north, how do you feel it went?

It is great to be in the north west again. A powerful Paso, said Len and

Craig said it was extraordinary. Amazing. Blackpool is a big deal in

the dance world. How proud are you to make it this far? Very proud. Can

he go further? Yes, yes! 35, that is your joint highest

score. Was Ashley's Wild West routine the perfect Paso, call:

Our fifth couple is Fiona and her partner Anton.

What a great couple. Their routine is set in an airport and Anton will

be the pilot and Fiona will be a first-class passenger. I would just

like to say, I hope you don't leave the competition this week, but if

you do, the exits are here, here and here.

APPLAUSE Here they are in training.

I am really thrilled with the way everything went on Saturday. I

really enjoyed the Paso Doble. I gave it lots of we willy so I was

really pleased. I was a little bit hurt when Craig said... I have to

say forgettable. I really don't want to do another dance that is

forgettable. I would like to do a dance that blows everybody away. I

am so excited about going to Blackpool because as a huge Strictly

fan to step inside that ballroom will probably take my breath away. I

am really, really excited about being there. This week we are

dancing the American Smooth. The most difficult part for me in the

American Smooth is going to be the lifts. Don't be frightened of it.

The thought of the lifts is terrifying me. The whole prospect is

perifying. -- terrifying. You don't need to worry about the lifts. I

have never done anything like that. I am all right with my feet on the

ground but I don't want to be lifted up there. I have something for you,

once you have done t you will feel like you are dancing on air. Wow!

Anton brought me up to the top of the Blackpool Tower and we did some

glancing on the glass platform. Going up the tower has really helped

me to cope with my fear of lifts. I hope I can be as calm as that on the

big night itself. Dancing the American Smooth, Fiona

Fullerton and Anton du Beke. Lovely. You did it! You did it in

that dress! Marvellous. Now we hope you enjoyed

your flight. If you didn't have any turbulence, I think you might get

some now! Len. I thought the attitude was

first-class. The movement was a little bit business class. And the

lifts were a little bit economy. Never! But it had an air of style

and class about it. You are a classy lady and.

VIP lounge for you my darling and we do not travel light. The more

luggage than Joan Collins. But you were elegant, very proper, very

dainty, you look wonderful. I love your solo you did in the middle. A

few moments still, when you change direction, sometimes you go, where

is my handbag, here we go, Anton is there, it is those times, you

understand what I am talking about, you have to iron out these tiny

seconds when your performance goes, OK I'm here. It happened a couple of

times through it. But I thought you looked really good, my darling.

I would liked to have seen it smoother throughout. The timing on

the back upset up to the stairs was completely out of whack

unfortunately. The last pivots you were grabbing on for dear life and

getting into the last lift was a complete and absolute disasser, as

we all managed to witness. First-class take-off I thought,

straight up there! You may think so, but there was a first-class element

and that was all the soft shoe in the middle, I loved that, gorgeous.

Darcey, darling. I love the style that you gave it, there were some

lovely details you gave that was really nice, especially with that

shuffle. It is the preparations into those lifts. If you can really be

exact with what you are doing, especially for Anton so he knows

what leg and the position in the lift, it was a little turned out,

you were really turned out in that last lift. That was for you. It is

only a couple of those things. It was most enjoyable. You look

lovely together. Get him off!

An air of style and class, said Len. I knew I was going to blow that

lift. You didn't blow it, you were genuinely terrified about the lift.

In dress run you didn't manage it. We were crossing our fingers back

stage. Anton got me up there somehow. King of ballroom s this

your spiritual home? Do you know what I feel like I have been here

all my life. Born here. APPLAUSE

That's more like it. Thank you very much. Happy with that I am very

happy with that. If you thought that was a first-class American Smooth,

set your tray tables into their upright positions and call:

It's been a roller costar night so far and there is lots to come,

including Mark and Iveta and Natalie is back with a bang.

For our next couple, abbey and her partner Aljaz. Another lovely

couple. What a pair these two are. I asked

Abbey if she had taken her daughter to a Punch and Judy show here in

Blackpool. She said no because her little girl didn't like Mr Punch. I

said how can anybody not like Mr Punch - an all round family

entertainer, with a big chin. LAUGHING. Stop making up your own

jokes, what's not to like about Mr Punch. Here they are in training.

I was in the bottom two the week before, even with high scores, so I

was thinking again anything can happen. Overall I think it went

well. I didn't think in a million years I would hear Darcey say

saying... Well done Aljaz, you have made a true dance dancer out of

Abbey. When I was a little girl I used to see the Blackpool

illuminations and we did every Christmas time. I never thought the

reason I would be heading Back To Black pool would be to dancing in

the Tower Ballroom. I thought it would be to take my own daughter to

see the illuminations. I can't wait. I think dancing the quickstep is

going to be like stepping back in time. It needs a really specific

mind set. I think I have a good idea to make this happen. To get the

right feel for the old school dancing quickstep, such an

old-fashioned dance, I am going to take you to a tea dance. I need some

tips for my quickstep, can you give me advice. Stay close.

You want to be on your toes. Enjoy T In the tea dance we showed them a

bit of our squibbing step, which I was quite embarrassed by. I would

give them eight out of ten. Worth an eight at the moment. I would give

her nine! Since I have started Strictly I have completely fallen in

love with dancing and to come here has been amazing. I can't wait to

get to Blackpool and make myself proud and make everyone here proud.

Dancing the quickstep, abbey Clancy and Skornjaec.

They loved it! I loved it. That was so good. Are you all right? Yes.

Absolutely wonderful. Bruno I saw you jumping up and down. That was

really a quickstep on Pleasure Beach I tell you. You deserve a

refreshment. It can only be champagne for Abbey.

The content was absolutely out of this world. For a non-dance dancer

in the time you have had to do something like this is unbelievable!

It was. The speed of you, those little steps. There was a lot of

gapping throughout. Your chin was too far down in the standing spin,

you need to get your chin up a bit. The frame was loose throughout.

Especially through that jete section, you let it go completely

and you can't do that. In the Charleston sections you were

completely dancing with your both arms and your frame should be...

AUDIENCE: ! These are minor details darling, I

loved it, I thought it was great. Say so then! I think for a tall

leggy lady like you, you showed us from last week to this week how well

you handle those quick moves, it is extraordinary, because it is not

easy at all. There was only one tiny bit when you got excited and you are

elbow went up and down, but you travelled with control across that

ballroom, well done. Absolutely. Len. If you were a stick of block

pool rock, you would have "talent" written right through you. If you

look hard enough at anything, you can find faults but as far as I am

concerned, the way you moved around that floor, the speed, the clarity

of movement, that was blooming good. Well said! Listen to uncle Len. Off

you go. It was wonderful. We all loved it.

APPLAUSE The audience went wild for you, you

looked like you were loving every moment. Yes, I was trying to enjoy

it, yeah. Aljaz, is this your first time in Blackpool? Not the first

time but definitely the best time. Smooth!

Let's hope it is going to get better. That elusive ten, how would

it feel to get one in Blackpool. It would be amazing Aljaz has worked so

hard this week. Come on then! Our first tens in

Blackpool. Your face, you have gone a bit red. Speechless. For once.

Congratulations well deserved. If that dance brightened up your day,

call: Three more couples are limbering up

ready to wow the Blackpool crowd. Are you ready for more? !

Get ready. Who's next. Seven, and three tens, still can't

believe that. Next up is Mark and his partner Iveta.

APPLAUSE As we all know Mark was in the

dance-off last week, it wasn't a bad dance, people just wanted to see

Iveta in that Catsuit again! Remember. It was revealing. One poor

man watching on his TV at home almost had a heart attack. I'm

feeling better now! It was really close. Here they are

in training. This weekend was a tough show. I

found the rhumba extremely hard to do. You have gold in your fingers

but a bit of led in your bum. You tried Goldfinger but ended up a fish

finger. I knew I would be in the dance off at some point. It was

horrible and I felt like I had let Iveta down. He was very upset after

the show. He tries to improve the dancing as much as he K She deserves

the best from me. I want to forget negativity, I want to do what we do

the best, have fun. I am going to give it 100%, and go for it. We are

doing the jive this week. It is a fast dance, physically demanding and

you need a lot of stamina. I am finding it hard to keep up with the

pace. We have to nail the technique, flicks bauns actions. I have a

bounce with my knees. I am trying my best. I know you are, try better!

Blackpool will be a real treat, I have special memories of going there

as a kid. We made it! I brought you a treat. My favourite. Do you know

what I can't believe we made it to this point. It is like a landmark on

this show. I am glad I did it with you. I am really excited about our

jive and can't wait to perform it in the tower. I hope everyone loves it

as much as we do. Dancing the jive, Mark Benton and Iveta Lukosiute.

If there was ever a dance that wasn't for you, it was this one, but

my golly, you really pulled it together.

I thought it was flatfooted and stompy to be honest. It looked like

you had flippers on the end of your legs, sadly. But I know it's

entertaining, I do know that, but I am really looking for a lot more

technique really. I have to be honest, but I loved the song and I

loved that middle Hairspray section, that was brilliant. Sometimes Craig

you remember, remind you of a funfair, you are no fun and you are

not fair! APPLAUSE

For a guy of this size to do a jive, it was quite something. It was a

show stopping performance, full of entertainment. If you could get your

weight forward it would be easy on the balls of your foot, but for me,

I loved it, you try really hard, and it was so much more dance content.

Well done. Blackpool is a place you come for fun and it was fun,

light-hearted, there was joy in the performance, it was like that might

mighty organ that comes up, big, brash noisy and fabulous to watch,

well done. My darling, what you gave us is a

fantastic fun ride that put the feel-good factor through the roof.

That takes some doing. And I danced more than you ever had, kicks and

flicks could have been sharper, but I had a wonderful time watching your

performance. I am still amazed at how you could do the jive like that,

be proud, be very proud. APPLAUSE

You bring the feel-good factor in bucket loads. You brought the

ballroom to life. It was great fun. A little bird told me it is your

birthday today. Happy birthday! How was that for a birthday present? It

was great, I have loved it all week, it's fun. We wanted to have a good

time. Last week you were in the dance-off, did you decide to come

back with a vengeance this week. Absolutely, I wanted to have fun

this week. Scores are in. That is actually your top score to

date. Amazing. Happy birthday to you. You don't want to face the

dance-off again. Give him the best birthday present ever, your votes,

call: The voet will be opening very soon

indeed. Our next couple is Susanna and her

partner Kevin from Grimsby. APPLAUSE

What a popular couple. They are doing a traditional Spanish Paso

Doble, Susanna told me she is going to close her eyes and imagine she is

in Madrid. I said that is a good idea but better still walk down

Blackpool High Street and imagine you are in Benidorm. A few locals

didn't like that. I have to be careful. Here they are in training.

Last Saturday we danced our waltz to a very beautiful piece of music. It

was one of those Strictly moments. You light up my life and you lit up

this ballroom. I love head judge Len, he lights up my life. Four of

your nines, including one from Craig! Speechless. We are doing a

Paso Doble. It's dramatic and we are dancing on the grandest stage of

them all. I grew up competing in ballroom competition which meant I

was always going to Blackpool. Don't smile at me then.

I have been to Blackpool before as a journalist, but I have never had a

fun day out. We are going to do all the fun things. Let's experience the

magic of Blackpool. There are certain things you have to do in

Blackpool. Stick of rock. Of course, Blackpool rock. You have been my

rock over the past few weeks. I have only ever been here before to cover

party political conferences as a journalist. Nice to see you, to see

you nice! We are about to go in. This place holds a lot of memories

for me. I want you to save our that moment when you walk in. Seeing it

was incredibly special. I don't think I can actually dance here!

I am going to show you something that few people get to see. If I can

capture all the magic of the ballroom and the excitement of that

day in Blackpool, and put it into our Paso, we are going to have an

amazing dance on Saturday night. Dancing the Paso Doble, Susanna Reid

and Kevin Clifton. I thought you had passed out! Come

here. I thought you had gone there, I was

really worried. Are you really from Grimsby? That was wonderfully

traditional Paso Doble. I loved it. You have to stretch - you have

stretched yourself tonight. The drama you gave, the dynamics, you

are a beautiful gypsy girl. It was like a buffet full of Spanish

tapas, right the way through, well done. It's Carmen, the temptress

from Seville, the flavour of Spain was there for all of us, it was just

fantastic! APPLAUSE

I think you were chanelling Anita from west side story, it was

absolutely fab-u-lous And proper music for the Paso Doble,

that is what I loved. Off you go.

APPLAUSE Susanna, you feisty girl, you threw

yourself into that. How is the atmosphere out there? It's magical.

It is very inspiring. Then I look over and I see a matador, straight

in front of me, there he is. It's you Kevin, you were in the zone. You

were raised in the ballroom, how does it feel to bring Susanna Back

To Black pool. I wanted her to experience what I have experienced,

it is the most magical place. Brought some of that magic back

tonight. Oh my goodness!

39, three tens, the highest score of the series. So far. Oh, my goodness.

I can feel her shaking. How do you feel? I kept saying to Kevin I am

not a ten sort of person. Oh, yes you are now. What do you think? Call

call: What a night it's been! That was

just incredible. Have we got tears? We have one more dance to go in the

show. Blackpool, are you ready for more? One more!

Our final couple tonight is Natalie and her partner Artem.

Last week Natalie fell ill during rehearsals. We all heard about that

and was unable to take part in the show. She was given a bye to this

week. She's got the all-clear from the dock to r tore and is dancing

tonight. Here is her very eventful week. Good luck Natalie.

Natalie was taken ill today and won't be dancing on tonight's show.

Last week on Saturday morning I fainted during rehearsals. As I was

going through the dance my body gave way and I blacked out. I couldn't

pick her up because she was shaking a lot and crying. I fainted again

during the dress run. I was checked again by the medic. I was advised

not to perform on that night's show. I went for a final check up with the

doctor to check that I was all clear to dance on Saturday. The verdict

was exhaustion and I have been declared fit and ready to go. After

last week, I am just so excited to still be a part of the show and I am

going to enjoy it whatever happens. I am just really sorry we didn't get

to do the jive. I feel like I have let you down. What are you talking

about. I was concerned. We were down last week but we are not out, we are

back and come back with a bang with this dance. We don't want to go 100%

right away. Thfrjts week is all about taking things one step at a

time. We are dancing the charl sfon and it is a very fast dance. Artem

has been so supportive and really looked after me. We have a couple of

tricks, which at the moment I am a bit scared of. There is going to be

lots of practising on lots of mats. It's been yet another challenging

week, but I am absolutely ecstatic to say I am fighting fit and ready

to go to Blackpool. Lancashire, I'm coming home. Dancing the Charleston,

Gumede and Artem Chigvinstev. It was brilliant. Come here the pair

of you. That was lovely. Acknowledge everybody, they loved you, including

me. Like the Blackpool illuminations, spectacular!

It was like watching the divine Josephine Bake Baker doing a great

gats by party, your party could go on forever. A super night here in --

Blackpool. I loved the modern twist of that whole dance, the whole thing

was sensational. It's true, Natalie, you always give us beautiful,

beautiful details, again and again. But this time you added something

new, character and personality, it was a joy to watch, thank you. What

about Artem as well. What a team you are. Off you go. It was wonderful.

Like Bruno said, a suitable finale for Blackpool. I was worried about

you last week. Sorry to scare everyone, but we're back with fun

now. No more drama, no more fainting. No more broken noses, just

fun. She's back with a bang. You have to be proud of Natalie coming

back with a performance like that. I am really proud. High praise from

the judges. High hopes for the scores.

APPLAUSE Congratulations. You have equalled

Susanna's highest score of the series. Your top score. Natalie has

come back with a bang. If you were as impressed as the judges, call:

They have made it this far and none of our celebrities want to go home

now. But all good things must come to an end. This is how the

leaderboard looks in the north. Up there at the top in joint first

place Susanna and Natalie. Down in bottom spot, we have Fiona

and Mark. Remember it is going to be your

votes that make all the difference here on the golden mile tonight. You

can get dialling now because the vote is

This lot are going bonkers. You can vote online for free.

Lines close at eight. 25 tonight. Here is a reminder of all tonight's

performances and the all important numbers.

The competition is on now. What a fantastic show it's been in

the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Didn't they all do well. It's been a

milestone for many tonight and now the Glitterball Trophy is just a few

weeks away. Vur votes will help our couples get one step closer to the

final, but two of them will end up in the dance-off in tomorrow's

results show. One of our nine stars must leave the competition. Your

votes will make a difference. Pick up the phone or go online to vote

for your favourite. Tomorrow's show will be earlier at seven. 7.15.

Don't be late for the incredible dance-off. We will have two

performances from Andre Rieu and the Princes of pop JLS are here. In the

meantime, stay in line, keep dancing!