Strictly Come Dancing latest: Fans insist Chris McCausland’s quickstep was ‘wonderful’ after judge’s comments
It was Musicals Week in the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom and, of course, one pair danced to a song from Wicked
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Your support makes all the difference.The Strictly Come Dancing final is just two weeks away and the remaining six pairs gave Musicals Week their all with the hopes of making it to next Saturday’s semifinal.
JB Gill and Lauren Oakley topped the leaderboard for the second week running thanks to their Viennese Waltz to “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins. Second place was tied with both Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola landing 38 points for their routines.
But it was another of the remaning couples who had fans talking on social media.
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell danced a phenomenal Quickstep to “You’re The Top” from Anything Goes, but their score of 32 (putting them first from bottom on the leaderboard) left many fans claiming the duo had been undermarked.
Elsewhere, Sarah Hadland opened the show with a lift-packed Charleston and the judges got into the Musicals Week spirit with impressive costumes. Shirley Ballas’s truly has to be seen to be believed.
Another celebrity will leave the competition on Sunday (1 December) night’s results show, which airs on BBC One at 7.20pm.
Follow the show has it happened below.
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 couples – full list of celebrities and their partners
Here is a full list of all the remaining celebrities in this year’s competition, as well as those that have been eliminated.
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 couples – full list of pairings
Meet the cast of 2024 – and their professional partners
Songs and performances for ‘Musicals Week’ confirmed
The songs and dances that the remaining celebrities and their partners will be performing in “Musicals Week” have been confirmed for tonight’s show.
They are as follows:
- Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell – Quickstep to “You’re The Top” from Anything Goes
- JB Gill and Lauren Oakley – Viennese Waltz to “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” from Mary Poppins
- Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe – Rumba to “I’m Here” from The Color Purple
- Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał – Waltz to “Somewhere” from West Side Story
- Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola – Charleston to “Popular” from Wicked
- Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec – Argentine Tango to “Ex-Wives” from SIX
Here we go...
I hope you’ve got tiny tubs of ice cream and overpriced wine at the ready — it’s Musicals Week!
There are just six couples left in the competition and only two live shows to go after tonight’s Strictly. The series has genuinely flown by.
This evening’s episode will incude a West Side Story Waltz, an Argentine Tango to a track from Six and a Quickstep to a classic from Anything Goes. And of course, one couple has won the jackpot and will be holding space for the lyrics of Wicked (though they’re not performing to “Defying Gravity”). It’s Sarah and Vito, who are doing a Charleston to “Popular”. One of them better be painted green.
Musicals Week begins with a pros’ performance
The Strictly professionals are setting the tone for the evening with a Little Shop of Horrors performance. The wigs really are something and Carlos is completely stealing the show as Audrey 2 (yes, the plant).
Judges go all out
They all look sensational, with Craig as the Bearded Lady from The Greatest Showman, Motsi Mabuse rocking a Dreamgirls vibe and Anton du Beke as Joseph (with his technicolour dreamcoat).
But can we talk about Shirley Ballas as Mrs Trunchbull? Talk about commit to a look. Bravo.
Sarah Hadland opens the show
The judges couldn’t agree on Sarah’s Rumbas last week, with two awarding her 8s and two reaching for the 10 paddle. What will they make of her Charleston?
There was a bit of time-wasting at the start but wow, those lifts. Sarah wasn’t kidding when she said she spends more time in the air. Her Charleston moves weren’t bad at all, and the all-important swivel was certainly there.
What a way to begin!
Judges give their verdict on Sarah’s performance
The judges are loving Sarah’s Charleston.
Motsi told her: “Yes, yes, yes. What a way to open the quarterfinal. The lifts... unbelievable. You did not miss a bit. Thank you for seeing the standard today.”
“The lifts were flawless,” Shirley said. “Unbeliavable in every shape and form. I can honestly say I loved it.”
Anton agreed, labelling the routine “so wonderful” and telling Sarah: “What I love about this is you were in complete control. I love watching you dance.”
And Craig? “Normally I like a charleston to be a bit messier with wild abandon... However, I think you made a very good choice due to character. The amount of detail in there was phenomenal. Bravo.”
Could Sarah be heading for four 10s?
Sarah’s scores are in...
She’s landed two 9s and two 10s, for a total of 38. Not bad at all!
Montell tackles the Rumba
I absolutely love Montell and she really does not deserve to have been in the dance-off as much as she has.
Now she’s doing an emotion-packed rumba to “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. I’ve been loving what the pros have done with the Rumbas this year and Johannes has once again served up something new and fresh (aka... they have shoes on).
Montell doesn’t look entirely confident on the dancefloor which is a shame because she’s brilliant and has really improved week-on-week.
Montell receives comments from the judges
Montell had an emotional moment as the routine finished, but she’s holding it together now.
“It was very slow, which is exposing,” said Craig. “The faster you go with this, the easier it is to cover up [a lack of] technique. In this dance, you have to keel living through every moment but I feel like we were just getting snapshots and still pictures.”
“I love that you had very slow moments, which are very difficult, and some fast movements,” said Motsi. “A very emotional and well-danced Rumba.”
Dancing the Rumba, a notoriously tough style, at this point in the competition isn’t ideal. But I really would hate to see Montell go!
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