It’s week 10 of Strictly Come Dancing 2023 and it’s safe to say we’ve reached the business end of this year’s competition.
With next week’s quarter-final in sight and the glitterball trophy within touching distance, none of our remaining six celebrities can afford to put a foot wrong if they want to make it through.
Unfortunately Angela Rippon won’t be joining them after she and her partner Kai Widdrington were eliminated in last week’s Blackpool Special, losing the dance-off to Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell.
As usual our hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkelman were there to guide us through the evening and calm the contestants’ nerves, whilst judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas shared their views on every move of the night.
So who brought the Blackpool bounce from the springy dancefloor and catapulted themselves into the quarter-final? Here’s our top five routines of the week (with an honorable mention for Angela Scanlon and her sharp, confident disco-inspired cha-cha):
1: Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola – Argentine Tango to ‘Bills, Bills, Bills’ by Destiny’s Child
This was yet another excellent performance for Ellie. From her sharp solo opening (loved that chairography!), to her controlled leg action, fantastic balance and drive across the floor, she delivered an intense and dramatic routine. I really loved the precision she had throughout and felt she coped well with the lifts, particularly the run at the end of the dance. It was sassy, slick and showed exactly why she’s become a front runner in Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
2: Nigel Harman and Katya Jones – Rumba to ‘It’s All Coming Back To Me Now’ by Celine Dion
He may have had a wobble in Blackpool but this week Nigel was back on form. There was a really fluid and lyrical feel to his movement throughout, particularly his solo opening section, and I thought he had some absolutely gorgeous lines in his arms. Storytelling was great as always, shifting from a tender, romantic opening to a passionate, sensual finale as he dropped Katya to the floor, span her round and lifted her off the bed. I also thought his hip action was good and he led Katya absolutely beautifully, with a lovely quiet strength and control, and I think he’s successfully beaten the rumba curse to make it through to the quarter-final.
3: Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin – American Smooth to ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ by Bjork
This was such an interesting, modern take on an American Smooth from Layton and Nikita. I thought his acting was brilliant as usual, and it was nice to see his softer side in the waltz sections of the dance. He had some great lines in his arms and good frame and posture in hold, travelled well across the floor, and his timing and storytelling were excellent too. There was a lovely humorous, light feel throughout the dance, as well as some great theatrical touches and nice synchronisation with Nikita. It was definitely different for him and I really enjoyed it – I can’t wait to see what he’s going to bring to Musicals week!
4: Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell – Couples’ Choice to ‘This Woman’s Work’ by Maxwell
This was just so beautiful. Dedicated to his late mum Jade Goody, Bobby and Dianne began silhouetted behind a tent before moving into their contemporary couples’ choice performance. We’ve seen in past weeks this type of routine plays to Bobby’s strengths and this was the case again last night, with a sweet, gentle feel to the dance that gave it an almost ethereal quality. His synchronisation with Dianne throughout was good, and the lines in his arms and his lifts were strong too. However, what really made this was the heartfelt nature of the routine. You really felt how much this meant to him and it was impossible not to be moved by the storytelling. He’s really grown throughout the past weeks and I think he’s got a really good chance of making the final.
5: Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe – Paso Doble to ‘Espana Cani’
As we’ve come to expect from Annabel, this was a very controlled and sophisticated Paso, with some incredibly elegant movements and a traditional flamenco feel. I loved how much drama she brought to the performance (that catch at the beginning genuinely made me gasp!) as well as her speed and drive across the floor. There was a great sharpness and control in her body shapes too, particularly her arms and hands – as well as one particularly dramatic kick – and the final slide was a great way to finish.
The leaderboard for the evening was:
Ellie and Vito – 38 (9, 10, 10, 9)
Bobby and Dianne – 37 (8, 9, 10, 10)
Annabel and Johannes – 36 (8, 9, 9, 10)
Layton and Nikita – 34 (8, 9, 8, 9)
Nigel and Katya – 33 (8, 8, 8, 9)
Angela and Carlos – 31 (7, 8, 8, 9)
It’s very close, but who will miss out on that quarter-final place? Find out who makes it to Musicals week in tonight’s Results Show at 7.20 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
