After ending up in the bottom two during week 4, Karen Hauer and her celeb partner Mark Wright came back fighting last weekend.
The couple performed the Samba and wowed the judges placing third on the leaderboard. On the back of that performance they sailed through to week 6 aka Halloween Week.
We caught up with Karen to talk about last weekendās emotional rollercoaster, find out about this weekās Jive and talk about what we can expect from Halloween week.
We have to start off by talking about your incredible Samba from last weekend. How did you feel about that performance?
It was unbelievable actually! I seriously didnāt know what to expect. I knew we had a really fun dance but it turned out to be one of the best performances weāve done and one of Markās best dances. Usually the Samba is really hard for celebs, especially the males, but it came really natural to Mark. He keeps surprising me every week and I just love the fact that heās improving every week. Thereās a lot more work to do but he showed that he really wants to stay in the competition and he fought back.
Our favourite thing about Saturday nightās show was your face when you found out what the scores were. You really werenāt expecting those high scores were you?
I did not expect the scores at all. I didnāt even know what to expect but I definitely didnāt expect a 9 or even 8s. I was taken surprise. Even though I didnāt show it I was really happy. I was stunned and so proud of Mark. He did fantastic and he definitely deserved those scores.
In the results show they cruelly left you until the very end to find out if you were safe. Did you think you might be in the bottom two again?
So many things were running through my mind when we were one of the last two left especially against Simon because heās a great dancer. It was very, very scary. We thought it was going to be us since they left us to the end. I was just waiting for that red light to go on. When they actually called Simonās name out we were actually stunned. It was a very surprising day for everybody. This series is a rollercoaster and you donāt really know whatās going to happen next. The competition is really tight. When we were standing thereā¦Mark broke down and I was just in shock. Sunday was just a big shocker (laughs)
It was surprising for the us to see Mark in tears and lost for words during the results show. He really thought he was going home didnāt he?
He cares so much about the competition and heās really gotten into it. Heās working really hard for it and really cares about. I think thatās what happens when you go into Strictly. At first you donāt think youāre going to get that involved but then it takes you in and youāre in the Strictly bubble. I was so proud of him and his family is so proud of him. He wants to stay in as along as possible. What I really loved about it is he just went out and gave it his all. He really did fight back to stay in the competition.
This weekend itās Halloween Week in the Strictly ballroom. Youāre going to be doing the Jive. What can we expect?
Yes! Weāre doing the Jive to Little Shop of Horrors. The dance is very energetic and kicky. Itās almost like youāre doing an aerobics class and I feel like weāve been in an aerobics class for five days already. Itās just going to be energy, lots of smiles and lots of fun and itās going to be spooky so weāll see. Hopefully it wonāt turn into the little dance of horrors (laughs).
Our expectations are high for Mark this weekend. It seems like the high-energy dances are when he really comes out of himselfā¦
Heās a performer at heart and thatās what I like to see in Mark. He has great energy and charisma. I try to use that as much as possible and he shines through. Weāve not done that many ballroom dances but I think now heās getting more experienced heās learning how to control himself and his energy. I think every dance is going to be a surprise for the viewers.
The Jive is all about energy and stamina. We know Mark has the energy but does he have the stamina?
Heās been working ridiculously hard. Heās been sweating so much! Iāve never seen anybody sweat so much. Heās dripping with sweat coming off his face and he has to change his shirt every 5 minutes. Itās a really full on routine but I know he can handle it so thatās why Iām challenging him every week.
Halloween Week is always full of big productions and pretty spectacular. What else can we expect this weekend?
Thereās going to be a lot of flying, a lot of spookiness and a little bit of everything. My favourite thing about Halloween Week is how they set up the Strictly set. You really feel like youāre in a horror movie! They decorate it magnificently and I canāt wait to see how theyāre going to decorate it this year. It really gets you in the Halloween mood.
Strictly Come Dancing 2014 continues at 6.30pm tomorrow on BBC One. Watch Karen and Markās show-stopping Samba from week 5: