Key events

On Graeme Hall’s Couple’s Choice, YodaknowsAll says: “Beautifully moving with just the right amount of sentiment. It felt more like Lauren’s dance than Graeme’s but that’s being picky.”

llanelliboy says: “69 Love Songs might be one of the all-time great achievements in pop music.”

Tanya92 says: “Back in week two, I wasn’t expecting Graeme to last this long, but I’m so glad he has. Really enjoyed that.”

VelvetinaB says: “I just love that Graeme is so obviously enjoying himself. That was heartfelt and moving. Lauren is such a beautiful dancer.”

Irreverentnurse says: “Really like Graeme, genuine fella, not OTT but encouraging others to have hope despite setbacks.”

Somersetlass adds: “OK, that may have been mainly contempo-waft but it was hugely moving. Graeme is a wonderful partner, and Lauren is the epitome of elegance.”

On John Nellis’ salsa, Phoebe says: “Wow, is there anything Katya cannot do? That was sensational! She was like a snake the way she twined herself around John . Such incredible lifts! They fortunately drew the eye away from John’s rather plodding steps at times.”

EmmyHarb says: “I didn’t like that from John and Katya. Quite stompy and some awkward lifts I thought

Poppieshen says: “Katya was so busy in that salsa that I’m not sure how much John actually did.”

fihema says: “Hope John’s not in the dance-off. I’m not sure I want to see that lift again. I have way too powerful an imagination *insert several laughing emojis*.”

LoveAretha30 says: “At the end, all I could think was ‘put her down now John!’ Clever choreography from Katya to attempt to cover his lack of salsa steps. He was a bit stiff and needs more musicality in his body. I agree with Craig, ballroom is John’s forte.”

severin adds: “Was that a bit of leg rubbing halfway through John’s dance? Reminded me of Vic Reeves.”

On Dani Dyer’s show-closing American smooth, fihema says: “What a great Hollywood entry from Dani and Nikita! Old-time silver screen energy throughout. Maybe a little stumble early on but lovely number to watch!”

ReclinedPotato says: “You can’t go wrong with a bit of ballroom to It Had To Be You. Top tune, beautiful costumes, a great routine and Nikita is no slouch behind the vac, as Danny Sr might say ‘Go on, Dyson’.”

Haigin88 says: “Dani has the most dangerous run. Nothing more admirable than the one who goes up, up, up, week by week.”

acanthe says: “Ahh, that was just lovely. Pure Hollywood. I really hope she enjoyed it because what a terrific chance to do a dream movie dance.”

whistledownthewind adds: “Dani has really improved this series. I didn’t rate her a few weeks ago but if she can build on tonight’s really entertaining performance, she’s headed for the final.”

Readers’ verdicts are in

Time to take the temperature of our glittery community’s comments. emilyscatnaps says: “Shall we just throw all the scoring panels in the air and see which ones land first? Might make more sense.”

Lushattic adds: “‘Don’t think about his scores, John, think about his words’. Quite right, Jojo.”

Readers' balcony suggestions

A couple of emails just in. Iain Crofts in Montreal says:

Hi, Michael. You asked for comments on Radebe’s Balcony. If you condense it to Radebalcony, you might be onto a winner.

Meanwhile, Elaine Topping says:

What about Radebe’s Realm?

Strong contenders, both. Thoughts? Feelings?

Snoop dogs: the sequel

Just in case you were missing the shameless self-promotion, a brief plug for my new novel. Death At The Dog Hotel, a festive-set sequel to The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency, is published in two weeks and can be preordered here.

And in case you want to catch up with the previous instalment, my debut is just 99p on Audible and Kindle for a limited time. I believe the phrase is “just saying”. Any support would be hugely appreciated. Thank you all for indulging me. Right, on with the show.

Write de feem tune, sing de feem tune

TV viewers can now stay on BBC One for Wisdom Of The Crowd or flip to BBC Two for 40 TV Theme Tunes At The BBC.

At 9pm, there’s the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance 2026 on BBC One, Yaga on Sky Atlantic or The F Ward on Channel 4. At 10.20pm, Greatest BBC Music Moments is on BBC Two.

Film-wise, Dune: Part One just started on ITV2. Tonight’s other picks are The Taking Of Pelham 123 (9pm on 5Action), Bohemian Rhapsody (9pm on Sky Arts), The Bride Wore Black (9.10pm on BBC Four), The Taste of Things (11.50pm on BBC Two) or Knock At The Cabin (12.05am on Channel 4). Spare him his life from his own cup of tea.

Good lord, it’s the Golden Glitterballs

Whose mantelpiece will be groaning under the weight of this week’s liveblog baubles? Here are tonight’s lucky gong-getters…

Best dance: Take your pick from Dani or Tabby.

Worst dance: Sorry to say it was Cach Mercer for me. With men occupying the bottom four places on the leaderboard, I’ll be cross if it’s not all an all-male dance-off.

Best music: It Had To Be You and Bleeding Love both worked a treat with the dance.

Worst music: That creaky karaoke rendition of Yellow.

Best outfit: Nancy, Dani and Katya’s frocks all scored highly for moi.

Worst outfit: Lacey’s drapey affair looked a little like she’d refashioned her mum’s best tablecloth.

Best VT: Cach and Maddie’s instructional waltz film, just edging out Graeme’s moving retelling of his backstory. Also a shout-out to the Craig David cameo in Delta’s and Kai being endearingly starstruck.

Worst VT: Always a treacly treat to see Danny Dyer but that caravan park nonsense was just a plug for his Sky show.

Best judges’ comment: “Have you also taken a happy pill tonight, Craig?” “No.”

Best Widdicombe witticism: Asking Nikita after he’d slid Dani down the bannister: “But can you slide her up to Jojo”?” Also enjoyed his rumba with Shirley.

Those week seven standings

We have our seventh leaderboard-topper in seven weeks. Show-closer Dani Dyer tops the scores, with Tabby Stoecker in second spot.

Great week for the girls, bad week for the boys. Cach Mercer and John Nellis are tied at the bottom, with Graeme Hall just above.

As always, though, the public vote plays its part in deciding which two pairs will dance again for survival tomorrow night. It could also be a nervy wait for Will Best and Bethany Antonia.

Credits roll

“Keeeeeep dancing,” chorus our hostly trio. As the sweat-infused fake tan is mopped up, please stay with us for analysis, reaction and a round-up of your comments.

Shirleygets the casting vote

The deciding vote in tomorrow’s dance-off goes to… head judge Shirley Ballas. Has this become exciting yet? I fear it totally hasn’t.

Tonight’s nifty nine routines get recapped on-screen. Faves? Least faves? Ones that left you colder than a penguin pecking at a bag of frozen peas?

A long-suffering sigh from Craig there.

And voting is… open!

Jowita snips the ribbon and the public poll is officially on. A fancy-dressed farrago erupts.

Judges’ scores: 8, 10 (the what now?), 9, 9 for a total of 36 points. Top of the scoreboard, her first maximum and the highest-scoring American smooth of the series. Dani and Nikita play adorable tribute to one another.

Judges’ comments: Motsi says “classy, beautiful and made me smile”. Shirley give her a mini standing ovation and says “exceptional, be proud”. Anton says “a number I wish I’d done, pizzazz and showbiz, everything I love”. Craig concludes “this is a smirk, not a smile, but I’m stealing your entrance for panto, darling”.

“You’ve got to enter every room like that,” says Emma. Nikita is “relieved it worked, it could have been a disaster”.