Maybe I was just keen but it felt like the show just dived straight in and got on with it. Opening dance, traditional welcomes, couples down the stairs, and let’s go. Of course at this point in the competition, the show is super-size in length anyway, and it was also hugely obvious towards the end when they’d given the judges the hurry up and one word answers were all we were getting. Seems unfair on those couples towards the end, but that’s live TV for you!

Also just have to give props to Katya for doing the full on routine of Gagnam Style behind Ed Balls as he read out the terms and conditions. She’s not forgotten it after all this time!

On with the show and for the first time, we’re sending a couple home.

Bobby & Dianne - Charleston

The training footage of them practicing the lifts is terrifying but they seemed to come off okay. A few a bit stop start, but very impressive for week two! The swivel was amazing, but it felt a bit gangly and imprecise to me. Not a classic Charleston but a lot of fun.

Annabel & Johannes - Quickstep

I have a weird phobia of ballpits so this is not a good start for me. How long was Jojo in there?? This started well but then I feel like there was a moment or a mistake and then Annabel lost a bit of confidence, started clinging on to Johannes a bit and losing frame. But great footwork!

Jody & Jowita - Paso Doble

I don’t think I had high expectations for this one, and it ended up being a bit mixed - good character and powerful vibes, but out of time on a couple of occasions. The jump up from knees to standing is so impressive. Increased in confidence from last week, but ended up getting low scores. I felt like he was a bit upset by the comments.

Ellie & Vito - Foxtrot

Love the Mop of Doom. This was SO good. It’s a great song, which helps, and the outfits are lovely, and she’s just so good. Amazing character, hitting accents with the music. They got great comments from the judges, even Craig! We all fell in love with Vito’s tentacles, right?

Nigel & Katya - Viennese Waltz

Always going to be difficult to follow up from last week, but this was really good. I did think it was a bit bumpy in places, not as smooth as you’d like. But telling a great story and with great character. Shirley gave quite harsh feedback, as much as I wouldn’t have booed her like the crowd did. Motsi agreed with Craig for a change!

Nikita & Gorka - Charleston

Good character and attitude, it looked like she was having a lot of fun which is a huge step on from last week. But it was very flat, not at all bouncy and no swivel at all as far as I could see.

Les & Nancy - Samba

It’s been so long since we’ve seen a truly awful dance. Bless Les, this wasn’t good and Nancy had to work so hard that I found it a difficult thing to watch. Mostly just listened to the song. “You’ve taken basic to a whole new level,” said Craig.

Adam & Luba - Tango

I love how much Adam is loving this. Seemed like a pretty good dance, no major complaints. I’m not sure there was a story, if there was I missed it. A few errors here and there, out of time at one point. He apologised a lot at the end of the dance, and got emotional. Good cast bundle hug to make him feel better.

Amanda & Giovanni - Salsa

Wow this was fast and furious. The lifts were great although I thought she was concentrating on them a bit, and you could sort of see she was dizzy afterwards (who wouldn’t be??) Really putting herself in Gio’s hands, got to be good trust between them. It was fab! Really fun and sexy.

Krishnan & Lauren - Foxtrot

This seemed like a big step forward from last weekend, the occasional misstep but improvement, definitely. Some bits were really, really good, and some bits were like ‘are you doing the same dance?’ Motsi summed it up: “It was like the dance was happening to you.”

Eddie & Karen - Cha Cha Cha

They made Karen look really fussy in the VT. Great vibes, really funky dance but not a single straight leg to be seen. He can play to the crowd like nobody else but the dance also has to be good. Very enjoyable performance but understand the judge’s comments that it wasn’t a cha cha cha.

Zara & Graziano - Foxtrot

Zara seems like a lovely person but I just find her so forgettable in this crowd, even dancing to the exceptional George Ezra. There’s tension wrecking her frame which makes it an awkward and bumpy dance, and if I’m honest, the seventies vibe is not my jam.

“You lost your balance when you got your leg over Graziano.” We’ll just leave that there.

Angela & Carlos - Jive

Angela’s long-lost Irish dancing skills must have really helped her out this week. This was a fast and furious dance and their kicks and flicks and straight legs and foot placements all seemed amazing. Also she had great stamina and got to the end looking just as good at the start.

Angela & Kai - Foxtrot

She’s just so lovely. This was a great dance, maybe not perfect, but don’t you just want to snuggle up with her? Incredible judge’s comments and high scores.

Layton & Nikita - Quickstep

This was just a professional dance, right? The song was the biggest disappointment just because of over-used. “You are ridiculous,” said Craig. Assuming that’s a good thing.

One thing I’ve noted over the last few weeks is that a few of the couples are high fiving each other confidently, and in other partnerships there have been some high fives left hanging. A hanging high five is truly stressful but I reckon it’s a good indicator of how in tune with each other the couples are.

Anyway, this week’s scores were added to last weeks leaving Layton at the top of the leaderboard with Amanda and Ellie close behind. Down at the bottom, Jody, Nikita and Les were propping up the boards. My pre-show predictions were Krishnan and Jody for the bottom two, but in the end it was Nikita and Les. I’m surprised, because Les has owned being the ’entertainment’ act on the show and they usually last a couple of weeks. Not this year, Les was the first to leave, but I don’t think Nikita is going to be too far behind him.

Next week is movie week already which always takes me by surprise but I’m really looking forward to it!