Semi-final time and wow, what a spectacle this was. Right from the start it felt like a final, the standard was so high, the drama was enormous and the emotions were real. This was the first time the couples had to learn two full routines in a week (if we’re not counting the sambathon madness), and you could tell that the extra pressure was starting to take it’s toll.

Meanwhile, the absolute joy that was Wallace and Gromit doing the terms and conditions! Claudia was beside herself!

Tasha & Aljaž - Salsa

Great body movement but it’s not as good as I thought it was going to be from the rehearsal footage. A couple of the lifts were really clunky too. Lots of energy though and a fun to start the show.

JB & Lauren - Paso Doble

He’s normally so smiley, so this must have been a challenge. Really good, great drama and passion, interesting tricks with the cape/skirt, and full of intent. No mistakes, really enjoyed it!

Chris & Dianne - Charleston

Fun and frothy, great character and some good moves. The song and therefore the dance lacked a bit of that oompah that can really drive a Charleston, it was a little stop start, but I liked it and there definitely was some swivel in there.

Sarah & Vito - Tango

Really good! The song was incredible and really fitted the mood and they danced it so well. Intense and fiery, lots of steps that looked like they were in the right order, great stuff.

Pete & Jowita - Foxtrot

I was stressing through most of it about the cane throw and actually you can see Jowita being like, oh yes, after it’s done. Turns out she was the one bricking it! Great dance. Smooth and lovely, no mistakes, absolutely brilliant. Could just see him counting at one point.

Tasha & Aljaž - Waltz

Beautiful dance, could have been a couple of foot mistakes but I drifted off a little bit to be honest. Waltzes, eh. Motsi wanting more than a 10 paddle which just proves that Craig’s way of scoring is the right way. Start lower so you have somewhere to go. Top score, 40!

JB & Lauren - Salsa

Full of energy, lots of rhythm and great lifts - was watching Lauren quite a lot there, whoops. I’m not sure it completely won me over but nothing specific to say wrong about it. Craig stealing the Paul Hollywood handshake. Another 40!

Chris & Dianne - Viennese Waltz

Brilliant song, great dance, very smooth and just lovely. Dianne crying at the end. We’re all crying at the end.

Sarah & Vito - Jive

Really good, made for her, huge energy and some great moves. A few wobbles and mistakes, it’s a shame Sarah didn’t get the jive on a one-dance week because with a bit more attention it could have been fantastic. Anton being more down on a dance than Craig is unusual! Also hilarious that Claudia somehow managed to get her hand stuck in the Sarah/Vito hug.

Pete & Jowita - Argentine Tango

The song and the graphics were completely mindblowing, had to watch again to actually see the dancing. Not the best Argentine Tango you’ll ever see but for Pete, I think it was amazing. Love that he loved it. And as Shirley said, two dances, no mistakes, really good.

The leaderboard was pretty much as you’d expect, with JB at the top and Pete at the bottom. I was worried about Sarah, being bang in the middle and with two dances that were maybe more forgettable than the others around her. So my prediction was Sarah and Tasha. The one time I don’t predict Pete, he finally gets to the end of his journey. Of course being in the bottom two against anyone will have been Pete’s time to go, but it was Tasha that had to dance again, for the second week in a row.

That means we have Sarah, Tasha, Chris and JB in the final, which seems like a really good mix to me. Pretty sure everyone expects Chris to win at this point, but as always it’s going to come down to the Showdance. I can’t wait!!