No theme this week, no extra guest mentors, no messing about, we’ve got a full house and a collection of dancers who are ready to prove what they can do. So let’s just get on with the show!

Karen & Carlos - Quickstep

The training VT made this look great, and it was fab on the floor too. The frame slipped on a few occasions, but it was a lot of fun with plenty of style and sass. Very fast, and the tiny slip at the end, but who cares? It was great!

Harry & Karen - Rumba

What a tune (well, it was until the judges had a go at it!). The song obviously really helps but what an incredible dance. Not at all cringey, full of passion, intense and just great. I didn’t want it to end and I’ve never said that about a rumba before. “I’m quite goofy, ain’t I?” he says.

Vicky & Kai - Samba

Her confidence is up again week on week, which is great. The bounce was good, it maybe wasn’t too full on party mode, but I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of recognisable samba in there, cleanly done and a good job all round. Bonus Pete Wicks in the crowd, supporting his friend.

Stefan & Dianne - Charleston

After a week off ill, to come back with the Charleston is a bit of a challenge. It was overall good, but not as much fun as I always hope the Charleston will be. All the steps were in the right order, he was where he needed to be to throw Dianne around, and they both seemed to have fun with it!

Lewis & Katya - Foxtrot

Motsi basically admitted it was like watching two professionals, she said there wasn’t a clear celebrity and a clear teacher. I don’t know why this annoys me so much whereas with Amber it’s less irritating. My prevailing thought after this dance was wondering why when he turned the big light at her, a wind machine came on!

Jimmy & Lauren - Couple’s Choice

A lovely bit of family history in the VT. I had high hopes for this but I don’t think it’s his best work. There seemed to be quite a lot of standing still, with Lauren doing most of the work. It’s always good to represent new styles of dancing, but I’m not sure this was his best.

George & Alexis - Tango

The Coldplay bit with Claudia and Dave was brilliant. I like that for this dance, it wasn’t even mentioned that George would need a serious face, he can do that now. There were a few mistakes and I thought maybe some balance issues, so not his best but could have been a lot worse. Split the judges’ opinions for the second week in a row.

La Voix & Aljaž - Cha Cha

This was a good, unique take on the Cha Cha, but it could have been performed a lot better. Lots of mistakes and wobbles, and a lack of confidence in what was coming next. Not her best work, but like Craig said, you can’t help but love her. I’m surprised Shirley brought out a 2, though, it wasn’t that bad!

Balvinder & Julian - Paso Doble

I quite enjoy Julian struggling with a spicy dish. “I’m fine,” he chokes. At the start, Balvinder was counting like mad which was a bit offputting, but it got so much better after that. Great concept, not a foot wrong, and excellent Paso stylings. The music was a bit repetitive by the end, but great drama. “I am calm, I am confident and I am strong.”

Alex & Johannes - Rumba

Great, so technical and really well done. There were two rumbas in this show and they were both amazing, I didn’t want this one to end either! Sensual but not over the top, and great body isolations. A standing ovation from Shirley was actually pretty emotional!

Chris & Nadiya - Salsa

I like seeing them go to a salsa class, these VTs should do more community stuff. Another improvement, so much better than when he started. But compared to everyone else, it’s just lacking a bit of oomph. Lifts were incredible though, with Nadiya managing to offend all the pro boys afterwards.

Amber & Nikita - Argentine Tango

What a tune! The technical bits on the floor were great, you could tell she was less confident in the lifts. Some of the shapes and leg positions didn’t sit right for me, but she completed the whole thing really well. The spin at the end, the final move, was out of this world.

Ellie & Vito - Couple’s Choice

So good. I think the style being exuberant and not having rules but there was a slight tendancy towards lack of control, we know Ellie gets overexcited but the dance leaned into it. Overall wonderful though, exuberant and Vita showing Ellie off to her best. He was basically invisible in black to her shining gold presence. Also, what I wouldn’t give for an ounce of her confidence: “You smashed it.” “I did, Tess.”

I loved this week, some excellent dances, lots of great steps along each couple’s journey and the judges being hilarious - whether intentionally or not. I didn’t think La Voix would be in trouble, so my prediction was that Stefan and Chris would have to dance off.

Chris did face the red light of doom, but it was Balvinder who joined him again. That’s a bit of a surprise, given how well she did, but I do think the music let her down a bit compared to some of the other dances. Nevertheless, the judges quite rightly saved her meaning Chris was sent home. A shame but I think it was the right time, when you look at the competition.

Next time, another theme, Icons week! I didn’t realise that was going to be a permanent fixture but here we are. Hopefully it means there will be lots of classic tunes in store for us next week!