Strictly Come Dancing reached its quarter final on Friday night (December 2) - and things were a little different because of a certain major sporting tournament. The BBC ballroom contest aired a day earlier than usual because of the World Cup, meaning viewers had less time to wait before enjoying the special musicals week.
First to take to the dancefloor was Molly Rainford and partner Carlos Gu who performed a Charleston to Hot Honey Rag from Chicago. After an upbeat performance from the singer, 22, she received a standing ovation from judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse.
Ballas said: “What a way to open the show, I wasn’t expecting that… you looked like you were having a ball.” Anton Du Beke said: “If you’re going to pick a moment to up your game, you’ve picked it, well done, marvellous.”
Craig Revel Horwood said: “Your elbow… was a little low… (but) what a transformation… well done.” Molly scored 38 points from the judges.
Hamza Yassin was next up with his professional partner Jowita Przystal, performing a samba to They Live In You from The Lion King. The 32-year-old wildlife cameraman received a standing ovation from judge Motsi Mabuse.
Mabuse said: “That’s amazing… you made me happy with that.” Du Beke said he was “a bit overwhelmed” by the performance and he was “really, really impressed by” Yassin.
Horwood also said it was “brilliant” but criticised some of his movements. Yassin got a score of 36 from the judges.
Former Hear’Say singer Kym Marsh then returned to the dancefloor after she had to skip last week’s show after a positive Covid-19 test. The 46-year-old, who is also a former Coronation Street actress, performed an energetic Eighties-style cha-cha to Fame from Fame with her partner Graziano Di Prima.
Mabuse said: “You were out there shining all of the time… you came back with a bang and it’s nice to have you back.”
Ballas said: “There is no hiding behind a costume here (in a leotard)… you didn’t miss a beat.” Marsh was awarded 34 points.
Coronation Street actor Will Mellor and his partner Nancy Xu took to the floor for a slow and emotional foxtrot to Sun And Moon from Miss Saigon. After securing the top spot on the leaderboard last week Mellor, 46, received good reviews across the board from the judges.
Mabuse said: “There was such special moments that I thought wow, a quiet wow but a wow.” Ballas said it was a “heartfelt performance from the soul” which featured good footwork.
Du Beke said: “It was a complete performance, it was like a show compressed… your foxtrot was a dream. (You did) a three-step, no-one does a three-step right.” Mellor received his highest score and earned 39 points for the performance.
Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez were the penultimate couple to dance. They performed their couple's choice to Mein Herr from the musical Cabaret.
Ballas called it a "sensual performance" that left her with "goosebumps" while Du Beke said he "enjoyed it so much". Horwood got booed by the audience for criticising Skelton for not using her centre in the dance - but she scored 39, putting the couple joint top of the leaderboard with Mellor and Xu.
Finally, Fleur East and Vito Coppola brought proceedings to a close by dancing to I Got Rhythm from An American In Paris. Du Beke said he thought it was "marvellous", while Horwood said the routine showed "class, style and sophistication".
Fleur and Vito left the floor with a score of 38. Strictly Come Dancing's results show - featuring the outcome of the viewers' vote, the dance off and the judges' final verdict - will be screened on Saturday (December 3) at 5.40pm on BBC One.