Week 14 in 60 seconds

Catch up with the final, though how they could fit all the action of 4 dances each into 60 seconds is anyone's guess!

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Week 13 in 60 seconds

Only got a minute to spare? Just watch the video for a 60 second summary of Saturday night.

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The result

So no dance off tonight, it's all down to the audience tonight.

As I predicted earlier I think Ricky will be going home tonight as he just doesn't have enough public support.



First couple through - Ricky & Natalie so that's out the window.

Other finalist is Chris as predicted, poor Ali misses out.

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A day in the life of Erin Boag

Erin Boag may be out of the competition, but she's still very busy! Find out what she gets up to during the week with her sneaky backstage diary. Find out what the dancers eat (especially a very messy Vincent) and what she gets up to outside of Saturday!

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Viennese Waltz tips from Anton Du Beke

Fresh from leaving the show on Saturday night, Anton gives us his top 3 tips on dancing the Viennese Waltz:

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Week 12 in 60 seconds

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The moment of truth, dance off, and result

Ali & Brian through, so that’s my first prediction off the cards.

Chris & Ola also through which leaves my original prediction of Laila and Ricky as being correct!

Laila is definitely out now, unless Laila can pull off a flawless performance but I really don't think anything can save her.

Laila’s up first in the dance-off and she is definitely giving a much better, and thus far what appears to be a faultless performance but I don’t think it’ll be enough to save her.

Now for Ricky…and I would say a better performance too from Ricky. I’m seeing a 5-0 sending home for Laila.



We get to 3-0 and that’s all it takes.

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Ricky Whittle & Natalie Lowe - Cha Cha Cha

Not quite sure on the pants in the training Ricky…

Seems to be dancing more with his upper body than his hips early on and I do wish he’d do something with his free hand when it’s not in use.

I don’t feel like there’s as much choreography as I’d be expecting from these two either.

A bit of a letdown for me personally but should get at least 8’s.

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Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan - Samba

Another Samba tonight, Ali scored well earlier on and it’ll be difficult to have such a direct comparison to her.

I think Bruno might mention the stamping jump at the start, and Chris’ mouth is making a comeback.

His hips are a little lacking but it’s a very good performance and I’ll give it an 8.
s

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Laila Rouass & Anton du Beke - Salsa

They’ve not impressed in the Latin so far this series, the training looks good but can they ‘bring it’ on the night?

Why Laila, why always the mistakes? Especially when you’re apart from Anton it just makes it so obvious.

Emma asked me yesterday my prediction for who was going out tonight, I predicted Laila last night and I stand by that tonight after seeing that performance.

Unfortunately Len’s right, they want to be in the final but they rarely manage a flawless performance and I can’t see them progressing further than tonight.

A real letdown and I’m going to have to say a 5 (possibly the lowest score I’ve given all series – I’ll have to go back and look!)

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Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna - Samba

The bogey dance so far for most competitors, and I don’t think the Samba will prove to be her dance tonight either.

Still looks too ‘nice’ and on a couple of moves Ali doesn’t appear to finish before she’s on to the next step and really needs to dance from the floor.

I don’t think the choice of music helped, I do think Samba really needs to have a bouncy feel to it to really bring out the performance.

An ok performance but should get 8’s.

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Ricky Whittle & Natalie Lowe - Foxtrot

Please Natalie I hope you’ve sorted out Ricky’s odd head movements as they really do grate for me and often it ruins the whole look of the routine.

Significant improvement in the head department, though he has to avoid looking down at the floor.

Can’t see his footwork but a very good performance, not perfect but I think it will get 9’s.

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Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan - Waltz

A dance that needs elegance and romance, and I think Chris has what it takes to pull off a good one, but let’s see what happens.

I’m not personally happy with his head position, it’s stretched a little oddly but the dance is looking good aside from that, although he really does need to incorporate some shaping in his hands.

A nice Waltz that I think should achieve at least 8’s.

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Laila Rouass & Anton du Beke - American Smooth

I was really enjoying the start, up until the slip in the spin. She really does have to watch those shoulders too. The dance does look like Anton is throwing her round quite a lot, and I don’t just mean in the lifts!

Started with lots of promise but I don’t think it delivered and I’m only going to give it a 7 I’m afraid.

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Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna - Tango

Another dance where Ali won’t be able to ‘float’ round the floor so will be interesting to see how she copes with the passion and aggression required in this dance.

Slight slip in the spins at the start and they appear to be incorporating rising into the dance at points.

Ali is looking quite unsteady at times.

An ok performance but I wasn’t too impressed so far, will have to say 8.

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Paso tips from Vincent Simone

Looking to improve your Paso Doble (albeit we don't teach it in our classes!)?

Here's the top tips from Strictly Come Dancing's Vincent Simone:

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Week 11 in 60 Seconds

If you missed Strictly at the weekend, or haven't got time to go through my comments from the weekend (individual videos now added), here's a 60 second run down:

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American Smooth tips from Erin Boag

Here are Erin Boag's top tips for the American Smooth...

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Week 10 in 60 seconds

Missed the weekend's action and don't have time to look through the comments and videos...

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Tango tips from Katya Virshilas

Katya Virshilas (who danced a sexy and sultry Tango with Antonio Banderas in Take the Lead - which i've also included a clip of), gives us her top three tips when dancing the Tango.

Clip from Take the Lead:

Katya's top three tips:

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Week 9 in 60 seconds

Not got time to watch all the clips from last week, then why not watch the 60 second summary of the weekend's action:

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Missed Saturday night's show - catch up on the clips here

Haven't got time to watch the full show on iplayer? Then see the short clips below:


Natalie Cassidy:



Ricky Groves:



Laila Rouass:



Phil Tufnell:



Ricky Whittle:



Ali Bastian:



Chris Hollins:



The Result:

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Ricky Whittle & Natalie Lowe - Tango

With rumours abound this week that Ricky's split with his girlfriend Carley Stenson was due to his 'close' relationship with Natalie Lowe, this could be a passionate Tango indeed!

Ricky Whittle - Tango

The dance certainly starts with a lot of passion and energy, though it does look quite sloppy at times - is this nerves from having gone first?

Quite a few mistakes creeping in near the end, not like Ricky at all. That's a real shame as it should've been a lot higher but i'm expecting 8's because of all the mistakes.

Judges scores: CRH 8, LG 9, AD 9, BT 9

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Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing...in 60 seconds!

Only got a minute to spare, then why not just see the web exclusive 60 second summary of Saturday night's show.



If you want more details on the show then check out BBC Stricly Come Dancing

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Weekend Videos

In case you missed Strictly at the weekend you can see the weekend's performances below:

Actress Zoe Lucker tonight became the seventh celebrity to be voted off the seventh series of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.

In week seven of the competition, all 10 of the remaining celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners took to the floor to perform a variety of dances.

After Saturday’s performance, the combination of the judges' scores and viewers’ votes left Zoe Lucker and her professional partner James Jordan in the bottom two and facing the dance off with Ali Bastian and her professional partner Brian Fortuna.

Zoe and James then performed their Samba to Boogie Nights and Ali and Brian performed their Paso Doble to El Gato Montes for a second time for the judges' deciding vote.

Handing over to the judges, Bruce Forsyth said “All I can say is I wouldn’t like to be a judge tonight”. Making their decision on who to save, the judges said.

Craig Revel Horwood: “Well what a heinous dilemma, I have to say, both couples mucked up and timing was out, for both couples that is, but I am going to save Ali and Brian.”

Alesha Dixon when asked who she would save: “Both!....Zoe and James.”



Bruno Tonioli: “They shouldn’t be there either of them, it’s ridiculous because whoever we are going to save, it’s not fair for the other person. Based on what I saw, I have to go with Ali and Brian.”



Len Goodman: “I’m sorry I know the viewers can do what they like and it’s a popularity contest and all that, this is ludicrous, it’s nonsensical that either of these are in the bottom two! There are five couples that are worse than these, but I’ve got to make a decision and as somebody said they both did go wrong, and I’m having to save Ali and Brian.”



On tonight’s show, Zoe Lucker and James Jordan were awarded 32 points for their samba by the judges.

On leaving the competition, Zoe Lucker said: “I’ve had an amazing time, James is the best teacher I have to say. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get him to Blackpool but thank you very much for the opportunity, it’s been brilliant.”

James Jordan said: “Can I just say, winning that Strictly trophy ball means everything to me, but I would never swap this wonderful lady for that ball. She’s brilliant, she’s brilliant.”

Tonight’s show saw musical legends The Bee Gees perform their disco classic You Should Be Dancing and viewers were treated to a Hip Hop Samba and a Latin Medley from Strictly’s professional dancers.

Next week, the show comes live from the world famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom and the remaining 9 couples will dance to stay in the competition.

Strictly Come Dancing is available on BBC One and BBC HD. Tune in to the next episode live from Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Saturday 7th November 2009, 6.25pm.

Don't forget you can get all the up-to-date gossip on Strictly Come Dancing’s sister show It Takes Two, weekdays at 6.30pm on BBC Two.

For more information and gossip, visit bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing or follow Strictly on Twitter: bbcstrictly.



The Result:



Natalie Cassidy:



Zoe Lucker:



Craig Kelly:



Ricky Groves:



Laila Rouass:



Phil Tufnell:



Ricky Whittle:



Jade Johnson:



Ali Bastian:



Chris Hollins:

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