Everything about tonight's show was fantastic - the costumes were much better than normal, the vast majority of couples brought their A game to the dancefloor, and there were so many great routines to behold via YouTube later in the week. A truly brilliant show all-round in my eyes, so well done to the BBC and everyone involved, you've done the show proud.

Tonight's show reminded me why I detest the need for pointless backing dancers and overly high scores.

I'll give you that one. But it's a shame you couldn't find anything positive to say...

I didn't say that I found nothing positive (I loved Pixie & Trent's Paso for starters, and Simon's Argentine Tango really surprised me) but the people who run the show do enjoy making it difficult for me.

I found nothing to dislike. It was a Blackpool spectacular and a joy to behold.

Glad you enjoyed it, but tonight's show reminded me how much I miss the older series

I'll give you the pointless backing dancers but the production behind the show was immense.

Tonight was great and loved the dances . But was really irritated by the backing dancers
They served no purpose and only made the celebs look worse

Agree with OP brilliant show apart from mad marking.

The show itself was great and brought back a bit of the old magic. It kind of pointed up how soulless the Elstree barn is compared to the TV Centre.

Some of the staging and backing was questionable especially on Pixie's and the markng was inflated, especially on Mark's but there really wasn't THAT much to criticise for once on the overall show.

I share the complaint about the backing dancers. It was distracting & annoying when I was trying to concentrate on the non-dancer & their partner. Other than this is was fabulous

I did love this evening, but the singers were not on par this evening and I found the lighting terribly distracting in some of the dances. Saying that though much better than last week and Halloween, despite the overmarking

Blackpool is a large space to fill, so I guess that is why the show wants to have more people on the stage.

Interestingly enough, with the Argentine Tango they decided to form a ring of lights around it to give it a more intimate feel in such a big venue and they succeeded.

I bloomin loved it, I was literally bouncing off my sofa. So brilliant!

I've been reminded that the staging of Simon's AT with the ring of lights was definitely the best.

Thanks, OP, for the positive post. Totally agree. I watched it on my own (my BF disappears on a Saturday night as soon as the opening credits roll) and applauded out loud on several occasions.

Yes, the backing dancers and props brought in to fill the larger floor didn't necessarily translate well to the small screen, and, yes, the judges got a bit giddy with the Blackpool ozone and marked higher than perhaps the dances deserved, but I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Most of the dancers upped their game, Tess and Zoe were on good form, and the production team did a great job. What's not to like?

I might reverse my opinion if two good dancers end up in the dance-off, mind.

This was so annoying, I agree.

But I did enjoy a lot of the dances

I loved the show but glad I am not the only one to be irritated by the backing
dancers they were not needed.

By the way can anyone tell me which professional man partners Joanne Clifton
and who partners Natalie Lowe is it still Brendon?

Enjoyed this post and I agree with all you said. I really enjoyed it tonight. My husband does a vanishing act as soon as it starts!

For several weeks now I've felt not being as enamoured and obsessive about this year's Strictly, but then....Blackpool week has proven to be a-maz-ing and as to quote the judges repeated phrase of the night 'back in the game'! I loved it, the singers, the nod to nostalgia in the intro pro-dance which brought a small tear to my eye, the choreography and the standard of dancing now in week 8.

Best show for several weeks.

Worst show of the series for me. Scripted tens, dances that fell flat, backing dancers, Tess cranking the fakeness up to epic proportions, no humour, no Claudia, no Alison, a horrendous opening number with a child who could not sing a note. Awful, awful, awful.

Scores were a bit high but still probably the best show of the series.

It was one of the best shows for ages. I loved it!

Totes agree!