Thanks, that'd be. A huge relief.

We will give Ethan until 8 PM tomorrow though.

ok, you can trust me if needed though to be prompt and give you something if that plan doesn't work?

I just pmed it East.

maybe John could be a 5th judge, we won't need a head judge then

Thank you for stepping in for Queenie, and thank you John for offering to step in for Ethan if needed.

Now that I have got everything in, the Semi Final should be up this afternoon!

The Semi Final will start in 5 MINUTES.

Ballroom Series 2.

Sorry for the delay by the way.

Our Panel tonight is:-

Julie (Julie_Clarkson)
Izzie (IzzieStar)
Riley (RileyHollyoaks)
Ethan (EthanE) who is standing in for Queenie (dancing.queen)

Our Couples will be dancing 2 dances tonight. Our first couple with their first dance tonight are:- Yvette Cooper and Gorka Marquez.

Yvette and Gorka will dance a Samba to “Bailamos” by Enrique Iglesias


Ethan's Comments:- Well you put the effort in Yvette but honestly I found that a bit*laboured, it’s supposed to be a*party*dance. Your posture was slightly odd, a slight but definite lean towards the left which kind of made me see red. But on the positive side I’ve just found out who your husband is and I would pay to watch you dance together. Your kids might disown you but I’d have a great time.

Izzie's Comments:- Oh Yvette. It might have been for the best for me to not save you with my casting vote in the last round, and we could all have been saved that monstrosity. You didn’t look comfortable and we certainly didn’t feel comfortable watching it.*

What can I say about those scores?! 25 is at best, at this stage of the competition, a mediocre score, hopefully she'll do better in her 2nd dance later.

Now hoping to impress the judges in their first dance are Charlene White and Neil Jones.

Charlene and Neil dance an Argentine Tango to “A Los Trios Milongueros” by Color Tango


Julie's Comments:- Not Good.

Riley's Comments:- I know I say this every week but this was definitely your best dance! Well done.

Despite Riley's 10 and Julie's 5, Charlene has once again, reached the 30 barrier. Will she do better in her Waltz later? Who knows!

Next up tonight, with their Charleston are Liam Payne and Chloe Hewitt.

Liam and Chloe dance a Charleston to “Diamond's Are A Girls Best Friend” From Moulin Rouge


Ethan's Comments:- Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend Liam, but you’re not going to stand a chance of being my best friend unless you produce some good dancing. So as you probably don’t want to be my best friend, you’ll be devastated to learn this was one of your best routines to date. High energy, very precise on the swivel and those facial expressions would make Judge Rinder jealous. Not just a Charleston but a class-ton.

Julie's Comments:- Could've been better.

Well, it could have been better as it didn't get 40. 36 is the highest score so far, will he do better later? We'll wait and see.

Next up, with their Salsa are Tom Daley and Oti Mabuse.

Tom Daley and Oti Mabuse Salsa to “Valio La Pena (Salsa Version)” by Marc Anthony


Ethan's Comments:- I was watching this and thinking this is the hottest salsa I’ve ever seen. It was spicy, it was saucy, it was scorching, it was sensational. Then I realised I’d spent the whole time staring at Oti. But from that point on, I looked at you Tom and my original comments stand. Very fluid hips, accurate footwork and not a bad line in twerking either. It would have been a ten if you hadn’t had that little incident with the check and tried to cover it up by bouncing – but be honest, who hasn’t had a check bounce?

Riley's Comments:- Your hips were stiff and wooden, sorry but I didn't like it*

A very mixed bag of scores, and comments there, will they be better in their Jive later? We'll wait and see.

Finally this round, with their Salsa, are Katy Perry and Aljaz Skorjanec.

Katy and Aljaz dance a Salsa to “Maria” by Ricky Martin.


Izzie's Comments:- Un, dos, TEN! I’m not going to deny that your pop-routine experience helped you sell this routine, but God you worked it out there. Full of rhythm and rampant sex appeal. Delicious.

Julie's Comments:- Absolutely PERFECT!

39 is Katy and Aljaz's best score and the other judges waft their 10 paddles in front of Riley's eyes! 39 is THE HIGHEST SCORE THIS SERIES SO FAR!

On to round 2 now, and First up with their Second dance are Yvette Cooper and Gorka Marquez.

Yvette and Gorka will dance a Charleston to “Mahna Mahna” From The Muppets Show


Julie's Comments:- Average, okay- It wasn't your best dance.

Ethan's Comments:- Yvette this isn’t the first time I’ve told someone they look like a muppet but I think this is the first time it’s been a compliment. Now hold on to it because it’s the only one you’re getting. No swivel. No facial expressions… what was that Gorka? She’s wearing a mask? Okay I’ll let her off then. But there was still no swivel, your feet only crossed about 80% of the time and those arm swings were verging on the gorillaesque. You and Ed are made for each other.

Julie is right, that was an Average sort of score, I somehow doubt Yvette is going to be top of the leaderboard tonight! Next up, with their Waltz are Charlene White and Neil Jones.

Charlene and Neil dance a Waltz to “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra


Ethan's Comments:- One word. And I’m going to pronounce it very carefully so East doesn’t think I’m being rude again. Fab-u-lous. How anyone can waltz to a song with two beats to the bar I have no idea but you managed it. Did you have earplugs in or what? Or maybe your feet really didn’t touch the ground because it did look that way at times. Gorgeous. After that I bet loads of guys are dreaming of a*White*Christmas.

Riley's Comments:- Yes Charlene! Charlene, considering I didn't know you beforehand, you have really grown on me this series, and this dance just proves why you should be in the final.

Izzie's Comments:- Charlene, I think we may just have witnessed your best dance! The Waltz is sometimes written off as an ‘easy’ dance and perhaps on a technical basis it is, but it was the little touches that made this routine. The chemistry between you and Neil really came to the fore and your frame was beautiful throughout.

Whilst 3 of our judges are in agreement, Julie clearly didn't like it, and that 6 drags Charlene's scores down BUT I think 34 is her highest score to date? Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
By the way, I made a mistake, there was only meant to be 2 comments for this dance, but I'll keep these 3.

Next up tonight with their American Smooth are Liam Payne and Chloe Hewitt.

Liam and Chloe dance an American Smooth to “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty.


Riley's Comments:- Wow Liam! That was so impressive and the best dance of the series so far!

Izzie's Comments:- That was far from elementary, Mr Payne. A slightly different twist on the traditional style of an American Smooth and you absolutely made it work. It was full of effortless charm, intricate choreography and drama that we are unused to seeing in this dance. You are definitely starting to give Katy a very close run for her money.

Again, another split in the panel. Next up are Tom Daley and Oti Mabuse.

Tom and Oti dance a Jive to “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars


Riley's Comments:- Tom you haven't impressed me tonight. The better out of the 2 dances you have performed but it still isn't on the same level as some of our other couples here.

Ethan's Comments:- Forget Runaway Baby, could we be looking at a runaway winner? To be honest Tom, probably not. But a runaway success all the same and you really are improving Daley. Your kicks and flicks were slick and you kept your energy levels up throughout. I think you might have been out of step by a millionth of a second on one occasion but maybe I was just dazzled by Oti’s beautiful assemble.


The judges are more or less in line for this dance and it is Tom's highest score of the night.

Finally, with an Angelic Viennese Waltz, Please welcome Katy Perry and Aljaz Skorjanec.

Katy and Aljaz dance a Viennese Waltz to “Hallelujah” by Alexandra Burke


Julie's Comments:- Perfect dance, again!

Izzie's Comments:- This dance is the polar opposite of everything you delivered in the Salsa, and actually it’s the polar opposite of what we expect from you. Effortless, tranquil and beautiful romantic. You covered every inch of the floor and positively glided over it.

Another 39 for Katy and Aljaz and that EASILY puts them at the top of the leaderboard, speaking of which, let's have a look at it.

LEADERBOARD:-

1st- Katy Perry and Aljaz Skorjanec = 78/80 (39 + 39) (5 judges points)
2nd- Liam Payne and Chloe Hewitt = 72/80 (36 + 36) (4 judges points)
3rd- Tom Daley and Oti Mabuse = 70/80 (34 + 36) (3 judges points)
4th- Charlene White and Neil Jones = 64/80 (30 + 34) (2 judges points)
5th- Yvette Cooper and Gorka Marquez = 53/80 (25 + 28) (1 judges point)

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE LAST WEEK THAT THE JUDGES SCORES WILL ADD TO THE PUBLIC'S TO DETERMINE THE DANCE OFF, NEXT WEEK, IT IS PUBLIC VOTE ALONE THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

Please Vote in THIS POLL below:-


http://www.strawpoll.me/11926305



YOU CAN VOTE MULTIPLE TIMES, LINES CLOSE AT 7PM TOMORROW, RESULTS AT 8PM.

Well, what did you all think?

Is anyone else going to vote?

I thought it was a great show, I enjoyed the music and the dancing wasn't really as bad as I said it was. I really like Hallelujah as a VW, can't remember that being one on Strictly but it probably has. Katy to win, Yvette to go.

But that stand-in judge you got isn't nearly as pretty as Queenie.

Thank you for your comments.

Actually, there won't be an elimination in The Final, There will be 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st.

The Final will go like this:-

random.org dance
Showdance
Couples Favourite Dance
Results.

Around about 35 minutes left to vote.

2 Minutes Left To Vote!

LINES ARE NOW CLOSED!

Please DO NOT VOTE or your vote WON'T BE COUNTED. Results in a moment.