From the BBC Strictly site

Camilla's got a small surprise for Tom this week. He is to perform a tap dancing solo during the routine, that he will choreograph himself. Camilla talks about how everybody in the competition has raised the standard and how Tom's tap should hot up the competition.

Tom reveals that he is feeling the pressure, claiming that he would love to receive a ten for his Quickstep. With the tap dancing solo up his sleeve this could very well be Tom's dream ticket to success!

I'm not an expert so would love to hear from those that are whether this is within the rules - or will it lead to another duvetgate argument between the judges.

I think its a lovely offer. If this was the semi final I don't think Camilla would risk it but as she feels theres no chance of leaving then let Tom show his full potential.

Not sure if its in the rules for this dance but i can imagine Len will hate it as he likes couples in hold.

Is Camilla trying to give Len a heart attack?!!!

I think its a silly idea. Why do they have to do this. Why can't they just let their dance - the Quickstep - speak for itself? Does there really need to be any gimmicks?

Sounds a bit desperate and gimmicky to me.

well it is Billy Elliot remember and he did tap dance so I guess its in the dance routine.

Didn't Matt DA do a bit of a tap dance at the beginning of his quickstep piece for the judges choice in the final last year?

Not keen myself, a bit gimmicky and it's only going to wind up Len again.

won't do him any favours in the long run. If he can tap dance then viewers will realise he is hardly a "beginner" and their expectations will be higher of him. A sense of fairness will imho ensure he doesn't win.

I guess it depends on the length of the routine. I would imagine it will start off with him on his own tapping and then in hold with Camilla into a very fast (judging by the near accident) Quick step dance. It could be good but can 90 seconds do it justice??

sounds a bit indulgent to me - same a kelly & the cape fiasco last year

Begs

Please don't do this to A Town Called Malice. Please. I'm prepared to offer cash ...

I'll chip in, I'm nearly weeping at imagining what the 'singers' are going to do to it

Surely they're dancing to 'We Love to Boogie' aren't they ?

Correct, but I think there is artistic liscence in the judges' choice that you can't get away with earlier in the competition.

It's nice to do something different - but Len will call it "faffing about".

Anything that potentially brings into focus hypocrisy, double standards and the strangely elusive nature of the 'rules' of Strictly can only be a good thing.

If so, then Camilla is being rather unoriginal.

At first I thought: why gimmicks again especially if Len is going to be all grumpy again?

But I thought: Camilla knows she's probably not going to top Erin and Austin in terms of keeping the 'purity' of the QS, so she has to try something different in order to avoid the other three judges mentally comparing Tom's QS with Austin's top performance last week. Also, this will separate Tom's routine from Austin's if there's something the viewers can remember by (remember Colin's leap at the end of the QS - and Len not liking it as evidenced from one of his Masterclasses with Claudia?).

Also, if Tom danced a technically competent routine (barring the quickstep either in the beginning or the end of the dance, which they can be out of hold), Len may 'pan' it (oh no, not with those messing about, get on with the dance!) but still give an eight. The other judges might be charmed to part with a nine, or even ten, as it's clear Tom and Cam are aiming for the sky too!

It's a gamble, but the gamble might, just might, pay off.

Nope, Town Called Malice, I shall probably cry

Really....A Town Called Malice!!!! Oh no, I hope Weller isn't watching!!!

I kind of hope he is ~ I love the idea of him sitting there, with his three different haircuts at the same time, guffawing away at Brucie's 'doddery' gags of a Saturday evening. I reckon he watches "Hole in the Wall" too.

He's definitely not an X Factor kind of guy.....

yeah interesting views. Its a gamble on the other three judges liking it and still getting at least an 8 from Len "all that mucking about".

Craig: Its called tap Len

Len: Its nothing to do with ballroom

Craid: Sooooo What Len!

Will Bruce need that whistle he used a couple of series ago as I'm sure that this will provoke an argument ....

... and having just re watched Camilla and Tom on Monday's ITT, I reckon that Camilla enjoys this sort of reaction.

Actually, I think ALL THREE will challenge Len on this. After all, they are all choreographers and have experience working in musical theatres/music videos.

What I don't understand is that the cape has been used by the pros for the Paso (I know the actual ballroom competition they are not allowed 'props'), done especially marvellously by Matthew Cutler, I don't see why Len was so uptight about it when Tom did a commendable job with it? Perhaps Len's just thinking that Tom was too good to 'mess about' buying time in the routine? Or maybe there IS a thing as a male menopause?

Now if Len (or other judges) commented on Tom's laughable Paso expression, I would have no problem with it.

Yeah, it's a bit like the 'Brendan' technique, get everyone to talk about it, good or controversial...

Camilla has to do that to generate interest and set Tom apart from the Toyota-reliability of Austin's dances!