Wynne Evans and Katya Jones put their hand drama behind them as they hit the Strictly dancefloor for their latest routine.
The Go Compare ad star and pro dancer Jones have been in the headlines after fans of the BBC show spotted what some thought was an awkward exchange between them last week, with Jones turning away and refusing to high-five Evans then later appearing to brush his hand off her waist. However, they have insisted that it was just an “inside joke” between them.
On Saturday's show they danced a Quickstep to Mr Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra, scoring 33 despite seeming to get into a tangle with some tissue paper strewn on the dancefloor. "I absolutely loved this... it was so joyous," said judge Shirley Ballas, while Craig Revel Horwood was stopped in his tracks by Evans telling him he was going to be reviewing his album.
Evans and Jones didn't directly mention all the kerfuffle, although Evans seemed to have a little joke about it after they danced. After Jones said the dance "really suits your personality", he smirked: "I love comedy."
Earlier in the show, comedian Chris McCausland had viewers in tears with his Waltz.
The star - who is blind - danced to You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers, in what was a personal performance for the Liverpool native. He and pro partner Dianne Buswell dazzled the audience with the dance, with the crowd on its feet. The judges were also stirred, handing out a massive 35 out of 40 - McCausland's highest score to date - as they said how moving it was.
"I found that extremely emotional," said fellow Liverpudlian Ballas. "It was absolutely spectacular." "Heavenly," added Anton Du Beke. "I have to be honest with you... I had a moment. I welled up."
Revel Horwood had one too, he said. "But then I thought about the technicalities of it," he added.
However, McCausland hit straight back, making a jibe about the judge's beard not suiting him.
Viewers were moved by the comic's powerful performance, with one posting on X: "That was INCREDIBLE. I have tears running down my face. The solo part was so beautiful." Another wrote: "Every damn week I watch Chris dance through tears. This man is unbelievable!"
McCausland fared much better than Paul Merson, who only received a 3 from Revel Horwood. The football star and his pro partner Karen Hauer performed to disco classic Car Wash by Rose Royce, but only scored 19 out of 40.
Viewers thought the 3 was brutal, with one posting on X: "A 3 is ridiculous when they can see he’s actually trying and the steps were noticeably Samba steps like pls give the poor man a break." "That 3 from Craig for Paul and Karen is appalling," said another.
At the end of the show, Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas and Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe were at the top of the leaderboard, with each scoring 39 out of 40. Merson was on the bottom with 19.
Follow the latest updates from the BBC dance contest as Strictly returns for week 5.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER27 updates
Simon Bland
The lines are now open!
...and with that, week five of Strictly Come Dancing comes to a close. The only thing left to do now is for viewers at home to pick up the phone and vote for the couples they'd like to see stay in the competition.
As for who'll find themselves in tomorrow's dance-off? We'll find out soon enough
Simon Bland
Another triple 10 score for Montell and Johannes
"We hope everyone had as much fun as we did out there," says Montellahead of the scores. Here they are:
Craig - 9
Motsi - 10
Shirley - 10
Anton - 10
What's this? ANOTHER triple 10 score? Who'd have thunk! Well done to Montell and Johannes - that's 39 for week 5 and a total of 156 so far.
Simon Bland
"Now we're in the Caribbean!" Montell and Johannes dazzle
It's time for the final dance of the night - a Carnival-themed couple's choice from Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe scored to Skeleton Move by KG and Zanda Zakuza.
It's a personal affair, with Montell dedicating the routine to her grandmother, who passed away earlier this year.
It's already one of the night's most vibrant, with the Strictly stage bathed in yellows and greens revealing a burst of colourful feathers as the Carnival vibes take over. Michelle and Johannes' energy is infectious - the crowd are loving it as colourful confetti flutters around them.
What a way to end the night - what do the judges think?
Craig is clearly impressed, yelling her name - "brilliant," he exclaims in his one-word review.
"Today, you let it explode... We've been to India, we've been to Africa, now we're in the Caribbean," says Motsi. Shirley says Montell's nana would be proud, with Anton making a request: "If you make the final, do that again!"
Simon Bland
"I love comedy..." 33 for Wynne and Katya
"This really suits your personality," says Katya of this week's colourful Quickstep. "I love comedy," grins Wynne - perhaps offering a sly nod to the events of the past week.
Craig - 7
Motsi - 9
Shirley - 9
Anton - 8
That's 33 for the duo and a grand total of 153 so far.
Simon Bland
"Joyous" Blue Skies for Wynne and Katya
If there was any awkwardness surrounding Wynne and Katya's return this week you wouldn't be able to tell with their Quickstep to Mr Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra.
Dressed in bright colours and full of energy, the routine ends with a big hug and an unseen bird pooping on Wynne's head. It's supposed to be good luck though, right?
"I absolutely loved this... it was so joyous," says Shirley, starting things off.
Anton was so pleased he had little feedback before Wynne corners Craig by revealing he's reviewing his album next week - stopping him in his tracks.
Surely that's a Strictly first?
Simon Bland
31 for Shane and Nancy
That's 31 for Shane and Nancy - bringing their total to 146.
Simon Bland
Shayne and Nancy return with an American Smooth
They found themselves in the dance-off last week but now Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu are back, dancing an American Smooth to Get Here by Sam Smith.
They're determined not to wind up in the bottom two again - Shayne even spent his 40th birthday in the rehearsal room this week - that's dedication!
The pair start off seated back-to-back before moving into a sensitive routine. Shayne catches Nancy in his arms as she jumps from the stage before lifting her high up in the air later in the dance, prompting impressed cheers from the crowd.
They seem happy with it - but what will the judges think?
"I think that was lovely... the lifts were spectacular," starts Anton, saying he likes their developing partner work. "There's a lot to like... keep going!" He also joked about him and Shayne both being 40.
Craig didn't agree with Anton's feedback - and even made a crack at his age gag ("You need to have a word with your surgeon, darling," he jokes). "I thought it had a lovely flow."
"I'm seeing footwork today that I've never seen in week five," adds Shirley, patting the pair on the back from coming back so strongly from last week's dance-off.
Simon Bland
8s across the board for Sarah and Vito
Vito was in his Italian element during this one, says Sarah, speaking to Tess after the dance - but wait the scores are in:
Craig - 8
Motsi - 8
Shirley - 8
Anton - 8
It's 8 across the board, bringing their score this week to 31 and their grand total to 154
Simon Bland
Sarah and Vito's Zesty Samba
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola are on stage next to serve up a Samba to Do It Do It Again by Rafaella Carrà - but before that, they were preparing with a spa session. Alright for some!
Vito assures Sarah that this relaxation is the key to their success - time to find out as they start their routine with summery-vibes, both wearing frilly hot pink and yellow florals.
A white Vespa sits on one side of the stage, an Italian-style stone seat on the other, while the stage is illuminated in Lisbon-style tilework, lemons and vibrant yellows and greens.
It's certainly a tart number - and one that's full of sass, with Sarah saying ciao ciao to Vito when it's all over.
"You are a force," says a clearly-impressed Motsi, starting the critique. Shirley says from the waist upwards Sarah has it down but there's always room for improvement. Anton thought Sarah's upper body was a bit stiff but was quick to add that he thought it was her "best dance".
"Your arms, at times, were flung without a destination in mind," says Craig, cueing a few boos "but that was a party I want to be at... I loved it."
Simon Bland
22 for Pete and Jowita
"I absolutely love that song... well, I did at the start of the week," jokes Pete, on dancing to Oasis. Here are their scores:
Craig - 4
Motsi - 5
Shirley - 6
Anton - 7
That's 22 for Pete and Jowita - and their combined total is 116.
Simon Bland
Judges scuffle over Pete's hips
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał are next, bringing Oasis to the stage for their Strictly debut. They're dancing a Rumba to Don’t Look Back In Anger by the recently-reformed Mancs.
Pete warns Tess not to touch him after the routine - he's soaking.
Shirley liked the routine's masculine qualities and was "mesmerised" by Pete's rotating hips - there just weren't enough of them, she says. "I'll be thinking about that for a week."
Anton liked it and only had minimal problems - he even stood up again to illustrate them, prompting Craig to ask if he'll be doing this all evening.
Craig threatens a disqualification for one of their faux-pas during the dance but respects their dedication to the routine. Meanwhile, Motsi noticed the "hip-action" too - it's led to a little judge scuffle.
Who knew hips had such power?
Simon Bland
"That could've been our moment" - 26 for Sam and Nikita
"I'm just so disappointed because that could have been our moment," says Sam in the Claudatorium but despite this, she refuses to let it keep her down.
The judge's scores are in:
Craig - 6
Motsi - 7
Shirley - 6
Anton - 7
That's a respectable 26 bringing their grand total to 129.
Simon Bland
Judges offer mixed reviews on Sam and Nikita's clunky Quickstep
Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin dance a Quickstep to Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield next - taking to a stage that's transformed into dreamy blues, purples and pastels.
Sam is wearing a flowing and fluffy feather-trimmed gown while Nikita is in subdued tones. It's all footwork as the duo flit around the stage, ending on a staircase and reading a sequined book - but there was a small mistake in the middle. Will the judges notice?
"You went wrong a couple of times," says Anton, answering that question, "but I have to say, in general, you're dancing much better... This wasn't a perfect performance but I know you've got a perfect performance in you."
Craig says it felt a little like a divorce but he says they feel confident and he likes that. "I don't think it was your personal best but I enjoyed it."
Motsi says repetition and trust is the key to future success while Shirley says "it was just one of those nights" and tells Sam not to feel too down. "It happens to the best of us... but in this competition, you are one of the best."
The routine - and its feedback - has made Sam quite emotional.
Simon Bland
Only 19 for Paul and Karen
"I messed up so badly in rehearsals," admits Paul in the Claudatorium. "But you did it," says Karen, "and I'm so proud of you."
The scores are in:
Craig - 3
Motsi - 5
Shirley - 5
Anton - 6
That's 19 - not the best score ever but Paul has some thoughts: "I'll meet Craig on Monday, take him to the Emirates and we'll have a little kick around," he jokes. At least, we think it's a joke.
Viewers thought the 3 from Craig was brutal, with one posting on X: "A 3 is ridiculous when they can see he’s actually trying and the steps were noticeably Samba steps like pls give the poor man a break."
"That 3 from Craig for Paul and Karen is appalling," said another.
Their grand total is now 93.
Simon Bland
Paul and Karen dance a car wash Samba
It's Samba time now with Paul Merson and Karen Hauer as they clean up to disco-classic Car Wash by Rose Royce.
The colours are all there - with pink wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men framing a vibrant, alive stage setting complete with car-wash wipers as the couple dance wearing silky blues.
The crowd seem to love it too - but Paul looks knackered.
"You are bringing so much energy to every single thing you do," says Motsi, sandwiching her criticism between the thought that Paul is bringing lots of "joy" to each routine.
Shirley respects his energy and dedication to the dance "I thought you did very well," she smiles. Meanwhile, Anton's on his feet again reliving one of Paul's best bits on the show so far - a, shall we say, DIY approach to a move - "I love it," he smiles.
Craig says it lacked bounce and pointed out that the timing was off at points but adds: "You gave it a really good go and you should be pleased."
Simon Bland
34 for Tasha and Aljaž
What did the judges think?
Craig - 8
Motsi - 9
Shirley - 8
Anton - 9
That's 34 for Tasha and Aljaž, bringing their total so far to 172
Simon Bland
Tasha and Aljaž's "magnificent" Tango to Florence
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec are on stage next, dancing a Tango to Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine.
Who knew their time as triple 10 champions would be so short-lived - but perhaps this routine could bag an even more impressive score. Dressed in a flowing floral dress, Tasha sticks close to Aljaž throughout as they spin across the stage, her dress flowing to reveal a vibrant red.
Aljaž can be heard telling her "well done" as it ends.
"It lacked a little bit of aggression," ponders Craig, starting the reviews. "You danced it brilliantly - in fact, I could go as far as to say 'magnificent'."
Motsi had some suggestions but loved it, "great work," she says - but Shirley agrees with her. "You're an outstanding dancer... consistency in all of it is key and I believe you can find that," she adds.
Anton stands up to show how Tasha's legs came undone during the dance - but overall, he liked it.
Simon Bland
Craig pays tribute, hits-home emotional week, score 35
Before leaving the stage Craig pays tribute to fellow Liverpool native Tommy, who sang the song that brought many at home to tears.
"I was quite overwhelmed off the back of last Saturday," Chris tells Claudia after the dance. "It's been an emotional week." He says he's doing it for Liverpool but also as a moment to bring people together.
The scores are in:
Craig - 8
Motsi - 9
Shirley - 9
Anton - 9
That's 35, bringing their grand total to 147.
Simon Bland
Chris McCausland walks alone in Liverpool tribute
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell dance a Waltz next to You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers. It's a personal one for Liverpool native Chris who's hoping he gets some votes from those back home.
It starts delicately enough, with Chris in a sleek black suit and red suit matching his home town team, while Dianne is in glittery blues. It's a far calmer routine than what we've been used to from this couple but the audiences seem to love it.
Chris walks alone during one particularly powerful moment. As the dance ends, the audience are on their feet.
"Every single person in this room was on their feet," says Claudia.
"I found that extremely emotional," says fellow Liverpudlian Shirley. "It was absolutely spectacular."
"Heavenly," adds Anton, agreeing with Shirley. "I have to be honest with you... I had a moment. I welled up."
Craig had one too, he says, "but then I thought about the technicalities of it." Chris quickly hits back, making a jibe about Craig's beard not suiting him. "Even I know that," he jokes. Despite that, Craig says he "thought it was brilliant".
Motsi loved it as well. "What you are giving us is absolutely sensationally special."
People at home did too - with many saying it has made them tear up. No small feat!
Simon Bland
It's a triple 10 week for Jamie and Michelle!
"The key is having a fantastic partner," says Jamie about their Paso Double success. The scores?
Craig - 9
Motsi - 10
Shirley - 10
Anton - 10
Another triple 10 week? They said it couldn't be done - but here it is. That's a score of 39, bringing their grand total to 159.
Impressive stuff - although fans at home think they should've got higher - perhaps a clean sweep of 10s?
Simon Bland
Jamie and Michelle impress as monochrome matadors
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas are third on tonight, dancing a Paso Doble to Malagueña by Ernesto Lecuona.
For this one, Jamie is channelling his inner matador for a dance that's full of energy and passion!
It's a grand start - with the duo dressed the part in black and white patterned matador outfits set against a red-hot stage illuminated in reds and purples.
There's drama too, with Jamie stone-faced throughout and ending on an intense jump as the pair touch heads.
That's a thing, right? Touching heads?
"I felt all the drama in that," says Claudia. It certainly got Craig going "Paso-BLEEDING-tastic," he shouts, starting the reviews.
Motsi loved it too - almost as much as viewers at home have enjoyed spotting her sister Oti in the audience.
"The choreography was absolutely outstanding," adds Shirley, with Anton struggling to wait for his turn to share his thoughts, yelling throughout Shirley's feedback.
"The dance was magnificent. You will never dance a better dance than that."
Simon Bland
More energy needed for Punam, judges say
"You are exquisite," smiles Tess as the waltz ends - but what do the judges think?
Motsi starts the feedback, saying: "Last week we had a few mistakes but this week you were on top of it." But she wants Punam to push more - "I think if we build on that then we're going in the right direction."
Shirley related to Punam's role as a mother. "I need you to turn your volume up," she suggests. Meanwhile, Anton says the pair has "absolutely beautiful dancing" but says their backstep is too short.
"I think it was too social," adds Craig, saying it felt like a walk through the park. The crowd didn't like that. "You still need to put energy into it."
Craig - 4
Motsi - 6
Shirley - 5
Anton - 6
That's 21 for Punam and Gorka, bringing their series so-far score up to 111.
Simon Bland
Punam and Gorka deliver a touching Viennese Waltz
Punam and Gorka are up next to deliver a Viennese Waltz to She’s Always A Woman To Me by Billy Joel.
"It's very much a Glaswegian waltz," jokes Punam during the rehearsal room footage. Her son joins in to help her practice. It's a touching mother-son moment.
As the dance starts, those touching vibes continue with the pair in muted tones - Punam's dressed in yellow while Gorka is in a simple white shirt and grey pants. Meanwhile, the stage has transformed into black and white monotone, drawing the eye to the pair waltzing through it.
Leaves begin to fall from the ceiling as the routine ends, concluding things on a sensitive note - something that seems to be a running theme throughout this dance.
Simon Bland
A solid 30 for JB and Amy
The crowd liked that one as JB and Amy returning to the 'Claudatorium' to a room full of cheers. Amy hits home how much of a perfectionist JB is while preparing. "I'm so lucky!"
What about the scores?
Craig - 7
Motsi - 8
Shirley - 7
Anton - 8
That's a solid 30, bringing their series-so-far total to 150.
Simon Bland
JB and Amy deliver a "divine" Jive to Outkast
First up this evening, it's JB Gill and Amy Dowden dancing a Jive to Hey Ya! by Outkast.
JB is matching the Strictly stage in a green shirt, green and grey plaid pants and white suspenders while Amy has a sparkly silver dress with a frilly blue tasselled skirt.
It's an energetic number, with the pair in constant movement. JB ends the dance like Andre 3000 by taking his own Polaroid picture
What did the judges think?
Anton starts: "It's a little heavy and a little stompy... but I think you're absolutely super," he says.
Craig wastes no time getting some boos but he liked it, overall. "The timing... was absolutely excellent...," he smiles. "A great job."
Motsi liked it too and Shirley had made some notes. "Every single week you're bringing something new to your beautiful dancing," she says. "What a divine performance to start the show!"
Simon Bland
Let's go!
Claudia and Tess welcome us back and hit home that there's a lot to play for. Next week is the show's Halloween special and each couple wants to be in on that devilish night of dance.
The judges have boogied their way into their seats and now our couples are making their way down the stairs, sound-tracked to Ray Charles' Blues Brothers' hit Shake a Tail Feature.
Wynne and Katya got a cheer upon arrival, while the camera caught Shayne looking a little pensive while others were dancing.
Time to see how our couples get on tonight. First up: JB and Amy!
Simon Bland
Week 5 Arrives
It’s Strictly week five and we’re back at the keyboard and ready to bring you more live coverage of every mid-dance misstep, scorecard shocker and soon-to-be-viral couple moment.
Speaking of which, it’s been quite the week, hasn’t it? After Tasha and Aljaž managed to bag not one, not two but three 10s from the judges during last week’s show, the couple shot into the top of the leaderboard. Can they keep the magic up this week? All eyes will be on them as we find out.
We also lost one more couple. DIY SOS star Nick Knowles and his partner Luba Mushtuk missed out on week 3 after the former suffered an injury. However, their return was short-lived after the pair failed to impress during a dance-for-your-life moment with fellow couple Shayne and Nancy.
With that, our surviving couples were down to 12.
Then there’s been the ongoing drama between Wynne and Katya. After eagle-eyed fans spotted an awkward hand movement and an abandoned high-five, the pair were forced to defend themselves, on social media and beyond - insisting that it was all just a few in-jokes gone badly awry.
Will it impact their future on the show? Only time will tell. We’ll certainly have our eyes peeled for any clues as Strictly week five gets underway.
Strictly week five songs and dances
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe – Couple's Choice to Skeleton Move by KG and Zanda Zakuza
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez – Viennese Waltz to She’s Always A Woman To Me by Billy Joel
Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin – Quickstep to Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola – Samba to Do It Do It Again by Rafaella Carrà
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec – Tango to Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell – Waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas – Pasodoble to Malagueña by Ernesto Lecuona
JB Gill and Amy Dowden – Jive to Hey Ya! by Outkast
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer – Samba to Car Wash by Rose Royce
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał – Rumba to Don’t Look Back In Anger by Oasis
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu – American Smooth to Get Here by Sam Smith
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones – Quickstep to Mr Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)
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JB Gill, who is partnered up with professional dance partner Lauren Oakley on Strictly Come Dancing, scored an impressive 39 points in the quarter final with a Viennese Waltz
There is a certain irony to how unintentionally funny Gregg Wallace's latest social media post is. It is a bin-fire of an Instagram post. Enough to leave those with only the loosest of grasps of crisis management open-mouthed.
Fans of Katie Price have expressed their concern for the TV star after she posted a snap on social media, with one claiming that she looked "so unwell" in the photo