Strictly 2023: Quarter finals - a perfect 40 in musicals week, and Nigel Harman quits

As Strictly Come Dancing reached the quarter final stage, last-minute drama struck with Nigel Harman dropping out of the contest just hours before the live show.

According to the BBC, a spokesperson said: "Unfortunately Nigel has sustained an injury which means he is unable to perform and has had to withdraw from Strictly," with no dance off or elimination this week and everyone going through to the semi final.

With Harman and his partner Katya Jones out and viewers unable to see their Mary Poppins-inspired Charleston, only four couples remained in contention for the coveted 2023 glitterball trophy.

Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin finally achieved a perfect score of 40 points, an incredible comeback after last week's shocking public vote which saw them landing in the bottom two.

Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola turned in another high score with a quickstep to a Disney classic, while Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell, and Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe did their best to impress judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.

Here's all the action as it happened.

When Strictly is broadcast on BBC One this weekend?

Strictly Come Dancing's live show will air at 7:25pm, Saturday, 2 December on BBC One.

Strictly Come Dancing's results show will air at 7:20pm, Sunday, 3 December on BBC One.

Strictly musicals week: Quarter-final routines

• Annabel and Johannes: Foxtrot to For Good from Wicked

• Bobby and Dianne: Salsa to (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing

• Ellie and Vito: Quickstep to Belle from Beauty And The Beast

• Layton and Nikita: Paso Doble to Backstage Romance from Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing

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• Layton shuts down feud rumours