Strictly (Halloween) results show

[shallowness]

During the recap, I realised quite how many couples were tied second from bottom on 31, and given that I expected Chris to get a lot of votes, it was going to be a rough old time for them. But then Tess threw a spanner in the works with the news that Amy couldn’t perform that night. So, what happened to her during or after the live show? And I don’t want any of the pros to get injured or anything, but Amy, after last year, is the absolute last one I want anything bad to happen to. And it begged the question of what they’d do if JB (and Amy were in the dance-off.) He cut a lonely figure waiting to hear his fate.

That question was resolved when he/they were the third to be called safe. But Shayne and Nancy weren’t. Shirley gave the standard pep talk, Shayne seemed calm I thought he had to hope that he’d be facing one of the 26ers (Punam, really.) Claudia announced to the first lot who were safe that they’d reached the halfway point. Apparently it’s going to be icons week next week, and the Clauditorium did their best to make it a thing by singing their hearts out as some of the icons they’ll be next week.

The pros put on a real show for their pre-recorded group number: let’s call it Carlosgeuse (I don’t think Michael Keaton needs to be too worried.) I couldn’t work out who half the pros were, especially the women. The torso and legs sofa bit worked well.

The judges’ debrief (they all looked a lot more dressed down, apart from Motsi’s hair) wasn’t adding nothing new: the spat about Shayne and Nancy’s paso was rehashed, until Claudia revealed the footage of Craig LOVING his wig, which Anton had hated.

The producers tortured Wynne and Katya (although I thought that with more dance content, he’d have to badly fumble the lifts to lose against Shayne), but it was time for Punam and Gorka to be in trouble. Motsi basically told her to FIGHT and give more energy. And pretend Shayne hadn’t scored five more than her and hadn’t got dance-off experience.

We learned that Sam will be Taylor Swift next year – I’d been wondering.

Lady Blackbird took on board the Halloween costume requirements (or does she always dress like that?) and sang big, while platinum blond Carlos and Lauren vamped it up via dance.

Punam’s flag didn’t unfurl in the dance-off. I called symbolism. I enjoyed seeing the composer/spirit of music paso again. The judges were unanimous: both couples had improved, but they wanted to save Shayne and Nancy. Punam gave a gracious speech, Gorka made her cry by referencing her couples choice, and Tess came off as more human than normal. Right call, and Nancy’s choreographic choice wasn’t enough to reverse Shayne’s lack of popularity (apart from with me.)

It now gets interesting, Shayne and JB know they haven’t got much popular support, and although JB has a couples choice, it feels like there’s a fair chance he won’t be working with Amy (dying to find out what’s what from ITT Monday or the news.) Will Pete’s improvement arc continue, though? Can Aljiaz pull off a ‘representation’ moment for Tasha, as that’s the way the couples choice is going, except, of course, we’ve already had Rose and Giovanni’s legendary dance? I mean, he should be able to show off her considerable dancing abilities easily. And will Icon Week be good enough for me to want it to return? Lots of questions for the second half of this run.