Strictly Come Dancing week 10: Live updates from the ballroom as celebrities compete in samba-themed dance-a-thon with seven pairs vying for Glitterball Trophy

Wow – a lively routine that got everybody on their feet.

Even Craig calls it ‘pure class’.

Shirley’s gushing on the synchronicity. This is going to score high.

Next it’s JB and Lauren who are doing the Charleston to Yes Sir! That’s My Baby by Firehouse Five Plus Two

Quite divided scores from the judges but it’s a score of 36 (8,8,10,10) for Sarah and Vito – the highest of the series for a Rumba so far.

It’s an intimate performance from the couple, with Sarah donning a gold dress for the set piece.

It gets a standing ovation – and a good reception from the judges

Shirley said that was choreography that ‘belonged in a major championship’. Anton, a former pro dancer on the show, says he wouldn’t have given one of his partners such a challenging routine.

But Craig feels there was a lack of chemistry (boos all round). And Motsi says the pair could have ‘softened things’ and moved a bit more.

Next on the floor its Sarah Hadland and Vito with the Rumba, which as Tess has just reminded us, is the only dance on Strictly to have never been given a perfect score across all 22 series.

Will that change tonight?

Pete scores 29 (6,7,8,8) which is two more than last week.

Up first is Pete and Jowita who are tackling the Tango.

In training, Pete admits this week ‘will be very tough’ but says he delighted to have made it to Week 10.

Despite being the favourite to be eliminated this week, he looks more comfortable on the floor this week than at the Tower Ballroom.

Anton comments on his good ‘promenade position’ and says it’s a joy watching Pete ‘slightly improve every week.

Craig goes for his ‘unsure’ footwork but admits he ‘loves’ Pete.

It’s time to head to the ballroom!

Tess and Claudia are on stage – Tess in all red and Claudia in black

Last week two couples came within touching distance of bagging a perfect score.

Sarah and Vito, and Tasha and Aljaz tied for the first place with 39 points each in Blackpool.

But they were both denied the elusive 10 from Craig.

Strictly’s harshest dance critic is known for reserving his top score paddle for only the best routines.

Last year until we waited until Week 11 until actor Layton Williams hit the perfect 40 for a Paso Doble.

But previous seasons have seen Craig’s 10 given a rare outing much earlier in the contest.

The record for earliest perfect score goes to deaf contestant and Series 19 winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, who along with her partner Giovanni Pernice, grabbed 40 in Halloween week.

Pete Wicks picked up just 27 points from the judges last week, but avoided the bottom two and the dreaded dance-off.

The TV personality and his partner Jowita Przystal found themselves bottom of the leaderboard and are the series’ lowest scoriing contestant.

But a clever marketing campaign may be behind his continued success with the public.

Viewers, as well as Pete himself, were shocked when Tess and Claudia revealed he had survived another week.

Pete through, that’s ridiculous. Someone must have spent a toy of money on the phone lines . The words dance of the night,’ tweeted one viewer.

Will he dodge the dance-off again this week?

Last week we sadly bid farewell to Wynne Evans and his partner Katya Jones who were eliminated in last week’s Blackpool show.

The Welsh tenor broke down in tears on It Takes Two after his co-star Jamie Borthwick made a surprise appearance on the programme.

The EastEnders star said that he had a ‘friend for life’ and the show ‘won’t be the same’ now that Wynne has been voted off.

Katya added: ‘This is what Strictly is about. No one is going to remember the scores, the comments we got, it’s the friendships that have been created.

‘The genuine, genuine relationships.’

His name is mentioned every week as the conductor of the ‘wonderful orchestra’, but who is Dave Arch?

He has been musical director since the show first premiered 20 years ago, and is joined every week in the ballroom by a talented team of singers including Tommy Blaize, Andrea Grant, Lance Ellington and Hayley Sanderson.

Click below to find out more abiout his essential role.

Tonight will see Montell, Sarah, Tasha, Chris, Jamie, JB and Pete show off their samba moves as the Strictly dance-a-thon returns for this series.

Once a traditional staple, the dance-a-thon first appeared on Strictly in 2009 but hasn’t featured since 2018 when the then celebrities danced the lindy hop.

It sees all the celebrities and their partners take to the ballroom at the same time to dance a group before the judges eliminate pairs one-by-one.

For the winning couple, victory will impact their overall score on the night so tonight’s samba-thon could be crucial for celebs hoping to book their place in week 11.

Strictly’s annual ratings battle against I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! is under way and in the first week it’s advantage ITV.

Nine million viewers watched Ant and Dec’s return to ITV making it the number one entertainment show of 2024 on any channel so far.

The launch episode has already beaten all episodes of Strictly Come Dancing so far this year.

Strictly and I’m A Celeb have been in a ratings battle throughout their 20-year histories.

ITV are thrilled by the figures and an ITV insider told The Mail: ‘All they care about is beating Strictly this year. That’s their number one goal.

• Read the full story by showbiz reporter Bethan Edwards here

Can’t wait for the show to start?

Well here’s a sneak peek of what to expect with the songs and dances revealed in advance of tonight’s action:

• Montell and Johannes Quickstep to Get Happy by Ella Fitzgerald
• Sarah and Vito Rumba to Chains by Tina Arena
• Tasha and Aljaz American Smooth to Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
• Chris and Dianne Paso Doble to El Gato Montes by Manuel Panella
• Jamie and Michelle Foxtrot to Stand By Me by Ben E. King
• JB and Lauren Charleston to Yes Sir! That’s My Baby by Firehouse Five Plus Two
• Pete and Jowita Tango to Easy Lover by Philip Bailey, Phil Collins

Will we see magnificent performances tonight? And will we be in heaven for at least 80 minutes on BBC One this evening?

Seven couples will feature on the ballroom tonight after Wynne and Katya became the eighth pair to be eliminated in Blackpool on Sunday.

Some may still be scratching their heads that Pete Wicks will dance tonight…possibly no one more than him as he and Jowita skated through despite a rock bottom finish on the leaderboard.

Tonight will see the return of the dance-a-thon with celebrities all performing at the same time to add extra spice to proceedings.

The theme later is samba so will prove to have the extra spring in their step or who will look out of rhythmn?

Join us throughout the evening as we bring you all the latest updates from the ballroom plus reaction from the viewers at home sprinkled with the most eye-catching pictures and videos.

The show starts at 7:05pm on BBC One.