Krystyna Gajda
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, BBCAStudios

The dust is settling on the Strictly glitterball as the curtain falls on week six with a spine-tingling Halloween theme for judges and dancers alike - and the first full score of 40 points in the series.

The freestyle dance from Lewis and his partner Katya thrilled both the judges and the audience - with Motsi calling it "out of this world" and Shirley describing it as "brilliant and phenomenal".

Anton said the dance was as good as any he and Craig had ever seen on any series - "a-ma-zing" no less - to applause which was probably heard in Lewis's home town of Hartlepool when the perfect scores of 10 rang across the ballroom.

Emotions ran high for La Voix and her partner Aljaz as the couple tied for the third highest score of the night with their smouldering Paso Doble to Beethoven's 5th.

While making a heartfelt thanks to her dance compadre, La Voix told the judges "tonight, I get for the first time what you guys feel – how magical it can feel."

Harry and partner Karen had the lowest score of the night - an honourable 26 points - because of a mistake the pair made, which was clocked by all four judges, in the middle of their American Smooth routine. Their dance to Mystical Magical by Benson Boone included a challenging move described memorably by Karen as being like "swirling icecream" - and it was set in an icecream parlour.

Let's not forget the couple who opened the show - Vicky and Kai's American Smooth to Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart, bathed in atmospheric light, was held up as "a contender for the final" by one of the judges.

Hold on to your dance hats for next week when the couples return, and we inch ever closer to the halfway mark.

Image source, BBC Studios

After some macabre and mysterious dance moves, that wraps up all of the performances for this year's Halloween Strictly.

Let's take a look at the all-important leaderboard.

Lewis and Katya are leading the pack with 40 points, while sitting at the bottom are Harry and Karen with 26 points.

Voting has just opened, the Strictly presenters announce - cue the whoops and cheers. It closes at 20:45 tonight.

You can vote by heading to this link. Full terms and conditions are available on the BBC website.

As you can see, it closes in a flash - so get your picks in now!

Krystyna Gajda
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, BBC/PA

Amber and Nikita swept into the Viennese Waltz to I See Red by Everybody Loves an Outlaw with a story to tell - that of Red Riding Hood and the big bad wolf.

The Viennese Waltz is a faster dance with more turns than the standard waltz, often called the Slow Waltz. and the couple hold the speed of the turns to huge applause from the audience.

Bathed in smokey red light, the dance culminates with the dramatic throw of the "wolf" danced by Nikita - by Amber, in the blood red dress of Red Riding Hood.

Motsi calls it "beautiful" with Shirley paying tribute to the dance, though she has some issues with whether the Viennese Waltz came to fruition.

Anton calls it an "extraordinary piece of theatre" and Craig loved what the couple did to this particular Waltz form.

Now, the all important scores:

Craig: 9

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 8

Anton: 9

Total: 35

The last couple for the night is Amber Davies of Love Island fame.

Last week, Amber gave us a rendition (both in music selection and appearance) of Ariana Grande, impressing the judges, who scored her a 33.

Tonight, she and her professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin are giving us a Viennese Waltz to I See Red by Everybody Loves an Outlaw.

Krystyna Gajda
BBC News Live reporter

Alex is tackling her first lifts of the series with Johannes - in a Salsa to Horny by Hot 'n' Juicy, Mousse T.

Johannes said in rehearsal the couple did not want to shy away from what the salsa is - a dance full of life and energy.

Dressed in red hot costumes, the couple twist and turn across the floor and the lift appears effortless.

Shirley says she has never seen that kind of rotation - "shake that tail baby".

Anton enthuses about the side-by-side action and calls the dance "a-ma-zing".

Craig "loved" the dance.

Motsi says Alex was sensual and full of power.

As they've now bewitched us with their sinister Salsa, let's check in with the judges to see how haunted - or horrified - they were:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 35

Actress Alex Kingston dazzled with a fabulous Foxtrot last week, set to one of her personal favourites - Dolly Parton’s Here You Come Again.

This week, she and professional dancer Johannes Radebe will be attempting a Salsa to Mousse T and Hot 'n' Juicy's 90s hit, Horny.

Cachella Smith
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, BBC/PA

Karen and Carlos took us to the heart of Birmingham with their Argentine Tango to Red Right Hand by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (the theme tune to Peaky Blinders).

Ahead of the dance, Karen says she's "buzzin'" that she can dance with both flat shoes and a flat cap.

Remarkably, no caps were lost in the process.

"What a night," Motsi starts.

"Another fabulous number."

Shirley adds that in her time on the show, this has been the toughest competition so far.

She says the couple "smashed the choreography", adding she liked the intensity of the dance.

They were "focused", "sure-footed", and the role reversal in the middle? "Loved that," Shirley adds.

Here's a look at how the judges scored that dance:

Craig: 9

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 9

Anton: 10

Total: 38

Argentina may have been a close football rival to England - but that will be set aside when former England footballer Karen Carney puts her best foot forward to dance the Argentine Tango with Carlos Gu.

It's an iconic dance with its roots in the 19th century suburbs of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires.

It differs from the ballroom tango, which has sharp and staccato movements, by focusing on fluid movement and close communication between the dance partners.

Karen and Carlos are dancing the Argentine Tango to the strains of Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

Krystyna Gajda
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, BBC/PA

Harry and Karen are the second couple tonight to dance American Smooth, following in the earlier footsteps of Vicky and Kai.

It's the quirky setting of an icecream parlour that suits the jaunty beat of Mystical Magical by Benson Boone.

It includes a challenging move seen in rehearsals, described memorably by Karen as being like "swirling icecream".

Full of fluid energy, the couple sweep around the stage before gracefully landing behind the icecream parlour counter.

Anton notices the smoothness and fluidity but picks up on a mistake in the middle.

"I would suggest a softer approach," says Craig, but says they bring their heart and soul to every dance they do.

"We saw the mistake, but keep doing what you guys do," says Motsi.

Let's see check in with the judges now to see how goose pimpled they were by that display:

Craig: 6

Motsi: 7

Shirley: 6

Anton: 7

Total: 26

Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and his partner Karen Hauer scored a cool 30 last week with their Argentine Tango - and tonight they're taking on the American Smooth.

Mystical Magical by Benson Boone is their song of choice - how aptly named for this week's Halloween theme!

The question now is, can Harry and Karen slide into next week or will they glide into an early grave?

Let's watch and find out (remember, the programme's streamed at the top of the page).

Cachella Smith
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, BBC/PA

Balvinder and Julian have just showed us a moving Samba to Stay by Shakespears Sister - it was intense, emotional and melancholic (according to our expert opinion here on the news desk).

Now for the professional opinion - Shirley points to Balvinder's initial nervousness at the start of the series but says now she is out here delivering the sensual moments with her partner "beautifully".

She does however say she would like to see the weight transfer between feet a "little clearer".

It's a point Anton agrees with, as he explains Balvinder at times appears "trapped between two feet".

For him, however, it's a "tale of two halves" as he says her upper body movement is "beautiful".

And here's how the scoring for that Samba shook out:

Craig: 7

Motsi: 7

Shirley: 7

Anton: 7

Total: 28

Who could forget Balvinder Sopal last week, channelling Queen Bey in a diamante cowboy hat and corset?

The judges liked her performance, but told her to “strive outside” her comfort zone a bit more.

We'll see if she and her dance partner Julian Caillon do just that this week, as they samba to Shakespears Sister's iconic ballad Stay.

Krystyna Gajda
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, BBC/PA

Emmerdale star Lewis Cope and his dance partner Katya Jones led the pack last week with 34 points, after their Johnny Cash Quickstep impressed the judges.

This week, Lewis dedicates his dance to his family in Hartlepool, saying he wants to "do them proud".

Their freestyle performance to Couple's Choice to Creep by Radiohead is full of humour in the white mask tradition with a touch of ghoulishness.

It includes tap dancing on a piano lid and an exploding overhead sign as they gamely carry on. It's full of fun and energy.

There is an enthusiastic reaction from the audience and "it's a killer" comment from Craig as he claps in appreciation.

"Out of this world," says Motsi.

Shirley says Lewis's family deserve a thank you for the gift that is Lewis and says "well done you."

"There is nothing you could have done to make that dance better," says Anton. It was "a-ma-zing."

Let's touch base with the judges:

Craig: 10

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 10

Anton: 10

Total: 40

• A reminder: So far this season, there have only been two 10's handed out by the judges - Alex Kingston got one on week four, and Lewis Cope nabbed one during movie week. No couple has received a perfect score of 10 from all four judges

In keeping with tonight’s creepy crawly theme, Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope and his partner Katya are (hopefully) set to channel their inner "creep" when they freestyle to Radiohead’s breakthrough hit by the same name.

The pair bagged the highest scores last week, kicking off Icons week with a Quickstep that earned them 34 points.

As a reminder, Couple’s Choice means the pair can do a freestyle dance - no longer shackled to a particular style.

Many contestants seize the chance to pick a routine that reflects their background or personality – but let’s hope, for Lewis’ sake, that his song choice also isn’t a reflection of how he views himself.

Cachella Smith
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, BBC/PA

La Voix and Aljaž danced a petrifying Paso Doble to Beethoven's 5th.

Dressed as the Queen (and King) of Hearts, the pair spun their way across the dance floor to red and black lighting, sharing a hug as they finished.

La Voiz says tonight's dance showed just how "magical" dancing can be.

"I loved, loved, loved this," Anton says - calling the dance "thrilling" with a specific mention of La Voix's "neat and tidy" feet.

For Craig, there could have been "a bit more arch in the dance".

But ultimately, he says, there was "power, passion and authority".

"You owned it."

Drum roll please... here are the scores:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 35

We’ll be taking a classical spin with this next segment, when La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec treat (or trick?) us with a Paso Doble to Beethoven’s Fifth.

Arguably the most iconic four notes in music history open Beethoven’s famous symphony, but for the judges, they’ll be tuning all that out while they focus on the pair’s footwork as they navigate this fast-paced ballroom dance.

La Voix, fittingly, tied for fifth place last week with 28 points, but will surely be hoping to notch that up higher as we edge closer to the halfway mark.

Krystyna Gajda
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, BBC/PA

George and Alexis stepped out in a whirl of eerie green and purple lights, dancing the fast and precision-paced Cha Cha Cha to Apple by Charli XCX.

It leaves the couple understandably breathless by the end.

Craig is underwhelmed - saying certain moves looked "clunky" - but likes the hip action.

And "no mistakes" get a big pat on the back from Motsi. "I still think you are a great number," she says.

Head judge Shirley says they don't know how good they are and urges the couple to believe in themselves, because they did some "amazing things" during the performance.

And here are the scores:

Craig: 6

Motsi: 7

Shirley: 8

Anton: 8

Total: 29

As our culture reporter said a short while ago, we're fast approaching the halfway mark of series 23.

With that in mind, it might be worth revisiting how each of the couples have been performing in recent weeks.

Lewis and Katya bagged the highest score last week - 34 - with a Quickstep that impressed the judges, while George and partner Alexis - dancing now - crashed out with the lowest score, tumbling to 27.

But it was Jimmy and Lauren (who scored 30) who were the latest couple to be shown the door.

A fan of pop are we, George?

The TikToker played Harry Styles last Saturday during Icons week - and this evening he's dancing the Cha Cha Cha to Charli XCX's track Apple.

After scoring 27 last week, and receiving mixed reviews from the judges, George Clarke and his pro partner Alexis Warr will be looking to impress tonight.

Can they pull it off?

Let's find out.