Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

With threats of Storm Claudia passing over parts of the UK, this week saw our celebrities battle it out in the calm before the Blackpool ballroom storm arrives next week.

Mentions of the fabled ballroom reached the millions (probably) in the episode's first five minutes, as our remaining eight stars are now within a flourish of tasting some seaside rock.

One of the biggest surprises of the night saw Vicky and Kai swap last week's table-topping performance for an unlikely trip to the bottom of the leaderboard.

At the other end, Amber and Nikita topped the lot with a searing Paso Doble that saw only two points dropped from the impressed judges' scores.

As the promise of Blackpool loomed, it was an emotional affair for a few of our stars. George and La Voix both tapped into personal memories in their choice of song, while pro dancer Carlos literally gushed with admiration at his partner Karen's dedication.

Tomorrow night we'll hear who'll get the chance to dance again - we'll be back with you on Blackpool Tower Ballroom's sprung floor for more next week.

Keep dancing.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

With that, the leaderboard is in.

Amber and Nikita are at the top with an impressive 38, closely followed by Lewis and Katya on 37.

At the bottom are Vicky and Kai on 27, with Balvinder and Julian matching them with the same score.

As a reminder, the vote is now open - it's down to you to decide who makes it to Blackpool.

It’s voting time again.

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

And, in case you haven’t clocked it, you can actually give more than one vote to a single couple - you have five votes in total.

Get your picks in now.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Drag queen La Voix and partner Aljaž round off the night - and she'll be hoping for a better finish than last week's bottom-of-the-pile performance.

For their couples' choice, we're told it'll be a "jazzy number" as La Voix's alter ego Christopher describes how he grew up performing for residents in his parents' care home before moving on to the bright lights of Soho.

There's a moving moment too, as Chris shows his dad his mum's wedding dress. She sadly passed away earlier this year.

Back in drag, La Voix says she hopes to have some fun as the beats of Don't Rain on My Parade herald a stick-tapping performance to match her glittery miniskirt and bright red hair piece.

After earning a hug from Tess, La Voix praises the host for receiving a "P45 and MBE in one month" - more on this in our earlier post.

Shirley and Anton are both full of praise for the drag star, and Anton highlights her "amazing character", even if he's not impressed with some of the dance's technical elements.

Here's the final judges' marks of the night:

Craig: 7

Motsi: 8

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 33

Tonight, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist La Voix and her partner Aljaž Škorjanec are taking on their couple’s choice - to Don't Rain on My Parade by Barbra Streisand.

Couple’s choice routines are often a window into the celebrity’s personality - and La Voix has got enough personality to power the London Eye.

So yes, we’ve been itching to see what she brings to the floor. Let’s see what they have in store for us.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Actor Lewis Cope and partner Katya Jones have the penultimate performance this week with a Tango.

Spotlights illuminate the pair before Lewis marches to his partner. Sharp head movements mark their steps as they move arm-in-arm to the sounds of sombr's pop hit 12 to 12.

Craig jokes, "I thought you could have tried harder," as the judges react, before praising Lewis as a "sensation" who was "completely in control" of the dance.

Motsi, meanwhile, says she "had goosebumps", telling Lewis: "I don't think there's ever been a man that could dance a tango like this," since she started on the show.

Let’s check out the final marks:

Craig: 9

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total:37

We are already in week eight and, so far, there has only been one perfect 40 - courtesy of Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope and his partner Katya Jones during the Halloween special.

Tonight, they will take on a Tango to 12 to 12 by Sombr.

Yes, in the lyrics, "12 to 12" originally means all day long, but for this pair it could also mean they are aiming for those four scores of 12 - could they pull it off?

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Alexis and George are up next - with a song that's especially personal to the YouTube star, as his sister sang it at his grandfather's funeral.

The opening piano notes of Lily Allen's version of Keane's Somewhere Only We Know set the scene, as the pair move close together with a series of holds and twists.

After such a moonlit atmosphere, it's no surprise when George is left in tears as they receive a standing ovation from the room.

Motsi appreciates the star's vulnerability, telling him she loves how he's "leaning more and more" into the process.

Anton praises the pair's "beautiful compatibility", saying their "story is so strong" as they glide through their performances each week.

But Craig says that technically the couple's dance wasn't great, and admits: "unfortunately it won't win my vote".

The judges have spoken - here are the scores:

Craig: 6

Motsi: 7

Shirley: 8

Anton: 8

Total: 30

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Let's bring you an emotional moment from earlier.

As Karen and Carlos make their way up the stairs, the professional dancer is in tears at how hard his celebrity partner has trained for this week.

"She couldn't stop dancing," he exclaims.

Karen says the scores don't matter, and she's just happy for Carlos to see how hard she's trying to earn her place in Blackpool.

Somewhere Only We Know by Lily Allen is the song YouTuber and podcaster George Clarke and Alexis Warr are rumba-ing to tonight.

The pair pulled off a Viennese Waltz last week, with judge Shirley saying they had “some of the best footwork I've seen”.

But rumba is a different beast altogether.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Karen Carney wants to follow fellow footballer Alex Scott in becoming only the second footballer to reach Blackpool - and she hopes this week's American Smooth will get her there.

She and partner Carlos Gu even met up with Lioness Beth Mead for some inspiration during rehearsals, and Beth tells them to "roar" in this week's performance.

It's a dramatic start as chairs are kicked back from a table, before Karen spins into the arms of her partner.

The pair pirouette through the rest of a spirited performance, and Arsenal footballer Leah Williamson looks pleased as she cheers them from the sidelines.

Anton calls the dance "brilliant but brittle" and asks for more fluidity through the entire body.

Craig says the couple danced with a "supersonic speed" and agrees that Karen needs "to soften everything out".

But Motsi says the footballer "is authentic to the way she dances" every week.

Now for the all-important scores:

Craig: 7

Motsi: 8

Shirley: 8

Anton: 8

Total: 31

Lioness turned football pundit Karen Carney and her partner Carlos Gu will be taking on the American Smooth to You Don't Own Me by SAYGRACE tonight.

Remember at the start of the series, we talked about how footballers seem to have a Strictly curse - they tend to get eliminated early.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink may have already hung up his dancing shoes, but Karen is still in the game.

Let’s wish her luck in her quest for a spot in the Blackpool ballroom.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Vicky Pattison and partner Kai Widdrington are up next, hoping to match last week's leaderboard-topping performance.

They'll need plenty of enthusiasm and energy as they jive to Sound of the Underground by Girls Aloud.

With a few quick kicks, we're taken back to the early noughties as the pair follow the electric soundtrack.

There's even time for a quick lift and for Vicky to do the splits, when the pair get a chance to pause the hot-stepping.

Craig says she "played the character brilliantly", while Motsi calls the reality star "our sunshine".

Anton is a bit more reserved, praising the "performance" element, but adding the dance itself "was not your best but not your worst".

How do they score?

Craig: 6

Motsi: 7

Shirley: 7

Anton: 7

Total: 27

Reality star turned TV presenter Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington are set to jive to Sound of the Underground by Girls Aloud.

They were just one point off perfect last week, topping the leaderboard.

The pair is also among the contestants showing steady improvement - they only managed 23 in their first week.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Actor Alex Kingston and partner Johannes Radebe are next to grace the ballroom floor.

There were tears at the end of last week's performance, but the pair will be hoping for a more refined affair as they approach the Waltz tonight.

There's an early flourish from Alex as the pair tiptoe through their routine, and it certainly looks very neat and tidy.

Perhaps preparing for the Blackpool teacups next week, the actor even goes through a cycle of more than five spins - all without a trace of motion sickness.

"It felt lovely," Alex tells Tess, as Shirley confirms she looked "much more comfortable this week" without any footwork errors.

Craig is on to the celebrity's arms though, asking for "a little more float" before appreciating the pair's "clean footwork".

"I'm really loving this partnership," he adds.

Let's see if that's reflected in the scores:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 35

Actress Alex Kingston and her partner Johannes Radebe will be taking to the floor with a waltz set to Barry Manilow's Weekend in New England.

Of course, for many of us, it’s less New England and more a stormy weekend in old England.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Second up, it's Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin with a Paso Doble to Dream On by Aerosmith.

"It's the most dramatic of them all," Nikita tells us, explaining the dance comes from a military step.

There's certainly no shortage of drama as a topless Nikita circles his partner, dressed in shiny leather trousers.

The pair spin their way around the room while fire lights up the digital displays to the sound of heavy guitars.

The dance earns them a standing ovation - which Dave Arch and his band also enjoy - and Motsi congratulates the couple, saying they were "so into the dance".

Shirley has a few notes, but Anton says it was "thrilling to watch" because of the amount of speed changes throughout the performance.

Here come the scores:

Craig: 9

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 9

Anton: 10

Total: 38

West End star Amber Davies and her partner Nikita Kuzmin are coming into week eight fresh from a dazzling 38 points last week. They are gearing up to tackle their Paso Doble to Aerosmith’s Dream On.

It’s a blues rock classic from 1973 - and, for good measure, it’s also been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

With an American Smooth, Balvinder Sopal and her partner Julian Caillon kick off the night's dances.

Before that, there's a treat for Julian as he gets a tour of the fabled Albert Square set.

And as the professional dancer takes in the EastEnders sights and scenes, he's impressed by... the squirrels?

On to the pair's performance, and it's a flowery affair as Balvinder mimics her partner's movements while they revolve across a petal-clad floor - and there are a few lifts too in what is an assured performance.

"What a lovely way to start an evening," Anton reacts, though admits it felt "a little safe" if "neat and tidy".

Motsi agrees there's a little too much "carefulness" to the pair's routines, but says the punchy moments were "really really strong".

Now, the first scores of the night:

Craig: 6

Motsi: 7

Shirley: 7

Anton: 7

Total: 27

EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and her partner - new professional dancer this series - Julian Caillon are taking on an American Smooth to My Guy by Mary Wells.

Statistically, the pair have found themselves in three dance-offs out of the six so far this series. Still, they managed a respectable 34 points last week, so it’s not all doom and gloom.

Let’s see how they fare this time.