It's a Strictly milestone, Blackpool week - watch live at the top of the page
La Voix will bow out of Strictly Come Dancing after it was announced early on that she will be missing today's show
The hosts say no one will be eliminated this week
Lewis Cope and his partner Katya Jones have kicked off the show with a perfect score of 40
Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin topped last week's leaderboard, but we said goodbye to Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington
EastEnders actor Balvinder Sopal and her partner - new professional dancer this series - Julian Caillon are up next.
The pair will be performing an Argentine Tango to The Logical Song by Supertramp - a late 1970s classic for those of us of a certain vintage.
Last week they received the joint-lowest score, they'll be hoping to turn that round tonight.
Dearbail Jordan
Live reporter
First up, it's actor Lewis Cope and dance partner Katya Jones, stepping up to do the Charleston to a syncopated version of Arctic Monkeys' I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.
It's good fun and high energy - helped no doubt by Blackpool Tower's famously bouncy dancefloor.
"What a start," says judge Motsi, adding the "energy was insane" and the "roof is off".
Shirley agrees, praising the couple's synchronisation and deceleration throughout the dance.
"Zero to hero, hero to zero," she says.
Here are the first scores of the night:
Craig: 10
Motsi: 10
Shirley: 10
Anton: 10
Total: 40
Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope and his partner Katya Jones are bringing a piece of Southern California - and a sprinkle of Sheffield - to Blackpool tonight.
They'll performing the Charleston to Arctic Monkey's first ever single, I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.
It won't quite be dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984, as the song says, but they'll be hoping to secure another perfect score.
La Voix has had to pull out of Strictly due to an injury, Tess and Claudia have just announced.
That means there will be no dreaded dance-off, the hosts add.
Noor Nanji
Culture reporter
Image source, ReutersClaudia Winkleman and Tess Daly's last edition of Strictly will air on Christmas Day
Last month, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced they will be leaving Strictly Come Dancing after this series.
The current cast of celebrities battling it out on the dancefloor were unaware of the news, and found out with the rest of us when the hosts made their announcement in an Instagram video.
"I think we found out as everybody else did, just on their socials, which I'm constantly refreshing anyway, as I'm a big fan," said George Clarke.
Quote MessageNo one saw it coming"
La Voix
Daly and Winkleman's revelation sparked a huge reaction online, with the pair saying in a joint statement at the time that they "were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time".
Much attention has turned to who may replace the presenting pair, with Alan Carr and Holly Willoughby among the names being speculated upon.
EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal said "you feel like it's the end of an era, and you don't know what the show is going to look like in the future".
Here's a look back at the statement that took the Strictly world by storm:
Claudia and Tess announce they're leaving Strictly Come Dancing
Don’t forget, you can watch the programme with live signing.
Just press the red button or search for Signed: Strictly Come Dancing to find it on BBC iPlayer.
Strictly Come Dancing kicked off bang on 18:45 GMT. Here we go!
Just a reminder, you can Watch live above, or tune in on BBC One or iPlayer.
There’s also a signed version available on iPlayer with British Sign Language.
Viewers on BBC One and iPlayer can watch with audio description and subtitles.
And, of course, if you stick around here, you’ll get all the text updates.
Tinshui Yeung
Live page editor
When it comes to who makes it to the dance-off, only this week’s performance counts – so past glories (or disasters) are left at the door.
Still, it never hurts to see who’s actually bossing the dancefloor.
Our tally shows a dead heat at the top: two couples are currently sitting pretty in the champion spot for average score. Lewis and Katya, and Amber and Nikita, both have an average of 34.0 points since week one.
Snapping at their heels in third are Alex and Johannes, with an average of 31.6 points.
Bringing up the rear among the surviving couples, it’s La Voix and Aljaž, with a 25.6 score average.
Sadly, La Voix will not be performing this week due to injury so that average will remain the same going into week 10.
Image source, BBC/PAThis week's show is set to be a little less fabulous as drag queen La Voix recovers from a foot injury, and won't be dancing on the Blackpool Tower ballroom.
In line with the rules of the show, La Voix and her partner Aljaž Škorjanec will receive a pass through to next week, "when it is hoped they will be able to dance again", the BBC said.
La Voix said it was "with immense sadness that I have to withdraw". Referring to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the drag queen added: "My heart truly breaks knowing I won't be dancing in such an iconic venue."
La Voix has been one of the break-out stars of this series of Strictly, often making witty remarks to the judges or presenters which go viral on social media.
An unnamed star from Strictly Come Dancing has been arrested on suspicion of rape, it emerged this week.
The man was arrested in October and released on bail while police continue their investigation, according to Hertfordshire Police.
He is alleged to have raped a woman after a BBC event.
A BBC spokesperson told BBC News: "It would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing police investigation."
The Sun newspaper reported that the woman was not a contestant or professional dancer on the show, but had met the man because of his participation in the competition.
It is understood the alleged incident is not related to the current series of Strictly.
Image source, PA MediaAs we prepare for Strictly's annual jaunt to its second home, let's dive into what makes the Blackpool Tower Ballroom so enchanting.
Normally the show's nestled in Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, but once a year since 2004 it packs its bags and heads north.
The ballroom, dating back to 1894, is full of quirks, like the inscription above the stage: “Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear” - a nod to Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis.
The Blackpool dancefloor is a whopper, about nine times the size of Elstree's, so our celebs will definitely get a workout.
And in case you were curious, those grand crystal chandeliers?
They can be lowered to the floor and take over a week to clean. Now that's dedication!
You've a range of options for watching tonight's show - you can Watch live above, or tune in on BBC One or iPlayer.
There’s also a signed version available on iPlayer with British Sign Language.
Viewers on BBC One and iPlayer can watch with audio description and subtitles.
And, of course, if you stick around here, you’ll get all the text updates.
Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter
Buckle up Strictly fans, it's time for Blackpool!
Tonight will see six remaining couples battling it in the iconic Tower Ballroom as the cast of Strictly have all been transported up north for a night of extra-special glitz and glamour.
Last week saw Vicky and Kai bid the dance floor farewell, and Balvinder and Julian narrowly missed out on elimination.
At the top of the leaderboard, Amber and Nikita were two points shy of a perfect score with their Paso Doble.
Blackpool, known for its illuminations, will no doubt be a little dimmer this week as La Voix will be missing out to tonight's show due to injury.
It will see frantically-devised choreo and costume changes as contestants fight out for a few extra points - we'll bring you more details on this soon.
Get yourself comfy, the show kicks off at 18:45.