Maia Davies
Live reporter

We've just finished week four of Strictly and, according to head judge Shirley Ballas, there's never been such strong performances at this stage in the competition.

• Actor Alex Kingston got the second 10 of the series for her Rumba - a dance most celebrities dread - which saw her top the leaderboard with 36 points and, more importantly, dubbed a “queen” by head judge Shirley Ballas
• On the other end of the scale was performer La Voix, whose boxing-themed Cha Cha earned her a total of 14 points, including a rather brutal score of two
• Neighbours star Stefan Dennis returned to the show after his illness last week - and while the judges said he was “back with a bang”, he finished third from the bottom
• Model Ellie Goldstein closed the show with an emotional, triumphant couple’s choice which saw her name (literally) light up the studio - and she got her best score yet
• TikToker George Clarke swapped KPop Demon Hunters for Coldplay with an impressive, slick Tango - retaining his quiet spot near the top with 30 points

We're about to close this live page, but the results will be announced in tomorrow night’s show, which starts at 19:15 BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

This page was edited by Jack Burgess and written by Maia Davies from the BBC's London Broadcasting House.

How to win over Strictly audiencespublished at 20:50 BST 18 October

20:50 BST 18 October

Guy Lambert
Culture reporter

When it comes to winning over voters, nothing beats an underdog story.

Just look at last year’s inspirational winner, Chris McCausland - the first blind contestant to take part in Strictly.

Every week he won the nation’s hearts with his dancing alongside partner Dianne Buswell, eventually being crowned champions.

Then there’s the contestant who improves week after week.

Enter Series 18 winner, Bill Bailey.

He was one of the older contestants that year, but Bailey surprised everyone by proving to be a capable dancer.

His street dance to Rapper's Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang was a turning point, showing just how hard he was working to learn difficult routines.

It all paid off when he won the Glitterball Trophy with partner Oti Mabuse.

And then there’s the contestant who just loves to have fun.

Most of us can’t tell our left foot from our right, so it’s always appreciated when you see that on Strictly.

The more relatable you are, the better.

Of course, it can help to be able to dance - but who really cares if your tango is a little out of time if you’re clearly having an absolute ball?

Jack Burgess
Live page editor

Which couple do you want to see go through to next week?

Voting has just opened, Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman has just announced, and it closes at 21:00 BST tonight.

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

You can cast up to five votes by clicking the 'plus' button next to each couple's name.

Spread your votes among different couples or use them all for the same one.

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

The programme has now finished but our couples will find out tomorrow whether they've secured a place in icons week.

Maia Davies
Live reporter

It’s Ellie’s world, and we’re just living in it.

As her name in bright lights overlooks the stage, she closes the show out with a jam-packed, contemporary routine. It’s rhythmic, driven and just full of glee - with some lifts thrown in for good measure.

All this after we heard from Ellie's mother Yvonne, who says she is so proud of Ellie's confidence and success. It's quite emotional.

“Wow, what a display in self-expression,” Craig says.

Motsi adds: “It was strong, it was powerful, and I know so many young girls out there… are going to want to be out there on stage like you."

Now for the scores:

Craig: 7

Motsi: 8

Shirley: 8

Anton: 8

Total: 31

The couple are delighted - it's their highest score so far.

Image source, PA

On to the next - and it’s Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola’s turn to perform their couple’s choice to Golden by HUNTR/X.

After living out her Barbie dreams last Saturday - replete with sequins, daring dips, squats and swirls - who knows what the pair have prepared tonight.

The model and influencer's score has steadily improved with each dance, from 17 in week one to 27 last week - a trend she'll be hoping to continue tonight. Let's go!

Maia Davies
Live reporter

It's a truly theatrical performance, full of passion and intensity.

The pair had to swap out some lifts at the last minute, they say - but you wouldn't have known that from watching them dance.

There are a few impressive lifts in there, but it's the compact, controlled nature of the routine that packs a punch.

"You guys were so in your own world… I couldn’t look away,” Motsi says.

Craig agrees, branding the routine “incredible”.

Now for the numbers:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 8

Anton: 8

Total: 33

Actress and former Love Island winner Amber Davies is next on the floor, alongside her dance partner Nikita.

With an Argentine Tango to the iconic Angel of My Dreams by Jade, it’s sure to be a punchy performance.

The West End star has gone from strength to strength since being drafted in at the last minute to replace an injured Dani Dyer.

Despite bagging 35 points last week, Lewis and Katya narrowly beat them to the top of the leader-board with 37. Who will come out on top this week?

Maia Davies
Live reporter

Chris throws himself into the Salsa, which includes some classic footwork, plenty of lifts and actual flames.

He seems to be getting more comfortable on the dancefloor - and the studio audience appears to agree.

For Craig, it lacked “any rotation whatsoever” - but the lifts, he says, were “extraordinary".

Shirley says she can’t remember week four ever being so strong, adding that Chris managed his lifts just as well as some world champions.

Let’s find out what the judges thought:

Craig: 4

Motsi: 6

Shirley: 7

Anton: 7

Total: 24

It’s their best score to date, and the pair seem thrilled.

Image source, PA Media

Next on the Strictly dance floor is former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw and his partner Nadia.

It was something of a bumpy start to the series for the couple, who narrowly avoided being voted off in the first dance-off.

But the judges praised his improvement last week after he danced a Thor-themed Paso Doble for movie week, awarding him 22 points.

He’ll need to get his hips moving tonight if he wants his Salsa to Ricky Martin's Maria to take him further up the leader-board.

Maia Davies
Live reporter

Our second Rumba of the night - to the perhaps unorthodox song choice of Fast Car.

But Alex totally commands the stage. It's a considered, elegant performance and wins a standing ovation from head judge Shirley and the crowd.

Shirley walks on to the stage, emotional - telling Alex it was a "perfect routine" and calling her "queen".

"In all my time on Strictly I've never seen a pair of legs work like that," she adds.

"I could rumba all night long," Doctor Who star Alex Kingston says.

Craig adds: “You are becoming quite a dancer, you really are.”

And now for the all-important scores:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 10

Anton: 9

Total: 36

It's the second 10 of the series.

Image source, PA Media

Actress and Doctor Who star Alex Kingston and her dance partner Johannes will be hoping to impress with a Rumba to Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car next.

It’s something of a change of pace for the award-winning actor - who last week channelled Miranda Priestly in her Devil Wears Prada-themed Quickstep.

Let’s see if the pair can top the impressive 30 points that they won.

Maia Davies
Live reporter

Balvinder and Julian wanted to bring heat and spice to their Paso Doble - and they weren't in short supply in that routine.

It was a driven and passionate dance, and you could see Balvinder wanted to show up in style after last week.

Motsi said the dance showed just that commitment to the competition - and a “power to give dance life… that’s so rare”.

“You are a powerhouse, without a doubt.”

There were a few mishaps, Shirley says, but it was a “true flavour of what a Paso Doble is”.

How do the scores look?

Craig: 7

Motsi: 7

Shirley: 7

Anton: 7

Total: 28

EastEnders actor Balvinder Sopal will be hoping to make a strong showing tonight after appearing in last week’s dance-off.

She's set for an ever-dramatic Paso Doble to Diablo Rojo by Rodrigo y Gabriela, which will certainly give her the chance to show what she’s made of.

Let’s see if she and new pro Julian can beat the 26 points they scored last week.

Maia Davies
Live reporter

It's certainly a far cry from last week's Waltz - with the pair performing a boxing-themed Cha Cha, complete with plenty of slow motion punching.

She jokes after finishing: "They said it wasn't a themed week, look at the state of me!"

As usual with La Voix, it's a character-driven dance - but there were a fair few stumbles and it could have been more lively.

Craig begins: “it’s like going to the dentist, you go in smiling… and you leave numb”.

“So much went wrong,” he adds, “but I can’t help but love you”.

Shirley says it would be unfair to judge the dance because she got off to a bad start: "You just had one of those days”.

But judge they must - and here are the scores:

Craig: 3

Motsi: 4

Shirley: 2

Anton: 5

Total: 14

It's their lowest score yet.

Image source, PA Media

Singer and performer La Voix has been known to steal the show with her larger-than-life sense of humour, often incorporated into her routines.

But last week, a delicate waltz with Aljaž left the audience in a stunned silence.

Tonight, it looks like a return to form for the couple with a Cha Cha to the powerful Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar.

Will they improve upon last week's score of 28?

Maia Davies
Live reporter

It's a slick, relatively no-frills Tango for George and Alexis, with only a throne on stage as the pair dance with ease.

George seems to have grown into showing off this more serious side of himself - and it works well.

Shirley says there was “a lot in there to like,” but that it became somewhat tangled halfway through - but Motsi says “you’ve split the judges… I loved it”.

Anton praises a powerful “quietness” to George’s dancing, while Craig says he would have “nailed it” with one more go.

What about the scores?

Craig: 7

Motsi: 8

Shirley: 7

Anton: 8

Total: 30

Image source, PA Media

TikToker and podcaster George Clarke has proven something of an unexpected threat this series - so far ranking third in terms of overall scores, with only actors Amber and Lewis ahead of him.

He scored a strong 31 last week with his couple’s choice to Soda Pop from KPop Demon Hunters.

This week it’s a Tango to Coldplay’s anthemic Viva La Vida. Might this be the dance that finally brings him to the top of the leaderboard?

Maia Davies
Live reporter

Jimmy said he wanted his dance to show his daughters "where Dad is from", with music chosen in tribute to his late mother.

And his couple's choice is full of personality, colour and rhythm, complete with lifts and even a slide across the floor for the big finish. The crowd reacts well.

Shirley praises the different rhythms on display and says Jimmy has become “one of the best entertainers on the show,” while Motsi calls the former footballer a role model.

“I feel so proud to see you represent that on the dance floor,” she adds.

Time for the scores:

Craig: 6

Motsi: 8

Shirley: 7

Anton: 8

Total: 29

Their best score to date.

And it's another couple's choice now - this time from former professional footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

He and Lauren Oakley bagged their highest score of the series last week with their Rumba - a 28 - and some high praise from the judges.

Jimmy seems to be bucking the less-than-fortunate trend for athletes on the show, and currently ranks fifth in terms of overall scores this series. Fingers crossed tonight's dance keeps that up.