Strictly Come Dancing: the semi-final continues!

Strictly Come Dancing: the semi-final continues!
Strictly Come Dancing: the semi-final continues!

The five remaining Strictly Come Dancing contestants have made their last bid to win a place in the final, in the second part of this weekend's semi-final. Having each performed a routine on Friday night's show and taken part in the 'swing-a-thon' - a group dance in which each couple were gradually eliminated by the judges - Saturday's show saw the five performing one more routine each. And once again Pamela scored a full house from the judges for her quickstep with partner James Jordan, which saw her perform an elaborate costume change as well as tap dance. "Once again your passion for dance lights up the room," Alesha Dixon said. "You showed true showmanship." And Len Goodman agreed. "You are a class act," he said, "and that was brilliant." Kara Tointon also had another good night, dropping just one point for her sensual rumba with partner Artem Chigvintsev. "It's not often a couple comes out and dances and moves you emotionally," Alesha told her, "that was so touching." Craig Revel Horwood, meanwhile, described the routine as "almost perfect" and attracted boos from the crowd when he was the only judge not to award her a 10. Meanwhile Matt Baker and Aliona Vilani improved upon Friday night's disappointing salsa with a tango that wowed the panel and won a standing ovation from the audience. "This dance suits you," Bruno Tonioli said, "you've done very very well." And Len Goodman agreed. "Tonight you were cooking on gas, you've come out on fire, great job." Scott Maslen also improved upon his previous performance with a spirited Charleston, which Len described as "good fun and high energy", while Bruno also gave the performance the thumbs up. "After seven months at sea," he joked in reference to Scott's sailor costume, "you found the flapper and you were ready for action!" although Gavin Henson once again found himself at the bottom of the judges' scoreboard for his Viennese Waltz with Katya Virshilas. "One essentialy element of dance is timing," Craig said, "and that seems to elude you sometimes." However Bruno was kinder. "Regardless of what happens you should be proud," he said, "you've done very very well tonight." The results will be revealed on Sunday evening, with two couples eliminated from the competition, leaving three to battle it out in next weekend's final.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.