Strictly Come Dancing is back to BBC One this evening for week five of the competition amid a rollercoaster few days on and off the screen for the show, with Nick Knowles being the latest star to say goodbye.
Liverpudlian Chris McCausland has delivered the most emotional moment of the night with a Waltz to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” that left head judge Shirley Ballas in tears.
And while last Saturday saw former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri awarded the first 10s of the series so far, having impressed the judges with her Coachella themed Charleston, it’s finally someone else’s turn to top the leaderboard. The honour so far goes to Jamie Borthwick for his Pasodoble.
Last week’s episode was not without controversy. Towards the end of the show, the celebrities and their professional partners gathered in the “Clauditorium” – the upstairs area where host Claudia Winkleman chats to the contestants in between performances – before the voting lines opened, just as they do every week.
This time, though, dancer Katya Jones was captured on camera as she appeared to move opera singer Wynne Evans’s hand off her midriff and onto her hip. Earlier in the programme, she seemed to reject a high five from her partner. Seeing these two incidents in quick succession moved viewers to start speculating about whether Jones was feeling uneasy. Social media was soon awash with comments from Strictly fans: “Something is off,” one Twitter/X viewer claimed, while others described the interaction as “uncomfortable”.
The pair quickly moved to shut down the rumour mill, sharing an Instagram video in which they said they were “just messing around”. In his post, Evans wrote the high fives were a “running joke” between them. Jones, a Strictly veteran of eight years, later doubled down with another video on Sunday, describing the row as “quite absurd” and asking fans to focus their attention on Evans’s “amazing” progress in the competition.
There is no theme for this weeks show so an eclectic mix of songs and performances with the tunes already being announced by the BBC.
Strictly Come Dancing week five updates
Chris McCausland praises Strictly singer’s rendition of Liverpool anthem
Wynne Evans ‘heartbroken’ by response to hand interaction with Katya Jones
Jamie Borthwick lands three 10s
Chris McCausland leaves Shirley Ballas in tears
Shayne Ward bounces back after last week’s dance-off
Montell’s scores are in…
20:16 , Rachel McGrath
She ‘s officially the third of this year’s celebs to land 10s.
Montell received three — do I really need to tell you who gave her a 9? — and she’s joint top of the leaderboard with Jamie, on 34. What a way to close the show, indeed.
Montell has entered the chat
20:14 , Rachel McGrath
Erm, wow! The Gladiators star has delivered solid performances so far this series, but that the ‘wow’ moment she’s needed.
A beautiful homage to her Carribbean roots and Johannes’ life in South Africa, their routine had it all — including a costume change.
“Every week, we’ve been like, ‘she’s getting there, she’s getting there’… tonight you let it explode,” said Motsi.
Could Jamie be about to lose the top spot on the leaderboard?
Montell’s closing the show
20:08 , Rachel McGrath
Oh, I do love a Couple’s Choice. The emotional stories behind them often make the routines extra special, as with Punam’s history-making Bollywood routine earlier this series.
Montell is paying tribute to her Caribbean roots and from what I’ve glimpsed of their outfits so far, both her and Johannes look amazing.
I think this will be another brilliant routine.
Wynne’s scores are in…
20:07 , Rachel McGrath
He’s had a great night. Going along the panel, he’s received a 7, a 9, another 9 and an 8, for a total of 33.
No mention of the drama so far…
20:05 , Rachel McGrath
Wynne and Katya are up now. Their VT included no mention of the drama that plagued them after last week’s episode — which I had thought they might mention, if only because Wynne seemed very emotional about it all when he apologised.
Their Quickstep was solid though! And they genuinely do appear get on very well, laughing through the critiques and joking with the judges.
Shayne’s scores are in…
20:00 , Rachel McGrath
It’s a 7 from Craig, and 8s from the rest of the panel, including Shirley who was so over-excited she lifted up the paddle before her cue. Whoops!
Shayne has a total of 31 and will hopefully pick up enough votes to avoid dancing off again.
Shayne bounces back
19:55 , Rachel McGrath
Now, that is how to make a return after being in the dance-off.
It seemed a little unfair when the former Corrie actor was left fighting for his place in the competition last week and it’s clear the lack of votes from viewers got to him too. But what a way to bounce back.
His and Nancy’s American Smooth was beautiful and packed with graceful, well-executed lifts.
Sarah’s scores are in…
19:50 , Rachel McGrath
Four 8s give Sarah and Vito a solid 32. Very well done!
Sarah and Vito’s Samba
19:47 , Rachel McGrath
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… the Strictly hair and makeup department knows a good wig when they see it.
In other news, Sarah’s Samba was a solid effort! And she seemed to relax into it as the dance went on.
Pete’s scores are in…
19:43 , Rachel McGrath
He’s landed a total of 22 with the judges almost performing a Steps cover as they reached for their paddles: 4, 5, 6, 7.
Did this have to be set to an Oasis song?
19:38 , Rachel McGrath
Pete’s Rumba wasn’t as bad as I was expecting it to be, but the “Don’t Look Back In Anger” soundtrack kept taking me out of it.
Shirley had no trouble though. She is absolutely mesmerised by Pete’s hip action. So much so, she’s willing to overlook the lifts Jowita probably shouldn’t have included in the routine (they’re not really the done thing in traditional Rumbas).
Pete’s up next
19:33 , Rachel McGrath1
He’s doing a Rumba which will be… tough.
But in the meantime, who out of him and Shayne is the evil twin?
Sam’s scores are in…
19:32 , Rachel McGrath
And it’s not too bad! A 6, 7, 6 and another 7 give her a total of 26.
It’s not a great night for Sam
19:31 , Rachel McGrath
The judges haven’t loved her Quickstep and she looks quite emotional hearing their comments.
“It wasn’t quite magnifnicent,” said Anton. “You went wrong a couple of times, but I have to say, in general, you’re dancing much better.”
“I felt overall you’re in a divorce and fighting one another, you’re at different paces and levels,” said Craig, though he did then admit he “enjoyed” it.
Motsi speculated that Sam had “timing issues and nerves”. “It’s just not your night,” Shirley said, as she urged Sam not to feel too sad about the judges’ critiques.
Paul’s scores are in…
19:23 , Rachel McGrath
Oh dear. It’s a 3 from Craig then — going down the panel — two 5s and a 6. That’s a total of 19, putting him bottom of the leaderboard so far.
Paul gives the Samba a go
19:19 , Rachel McGrath
Paul showed some promise last week with his transformation into Fred Astaire for a Quickstep. Now he’s doing… a samba. It’s unfortunate.
Let’s be honest, he’s probably not got left long in the competition but the former footballer is without a doubt one of my favourite contestants this year.
He always gives the live shows his all and is such a joy to watch (even if the steps aren’t quite right).
Tasha’s scores are in…
19:15 , Rachel McGrath
Two 8s and two 9s give them 34.
This means for the first time since week one, she and Aljaz won’t be topping the leaderboard. That honour is currently going to Jamie and Michelle, on 39.
Judges disagree over Tasha’s Tango
19:13 , Rachel McGrath
This time it’s Craig and Shirley who have differing opinions.
“It lacked a little bit of aggression for me,” said Craig, though he then labelled the routine “magnificent”.
“I think it had the agression you need for a Tango,” countered Shirley. “You’re on a very, very good track. Consistency in all of it is key and I believe you can find that.”
As Motsi pointed out, the judges are being seriously picky with Tasha as she’s at such a high level so the comments may not impact her score too much.
Can Tasha beat last week’s score of 39?
19:10 , Rachel McGrath
Tasha and Aljaz had plenty to celebrate last week after topping the leaderboard (again) and scoring the first 10s of the series.
The only downside is that this pair have set the bar incredibly high for themselves so early in the competition. But what better way to follow the 10s than with the drama of a Tango?
Chris’s scores are in…
19:07 , Rachel McGrath
He’s landed a very well-deserved 35 — his highest score yet. This thans to 9s from everyone but Craig, who reached for his 8 paddle.
Chris takes a hilarious swipe at Craig
19:06 , Rachel McGrath
The comedian had the pefect comeback ready as Craig gave his critique.
“The beard doesn’t suit you and even I know that,” he quipped. I actually like the beard for what it’s worth, but his joke gets a 10 from me.
Chris leaves the crowd in tears
19:01 , Rachel McGrath
Am I crying? Yes, I am. So is Shirley on the panel and Oti Mabuse in the audience.
Chris is a phenomenal guy and he’s been bringing so much fun and laughter to this series, but it was so beautiful to see his softer side.
Chris’s routine feels familiar…
18:57 , Rachel McGrath
This promises to be an emotional one. But Simon Rimmer, also a devout Liverpudlian fan, took on a Waltz to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” back in 2017 and left head judge Shirley Ballas in tears. Here’s his routine:
Jamie’s scores are in…
18:56 , Rachel McGrath
And he’s landed 39! With 10s from all the judges apart from Craig (who else would it be?).
That’s the joint highest score from the series so far.
Jamie wins over the judges
18:55 , Rachel McGrath
With Ian Beale (well, Adam Woodyatt) cheering him on, Jamie won high praise from the judges.
Craig said: “In my best East End darling, Paso bleedin’ tastic, darling!”
“All that intension, intensity, beintg alive with your dance partner… brilliant,” added Motsi, before Shirley praised Michelle for her “outstanding” choeography. “That was an absolutely remarkable Pasodoble,” the head judge continued.
Rounding things off, Anton praised Jamie’s eight ‘fregolinas’ (yes, I had to google how to spell that) and said: “You will never dance a better dance than that.” High praise indeed!
Can Jamie deliver a ‘wow’ moment?
18:50 , Rachel McGrath
Jamie and Michelle landed in joint second on the leaderboard last week with a score of 34, including two 9s. Will their Pasodoble get them any 10s?
The EastEnders star is a solid contender but he hasn’t so far had a ‘wow’ moments on the dancefloor.
Punam’s scores are in…
18:48 , Rachel McGrath
It’s a four from Craig! Ouch. A 6 from Motsi, 5 from Shirley, and 6 from Anton give her a total of 21.
It’s just point more than last week, when she ended up bottom of the leaderboard…
Punam and Gorka perform a Waltz
18:43 , Rachel McGrath
Punam has had the full spectrum of Strictly experiences, delivering the dance of the night in Movie Week with her Bollywood routine, only to find herself bottom of the leaderboard last week.
Viewers’ votes saved her from the dreaded dance-off, but she really needed to pull something great out of the bag this week. That was a beautiful Waltz and she certainly looked less nervous than last week, but will it be enough?
JB’s scores are in…
18:38 , Rachel McGrath
Two 7s and two 8s give the JLS singer a solid 30, the same score as last week.
He received mixed reviews from the judges. Anton started by labelling the routine “clean [but] a little heavy and a little stompy” — and Craig agreed with him.
Things got a little better when Motsi shared her thoughts, as she said: “There were plenty of good things going for you in that Jive, do keep up the good work”.
“Every week, you’re bringing something new to your dancing,” added Shirley. “What a divine performane to start the show.”
JB and Amy open the show
18:34 , Rachel McGrath
They’ve kickstarted the evening (quite literally) with a Jive to Outkast’s “Hey Ya!”. It’s yet another solid performance from JB and a total joy… but I am dizzy from the camerawork.
And we’re off!
18:26 , Rachel McGrath
I’m back for what will surely be another interesting evening in the Strictly ballroom.
We have a Pasodoble, a Couple’s Choice and what is sure to be an emotional Waltz among tonight’s 12 performances. But it’s fair to say all eyes will be on Wynne and Katya, and whether they address the fallout from last week. Buckle up…
Wynne Evans says he’s ‘feeling the love’ following return to dancefloor after touching controversy
18:15 , Greg Evans
Opera singer Wynne Evans has thanked his fans for showing him love after the Katya Jones touching controversy.
On his Instagram account, the Welsh singer, best known for starring in the Go Compare adverts, shared a selfie of himself smiling.
In the caption he wrote: “Here we go it’s nearly showtime. Thanks for all the wonderful messages I’m certainly feeling love.”
He added: “Don’t forget to vote vote vote.”
Evans signed off the post by saying “love you all you’re amazing.”
Pete Wicks cozies up to dance partner Jowita Przystal as she admits he looks ‘handsome’
18:00 , Greg Evans
Pete Wicks cozied up to dance partner Jowita Przystal as she admitted he looked “handsome” during their latest dance.
The couple, who have been at the centre of romance rumours since the start of the competition, appeared on the Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two on 17 October, with the professional dancer quick to praise her partner.
As the reality star sat with his arm around her, Jowita said Pete continues to get “better and better”.
As host Janette Manrara told Pete he looked “handsome” with his hair slicked back for his Quickstep in last week’s live show, Jowita was quick to agree.
Katya and Wynne’s awkward Strictly Come Dancing saga is a sign of things to come
17:30 , Greg Evans
Following the controversy surrounding the incident between Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, Katie Rosseinsky fears that after the show’s bullying row that it could be a sign of things to come for the long running BBC series.
In the wake of the backstage drama that has gripped Strictly this year, it seems inevitable that viewers will be on high alert for any whisper of behind-the-scenes strife, real or imagined. Last month, the BBC published the results of its probe into past contestant Amanda Abbington’s complaints levelled at former-pro Giovanni Pernice. The corporation upheld complaints relating to verbal bullying and harassment, but found that Pernice had not been physically aggressive, and also issued an apology to Abbington. Before that, over the summer, dancer Graziano Di Prima left Strictly, later admitting to having kicked his celebrity partner Zara McDermott during a rehearsal.
Although the long-running investigation may have wrapped up, it has cast a definite shadow over the usually sparkling proceedings. This shadow has proved hard to shake off, despite the fact that Strictly seems to have adopted a business-as-usual approach (the row hasn’t yet been alluded to on the show, although chaperones are now present during dance rehearsals and welfare protocols have been bolstered). Against this backdrop, it’s hardly surprising that fans are perhaps reading into any unusual onscreen interactions more closely than they might have done a few years ago: right now, everything that happens on air is being viewed through the prism of past scandals.
Katya and Wynne’s awkward Strictly Come Dancing saga is a sign of things to come
Strictly star announces split from wife after nine years of marriage
17:00 , Greg Evans
Ore Oduba, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, has announced that he and his wife Portia have split after nine years of marriage.
The 38-year-old TV presenter and actor shared the “difficult” news in a post online on Thursday, revealing that the pair had separated earlier in the year.
He wrote: “Hi guys. Portia and I are sad to announce that we separated earlier this year. We’re so grateful for all the love you’ve shared with us both over the years.”
“And we want to thank you in advance for respecting our privacy as we navigated this difficult transition. We will be making no further comment. Be kind, always.”
Strictly star announces split from wife after nine years of marriage
JB Gill has already done this week’s dance pro claims
16:30 , Greg Evans
Strictly pro Ola Jordan has spoken on her past experiences with JLS singer JB Gill, having previously partnered with him for a one off Christmas special in 2012.
Gill has been partnered with returning Welsh dancer Amy Dowden and the two have impressed so far and this week will be dancing the Jive to the Outkast classic “Hey Ya.”
Gill has actually done this dance before with him and Jordan triumphing with their performance of the Jive back in 2012. Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Jordan said: “I’m looking forward to seeing JB and Amy. It’s funny because they haven’t mentioned that JB actually did a Strictly Christmas special, so he has already done a Jive.”
“He did it with me back in 2012 and he was very good when I was teaching him, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he does in his Jive this weekend,” the 42-year-old said.
Nick Knowles receives sympathy from viewers after being eliminated
16:00 , Greg Evans
DIY SOS host Nick Knowles was eliminated from the competition last week after struggling with injuries throughout his time on the show.
Knowles and his pro partner Luba Mushtuk were in the dance off against singer Shayne Ward and his partner Nancy Xu.
Knowles had been absent for the previous week after sustaining a shoulder injury. Ward and Xu performed a Cha Cha to “Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use)” by Sub Sub feat Melanie Williams, while Knowles and Mushtuk danced a Charleston to “Rain on the Roof” from the film Paddington 2.
Ultimately, it was Knowles who was eliminated from the competition, with all four judges agreeing that Ward would make it through to the next round.
Viewers reacted to the elimination on X/Twitter, with many expressing sympathy for Knowles following his injury last week.
“Definitely the right result. Shayne Ward should never have been in the dance-off. Nick Knowles did well despite his injuries though,” one person wrote.
“Poor Nick,” commented another. “I wouldn’t have bothered coming back.”
“Honestly I’m relieved Nick is going bc he needs to recover from his injury and I’m pretty sure he would’ve had to drop out anyway in the next few weeks,” someone else wrote.
Chris McCausland hits back at Lord Sugar over ‘gimmick’ comments
15:30 , Greg Evans
Chris McCausland has hit back at Alan Sugar after The Apprentice boss appeared to call his recent dance performance a “gimmick”.
The 47-year-old comedian is the show’s first blind contestant, and performed a Salsa to “Down Under” by Men at Work with his professional partner Dianne Buswell on 12 October.
McCausland’s routine included a series of impressive lifts, which were praised by the Strictly judges and fans at home alike.
Head judge Shirley Ballas was lost for words at the end of the comedian’s performance. “I can’t even imagine how you managed to do that so flawlessly when you can’t see,” she said.
However, Sugar appeared less than impressed as he posted a scathing critique of Saturday’s performances on X/Twitter.
“I don’t know when Strictly Come Dancing are going to run out of contestant gimmicks,” he wrote. “I would not be surprised if they had a AI mechanical robot next year.”
Fans interpreted the attack to be aimed at McCausland, as one wrote, “Gimmicks? Says the man who literally just points a finger. I hope Chris wins.”
But McCausland waded into the conversation to defend himself as he hit back, “I am sorry my gimmick offends you oh mighty Lord. #YoureTired.”
Tasha Ghouri deserved Strictly Come Dancing’s first 10s of 2024 – but don’t write off the underdogs yet
15:00 , Greg Evans
Former Love Island star has impressed the judges every time she’s stepped on the dancefloor and her Coachella themed Charleston to “Unhealthy” by Anne-Marie and Shania Twain left three of them reaching for their 10 paddles.
But scoring the first 10s of the series is far from a guarantee that a celebrity will get their hands on the Glitterball trophy. And for the last two years, the person to do so hasn’t even made it to the final.
Comedian Eddie Kadi and pro partner Karen Hauer landed the first 10 of Strictly 2023 for their Men In Black themed Movie Week dance, only to leave the competition three weeks later.
In 2022, Tyler West and Dianne Buswell scored two 10s in Movie Week but missed out on the final. That series was won by wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin, whose Strictly journey saw him go from being one of the least known celebrities on the call sheet to one of the show’s most beloved stars.
Rachel McGrath explains why Ghouri’s impressive achievement isn’t guaranteed to see her win the competition.
Strictly pro makes admission about ‘silly inside joke’ after Wynne Evans hand fiasco
14:30 , Greg Evans
Katya Jones has made an admission about her interactions with Wynne Evans on Strictly Come Dancing.
Despite Jones calling the fiasco “nonsense” and “absurd”, Evans still found himself receiving criticism, leading the pro to defend the star on companion show It Takes Two on Monday (16 October).
Jones said that she “can’t bear” seeing Evans in distress over the situation, calling the interactions nothing more than an “inside joke”. However, Jones admitted the joke was “silly” and “bad”.
After Evans said he can see why viewers “may have misinterpreted” his hand placement, his professional partner continued: “The idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is total nonsense, and those that have doubts, you guys have got it wrong. So hopefully this will be the end of it, and you just keep making me smile.
“I can’t sit here watching this man being portrayed as someone he’s not. In fact, it couldn’t be further away from the truth. So I have to make this absolutely clear that this whole incident, with the hand and the high five on Saturday night, was an inside joke between Wynne and I.
She then stated: “Was it a silly joke? Yes, was it a bad joke? Yes.”
Strictly pro makes admission about ‘silly inside joke’ after Wynne Evans hand fiasco
Wynne Evans ‘heartbroken’ by response to hand interaction with Katya Jones
14:00 , Greg Evans
Wynne Evans has said he is “heartbroken” by reactions to a hand incident with his partner Katya Jones on the 12 October.
The 52-year-old opera singer, best known for his Go Compare insurance adverts, received his highest scores of the series so far, but this was outshadowed by a furore caused by videos showing his background interactions with Jones.After the episode, a video that showed Evans awkwardly placing his hand slowly across his professional partner’s stomach, in which Jones removed it and placed it on her hip instead, went viral on social media.Later, a separate clip was shared from viewers who noticed that Jones refused to give Evans a high five while stood behind the show’s co-host Claudia Winkleman. Jones turned her back on Evans and seemingly rolled her eyes at the opera singer. The pair later addressed the awkwardness as they said it had been a “joke”.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day,” he told BBC Radio Wales on 14 October.“It’s not nice to live in that time, but basically Katya and I are really, really close and we’re really good friends, and on Saturday night we made a stupid joke.”
He explained,“It was a stupid joke that went wrong, okay, we thought it was funny. It wasn’t funny. It has been totally misinterpreted.”
Referring to social media reaction online, in which both clips have since gone viral, Evans said: “Everything’s on Katya’s socials. She’s talked about it. She’s explained that it was a joke. She wasn’t offended in the least. She doesn’t feel uncomfortable.”
Chris McCausland praises Strictly singer’s rendition of Liverpool anthem
13:30 , Greg Evans
Liverpool footbal club fan Chris McCausland has praised Strictly singer Tommy Blaize after he shared a snippet of tonight’s performance of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” the anthem of the Mersyside team.
Blaize, who is also a supporter of The Reds, wrote on X/Twitter: “Every once in a while I get to sing one very close to my heart.” He accompanied the post with a video of him singing the song while wearing a Liverpool shirt.
In response, McCausland said: “And this just makes it even more special for me. Tommy Knox it out of the park every time he sings, I just hope I can do the same with the dancing bit.“
Strictly Come Dancing reveals songs and dances for week five
12:55 , Greg Evans
This Saturday night’s show does not have a theme so viewers can expect a wide but eclectic variety of dances, including Paul Merson dancing a Samba to Rose Royce’s “Car Wash” and Pete Wicks dancing a Rumba to Oasis’s “Don’t Look Back in Anger”.This week’s dances include two Sambas and two Quicksteps, plus a couple’s choice routine for Montell Douglas and her pro partner Johannes Radebe.
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell will dance a Waltz to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers, while Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola will dance a Samba to “Do It Do It Again” by Rafaella Carrà.
Find the full list of songs and dances for week five below:Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe will dance a Couple’s Choice to “Skeleton Move” by KG and Zanda Zakuza
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez will dance a Viennese Waltz to “She’s Always A Woman To Me” by Billy Joel
Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin will dance a Quickstep to “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola will dance a Samba to “Do It Do It Again” by Rafaella Carrà
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec will dance a Tango to “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The MachineChris McCausland and Dianne Buswell will dance a Waltz to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas will dance a Pasodoble to “Malagueña” by Ernesto LecuonaJB Gill and Amy Dowden will dance a Jive to “Hey Ya!” by Outkast
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer will dance a Samba to “Car Wash” by Rose Royce
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał will dance a Rumba to “Don’t Look Back In Anger” by Oasis
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu will dance an American Smooth to “Get Here” by Sam SmithWynne Evans and Katya Jones will dance a Quickstep to “Mr Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra
