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After a two-week absence - we really are sorry - the DS Strictly blog is back! Unless you've been living under a rock for the last month, you'll be fully aware that tonight's show is taking place in the glamour capital of the UK - Blackpool! And after Zoë's shock departure last Saturday, we can expect plenty of tears and tantrums from the top of the Tower. But can Craig and Flavia survive another week? And will Ola wear another catsuit? All these questions and more will be answered this evening.
20:15: Craig is out, but he takes it graciously. I don't care what anyone says, I liked him and I think the judges were mean to him this evening. What did you think of the result? Did Ali deserve her full house of 10s? Who is your dark horse? Leave all your opinions in the box below and join me back here next week from 6.50pm.
20:09: It's DECISION TIME. Not a toughie this week. The judges have very little comment, which is a bit unfair. All the first three choose to save Ricky and Erin. Craig is voted off.
20:06: The judges will be pleased. For the first time I can remember, the bottom two couples on the leaderboard are the ones in the dance-off. An evening for the purists.
20:04: Ricky Groves & Erin Boag and Craig Kelly & Flavia Cacace are in the Bottom Two. Well, it's time to say goodbye to Craig. I hope the judges have the decency to at least praise him for his last routine after their harsh comments earlier.
20:03: This is the MOMENT OF TRUTH. Duh-duh-duh! Ali and Brian are the first to be saved.
20:02: Ricky Groves: "I don't know what I'd be doing if I wasn't doing Strictly." I do, Ricky - panto.
19:59: Rod Stewart gives a hearty rendition of his new single. Worth putting up with, even if you're not a Rod fan, just to see his wife Penny's legs and bendy moves with Matthew Cutler.
19:53: Fair play to Brucie, he still does well for an 81-year-old. He gets a grope of Jill Halfpenny's legs for his troubles as well. PHONE LINES HAVE CLOSED. So no voting now, unless you're an utter buffoon. It's time for a performance from Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster.
19:51: Crikey! Vincent just lifted Natalie Cassidy. He must be eating his Shredded Wheat. Ooh dear, Brucie's having a sing-song and a sway.
19:48: We see a little video from when the dancers and celebrities visited some troops earlier this week. Lots of army boys seem quite excited about Kristina, Katya and Ola. Time for a special swing dance now, with series two winner Jill Halfpenny joining the professional dancers and all this year's celebrities.
19:46: A lovely Viennese waltz group dance from the professionals. It really does look a lot grander in the Blackpool Tower. Makes the BBC shed look a bit ropey in comparison.
19:40: Let's hear your opinions then. Who was the best? Who was the worst? Craig and Flavia are bottom of the class with 17, while lovebirds Ali and Brian are the swots with a perfect 40. Will the judges' spiky criticism end up actually helping Craig? Tuffers and Laila are in the real danger spots, so keep an eye out for them in the dance-off.
19:38: Well, well, well. The judges have a bit of a bee in their bonnet about Craig. Mr Horwood gives him a three and Alesha gives him a four. That's very stingy and he Scores: 17 - his lowest of the series. Craig describes it as a "disgrace" and that does seem very harsh. It was a clear improvement and it's not his fault if the public have saved him over supposedly superior dancers.
19:36: Well, Flavia's dress should get them a few extra points. Craig actually smiled throughout the whole routine as well, which made a big difference. Mr Horwood describes it as being "like a Thunderbird", Len claims that it was the "weakest performance of the night". Miaow, Alesha makes some rather catty remarks. She says that he is "not as good as he thinks he is" and moans about Zöe having to leave last week. That was a bit unnecessary.
19:32: Craig and Flavia have got a lot of stick from the forums and Bruno during recent weeks, but I'll always stand up for him. He's a world away from the silliness of Kate bloody Garraway and John Sergeant. He wants to dance and you can see the commitment that he gives every week. Plus, Flavia is looking pretty hot in a little red number.
19:29: A Score: 34 and they are third on the leaderboard. He's only one point behind Ricky 'The Wonder' Whittle. The final dancers of the night are Craig and Flavia.
19:25: Well, I may have to take back my prediction that Chris and Ola would leave tonight. That was a mighty impressive routine. Bruno, Alesha, Craig and Len all loved it and this should be his highest score to date. Ola's wearing the most she's worn all series, but it appears to have paid off.
19:20: A mixed bag for Tuffers as he Scores: 28. They are second from bottom and they'll need your votes as well. Katya's mum is coming next week for the first time. Will that persuade you to make a call for them? Up next... Chris Hollins and naughty Ola with a foxtrot.
19:18: Always tough the rumba, but Phil coped quite well with that. Len says that it's his best Latin routine to date. Alesha tells him to watch his hands. Bruno complains that it lacked the hip action of a "sex God" and wants the Tuffers bum wiggle back. Craig is the only one not impressed and doesn't have anything positive to say, which seems a little harsh.
19:15: Laila and Anton Score: 30, which on any other night would probably have saved them. They will need some votes tonight, though, because they're going to be pretty near the bottom with that. Will the public still pick up the phone for Anton after his recent big mouth blunders? Up next... Phil 'The Cat' Tufnell and Katya.
19:11: A smouldering paso doble from Anton and Laila and that's probably their best Latin routine so far. Craig says that it lacked "connection", Len complains about a lift, but Alesha loved it and describes it as "mesmerising". We're somewhere in the middle on that routine.
19:07: Ricky and Erin are off the pace with a Score: 25. I reckon Ricky may just have enough public support to eek out one more week of action, but he'll need to up his game if he wants to get any further. Up next is naughty Anton Du Beke and the lovely Laila Rouass with a paso doble.
19:04: A cheeky routine there from Ricky and Erin. Cheekiest of the lot is Erin's dress, which it looks like she stole from Ola's wardrobe. The judges are unhappy though. Bruno says that we have "gone from the sublime to the ridiculous" and describes his thrusts as "repulsive". Unsurprisingly, Len is the lone voice of positivity.
19:00: We called it! Incredible stuff, Craig gets his first 10 board out of the series and they Score: 40. A full house! Brilliant stuff and well deserved. I almost want to get off my sofa and give my own standing ovation. Well done, Ali and Brian. Jolly well done. Next up… Ricky Groves and Erin Boag.
18:55: Bruce has a grumble about Brian not wearing tails with his outfit. Oh Brucie, who cares when two people dance as beautifully as that?! We could see some tens here. Len says that it's the "dance of the series". Brian says it was an "enchanting" routine. Craig could "not find a single thing wrong with it". Could we get a perfect score?
18:53: If you combined Jade's bottom half with Ian Waite's top half, you'd have a nearly naked dancer. They Score: 33, which will hopefully be enough to see them back for a tango next week. However, everyone's scoring high tonight, so you never know. Next up is Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna with a Viennese waltz.
18:50: Who said tall people can't jive? That was wonderful fun. A cheeky green dress from Jade, which showcases her astounding legs. Len claims that his "false teeth" nearly fell out, Bruno says that she moved "like a whippet" and Alesha describes her as the "dark horse" of the show. Ian Waite has produced some brilliant routines this year and they work brilliantly as a duo.
18:45: That's a deserved Score: 31 for Sonia and Vincent. Next up we have Jade and Ian 'Check Out My Chest' Waite doing a jive. They've been in the dance-off before, so they will always be in danger unless they're near the top of the judges' board.
18:42: In the words of Brucie, "How about that!" I loved it, and I'm not Natalie's biggest fun. Quick, fun and exciting. Not much weaker than Ricky, in my opinion. Bruno loved it, describing it as being like a "big dipper". Craig praises his "exuberance". Len says that her energy could keep the "illuminations" going. Alesha says that she is still a contender. I concur.
18:38: Lots of talk from the judges and Tess about the "passion" between Natalie and Ricky. Maybe those forum rumours are true! Score: 35 - and that will take some beating this week. Next up? The actress formerly known as Sonia and Vincent Simone doing a quick-step. Vincent says it's "time to turn the frittata around". We're not sure what he means, but we like it.
18:33: Not quite as magical as last week that from Ricky, but it was a pretty exciting start to the show. It looks a lot tougher for the dancers on the bigger dancefloor. Len praises his "consistency" and says that he "loved it". Alesha thinks it was "amazing" (don't get all Holly Willoughby on us, Alesha!). Bruno loves the "sexual tension" and looks like he wants to jump and mount Ricky. Craig is getting fussy about the mistakes, but still finds plenty to praise him for.
18:30: We're going to start with Ricky 'The Wonder' Whittle, who is doing a tango. Whittle split up with his missus last week and there's been lots of forum speculation about him and Natalie being more than dance partners. I don't see it myself, but maybe this dance will reveal some romance.
18:28: Here come the dancers. Outrageous: Ola Jordan is covered up! Well that's spoiled my evening something rotten. Blimey, what have Anton and Laila come as?! They look like Spanish matador outfits for the paso doble.
18:26: Wow, Blackpool does look pretty cool actually. Wish I'd got tickets. They should host it there every week, if the BBC can afford it. Makes it look a bit more like the slick Dancing With The Stars.
18:25: TESS DALY'S DRAMATIC INTRO! We get a recap of Zoë Lucker getting the boot last week. They also remind us that the show is in *shout* BLACKPOOL several times.
18:20: Hello and welcome to tonight's action from the top of the Tower! It's an early start tonight, so you should only miss 15 minutes of that little singing show on the other channel. Any early thoughts on who may go? I'm going for a wild choice of Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan.
