Live Blog: 'Strictly' quarter-final

It really is crunch time on Strictly Come Dancing now, with only three shows left in the series. Tonight's quarter-final will pit the final four celebrities - Ali Bastian, Ricky Whittle, Chris Hollins and Laila Rouass - against each other with two dances. As an added challenge, they will also have a new fifth judge to impress - ballet legend Darcey Bussell. It promises to be a night of high drama and plenty of tears, but fingers crossed, there will be no more flipping injuries!

22:15: I hope you all enjoyed the show tonight. Strictly appears to be finding its feet again - at last - and I can't wait for the semi-final. Good night!

22:11: Well that put the cat among the pigeons. Ricky is looking out of the race right now. His public support is flagging. Listening to Ola and Chris's cheers tonight, could they be the real favourites to win this? Leave your opinions in the usual box below.

22:09: Laila and Anton pay tribute to each other, which is nice after all the kerfuffle about them during the series.

22:06: Craig saves "the most dynamic couple of the evening" Ricky and Natalie. Darcey also saves Ricky and Natalie. Alesha says the "best dance of the night" was Ricky and Natalie. That's that - Laila and Anton are out!

22:04: Must be tough for poor old Ricky. He was the best dancer tonight (I don't think there can be any argument with that) and he's just not getting the public support. It must be horrible to know you are not very popular.

22:03: I think we can be fairly certain about the result tonight. I think there's more chance of Len giving a French kiss to Craig then Ricky and Natalie getting the chop.

22:01: Chris and Ola - SAVED! Well - there's the shock that I was talking about earlier. Ricky and Natalie are in the bottom two, despite scoring 95 out of 100 from the judges.

22:00 THE MOMENT OF TRUTH! Ali and Brian - SAVED!

21:58: Did I catch anyone yawning there? That's Bette Midler over and done with - hurrah - and it's time for the final results.

21:54: Blimey, get your cringe-ometers on a new level. Brucie and Bette Midler doing some corny comedy routine last used in 1957.

21:53: A little reminder there of the difference between the pros and celebrities there. Check out Vincent and Flavia's footwork. Brilliant stuff.

21:44: Ooh, a little treat. Flavia and Vincent doing an Argentine tango. This should be nice & spicy.

21:42: Do we all like the return of the two-show format? I didn't think I would like it, but I have to admit it does flow a lot better split in half. Two-hour shows are just too much for us lazy modern viewers.

21:40: Everyone own up. Who was disloyal and flicked over to X Factor? Go wash you dirty hands and settle down for the Strictly results!

Strictly starts back at 9.40pm!

20:13: Well, who do you want to go? You have a little break to decide. The show comes back on at 9.40pm. It is up to you what you do with your time off, but we've heard there's a little karaoke competition on ITV that is quite popular...

20:02: Well, the judges have made it quite clear who they think should leave. Laila is way off the pace with 59 points. Chris and Ali are battling in midtable with 80 and 86 points respectively. Ricky is surely safe with that barnstorming 95.

20:00: That's a Score: 47 second time out for Ricky, with two more tens from Alesha and Darcey. That leaves him way ahead at the top of the leaderboard with a massive 95 out of 100.

19:57: Len says that Ricky deserves to be in the semi-final. Alesha says that Ricky is back on his "A game". Bruno says that "all the ladies are sweating" after that saucy Latin routine. Craig says that it was "masculine, sexy and turned out". Maybe this time we could see a 50 pointer. It's been a near perfect night for Whittle - a real turnaround after the drama/controversies of last week.

19:55: The final dance of the night is Ricky and Natalie with a cha cha cha.

19:52: If the studio audience is a marker for public opinion, Chris and Ola have this in the bag. If there's such a thing as a standing boo, we just got it for the judges's scores. Chris and Ola get four eights and one seven (Bruno), meaning they Score: 39. The audience wanted a lot more for that fun routine.

19:48: If the show was marked on enthusiasm alone, Chris would be the runaway winner. A cracking effort for Mr Hollins. Darcey claims that she wants to see him in the final. Len says that it was "full on and giving it plenty," which is apparently what he wants from a samba. Alesha tells him to unbutton his shirt (ooh-eer!) and claims that he "smashed it". Bruno claims that we needed more content. I think we got plenty of content from Ola in that tiny gold and blue number.

19:45: Chris and Ola are out next with a Samba. What will Ola be wearing/not wearing? That is the question!

19:43: That's a Score: 26 for Laila and Anton and they are surely going to bottom of the leaderboard after that. Will any of you be voting to save them? Alesha's biting criticism may be their only remaining hope as it may drill up sympathy.

19:39: "Ooh, I don't even want to hear this," says Laila. She made a right pig's ear of that. Alesha is very nasty about that routine and just falls short of saying she shouldn't still on the show. Bruno says that a "deflated balloon" would have had more rhythm. Craig serves the cruellest blow, claiming that her turns were as bad Fiona Phillips. Ouch!

19:36: A Score: 44 for Ali and Brian. All nines apart from grumpy Len, who dishes up an eight. Next up is Laila and Anton with a salsa. Laila needs to wiggle that bum like never before to save herself tonight.

19:31: Ali and Brian are first out for the Latin. She's in a pink sparkly number and Brian's in a fetching matching shirt. Darcey claims that there was a "sexy party" going on. Naughty Darcey! Len claims that it was a bit "light and fluffy", but Alesha says that it was the "best samba of the series". Plenty of conflicting opinions on that performance then.

19:25: Not quite the full house. Craig and Darcey spoil the fun by giving nines. That means a Score: 48 and leaves them top of the leaderboard after the ballroom round.

19:23: "The way you feel the music is wonderful to watch," says Bruno. That was a cracking Foxtrot from Ricky and Natalie. I know they may not be the most popular couple, but even Craig thought that was "A-MA-ZING". Len says that it was "too marvellous for words". Could we have our first ever 50 pointer!

19:18: One nine (Alesha) and four eights (the rest) for Chris. A Score: 41. Next up is Ricky W and Natalie. After being in the dance-off last week, the pressure is on the Hollyoaks hunk.

19:14: That was a neat and tidy waltz from Chris. "Mostly slick," says Len. Bruno claims that he looked "constipated". Craig says that it was "danced well", but says that there was too much "strain the face" and that he needs to smile more. Craig's comments cause the first kerfuffle on the panel this evening. Should he smile? Should he not smile?

19:12: Could Chris and Ola actually win this show? It seemed like a silly question only a few weeks ago, but they can't be ruled out anymore. If Chris can pull off some ballroom to match his cheeky Latin, they could be real contenders.

19:08: Oh dear. It is sixes and sevens for Laila and Anton. They Score: 33 and Anton points out that he hasn't scored a 40 even with five judges. Poor bloke. Next up... Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan.

19:05: Ooh, Craig hated that. He found fault in pretty much everything with that routine. Darcey says that she was "expecting so much more" and is not impressed either. Len tells her to come back with the salsa and "wiggle her bum". She's going to have to do some real wiggling to save herself after that performance.

19:01: There's a Score: 42 for Ali and Brian. No the judges haven't got their maths wrong - there's five judges tonight remember! Next up are Laila and Anton with an American Smooth. They are the real Dark Horses of this competition now.

19:00: What do we all make to Darcey Bussell joining the judging panel? She seems a bit snooty to me. Not exactly a thrilling addition the show. But then again I like Alesha, so what do I know?

18:58: That wasn't great. A big disappointment. Ali looked in pain rather than passionate. She needs more acting lessons. Bruno is disappointed that she wasn't a "bad girl rotten to the core". Len accuses her of being a "one-trick pony" and tells her to give it some more "welly".

18:51: First up is lovebirds Ali and Brian. Bastuna - to give them a horrible a tabloid nickname. The hot favourites after last week's Charleston, it is probably their title to lose. They are doing a passionate Tango first up; they should storm this.

18:50: The show is in two parts tonight. Why does nobody tell me these things? I really need to check my Radio Times more!

18:48: Who do you think will go this evening? The bookies (and my mum and dad) seem fairly certain that it will be Laila and Anton. What do I think? I have a sneaky feeling we could be in for a small surprise tonight. *puts a 20 pence bet of Whittle leaving*

18:46: A cheeky cha cha cha from all the professionals to kick off the show. Splendid stuff!

18:43: Hello and Merry Christmas (too soon?). We're at the quarter-final stage for Strictly, so there's no time to fetch a coffee tonight. If you haven't got your supper all ready by now... well you are late!