Strictly Come Dancing 2021: week nine results– live

Is the string vest making a comeback? Aston was wearing a white one at the JLS gig I went to on Friday, and now this guy’s wearing one too. Are they sexy now?

Time for a musical (and, in fact, Musical) interlude, courtesy of Max Harwood and The Feeling, who are singing ‘Out Of The Darkness (A Place Where We Belong)’ from the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. I’ve never seen this musical but I’ve heard very good things. This is, as the kids say, a BOP.

Kai’s doing impressions. Don’t give up the day job, my love.

So who’s safely through to the final six? Tilly and Nikita are safe, along with AJ and Kai.

First couple in the dance off – RHYS AND NANCY. Can’t say I’m shocked, but who will he be up against? Tom? Dan? Must be one of those two.

Highlights: Cynthia Erivo being an excellent supply teacher/judge – get well soon CR-H. AJ and Captain Von Kai giving us swoon-worthy romance, Motsi’s magnificent hairdo, which has now been given listed status by Historic England, the whole Cabaret opening dance, all the couples giving it their all.

Lowlights: Confusing scoring, Couple’s Choice oddness, the usual movie week/musicals week nonsense, bingo crying.

Tess in vast hot pink trousers, like last night’s dress has headed south for winter. Also some kind of neck bandage. Claudia in a haunted nightie.

And we’re off! Tonight’s pro dance has a Wicked theme, with Luba as Elphaba the wicked witch and Katya as Glinda the good witch. I’ve somehow never seen this musical, but I’ve listened to Defying Gravity so many times it feels like I have.

Incidentally, Cynthia Erivo is going to play Elphaba in the upcoming movie of the show, with Ariana Grande as Glinda. Does this mean we can have Ariana as guest judge next week?

Just glanced up at Doctor Who and thought Bez from the Happy Mondays was in it, but turns out that’s John Bishop. Even with the sound off this looks terrifying.

Talking of liking different things, I noticed someone in the comment box asking me (very politely, for which I thank you) to stop ‘pettifogging’ about the whole Movie Week/Musicals Week thing.

Firstly thank you for bringing the word ‘pettifogging’ into this liveblog; I’m a big fan. But secondly, pettifogging is what I DO. If I let you take away my pettifogging, you’ll come for my gentle fun-poking and rubbish puns. Then you’ll abolish my archive of alliteration and make me hand over the keys to the Box of Strictlified Metaphors. It’s the thin end of the glittery wedge.

Evening all, and welcome to this week’s Results Show! Musicals Week is always one of the better feem weeks, and I actually really enjoyed last night’s show. There were a few dances that didn’t tickle my personal fancy, but judging by the comments we all like different things. Which is, of course, how it should be.

Tonight we’ll say farewell to another Strictly couple, and last night I predicted a Tom/Rhys dance-off. Dan and Tom were both joint bottom, but Dan has a big fanbase and actually danced pretty well last night. Rhys was joint second from the bottom with John, who I think the public will save over Rhys. So that’s my prediction, but we’ll see what happens – kick off is at 7.15pm!

Really enjoyed that show, it was fun. I’ll be back tomorrow from 7.15pm for the Results Show, so please join me here then. Thank you so much for joining in, is always a pleasure and never a chore. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday!

That’s it for tonight’s dancing, goodness that went quickly. Tilly and Nikita are at the top of the leaderboard, with Tom and Amy and Dan and Nadiya down the bottom. I think the public will save Dan, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they also save John and Johannes (third from the bottom) too, which puts Rhys in danger.

Who are you voting for this week, and what’s your prediction for the bottom two? I’m going to say Tom vs. Rhys, but it’s really tough to call this week. We’re very much at the sharp end now.

Cynthia enjoyed it, but Dan needs to finish his lines. Motsi loved how Dan was pushing out of his comfort zone but his weight needed to be further forward. Shirley loved how Dan is progressing through the contest and it was Dan’s best dance. Anton thought it was joyous and Dan has had the best journey so far*.

*I’m available to go on BBC Breakfast to argue this point VIGOROUSLY.

Dan looks very dapper as Gene Kelly, and I’m loving Nadiya’s pink fringing. Some nice characterisation from Dan and his footwork really is pretty decent, albeit it needs a little more finish. I think this might be my favourite dance of theirs, I actually really enjoyed that.

This week they’re dancing Charleston to ‘Good Morning’ from Singin’ In The Rain. This was absolutely a movie first, so DRINK. In fact it didn’t hit the stage until about 30 years after the movie, which suggests it was a perfect movie and never needed to be on the stage in the first place.

Scores: 10,10,10,10. Fine, whatever. There is crying. DRINK.

Anton loved it, Tilly is an inspiration. Cynthia thought it was awesome, and Motsi thought Tilly was a force to be reckoned with, one of her best dances. Shirley thought it was absolutely first class and she couldn’t tell who the professional was.

How can you say that was one of Tilly’s best dances? Based on what criteria? Strictly’s gone mad.

Is this dancing? I have no idea. There’s a lot of jumping about and some nice synchronicity at the start but it gets a bit shaky towards the end. Not really sure what that was, and I didn’t really like it. Sorry. Maybe it would help if I’d seen Matilda?

I think mostly this is reminding me of Daz Sampson on Eurovision in 2006. Never a good thing.