Strictly Come Dancing viewers pleaded "let's stop" after hosts announced a format change for Halloween Week. Saturday's episode saw the return of the spooky themed routines as the remaining contestants performed a variety of dances.
Hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe arrived on stage to introduce the show. Emma confirmed a major change to the format as this weekend's dance off will be the first to feature three couples. Announcing the change during the episode, Emma said: "There is a three way dance off on the horizon and you're vote has never mattered more."
Viewers question the twist
Viewers following the show on social media platform X questioned the change as they also criticised the regularity with which the announcement was made. Rob said: "Why exactly do we need three couples in the dance off? Let’s stop the X Factor-style twists shall we?"
Lucy posted: "Anyone doing a shot every time they mention the three-way dance-off??" Liam commented: "I mean what is the point of this three person dance off???" Beth posted: "It’s going to be weird having three in the dance off!" Phoebe posted: "I don’t get what the point of a three person dance off is??"
Judges and performances
Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood cast their eye over the performances in tonight's episode.
Saturday's dances included Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu performing the jive to I’m In Love With A Monster by Fifth Harmony, and Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin performing the Viennese Waltz to My Favourite Things by Rogers and Hammerstein. Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu performed a salsa to Filthy/Gorgeous by Scissor Sisters, Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola performed the Charleston to Crazy Stupid Love by Cheryl and Tinie Tempah, and Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita performed a quickstep to Black Magic by Little Mix.
Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby performed the Argentine tango to Pas De Deux by Michael Abels, Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley performed a samba to Coconut by Harry Nilsson and John Nellis and Katya Jones performed the tango to Dance… by Slayyyter. Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystal performed the tango to Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr, Will Best and Dianne Buswell performed their Couple’s Choice dance to Nu Flow by Big Brovaz, and Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington performed the Viennese Waltz to Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers.
Guest appearance and results show
There was also a special guest appearance as Sir Ian McKellen made a surprise cameo appearance. The 87-year-old’s voice will appear on the BBC dancing programme during a group dance on Sunday’s results show to Tame Impala’s Dracula, where he will read an extract from Bram Stoker’s horror novel at the routine’s climax.
Strictly’s results show will air on Sunday at 7.10pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
