Strictly Come Dancing latest: Pete Wicks leaves viewers in tears as Lauren Oakley replaces Amy Dowden again
Two Couple’s Choice performances and a stunning American Smooth provided three of this week’s most memorable moments
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Your support makes all the difference.Strictly Come Dancing was back on BBC One for week eight, but professional dancer Amy Dowden will not be returning for the remainder of the series.
Dowden, who was partnered with JLS singer JB Gill, was replaced by Lauren Oakley, after the former was rushed to hospital, having fallen ill during a live show. The Welsh dancer, 34, had returned to competing in the BBC show for its 20th anniversary series following cancer treatment.
Dowden clarified that her “insufficiency stress fracture” had “nothing to do with any previous health scares”.
The action-packed episode saw the nine remaining celebrities fighting not just for their place in the compeititon, but to dance in the Blackpool Tower ballroom as next week’s live episode takes place in the iconic venue.
Plenty of the stars upped their game, including Pete Wicks — who landed his highest score yet (and left one of the judges choking back tears) with a Couple’s Choice routine dedicated to his late grandmother.
Earlier this week, the series has been plagued by rumours that fan-favourite Johannes Radebe is set to quit, after several outlets reported that his schedule for 2025 would mean he would be too busy to participate.
He is billed to star in Kinky Boots: The Musical for the first half of the year while he works on a film adaptation of his life story. Radebe hit back at the claims, writing “I’m not going anywhere!” in a post on Instagram.
Last week, Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin were eliminated as they lost out to Radebe and Montell Douglas after placing in the bottom two following a public vote.
Pete’s dancing in honour of his nan
This is going to be a weepy one.
He explains in his VT: “This is the one dance I wanted to do from the start of this and it’s a tribute to someone who matters more than anyone, my nan.”
“There were so many happy and beautiful moments I had with her, as a friend and a safety net and a support, she was everything.” And he’s dancing to his nan’s favourite song too: Tina Turner’s “Simply The Best.”
Get the tissues ready, I reckon.
Will Pete land his best score yet?
That was lovely, wasn’t it? Pete really has transformed over the course of the series and actually looked like a decent dancer (which does sound harsh but come on... we all saw him in week one).
He’s doing his best to hold back tears now, as is Shirley. “I am a nan myself and just to see dedicate that to her... your heart shone through what you did, you were immersed in the music and the dancing, and that for me is what it’s all about.”
“All the bits I love about your dancing, you put on the floor,” Anton said, although his comments then got a bit weird as he broke through the emotion saying Pete’s arms “got a bit gammy” and he struggled when he “started actually dancing.”
“Besides all of the technical stuff, I thought it was moving and beautiful,’ said Craig. Motsi concluded: “We’ve seen all different sides of you and there’s a coolness about you. What I loved today is you showed us another side of you, you gave us a piece of your heart. I want to thank you for doing that.”
Pete’s scores are in...
But not before another emotional moment in the Clauditorium. “It’s been a tough week but the one person I wish was here is my nan and she’s not,” he said.
The scores? Pete should be very proud. He has his first 10 (thanks to Shirley) and his highest score yet, of 36.
JB Gill dances the Samba
JB topped the leaderbaord and received his highest-score yet with his Couple’s Choice last week. The moment was bittersweet though, as he danced with Lauren Oakley as Amy Dowden had been forced to pull out due to injury. Sadly, it was this week confirmed Amy will not be able to return to the series and Lauren has now taken her place.
And the Samba suits him! He looks like he’s having a blast and there’s no denying that there’s definite hip action.
JB is jolly brilliant
“Someone’s opened the top of your head and filled you with snake oil,” Anton said, in what is surely one of the oddest critiques ever given.
Craig didn’t have anything bad to say either, quipping that JB stands for “jolly brilliant”. Could we see the first 40 of the series? Stay tuned...
JB’s scores are in...
And it’s a 9s from Craig, Motsi, Shirley and a 10 from Anton! He’s got a total of 37, putting him joint top of the leaderboard.
Jamie’s Argentine Tango
Jamie has been desperate to dance the Argentine Tango and he clearly loves that he’s doing it to an Arctic Monkeys track (as do I).
I also love that he went to the West Ham training ground beforehand, which had absolutely nothing to do with the dance and everything to do with the fact he supports the team.
He’s bringing out all his acting skills in this routine, it’s certainly sensual and dramatic, as any great Argentine Tango should be. I’m a fan.
Judges pick apart Jamie’s dance
They’re really not holding back today.
“That was really hot,” said Motsi. “I love that connection that you guys built up What I had a bit of a problem with is what a little static... it got a little bit tight, but I can imagine what the nerves were doing.”
“I can appreciate your passion for the dance that’s for sure but it didn’t quite work for me this evening,” said Shirley. “You were stepping over your feet in all turning movements, which was throwing your balance off. You overtried a bit and for me it gave it a stiff feeling. It was just a little bit lumpy.”
And that was all before Craig got stuck in.
He said: “Balance issues throughout really. It was a little bit overplaced, you put yourself in position to rest there rather than move there. But you have gorgeous control and musicality.”
Jamie’s scores are in...
Going along the panel, a 7, an 8, a 7 and another 8 give him a total of 30.
It’s going to be really tough to predict who’ll end up in the dance-off this week.
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