Strictly Come Dancing, semi-final: 5 talking points, from Lauren Steadman's disappointing evening to Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer topping the leaderboard

Joe Sugg also struggles with two dances as he tumbles down the leaderboard

Strictly Come Dancing: Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev top leaderboard at semi-final for American Smooth routine

Wow. After the relative ease of learning one, fun, musicals-themed number for last week’s special, tonight’s Strictly Come Dancing semi-final really split the men from the boys. Or should we say the Ashleys from the Laurens.

With each couple performing two routines, the pressure was intense and we saw dancers crumble out on a lonely dance floor. Here’s what happened:

A tough night for Joe and Lauren

Learning two dances in one week is a big ask and it just proved too much for Joe Sugg and Lauren Steadman, only adding more fuel to the fire in the debate around dance experience and Ashley Roberts’ background as a performer. While clearly disappointed with the battering from the judges, Lauren looked fairly resigned – she’s been here before and after her disastrous Argentine Tango, she surely knew she was up against it with a ballroom version of the same dance.

Joe looked completely crestfallen though and even admitted he was "gutted". He just couldn’t find the characterisation or attack for his Argentine Tango and you could see the cogs turning in his mind as he tried to remember the steps. It’s a shame they didn’t have more time to work on the routines – they could have been better.

Stacey continues to sparkle

With four tens and nothing lower than a nine, Stacey should be thrilled with tonight’s performances. She nailed the Charleston, the dance that made her sign up to Strictly in the first place, and the Viennese Waltz wasn’t perfect, but still impressive enough to leave everyone smiling.

Plus she’s had that all-important ‘journey’, which is something Faye and Ashley would kill for to bag them a few more votes. After four years as the runner-up, you get the feeling this could finally be Kevin’s year to lift the trophy. Although we’ve definitely said that before…

Ashley and Faye top the leaderboard

Again. This time they’re sharing the honours, sitting pretty on 76 points out of a possible 80, looking down at the mere mortals beneath them. The funny thing was they both had one rough dance by their standards: Ashley’s Paso Doble was generally written off as disappointing, especially after Pasha almost fell over, and ever-chirpy Faye Tozer clearly has a real and fierce hatred for the samba. Still, it’s the glamour of Ashley’s American Smooth (a perfect 40) and the drama of Faye’s Argentine Tango (39) that we will remember.

Craig’s claws were out

Craig’s currently in panto with Paul Chuckle (why isn’t this being televised?), and he brought the essence of his Wicked Stepmother routine to Elstree this evening. He started by picking a fight with Shirley over Lauren’s frame (unwise, Craig). Then he not only criticised Kevin’s choreography (a Strictly cardinal sin), but also accused him of cheating, by allowing Stacey to avoid the more difficult steps. Then CRH’s nit-picking with Faye was so outrageous that mild-mannered Darcey felt the need to intervene. Still, no cat-fighting with Bruno, which was obviously disappointing.

An impossible show to call

It really should be obvious who will make the final by now. Weeks ago it seemed clear-cut: Stacey and Joe would book their places via the fans, with Faye and Ashley earning theirs outright with stunning performances. But Lauren has thrown a huge spanner in the works. She’s the weakest dancer by far, but she’s never been in a dance-off. Ashley is incredibly capable, but she doesn’t have the viewer support. And with all the attention on those two, is it possible that Faye or Stacey could be in for a nasty shock as people feel they’re already safe? There will definitely be tears on Sunday night…

Catch up on everything that happened during the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final below.

The Strictly Come Dancing results show is on Sunday on BBC One.

[8 December 2018 19:52 · emmabullimore]

Shirley says there were too many mistakes and Brrrrruno says he really felt for Lauren when she messed up. Craig suggests she should have thrown her hair around a bit more to cover up mistakes. Strange advice, but it was a fairly kind critique from Craig, I was expecting worse!

[8 December 2018 19:54 · emmabullimore]

Lauren and AJ: Samba scores 

Craig: 5

Darcey: 6

Shirley: 6

Bruno: 6

Total: 23

Lauren admits it was just a really tough dance for her to learn.

'Lauren's journey is about ability, not disability, she's incredible,' says AJ.

Tough times.

[8 December 2018 19:55 · emmabullimore]

The final performance of the night, and Faye has a good chance of topping the leaderboard. I am so excited for this Argentine Tango, especially because it's a dance that suits Giovanni so well, and one that should really show off Faye's abilities too. Bring it on!

[8 December 2018 19:58 · emmabullimore]

Yes, Faye, oozing attitude from the first sneer at her cocktail glass. And then along comes Gio, leading her through intricate and dramatic footwork as the routine slowly builds, along with the traditional music. There are moments where Faye's characterisation slips, but both the lifts and the legs are so technical, you can forgive it. I wish it had lasted longer, the ending was abrupt, but otherwise that was sensational.

[8 December 2018 20:01 · emmabullimore]

Brrrrruno says Faye's musicality was of a standard he rarely sees and even calls the routine humbling. Craig starts nit-picking and Darcey can't stand it, she interrupts and calls the dance 'powerful but feminine' as well as 'SCRUMMY'. Great choice of word. Shirley even says it was magical. Reckon that's 39/40.

[8 December 2018 20:03 · emmabullimore]

Faye and Giovanni: Argentine Tango scores

Craig: 9

Darcey: 10

Shirley: 10

Bruno: 10

Total: 39

'It was so beautiful, I loved the flicky legs!' says Faye.

'She's made this year's Strictly beautiful to watch,' gushes Gio.

They'll still need votes though...

[8 December 2018 20:07 · emmabullimore]

So this is the leaderboard:

Ashley and Pasha: 76 = 5 points

Faye and Giovanni: 76 = 5 points

Stacey and Kevin: 75 = 4 points

Joe and Dianne: 59 = 3 points

Lauren and AJ: 54 = 2 points

So the most popular dancers have the lowest scores from the judges and vice versa. This is so tough - TV presenters always bang on about how important the votes will be, but this is one time where that's absolutely true. This year's Strictly Final line-up will be determined by how many people bother to vote - will Lauren's army of fans see her through? If she's in the dance-off she'll be out, so the stakes are high. Ashley's given herself a fighting chance of making it, but if she ended up in a dance-off with Faye that would be a difficult one to call.

I can't wait for tomorrow night's results show!

And whatever happens I'll see you next Saturday night for the Grand Final!

Keep dancing!