Strictly fans have been left stunned by Layton Williams’ heart attack inducing pole dance on tonight’s show.
The Waterloo Road star and his professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin took to the iconic Blackpool ballroom dancefloor to tackle their couples’ choice dance.
And it’s safe to say they blew fans away with their racy pole dance number.
Based on the fan reaction, this season’s Strictly Blackpool special was a resounding success.
Many fans took to social media to praise the glamorous and glitzy episode.
“Well done to all involved at Strictly,” said one fan on X. “Wonderful escapism and entertainment.”
“That’s the best Strictly Blackpool show for YEARS. Sublime,” added another.
That brings an end to Blackpool week at the Tower Ballroom.
The contestants certainly stepped up, with two 39s and a 38.
Is Angela Rippon's time up? Her 28 is once again the lowest and she could find herself in the dance-off for the third week in a row.
We will find out who goes home tomorrow at the results show starting from 7.20pm.
The voting lines are officially open. Here's a recap of the couples' scores from the iconic Blackpool week:
Layton and Nikita: 39
Ellie and Vito: 39
Angela and Carlos: 38
Bobby and Dianne: 35
Annabel and Johannes: 35
Nigel and Katya: 31
Angela and Kai: 28
Nigel, dressed in a smart white tux, and Katya end the episode with a bang.
"That really felt like a fitting finale," says Tess Daly.
"This sort of dancing is right up my street ... however, the footwork went wrong quite a bit," says Craig. Motsi praises the dance, but also comments on the slight flaws. "Overall a very, very nice performance," Shirley says. Anton says Nigel is "just a brilliant dancer."
Scores: 7 from Craig, 8 from Motsi, 8 from Shirley, 8 from Anton. Nigel looks a bit disappointed with that.
We've come to the final performance of the night, with Nigel and Katya doing the Quickstep to It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) by Duke Ellington.
"Lots of happy memories [in Blackpool]," Nigel says ahead of the dance.
Angela and Carlos, both dressed in black, perform an intense Argentine Tango.
Anton compliments Angela's "beautiful" legs before saying this was his favourite of the night. Craig, unsurprisingly, disagrees and says "the legs were stiff," but adds that the storytelling and performance was "wonderful."
Motsi says "this was your best number." Shirley adds: "Your footwork, your absolute precision was wonderful ... I'm so overwhelmed with that performance, I absolutely adored it."
Angela says performing the Argentine Tango in Blackpool was "special". Carlos gets emotional: "I'm so happy."
Scores: 8 from Craig, 10 from Motsi, 10 from Shirley, 10 from Anton. Third best dance of the night so far, based on the scores.
They will perform the Argentine Tango to Back To Black by Amy Winehouse.
The couple nails their Charleston, with the help of colourful heart and teddy bear props.
"Best dance tonight by far from Ellie and Vito!" says one fan on X.
Shirley calls it "fantastic". Anton says "Ellie was perfect" and gives Vito some cheeky criticisms. "You were slightly ahead of the beat in one very small section," says Craig, before going on to give the "difficult" performance praise. "The only word left is perfect," adds Motsi.
Scores: 9 from Craig, 10 from Motsi, 10 from Shirely, 10 from Anton. Another 39! "Maybe he's lost the [10] paddle," Claudia Winkleman says about Craig.
Ellie Leach, the highest scored female dancer of the series so far, will dance the Charleston to Love Machine by Girls Aloud.
Motsi says "I absolutely enjoyed it". Shirley adds: "This was so extraordinarily beautiful ... your sense of time, energy and love for each other was absolutely spellbinding."
Anton says Annabel and Johannes "touches him" more than any other couple, before adding that they were the "most improved". Craig says "your left shoulder popped up on occassion (more boos)," but adds that Annabel "has come a long way."
"It's the most incredible energy ... and so much history here," Annabel says of dancing at the Tower Ballroom.
Scores: 8 from Craig, 9 from Motsi, 9 from Shirley, 9 from Anton. Annabel and Johannes are overjoyed with that.
Like Angela before, Annabel will perform the American Smooth to Unchained Melody by Benedetta Caretta.
Strictly fans weren't happy about Craig's rogue 9, yet again denying Layton and Nikita a perfect score for the couple's third 39 of the season.
"I normally agree with Craig with the other contestants but he should of [sic] given Layton a 10 for that," said one fan on X.
The crowd goes wild for the cabaret style dance - Layton is really on another level in this competition.
"It's a bit of a dilemma for me because I loved it, but it wasn't entirely in sync," says Craig, who gets the loudest boos of the night. But he adds: "You are one of the most incredible dancers I have seen on this show."
"That was incredible ... epic," says Motsi. "I didn't see what you saw Craig ... pure artistic genius for me," adds Shirley. Anton says: "You are just incredible."
Layton dedicates the dance to his mum, who is in the audience: "She would be on the pole with me."
Scores: 9 from Craig (boos), 10 from Motsi, 10 from Shirley, 10 from Anton.
What does Layton have to do to get a 10 from Craig?
It's time for the show's favourite Layton Williams, who is coming off a score of 39 last week.
Can he and parter Nikita do one better and get the season's first perfect score?
They will be dancing a Couple's Choice to Ain’t No Other Man by Christina Aguilera.
Tess Daly hails Angela's "full circle moment" after her performance on her return to Blackpool.
Anton calls the dance "elegant". Craig says the dance "could've been smoother ... there was a fumble in the breakout section." Motsi agrees "there was a stumble" but praises Angela's "story." Shirley adds: "Yes there was one little hiccup but you can be so proud of yourself."
"I did enjoy that," says Angela. "That one was quite complicated."
Scores: 6 from Craig. 7 from Motsi. 7 from Shirley. 8 from Anton.
Angela will be under pressure this week - she's been in two straight dance-offs.
How will she fare in the American Smooth? They will be dancing to Tea for Two by Ella Fitzgerald.
What a way to start!
Bobby and Dianne looked like they had a lot of fun dancing the jive.
"You brought everything to this jive," says Shirley Ballas. "That was just epic, I absolutely loved it," adds Anton Du Beke.
"I believe that was your personal best," says Motsi Mabuse.
Even the hardest judge to impress, Craig Revel Horwood, was (mostly) full of praise: “A little bit stompy ... but you did brilliantly.”
Scores: 8 from Craig, 9 from Motsi, 9 from Shirley and 9 from Anton. It's Bobby and Dianne's highest score - and they're delighted.
The dancers are introduced on stage by hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Bobby and Dianne will be the first couple to hit the dancefloor, performing the Jive to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham!
Excited Strictly fans can't get enough of the opening group dance medley.
"This #Strictly opener is MADNESS! I love it," said one fan on X.
"On a strictly high already…. BEST OPENING GROUP DANCE EVER," added another.
We're live at Blackpool's Tower Ballroom!
Who will thrive in the biggest episode of the Strictly season so far?
The show kicks off with a montage about the significance of Blackpool week, before a special group dance performance with all the contestants and pro dancers.
After surviving a dance-off for two straight weeks, Angela Rippon is the bookies' pick to go home tomorrow.
Annabel Croft is the favourite to join Rippon in this week's dance-off.
Coincidentally, both Rippon and Croft will be dancing the American Smooth.
We're minutes away from the start of the Blackpool special.
It's almost time for the episode that everyone wants to make.
Strictly's seven remaining contestants are set to hit the dancefloor for the highly-anticipated Blackpool week at the Tower Ballroom, the 'spiritual home' of ballroom dancing.
The iconic venue has been the scene for the show's highpoint episode for the past decade.
The show kicks off at 6.40pm on BBC One.
Here's a reminder of the dances and songs that will be performed tonight:
Strictly’s Vito Coppola says he will be emotional when he takes to the legendary Tower Ballroom floor this evening.
He told the Blackpool Gazette that he told his celebrity partner Ellie Leach: "When you get there, it's like you smell the Blackpool vibe. You know how many champions have stepped on that dance floor and danced before us.
"You will actually step… where other champions have put their foot before and it just feels magical, you will feel, as you say in the North, buzzing.
"When I dance in Blackpool, I always get emotional – you will have tears for sure."
The couple will dance a Charleston to Love Machine by Girls Aloud.
