Strictly Come Dancing: week eight results – as it happened (2024)

And that’s Week 8 done and dusted – thanks again to Hollie for standing in yesterday, and to all of you for joining in and being lovely down below, Next week we’re off to the Vegas of the North for the long-awaited return of BLACKPOOL WEEK – so pack your glittery bags and do your sprung floor strengthening exercises for a dance extravaganza.

Kick off is at 7.45pm, so I’ll see you then! Now, who’s driving the bus?

Tony and Katya take to the floor for their final dance, to I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher. Cue giant pile-on!

Worth noting that by this point it was 10.55pm and we’d been in the studio for the best part of six hours. SO TIRED.

I do get why Tony wouldn’t put himself through the dance-off, though - if he’s hurt, there’s a risk he’d do an (even) worse job second time round, which isn’t how you want to leave the show. And let’s face it, he was DEFINITELY leaving the show.

Bit of an anti-climax, though. Still, please enjoy this fun section where Katya tries to speak and Tony consistently talks over her.

Or not, as it turns out. Tony has decided to leave the competition due to injury, so Tyler is through. We didn’t get any more information on this last night, but presumably he’ll share the details on It Takes Two tomorrow.

In case you hadn’t twigged, we’re going back to Blackpool next week. Basically it’s like the normal show, but with giant props, mad costumes and superfluous backing dancers.

So who is joining Tyler and Dianne in the dance-off? Hamza and Jowita are off to Blackpool, along with Will and Nancy, Helen and Gorka and (EEK SO MUCH TENSION) Ellie and Johannes!

Which means TONY AND DIANNE in the bottom two. I have to confess I was surprised – I thought the fandom might take him to Blackpool. A foregone conclusion of a dance-off, surely?

Time for a musical interlude, courtesy of Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Zak Abel performing their single Same Boat, in front of a tiny wind farm.

I loved this performance last night, and got quite caught up in whether I could make Amy’s dress from an old bedsheet. Also can we please acknowledge Nikita’s commitment to Backstreet Boys-style 90s hair curtains. Soft furnishings all round.

So who is safely through to next week’s Blackpool Tower Ballroom extravaganza? Molly and Carlos are safe, along with Kym and Graziano and Fleur and Vito.

First couple in the bottom two: TYLER AND DIANNE. It definitely wasn’t his best dance, totally agreed with Craig on the lack of shaping and Spanish line. Quite enjoyed the flaming rhombus though.

Last night on Strictly: fabulous dancing, SO much crying.

Highlights: Fleur’s Samba, Molly’s Rumba, Hamza doing Afrobeat (also JOWITA you absolute queen), Tyler’s sparkly harness and 22 mentions of Blackpool (I hope you were all suitably sloshed).

Lowlights: Fleur’s Christmas tree dress, tens being dished out like Quality Streets, emotional dehydration. Also Tess’s pink dress/black boots combo, which looked just as awful in real life. Individually: yes. Together: absolutely not, are you MAD?

TESS AND CLAUDIA DRESS WATCH: Tess in respectful black (there are flares down below, obviously), and Claudia trying on her Year 5 school uniform.

And we’re off! Tonight’s opening pro dance is a moving Remembrance Day tribute to Queen and country, complete with men in tails and gorgeous poppy dresses. ‘I Vow To Thee My Country’ is such a beautiful hymn, so many goosebumps.

Imagine watching this (twice) after the emotional rollercoaster of last night’s live show. I was a HUSK.

Tonight’s Countryfile Casual Weatherperson is the delightful Ben Rich in nicely-fitting red plaid and a tidy beard.

Roll up those sleeves, Ben. Forecast is forearmed and all that. Also it’s still September out there, get your wrists out.

There’s a Countryfile tea towel! You can wipe your dishes with John Craven’s face. Or if you prefer, there’s the usual calendar. You can pay by cheque. Honestly can’t remember the last time I paid for anything by cheque.

Why are they cooking on Countryfile? There are loads of cooking shows – I want hedge laying and oinking pigs.

Did you all play Blackpool bingo last night? Feel free to continue this evening, but only if you’re not working tomorrow because it’s going to be A LOT.

Also if you’re still pottering around doing Sunday jobs, do NOT miss the beginning of tonight’s show. It’s the opening pro dance we’ve been waiting for all season…

Obviously I know the outcome of tonight’s results shenanigans because (SPOILER ALERT) it was recorded last night, but I promise not to tell.

Kick off is at 7.20, so please join me then!