Strictly Come Dancing RECAP: Tasha and Aljaz receive first perfect score of the series as JB wins Samba-thon

Well thanks for following along tonight. We saw some cracking dances and a reminder that Craig's 10 paddle does in fact exist in the first perfect 40 of the series for Tasha and Aljaz.

We'll be back tomorrow for the results show when one couple will dance into the sunset.

And we have a tie at the top of the leaderboard thanks to the Samba-thon!

Here's the final table:

46 (40+6) Tasha and Aljaz

46 (39+7) JB and Lauren

42 (37+5) Montell and Johannes

40 (36+4) Sarah and Vito

34 (32+2) Jamie and Michelle

34 (33+1) Chris and Dianne

32 (29+3) Pete and Jowita

Some reaction from MailOnline readers here. Most seem to think Pete will be the next out

MTM54

He has improved slightly but his samba was terrible. He or Chris should be out this week. Yet again, Sarah undermarked

Others think the judges have been too generous with Chris, although some seem to think the bullfighting theme was a bad look (not his fault of course)

BrookseyBaby

I think Chris is amazing to dance as a blind person, but he is overmarked and other than being better than Wicks he is now struggling. Tonight’s dance was rigid and steppy. Not good.

Drovers

I personally don't think glamorising cruel bull fighting is a good look.

Tthe vote is now open. Don't forget to choose your favourite online at bbc.co.uk/strictly

And that's the end of the show.

And here are the results

7. Chris and Dianne (1)

6. Jamie and MIchelle (2)

5. Pete and Jowita (3)

4. Sarah and Vito (4)

5. Montell and Johannes (5)

JB and Lauren and Tasha and Aljaz are the two remaining

And the winner of the Samba-thon is JB and Lauren! They will get the maximum 7 points, and runners up Tasha and Aljaz get 6

Montell and Johannes and Sarah and Vito are both called off - which leaves two couples.

We will find out the winner from the judges.

Pete and Jowita are next to be eliminated

Well we're off with the Samba-thon

The judges are watching from the side - and Chris and Dianne are first off the floor.

They are followed by Jamie and Michelle.

With all the regular dances complete, we're on to the Samba-thon

All the couples will take to the floor simultaneously and will be eliminated one by one by the judges.

And Tasha and Aljaz have done it! The first 40 (10,10,10,10) of the series,

Well - Motsi calls it 'perfection'. Anton is almost in tears. He says 'This is why we dance'.

Craig looks like he is about to start but declares 'Fab-U-lous!'

Could this be it?

Last but not least to dance iare Tasha and Aljaz who are taking on the American Smooth.

With three scores of 39, can they make it perfect this time?

It's a score of 37 for Montell and Johannes (8,10,9,10) including two surprise tens from Motsi and Anton

Montell and Johannes are on next with a Quickstep to Judy Garland big band number Get Happy.

Having finished in the bottom two last week, they're keen to impress this time.

The judges have seen improvement (even Craig) and Shirley is particularly complementary.

Chris and Dianne have a score of 33 (7,8,9,9).

Amy Dowden has been spotted in the studio following her withdrawal from the contest.

It's another matador-themed routine as Chris and Dianne take to the floor with a Paso Doble.

It's to El Gato Montes by Manuel Panella - a passionate number- and it receives a roaring applause at the end (iincluding from Dianne's family who are on their feet).

Craig starts with 'it was wonderful, but..' and rattles off a number of flaws, but concludes it was a 'solid' performance.

A mixed bag of scores leaves Jamie and Michelle on 32 (8,8,7,9)

Jamie and Michelle are on the floor now, dancing the Foxtrot to Ben E KIng's classic Stand By Me..

It's a delicate routine - a contrast to the high octane Charleston we just had.

But Anton wants them to go more 'mad' and other the top. Motsi praises Jamie's 'sparkle'

JB and Lauren have been awareded a total score of 39 (9,10,10,10)

Wow - a lively routine that got everybody on their feet.

Even Craig calls it 'pure class'.

Shirley's gushing on the synchronicity. This is going to score high.

Next it's JB and Lauren who are doing the Charleston to Yes Sir! That’s My Baby by Firehouse Five Plus Two

Quite divided scores from the judges but it's a score of 36 (8,8,10,10) for Sarah and Vito - the highest of the series for a Rumba so far.

It's an intimate performance from the couple, with Sarah donning a gold dress for the set piece.

It gets a standing ovation - and a good reception from the judges

Shirley said that was choreography that 'belonged in a major championship'. Anton, a former pro dancer on the show, says he wouldn't have given one of his partners such a challenging routine.

But Craig feels there was a lack of chemistry (boos all round). And Motsi says the pair could have 'softened things' and moved a bit more.

Next on the floor its Sarah Hadland and Vito with the Rumba, which as Tess has just reminded us, is the only dance on Strictly to have never been given a perfect score across all 22 series.

Will that change tonight?

Pete scores 29 (6,7,8,8) which is two more than last week.

Up first is Pete and Jowita who are tackling the Tango.

In training, Pete admits this week 'will be very tough' but says he delighted to have made it to Week 10.

Despite being the favourite to be eliminated this week, he looks more comfortable on the floor this week than at the Tower Ballroom.

Anton comments on his good 'promenade position' and says it's a joy watching Pete 'slightly improve every week.

Craig goes for his 'unsure' footwork but admits he 'loves' Pete.

It's time to head to the ballroom!

Tess and Claudia are on stage - Tess in all red and Claudia in black

Last week two couples came within touching distance of bagging a perfect score.

Sarah and Vito, and Tasha and Aljaz tied for the first place with 39 points each in Blackpool.

But they were both denied the elusive 10 from Craig.

Strictly's harshest dance critic is known for reserving his top score paddle for only the best routines.

Last year until we waited until Week 11 until actor Layton Williams hit the perfect 40 for a Paso Doble.

But previous seasons have seen Craig's 10 given a rare outing much earlier in the contest.

The record for earliest perfect score goes to deaf contestant and Series 19 winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, who along with her partner Giovanni Pernice, grabbed 40 in Halloween week.

Pete Wicks picked up just 27 points from the judges last week, but avoided the bottom two and the dreaded dance-off.

The TV personality and his partner Jowita Przystal found themselves bottom of the leaderboard and are the series' lowest scoriing contestant.

But a clever marketing campaign may be behind his continued success with the public.

His celebrity pals have rallied around him, with the likes of Sam Thompson, Zara McDermott and Vicky Pattison urging their followers to vote for him.

Viewers, as well as Pete himself, were shocked when Tess and Claudia revealed he had survived another week.

Pete through, that’s ridiculous. Someone must have spent a toy of money on the phone lines . The words dance of the night,' tweeted one viewer.

Will he dodge the dance-off again this week?

Last week we sadly bid farewell to Wynne Evans and his partner Katya Jones who were eliminated in last week's Blackpool show.

The Welsh tenor broke down in tears on It Takes Two after his co-star Jamie Borthwick made a surprise appearance on the programme.

The EastEnders star said that he had a 'friend for life' and the show 'won't be the same' now that Wynne has been voted off.

Katya added: 'This is what Strictly is about. No one is going to remember the scores, the comments we got, it's the friendships that have been created.

'The genuine, genuine relationships.'

His name is mentioned every week as the conductor of the 'wonderful orchestra', but who is Dave Arch?

He has been musical director since the show first premiered 20 years ago, and is joined every week in the ballroom by a talented team of singers including Tommy Blaize, Andrea Grant, Lance Ellington and Hayley Sanderson.

Click below to find out more abiout his essential role.

Tonight will see Montell, Sarah, Tasha, Chris, Jamie, JB and Pete show off their samba moves as the Strictly dance-a-thon returns for this series.

Once a traditional staple, the dance-a-thon first appeared on Strictly in 2009 but hasn't featured since 2018 when the then celebrities danced the lindy hop.

It sees all the celebrities and their partners take to the ballroom at the same time to dance a group before the judges eliminate pairs one-by-one.

For the winning couple, victory will impact their overall score on the night so tonight's samba-thon could be crucial for celebs hoping to book their place in week 11.

Strictly's annual ratings battle against I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! is under way and in the first week it's advantage ITV.

Nine million viewers watched Ant and Dec's return to ITV making it the number one entertainment show of 2024 on any channel so far.

The launch episode has already beaten all episodes of Strictly Come Dancing so far this year.

Strictly and I'm A Celeb have been in a ratings battle throughout their 20-year histories.

ITV are thrilled by the figures and an ITV insider told The Mail: 'All they care about is beating Strictly this year. That's their number one goal.

• Read the full story by showbiz reporter Bethan Edwards here

Can't wait for the show to start?

Well here's a sneak peek of what to expect with the songs and dances revealed in advance of tonight's action:

• Montell and Johannes Quickstep to Get Happy by Ella Fitzgerald
• Sarah and Vito Rumba to Chains by Tina Arena
• Tasha and Aljaz American Smooth to Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
• Chris and Dianne Paso Doble to El Gato Montes by Manuel Panella
• Jamie and Michelle Foxtrot to Stand By Me by Ben E. King
• JB and Lauren Charleston to Yes Sir! That’s My Baby by Firehouse Five Plus Two
• Pete and Jowita Tango to Easy Lover by Philip Bailey, Phil Collins

Will we see magnificent performances tonight? And will we be in heaven for at least 80 minutes on BBC One this evening?

Seven couples will feature on the ballroom tonight after Wynne and Katya became the eighth pair to be eliminated in Blackpool on Sunday.

Some may still be scratching their heads that Pete Wicks will dance tonight...possibly no one more than him as he and Jowita skated through despite a rock bottom finish on the leaderboard.

Tonight will see the return of the dance-a-thon with celebrities all performing at the same time to add extra spice to proceedings.

The theme later is samba so will prove to have the extra spring in their step or who will look out of rhythmn?

Join us throughout the evening as we bring you all the latest updates from the ballroom plus reaction from the viewers at home sprinkled with the most eye-catching pictures and videos.

The show starts at 7:05pm on BBC One.

Enjoy!