We train and train.
And we've only got 90 seconds to make our mark.
90 seconds to move an audience.
90 seconds where nothing else matters.
Where nothing is more important.
The pinnacle of the week.
But a lot can happen in that time.
So we must use our time wisely.
To fill every single second.
Because if we want a place in that final...
If we want a chance to lift that Glitterball trophy...
We need to embrace every single second.
The short breath before a turn.
The glance at your partner to stay connected.
The heel placement landing exactly where it's meant to be.
The gliding across the studio floor.
The neck tilted at the perfect angle.
Tonight in the semifinals...
More than ever...
We will be making the most...
Of every...
Single...
Second.
APPLAUSE.
Welcome to Strictly Come Dancing - it's the semifinal!
There is just one week to go until we crown our champions and,
tonight, our remaining stars will dance twice to try
and earn their place in the final.
Over the past 12 weeks, 15 couples have been
whittled down to just four.
Each of them has trained tirelessly to make it to this point.
And double the dancing means double the scoring.
Please welcome...
The judges...
Take On Me.
Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.
Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.
Take On Me.
APPLAUSE.
Thank you, judges.
Our couples all want to make it through to next week and nobody
is going home without a fight.
Please welcome...
Our Strictly stars...
2 Be Loved.
George Clarke and partner Alexis Warr.
Balvinder Sopal and partner Julian Caillon.
Karen Carney and partner Carlos Gu.
And finally Amber Davies and partner Nikita Kuzmin.
2 Be Loved.
Welcome back, everyone.
Karen, George, Balvinder and Amber - it's a big night in the ballroom.
The very best of luck to you all.
Opening the semifinal with a salsa, it's Balvinder and Julian.
Before she performs her first dance of the evening,
let's see what the judges have made of her time in the competition.
Balvinder and Julian, we'd like to know how you feel
about your journey so far.
Thanks to this guy here, I think I've come a long way, actually.
I mean, a long way!
You've been in five Dance-Offs.
You're just resilient in everything that you do.
I know the Dance-Offs aren't the best place to be but, for me,
I think that means that we get to just implement
and try and enjoy it.
I mean, you have to be absolutely thrilled with yourself.
It's truly growth, isn't it?
The comeback queen!
It was before one of the Dance-Offs, I said to Bal, I was,
like, you know what?
What a privilege that we get to do this again.
Once upon a time, I was on the other side of the world,
wishing that I would, you know, get to be a part of this.
You were at home watching seasons, going, how great would it be?
How amazing.
Great attitude.
For me, particularly, I enjoyed your Insta dance.
I was, like, what is this?!
Where did this come from?
You have such quality in storytelling.
It's a real, real gift.
Yeah, it's a gift.
Last weekend I thought was absolutely fantastic.
Viennese waltz.
A changed person, you know, a complete and absolute dancer.
Wow!
For your first dance, you'll be doing a salsa.
I want to see finish, line and rhythm, rhythm, rhythm.
And failing that, get yourself into the Dance-Off,
and then you're guaranteed to make the final.
Yeah.
For our salsa, it's a real party vibe so that it really does look
like a show that we're putting on.
We just need to have crispness and ends to our line.
One, two, three.
We've taken on board all of the advice that
the judges have given us.
We just have to leave everything on the dance floor.
Dancing the salsa, Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon.
Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/Get On Your Feet
is gonna get you
get you tonight
it's a waste of time
it'll pull you through
up and make it happen)
You just set the mood for the semifinal, you came out fighting,
you threw yourself into those lifts! Brilliant! Motsi, you said you
wanted three things, rhythm, rhythm and more rhythm, did you get to?
Yes, hallelujah! She gave us rhythm and more, Balvinder, I love your
attitude, I absolutely love you coming out, you are fearless,
strong, pushing through, he did not move it, you were independent, I
loved the cheekiness! She gave us some softness but also strong, that
was the opening and fight and you set it. You said, I want to be in
the final! Shirley? I am in shock, but did you see the wonderful...
Some of the positions you did were outstanding, immaculate timing,
precision, it reminded me of being in Miami at that salsa club, it was
really authentic. And those lifts, no fear for you now, you trust
completely, fantastic, well done! Anton? What a start! You have set
the benchmark right there, you have gone, OK, this is what I have got,
do your best and beat this! It would take some beating, that was amazing,
energy personified, the performance was great, timing was great, thank
you very much, well done you!
you very much, well done you! The transitions were a bit stop and
start for me. In and out of lifts, lacked fluidity, getting in and out
of them, but you have a way of isolating a body which is
commendable, you have fantastic rhythm and you gave that dance your
all, my darlings.
all, my darlings. Anton said it, you set the benchmark and you have
another chance to impress later with your second dance, can't wait for
that, great start, well done! Great work, well done!
It is a lot, how have you found this week? We have to shift through them
are not spend too much time on anything! You put so much into it, I
know you loved meeting with the judges, didn't you? It felt like a
personal one-to-one and you were able to have a proper conversation
and in-depth feedback which is not often possible when we are dancing,
so I loved it, I thought it was really inspiring and made me feel
like, yes, I can do this. Absolutely! We have to talk about
your Mum, what did she do? My mum flew all the way from Australia to
surprise me, just to come and watch the semifinal.
the semifinal. She is flying back on Monday, so she literally flew in,
all I have ever wanted to do my whole life is make my family proud
so to have her here is, yeah. Well done to both of you, good luck, the
scores are in.
The judges have their scores...
Craig Revel Horwood...
Motsi Mabuse...
Shirley Ballas...
And Anton Du Beke...
If you want Balvinder and Jules to make it the final,
then please vote for them at the end of tonight's show after all of our
couples have danced twice.
To get ready to vote, please sign in or register
for your BBC account.
All you have to do is head to bbc.co.uk/strictly or scan
the QR code on your screen using your mobile or tablet.
Bal, it's the waltz next.
How are you feeling?
I didn't like it at first, a bit slow and I couldn't quite get the
footwork right but when I think of ballroom dancing, that is the one
you go to, it's the classic, and we have done it a few times and
actually I have fallen in love with it, it's a very beautiful dance.
Everyone is very relieved, there was a sharp intake of breath! We can't
wait to see it.
Tess?
Last week proved difficult for Amber and Nikita.
Despite achieving their second perfect 40, they found themselves
facing arguably the toughest Dance-Off of the series.
Ahead of two new routines tonight, the judges had some advice on how
best to move forward, starting with the tango.
Welcome to the judges' lair.
Ooh!
Thank you.
I think you're super.
Thank you so much.
Your best quality for me is how versatile you are,
the way you can bring every dance a new character with full impact.
I think your charleston was one of the best things I've ever seen
on Strictly Come Dancing, I have to tell you.
Your swivel, darling!
Yes, please.
You have got that down, babes!
Yeah.
You've managed to rack up two 40 marks.
That is pretty amazing because I don't hand tens out
willy nilly, darling.
Sorry, guys, I'm such a crier.
The cha-cha-cha was one of those bumps in the road for you.
You scored 33 and you struggled a little bit with that.
He said, you're going to love it!
And when we started on the Monday, I thought...
You've also had to do the Dance-Off.
That knocked my confidence a lot.
But going into the semifinals, I'm going to go for it.
Tango.
Whoa!
Now, I want to see a better shape.
OK.
Too often in the ballroom dancing, your shoulders don't match up.
OK.
When you're in promenade, I don't want to see funny, cued your lines.
Good exercise is if you can dance pretty much all the tango,
but don't touch and hold.
So how much can you follow him without him putting his frame up?
Remember, this is a unit and just bring you because you are
an extraordinary woman.
After being in the Dance-Off last weekend, it was a really good time
to just have that moment with the judges and to get
some incredible advice.
Let's go.
Shirley Ballas!
One, two.
We lost contact.
I'm going to do everything in my power to implement that.
Shoulder blades are down.
Extension.
I hope the judges can see how hard we've worked and I'm just
going to give it everything I've got.
Anton Du Beck.
Dancing the tango, Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.
Higher by Michael Buble
yeah
eh eh eh
I get higher
my fire
know
here for
I get higher
my fire
know
here for
slide across the floor)
know)
Cheering -- CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
Awesome! Yes, Amber! Well done, my darling. Oh, my goodness. You mean
business tonight. I could see the intensity, the power, the drama.
I've had goose pimples. It comes down to two dances, Shirley, how was
Amber's first? You groomed beautifully, fantastic costume.
Beautiful balance, hip on point, I'd have liked a bit of passion, you
looked a bit unconfident here and there but the frame is getting
better, you moved across on one side at one point, you need to stay more
to the left, but overall you did extremely well in this really flat
staccato dance. You did show some quality in that, well done. Thank
you. Anton? It was a tale of two halves really, I liked your shoulder
line, much more connected with Nikita, I know you've been working
on that, thank you very much for that. When you did your openwork
it's so brilliant, the stuff on the chair and the work you do apart, the
sweeping round, it's also magnificent. It's like your
charleston, absolutely wonderful. When you are doing the tango, in
hold, I found the disconnect between the upper body and lower body, the
legs were a bit hesitant, there wasn't the driving through we want.
BOOING Well, we are in the semifinal, you
are amazing. If this was the M1, you'd have got 25 points, I'm sure,
you can get going. That's really it, I know it's nitty picking but we are
at that point in the competition. Your actual performance was
magnificent, you are a tremendous dancer, well done. Craig?
Unnecessarily harsh, you two. CHEERING
There wasn't actually that much wrong with it, I've got to say. I
would have liked may be more of a wide frame, more air between your
chests and stuff but it was clean, passionate, full of purpose,
darling. I loved the little flashes of Argentine tango stop you are
brilliant. CHEERING
Don't tell me the tables have turned! I was being honest. They are
turning. The daddy's are fighting, the boys are fighting. Not as! I
agree with Craig, you are absolutely marvellous. You have improved. You
have improved your ballroom. This line over here, this was
magnificent, and you kept it up throughout the whole choreography.
You kept the passion, the centre and I can see an improvement in the way
you work together with Nikita and the way you move through the dancing
in your ballroom. After the week you've had you came back with a
bang, girl! Motsi says back with a bang and we cannot wait to see what
you've got in store for us. I can't wait to see what you've got in store
for us next. Amber and Nikita, thank you.
Well done. Brilliant comments from Motsi and she is right, after that
week you've had, to come back with that, are you very proud of
yourself? Yeah, I am. There's something about being in the
dance-off, especially against Katya and Lewis that puts fire in your
belly and I want to make sure I was kept for a reason and I wanted to
show and push, yeah. You really did. What did you think of the tango? I
loved it, actually I thought it was letting. Fine. I didn't know it was
ballroom, so I brought my Latin shoes and he said, it's ballroom and
I thought, not the frame. But Shirley said it's got better, and
Anton. How was it to you to sit down with the judges, both of you, did
you like it? Loved it, we know the judges a bit in person as
professional dancers but especially for Amber, after being criticised
for so many weeks and obviously praised, it was nice to chat. They
are human. Not all... Job King!
The judges have their scores...
Craig Revel Horwood...
Motsi Mabuse...
Shirley Ballas...
Anton Du Beke...
If Amber and Nikita are your Strictly finalists,
then please vote for them later in the show after all of our couples
have performed their second dance.
Talking of second dances, you've got Couple's Choice next.
What can we expect?
It's got everything in it. OK. And more. It's in sync. Good, I love
them, we can't wait to see it.
Our next semifinalist was the first celebrity to top the leaderboard,
all the way back in Week One.
She's received ten tens and she's hoping to dance her first dance of
the night and impress them her waltz.
I'm a little bit nervous.
I feel like I'm at parents' evening here.
How do you think your time's gone?
You know what?
It was always about having the best time, so I can't complain.
I've enjoyed every single minute of it.
You always put your heart on the dance floor.
You are always powerful.
The projection is there.
Week one, jive - top of the leaderboard.
I think we were all just stunned.
You set the bar.
And then you had a plateau moment where nothing was changing.
And then suddenly week six - Argentine tango.
A little bit of a breakthrough moment, I thought.
And the most inspiring paso doble in week nine
at Blackpool I think I've ever seen.
Your Couple's Choice in week ten - you even got a ten from Craig!
I know, it's the first perfect score!
I thought it was absolutely fantastic.
I'm not the most elegant of dancers, but football has taught me
to not regret anything.
The waltz - what we need to see from this is softness.
If you've got any open work, make sure that you're
turning your hands so that softness and flow.
Don't be afraid of it.
Love it.
Sprinkle a bit of, you know, elegant magic over you, darling.
Yeah, please!
Give it our best shot.
Yeah.
Of course!
We expect nothing less.
It was amazing to sit down with the judges.
They gave us some incredible feedback, which I think we need
to go and put into practice now in training.
Exactly.
Let's go.
Soft.
One, two.
Don't turn your head.
You have to make it really slow.
Every part of her body has to work extremely hard to look
like she's not working at all.
Don't lean forward.
I've just got to visualise myself being soft and graceful
and just being so relaxed.
Always stay there.
Beautiful, beautiful!
Having a beautiful position and posture is really important.
Yeah, that's the feeling.
The judges have asked for elegance and we've worked really,
really hard on being that little bit softer.
I'm really excited to do this and feel like I can really give
it my all at the weekend.
Dancing the waltz, Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.
One Moment In Time
I thought I could be
are a heartbeat away
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
Come here, Karen, come here!
That was a real moment, wasn't it? It was so elegant. How did that feel
for you? I just love this guy, I looked into him and I crumbled and
then I saw him go, mid dance. You held it together really well, I can
feel you are shaking now, bless your heart. You did so well. Thank you.
You are all looking for softness, you all wanted softness, did you get
it? I got a bit emotional. Me too. I need to take my glasses off, it's
the dust! I mean this in the nicest possible way, I never thought you
would be capable of doing that. I never thought for a second you could
dance like that. I know what you can do, you can do crash, bang, wallop,
I never thought you could do that quality, that softness, that
sensitivity. CHEERING
You came into this competition with a certain aptitude for a style of
dancing. We saw that with your jive, you've carried those qualities on
through into other dances. Look at the State of me! Emotional! When you
start off and your first ballroom dance, tango, weak two, it was all
right, a bag of spanners but all right. For you to be able to come
out, this is your journey, being able to produce this quality of
dancing. CHEERING
. My heart skips a beat when I see this. This is beautiful and I love
you for this. Congratulations, that was amazing.
was amazing. I thought the left elbow was a tad low. But you know
what? It had flow, it had elegance, darling, totally natural. It was
actually very, very beautiful, it really was.
really was. I honestly could not recognise you any more because again
I remember the first show you did, you came out there in this black and
white thing, it looked quite athletic, and I think this time you
actually let go. When we speak about you, we think we... Coming from the
soccer field to come and dance a warts like that, this growth for me
is one of the biggest in this whole competition, you have faced your
challenges but with such courage and now who have shown that everything
is possible, beautiful waltz and beautiful feet, beautiful connection
between you two, this is the connection you want to see on the
ballroom dance, well done. Shirley? I just found it also overwhelming,
weeks, months, hours, you have spent all of you in the studio doing your
very best, to bring this kind of performance, Karen, is fantastic,
your rise and fall at the beginning was exceptional, your pivots was
beautiful, your sensitivity with Carlos was just where it needed to
be for a semifinal, you stayed in hold, perfected it beautifully and
we never thought we would see that so thank you to Strictly and thank
you to you for showing us what you can do! Your growth in the
competition has blown the judges away tonight, will that take you
want -- one step closer to the final? Fingers crossed!
Well done, everybody was crying up here, right? I am not trying! Why
the emotion? It was very emotional tonight. Because for the first time
I let loose and let go and I leaned into him, I have always done in this
competition, I have always felt so safe with him, but today, I was
like, go out there and just enjoy it and lean into him, it is me and him
on the floor, and when I connect with him there is no better feeling,
he made me emotional, I saw him wobbling and I was going, and that
felt so nice. I want to thank the costume team because they have made
me feel beautiful. She looks gorgeous! Not in an arrogant way.
But I really appreciate them for making me feel like this tonight.
They are amazing, you are always thanking people, I love it! Carlos,
tonight was about you two, was on to? We have been in so many dances
that to the people who inspired us, our mums, the audience, the public,
but this is the first time I said to Kaz, this is the slowest dance we
will ever do, it is like the title, one moment in time, I want us to do
this dance for each other and for the journey that we had.
the journey that we had. I am going to cry! I am just happy. And it's a
moment for us, let's cherish our moment together and thank you for
trusting me and giving everything that you have, thank you so much. It
was beautiful, good luck.
The judges have their scores...
Craig Revel Horwood...
Motsi Mabuse...
Shirley Ballas...
Anton Du Beke...
To help Kaz and Carlos get to next week's final,
please vote for them later tonight.
Voting will open after our second round of dancing.
Salsa next - how are you feeling?
I will switch over to him, guys.
Tess?
Our judges have always seen great potential in our next star.
They've pushed him each week to believe in himself,
and tonight they're hoping he can overcome his biggest hurdle
of the competition - his self-confidence.
Starting his semifinal with a samba, it's George and Alexis.
Well, congratulations for getting through to the semifinals.
Thank you very much.
What I love about you is, at the beginning, I had no hope
for you, I've got to be honest.
I thought, he so does not care.
And you proved me completely wrong.
And I'm delighted.
Thank you.
Yeah, I appreciate that.
When we first met you, I think, in your mind, you thought,
maybe I'll be in one or two weeks, let's see how this goes.
And we particularly have seen this strength and growth
in your mind that you think, maybe I can do this.
I always just sort of appear as, like, a jokey,
chilled out kind of guy.
So I quite like this opportunity to show it does
really mean a lot to me.
When you came into the ballroom world, you became a dancer.
And you got high marks - 34 for your Viennese waltz.
I felt that you embraced that dance.
Especially for me, I remember you dancing
in Blackpool and I was, like, oh, whoa, those
lifts, your hip bums!
I think that definitely felt like a turning point for us
that week, at least.
Your dance is going to be the samba.
There is a lot of cross rhythms in it.
There's a bounce action that one has to try and achieve as well.
I would go out there, rotate that body.
Every step you take, a little bit larger than life.
You have a little bit of a hip action - move it a little bit more.
I want to see more George.
I believe in you.
I want you to believe in you.
Listen to the voice that says you're amazing!
Throughout the process, I've always been very appreciative
of all of your feedback.
This is a really fun experience.
It's only going to get better if I just fully embrace it.
So I do really appreciate everything that you've said.
I think you're going to be great.
Good luck!
I think what I'm enjoying about the samba is it feels
like a dance where you're just letting loose and just trying
to have a good time.
To the front.
My main thing throughout has been battling myself and having
the belief to just let loose and just not care.
And I think this is like a perfect opportunity to do that.
Dancing the samba, George Clarke and Alexis Warr.
Volare
volvera mas
mano' y la cara de azul
ma' alto que el sol
despacio de mi
solo para mi
en el cielo infinito
APPLAUSE. Yes, George! We are sensing that! I mean...
sensing that! I mean... I think they like to! I mean... So glad to see
you fully embracing the salsa! It was brilliant.
was brilliant. Spectacular, you are having the time of your life out
there! It was brilliant!
Brilliant music - Dave Arch, his band and our fantastic live singers.
Oh, my goodness! George, you said you wanted to let loose with that
samba, how was it, Craig? You certainly let loose, darling, as
soon as that jacket came off, I have never seen tight trousers, to be
honest! I was losing all sense of focus!
focus! APPLAUSE. There is however a few problems within the dance, bent
knees. I guess what it lacked in technique it made up for in
entertainment, darling, and personality, those hips were going
mad. A real crowd pleaser, congratulations. Motsi? It was
perfect in the entertainment sense, that song is iconic and somebody
told you whatever goes wrong, shake that hips! He was shaking and
shaking, you are entertaining, cheeky, you did not have fear. I was
like you, you ripped the jacket and I was, like, OK, this is not
stepping -- stopping today, whatever dance you have next, shake those
hips! Shirley? I will start with a tiny negative thing, the posture,
you got a bit out of line. But you did set of shadow reverse roles into
reverse roles, that was spectacular. Your positions in your basics you
did and your knees were better than stiff knees so I like just
flexibility and that, your hips were going the dozen, darling. Left and
right in round the corner, let's go! You really embraced the full samba
but how you danced this, this choreography was not easy, this is a
full on competitive routine and you don't Alexis beautifully, well done!
-- you danced. And to think confidence was once an issue! I
hardly recognised you, that was tremendous, I enjoyed that
enormously, could straighten the knee every now and again, shake your
hips, you have lovely crinkly bottom action in the middle there, you
turned round and pointed and I thought you were pointing at me, the
disappointment when you put your glasses on, I thought you were down
the other side of the table, it was magnificent to behold, just like you
are now, well done, great dance. I don't say this often but that was
one of the most entertaining sambas I have ever seen, I loved the! -- I
loved it.
George and Alexis.
A magnificent sight to behold, how you with this? Very happy, a lot of
the comments were about the outfits. I had a good time, I think it is
fairly obvious. I said how was your week and you said lovely, I have
just thrown myself in! I think that is why -- what I wanted to take away
from the process, I would prefer if it was my last week it was one I
enjoyed. The judges asked for more George and they got it, didn't they?
In every way!
The judges have their scores...
Craig Revel Horwood...
Motsi Mabuse...
Shirley Ballas...
Anton Du Beke...
To see George and Alexis in the final next week,
then please get behind them and vote at the end of the show.
George, one more dance - charleston?
Talk to me. It's got a jacket. We cannot wait to watch.
All of our couples have danced once.
Let's have a look at where they currently stand
on tonight's leaderboard.
But that can all change as our couples get ready to dance again.
Tess?
Thanks, Claud.
That's the semifinal leaderboard so far.
Craig, all our couples have got one more chance to prove they deserve
a place in the final.
What would like to see from this next round of performances?
I think they just need to stay focused and try not to let nerves
get the better of them, that's the most important thing, because they
don't want to be making mistakes, so it's about concentration and trying
to actually enjoy it. Thank you.
Listen to the music, beyond the beat, waltz is about time and space
and using the standing leg to use the whole floor and I want
entertainment as well, I want it all. You want it all, great advice.
So, despite all the odds, our Strictly superfan is now just
one waltz away from a possible place in this year's final.
It's Balvinder and Julian.
CHEERING
I am really looking forward to the waltz, and I can't tell
you how big my heart feels to be here.
It's semi-finals, so everything has to be
at the highest calibre.
I have to rise at a particular time and fall at a particular time.
And that's taking a little bit of time to sort of lock in.
One, two.
Bal and I's relationship has really grown.
We take the mickey out of each other quite a lot.
How about I lead it?
But I feel like at its core, we have a really trusting relationship.
We need to carry all the lessons that we learned last week...
Hello!
What are you doing here?
My girls from Huddersfield and Leeds have come down to see me.
This is amazing!
This is a lovely surprise, actually.
We've known Bal for 27 years.
I mean, how is this kind of awesome foursome kind of come together?
We all ended up working at the theatre in Huddersfield.
We did every single job going.
This is the thing is that we used to work on box office
together and Bal would come in talking about Strictly.
"Oh, my gosh, have you seen Strictly last night?
"Did you see this dance?
"Did you see this?"
And to see that you are now a semi-finalist.
We're very, very proud of you.
Yeah.
Really, really proud of you.
Oh, girl!
It is emotional.
We know how much it means to her, don't we?
Yeah, yeah.
It's been brilliant.
And I wouldn't change a single thing.
I love dancing with you, Jules.
Just go out there and smash it.
Enjoy every moment.
They are my second family and I love them.
I'm going to do my absolute best for everyone who supported
me on this journey.
CHEERING
Dancing the waltz, Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon.
At This Moment
twenty years from my life
that you walk on
down on my knees
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
That was so beautiful, Bell. Thank you so much. Is that the first time
you've seen snow, Julian? Inside a room, yeah, the magical Strictly.
Valve in coming have surprised a lot of people this series. How was the
waltz, Shirley? It was lovely, and so glad your mum gets to see you
live, you accelerating yourself even that bit more because your mum was
sat in the audience. You set the most beautiful mood when you did
this, it was really stunning. For an actress that knows how to act, I
found this not to be acting at all, very, very sincere and everything
you did, beautiful standing spin on one foot with the other in the
figure four. A lovely sense of line. A whole beautiful atmosphere you set
today, just lovely, lots of tears today, isn't there, today? Thank you
for that, it was lovely. That bit of confetti, fake snow, got it, snow,
sorry. Anton? I completely agree, there is a lovely naturalness about
the way you dance. The whole ballroom thing can get for standing
ends up in a funny crooked line, but you had a nice naturalness about
your dancing and that struck me as you are dancing, about your whole
time on Strictly Come Dancing, you've always have this lovely
naturalness about your dancing, this genuine you when you dance, you get
you and this wonderful performance quality you have, and I've enjoyed
watching you dance so much. We've talked about your legs and wanting
more power and strength from legs and they've improved so much, but
fundamentally your timing and your field, your general feel of the
dance, is of the highest quality and I enjoy it enormously. Well done.
Thank you. Craig? For me it lacked a little bit of finesse.
BOOING I felt the footwork needed to be
fine tuned ever so slightly. Getting up from the floor was a little... I
know, dishevelled, darling. I tried. It's how you get up, darling, isn't
it? There was ice on the dance floor. Well, it happened, just
saying what I saw. You know what, I love about you the chemistry you
both have, actually. You have now formed a solid partnership, which I
think is you can see that, everyone at home will see that too. So,
congratulations. Motsi? I am impressed with your spine and
because there was a slip, the way you used your centre to get up and
fight to stand was really
impressible, I hope that's a word. The finesse, it was so fine, so
beautiful, detailed, and the emotions, working together, well
done. Thank you. Thank you so much. Your connection on the floor is so
lovely to watch and that is it, you've done all you can, two dances
done. Best of luck with the scores. Thank you. Thank you. Valve in and
Julian. APPLAUSE
-- Balvinder and Julian. APPLAUSE.
Two dances, they could not have been more different, you ended up loving
up, as did the judges. They talk about how you dance dancing
genuinely as yourself, does that resonate? It's lovely to hear, to be
able to feel the music and you have a lovely connection is really lovely
and I'm glad we managed to find that, you know, after this whole
competition. How wonderful was it for you that your friends came? It
was a wonderful surprise. We used to sleep on couches in each other's'
houses, we had nothing and they've seen the journey, they've seen me
work really hard and to see it and experience it with me is incredible.
Do you think you've converted Balvinder to ballroom? I think she's
converted me to ballroom. It feels so lovely and so nice and this whole
journey, the best feedback we've got is what Craig said then about is
having a genuine connection, because we feel that and we love each other
and we're so glad that comes across in our dancing. Well done, it's
beautiful, good luck, the scores are in.
The judges have their scores...
Craig Revel Horwood...
Motsi Mabuse...
Shirley Ballas...
Anton Du Beke...
To support Balvinder and Jules, or any of our couples,
please vote for them at the end of the show.
Details of how to get ready to vote are on your screen now.
Just head to bbc.co.uk/strictly or scan the QR code to get
signed in or registered.
Jules, why does Balvinder deserve to be in the final?
I mean, as far as her Strictly journey goes, I can't think of a
more inspiring one, because I know we talk about improvement and to see
the improvement in her dancing is incredible, but it's obviously
setting a record of winning, not being in the most dance-offs, but
winning them and it's not that, actually, it's that she keeps coming
with a positive, fighting spirit and she is the embodiment of as long as
you believe in yourself you can and you will do it and dream big because
you have made your dreams come true and you've created some dreams I
didn't even know I had, and I'm genuinely so proud of you and to
make the final I feel would be the perfect ending to your story in
Strictly and I'm so proud of you. Very beautifully said, thank you so
much.
Tess?
Now back with their Couple's Choice, it's Amber and Nikita.
Over the series, Amber has given her all to Strictly and,
through the highs and lows, her family have been
with her every step of the way.
This couples choice dances to celebrate growth and determination.
So, I grew up in a small town in Northway called Denby. I was
actually a very timid, shy young girl, but my older sister constantly
was singing around the house and I would copy absolutely everything she
did. We'd spend a lot of Friday evenings watching them perform and
honestly, we've got so many beautiful memories. This is
definitely where it all started from. Yeah. We used to charge them,
50p, may be. It was a full on production. Nobody believed in is
more than my parents. At 16, I moved to London. I was auditioning so much
and I just was not landing a job and I always remember thinking, I'm not
good enough. I was 20 years old. An opportunity came up for me and that
was Love Island. That year it absolutely blew up. She had gone in
a young girl from Denbigh and she came out this famous person,
experiencing negativity, it was really, really hard. Every move I
made I felt like I was being judged by the whole world. She'd really
lost her way with what her dream was and I think we had to sit down and
think about, what can we do? That was to live life for me and not live
life for other people, because I
Evina Strictly fan since I was a
young girl. To be on the show is literally a dream come true. I want
to do this dance for any young girl who is ambitious and has a dream. Go
for it, reach for the stars, you can do anything if you put your mind to
it.
Dancing their Couple's Choice, Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.
Fly Me To The Moon
words, please be true
APPLAUSE.
Amber, that was so magical! It was just pure show business! Glam vibes.
Your last chance to impress the judges tonight, how did she do? You
are right, Hollywood or the way, Glam, gold, all that jazz, darling.
That was just absolutely sensational. Unbelievable.
sensational. Unbelievable. You are just amazing, darling! Thank you so
much. We have to appreciate every single thing you did on that dance,
I thought charleston was great last week, and if there was a way to show
how much more, this was even really special, I would, but this dance was
phenomenal, it belongs in the top Strictly dances, it is up there,
122, you know? I went back to the beginning when you stepped in at the
last minute with 24 hours to do your number and now we watch you and week
after week we have seen you work really hard on the ballroom and
Latin because even if you have a little dance here and there it is
nothing like doing ballroom and Latin and you have done sensation at
this but this kind a number, the way you moved through space, your
awareness of yourself and how like you are on your feet, how you danced
with Nikita and how you both bring this picture to life is just
absolutely beautiful in every way. APPLAUSE. Anton? To coin a phrase
from my lovely friend Motsi, you are impressionable!
impressionable! I have read that it is Vera Ellen's birthday this week,
Hollywood, beautiful music and dance lady from another era, you remind me
of her, have a watch of white Christmas and you will see Vera
Ellen and you remind me of her, you are spectacular, I thought last week
was good, I even prefer this one a bit more than last week, you are
magnificent! What incredible comments from the judges, Amber. I
am overwhelmed, thank you so much. I know you have given it your all for
a place in the final say the very best of luck from all of us.
APPLAUSE.
APPLAUSE. Everyone is emotional tonight, it was so beautiful,
congratulations on those comments, how special was it for you to do a
Couple's Choice? I feel like it is an amazing way to get to know
people. I have watched everyone's Couple's Choice all season that has
been my favourite moment, getting to know them, and after doing the dance
of last week I thought we might not get to do it, so that fact we have
done it means the world to me. And you have always dedicated everything
to your family, they have been right there by your side. My mum has been
by my side since day one, she has turned into my best friend and I
could not live a single day without her, she is just amazing, and my
boyfriend, Ben, thank you for everything as well. Good luck.
The judges have their scores...
Craig Revel Horwood...
Motsi Mabuse...
Shirley Ballas...
Anton Du Beke...
If you loved Amber and Nikita's performances tonight,
then you can support them after the final dance
when voting opens.
Nikita, why should Amber be in next week's final?
I am close to getting emotional. You had so much hate from the moment you
joined, you have had so much hate this week, and yet you came every
single day into the training room with a big smile, ignoring everybody
and giving me Love, giving me a little ginger shot as well! You were
kind and caring, you cared more about me when I am supposed to care
about you. You are such a lovely, positive person and I think
sometimes, and I speak to the audience at home, guys, please be
kind because it costs nothing and you don't deserve anything less. All
you deserve is love because without you, I would not be here and the
show would not be as good as it is because you bring so much joy, that
is the only thing you bring, and you deserve all the love in the world.
Beautifully said, thank you, Nikita.
Tess?
With their second dance of the night, it's Karen and Carlos.
With just a salsa now standing between them
and a place in the final, it fell to one very special person
to give Karen some last words of encouragement.
Our second dance is the salsa.
I think we all know I don't have hips, but I'm trying my utmost.
Relax!
Salsa's all about celebration.
It's Latino.
It's hip, it's leading and following.
It's partnership.
But sometimes she goes ahead of me.
Oh, you travel too much back.
So I really want her to just relax, to lay back, to chill,
and let me lead her.
You move nice, you see?
I think, as much as it's a fun, energetic dance, I've just got
to really stay focussed with Carlos on this one.
Hi!
Oh, hello!
Hello!
Oh!
That's exactly what we needed today.
My mum came in and surprised me.
How's it going, all right?
Yeah, it's good.
Good, good, good.
There's no better feeling than having your mum.
Someone that I think tried to make you strong.
You've been absolutely amazing.
I am so, so proud of you.
I know you haven't had it easy.
You have such a fighting spirit.
I couldn't have done it without you.
I love to watch Karen dance each week.
And I just sit there sometimes and go, wow, that's my daughter.
Yesterday at work, five customers come up to me.
They just come for a chat about Strictly.
I'm quite a celebrity now, yeah!
Everyone back in Birmingham are all rooting for her.
It's just been amazing.
Thanks for coming all this way.
It's been such a good boost for us.
I feel like you've got a new son who's part of the family now.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
You're more than welcome.
Having my mum here, there's nothing like it.
As long as I give it my best and give it everything,
I know that Mum will be happy for us.
Dancing the salsa, Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.
Turn The Beat Around
upside down
nitty-gritty
guitars scratchin'
carries all the action
around, yeah)
my, my, my)
turn it up, turn it upside down)
doubt about it, woah, woah
beating that beat
syncopated rhythm
on the drums, hey yeah
around and around and around)
yeah)
APPLAUSE.
They are going wild! Goodness me, they are going wild! And rightly so,
your energy, it is off the scale, you were spinning for days. You
enjoyed that, didn't you? I had so much fun. You got three tens for
your first dance, how was that salsa, Motsi? I wish I could jump
and join you! APPLAUSE. It feels like a final and it feels like
you're saying, I am not going home, those spins, oh, my God, don't look
at me like that! I was looking at your address! I will give it to you.
-- I was looking at your dress. At the end of the day you have to ask
yourself, what makes a magical performance? You have quality, your
balances outstanding but you have grit, determination, you go out
there and thought, I am giving everything I am capable of and
sometimes you look at it and you are convinced, you write your markdown
because that is who you are, I am sure it is the same in the football
pitch, you are getting 1000% of me and that's what we got from you and
I loved it! Look Anton, he is giddy! You don't have any tonight, because
you have laid it all out there, you have not saved anything for the
potential final, you have gone, this is it, this could be the final for
me, I will treat it like the final annual waltz was exquisite but this
was just out of this world. -- and York waltz. For me, it was a little
bit
bit skippy.
Also, there was a little hiatus getting up from the floor spin. I am
just saying what I saw. You do tend to dance ahead but then so does Vito
anyway! But you know what, it was clean and crisp and flashy, darling.
I love the!
I love the! -- I loved it. We are all rooting for you, Karen, you can
do no more, well done.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
I so hope you could hear everybody up here just screaming, what a
dance. Did you enjoy it? I loved it, you don't know when your last
dances, you've got to go for it and enjoy it and it's a privilege to be
on that dance floor, so we enjoyed it, we went for it and we tried to
bring a party and I loved it, so thank you. Not at all. Let's talk
about your mum, Marie. She was in the audience. She came to training.
How important has she been? I can't put into words what that word means
to me. She's an incredible mother, an incredible grandmother,
incredible wife, and we are so lucky to have her and I'm blessed every
day to have her in my life. She's inherited a son as well, so...
APPLAUSE Well done, mum. She's amazing, good
luck, the judges' scores are in.
The judges have their scores...
Craig Revel Horwood...
Motsi Mabuse...
Shirley Ballas...
Anton Du Beke...
If you loved Kaz and Carlos tonight, then please show your support
for them shortly when the final couple has performed
their second dance.
Carlos, why does Kaz deserve to be a finalist?
I mean, honestly, she is what Strictly is about, honestly. If you
look back to day one I believe no one expected Karen Carney to be in
this position, in the semifinal, and she proved with her own actions,
determination and hard work, but alongside that she is an incredible
human being and so humble. Every time when she gets praised, she
never takes anything for granted, she will always give other people's
congrats and shout out, she is a team player. I have learned so much
from her and being a team player, most incredible is when she dance
she makes you smile. She makes you feel something you can connect with
her, that is incredible. Thank you very much, beautifully said.
Tess?
Our final performance tonight is a charleston
from George and Alexis.
He had a visit from his sister to remind him how far he's come.
The boogie.
Our charleston is inspired by The Inbetweeners.
It's the perfect mixture of goofy and civilised,
which I would like to think I am.
Whoa, show me what you've got.
I feel like he's really just taken the role and just ran with it.
It's been actually really fun to watch.
The focus is much more on how silly and fun it can be,
and I think that's the sort of dance that suits me, so that's what I'm
really enjoying about it.
Hi!
What are you doing here?
I just had to come and see you both!
How's it going in training?
I feel like of the dances we've done it's the dance
that feels most natural.
Since doing the show I've stopped putting so much pressure on myself
and I've just learned to sort of release and just
embrace everything.
Mum and Dad are so proud of you.
What's lovely for them is seeing their son blossoming
into this amazing dancer.
We as a family have loved how people are seeing the real, like,
beautiful, genuine soul that you are, and that everybody can
see the lovely George that we know and love.
Oh, thank you!
Strictly has really helped him find this new wave of confidence.
It's just amazing to see as a big sister.
It means a lot to me to have my sister's support.
She's always someone I've looked up to.
It's lovely to know she's right there with me.
I'm hoping that gives me the extra boost that I need.
Dancing the charleston, George Clarke and Alexis Warr.
We No Speak Americano/Tu Vuo Fa L'Americano
luna
love you"?
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
O, George! You have brought so much personality to the dance floor
tonight. We are loving it. I mean, that was some school disco, wasn't
it? I hope you are not hoping for some words for me, after that!
Totally out of breath. What about those lifts? Man alive, I thought it
was impressive and normally a normal person, like Miko would go, it's
been a delight, I'm glad you are up there for a second but you tossed
her in the air and caught her by her wrist and courts her, more of this,
round the back... House my hair? Nice. Carry on. It was the most
incredible thing. You are so brilliant, I have to tell you, your
timing, you're partnering I've loved but you are under the desk and in
perfect harmony, perfectly together. I just thought that this dance and I
know you will be delighted about this, this dance was you and the
best of you. Well done. CHEERING
It really was. He is a performer now, Craig. I thought personally it
was a little heavy footed. Just a little. Billing-macro I am being
picky. It's true. BOOING
I love the lifts, they were incredible, a little bit of running
man, all sorts of stuff in there and your swivel, I've got to say, was
brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And you know how he feels about
swivelling, it's not easy to please him. Motsi? Tidy, compact, fast, but
your best and you've shown it throughout the competition as you
are a great partner, you are there for her, she can roll, go up and
down, do whatever she wants, catch her stop you have an eye for her
which means you are looking at her and that's something nobody can
teach you, she can trust you are therefore her and you want a man
that is there for you, well done. APPLAUSE
Shirley? Listen to mummy here, OK? Let me get my breath here.
Sometimes, if something is not smack bang wallop in somebody's face it is
hard to appreciate. This had hundreds of small details, tiny
nuances, the feat going, a flick, all subtle, very much together and
the dynamic was the speciality of the highlight, the trick we've never
seen before, the partnering on that, this'll young lady felt totally safe
in your arms. For me personally, I think this is your best number yet.
Well done. CHEERING
Wonderful comments, George. You have pulled out all of the stops tonight,
you really have. I've got my fingers crossed for you. He does so well.
Well done, George and Alexis. CHEERING
Go on, amazing timing, when Shirley said it your best dance, you loved
it, didn't you? It was really good fun. I'm looking at myself, I look
so stupid. You do not, you thought the charleston would be his dance?
Minute we spoke, randomly he was doing swivel is, OK, noted. How
wonderful to have your sister and girlfriend here, I know you wanted
to say thank you to both of them. I feel very grateful, I've got a
lovely support network around me and I think they've both been there
since the beginning, most weeks. I feel it's an all-encompassing show
and I know that it's my life, but it also brings it into theirs, and
they've been nothing but understanding and supportive so
kudos to them. It's their experience as well. Very well said. Good looks,
the scores are in.
The judges have their scores...
Craig Revel Horwood...
Motsi Mabuse...
Shirley Ballas...
Anton Du Beke...
That is it for George and Alexis tonight.
If you want to support them, then you can do that in just a few
moments when voting will open.
Alexis, why should George be in the final?
Well, I just think his transformation this series has been
incredible, from dancing to performing every week he has showed
up and really pushed himself mentally, physically, creatively,
but showed up every day with kindness and this grit to him and
even on the floor, just so much kindness, humility, so genuine on
and off the floor and I see how you treat other people. He is the most
supportive, he makes people feel so loved and appreciated, he's there
for people and the qualities George possesses defined him as a finalist.
Thank you so much.
Let's have look at where everyone stands on tonight's
final leaderboard.
Soon, we'll find out which judge has the last Casting Vote of the series.
To keep your favourites away from the Dance-Off,
please support them right now because the vote is officially open!
You can vote online by scanning the QR code on screen now
or by visiting bbc.co.uk/strictly, where you will also find
the terms and privacy notice.
Voting closes at 8:30pm.
Please do not try and vote if you are watching on demand.
Here's a reminder of tonight's performances...
An incredible semifinal.
Congratulations to all our couples on a night of double dancing.
Tomorrow, we'll find out who makes it to the final.
For two of these couples, the last Dance-Off will
decide if they get there.
Voting closes at 8:30pm.
You have until then to save your favourites.
And we can now reveal that the judge who has the huge
responsibility of the casting vote for the semifinal Dance-Off is...
Craig! CHEERING
Merry Christmas!
In tomorrow night's Results Show, we have music from the amazing
James, and the one and only Kylie performs alongside our
professional dancers.
We're back tomorrow at the later time of 7:45pm, where we'll find out
who will be your Strictly finalists.
Until then, Claud...
Time to double dance?
Keeeeeeep dancing!