The show tonight kicked off with Jessie Wallace and her partner, Darren Bennett performing a salsa. Jessie had been very nervous in rehearsals and struggled to learn the moves but on the night, ‘the girl done good’, but would the judges agree?

When the pair finished their dance and nervously awaited the judge’s comments, Brucie accidentally called Jessie, Jelly, which amused him no end but I don’t think anyone else actually heard it! Anyway, Len said that he’d enjoyed the dance but felt that Jessie was concentrating too hard on getting the moves right so she lost some of the dance’s passion.

Bruno felt that Jessie had been too restrained and while he liked her performance overall, he wanted to see her ‘wild side’ and felt that he hadn’t.

Craig commented that the couple had good energy but that Jessie seemed ‘heavy’ and splayed her legs too much as she was going down. Stop tittering now… what are we, ten? I know, I found it giggleworthy too!

Arlene ended by concluding that Jessie hadn’t been sufficiently rhythmic but that overall, it was a very good dance.

As Jessie and Darren awaited the judge’s scores, Jessie told Tess how nervous she had been but excited too.

The scores were – Craig, 4, Arlene, 4, Len 6 and Bruno 6, giving the couple a total of 20.

Next up were Christine Bleakley and Matthew Cutler performing a foxtrot. During rehearsals, Christine worried that she wasn’t getting the moves right and that as someone who’s never danced before, that she’d fail to live up to Matthew’s expectations. However, they danced beautifully, and the judge’s comments confirmed that Christine had indeed performed wonderfully.

Len said that she was graceful and elegant but needed to control her footwork more.

Bruno remarked that her technique needed some work but he compared her to Titania from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, so that was high praise indeed!

Craig thought that Christine demonstrated confidence and control but suggested that she work on maintaining her posture and frame.

Arlene said she was stunned by the performance and gushed that Christine had danced like an ‘elegant lady’.

The couple seemed very happy with their performance, and despite Christine’s nerves, they’d both enjoyed the dance.

The judges scored the performance as follows – Craig, 6, Arlene, 6, Len, 8, Bruno, 7 giving them a total of 27.

Next up were Lisa Snowdon and her partner, Brendan Cole who were performing a salsa. Brendan was very complimentary about Lisa during rehearsals and despite her being very nervous and worried that she wouldn’t make the grade, he had total confidence in her.

Their dance seemed a little stilted and it was clear that Lisa wasn’t very relaxed, which was reflected in the judges comments.

Craig said that Lisa had displayed a natural rhythm but that the performance had been ‘lacklustre’.

Arlene remarked that despite the very good effort and the numerous ‘fierce turns’, Lisa hadn’t ‘got down and dirty’ enough to do the salsa justice.

Len agreed with Arlene; he enjoyed the move he referred to as the ‘sitting hen’ when Brendan spun above a squatting Lisa but he thought there had been too many spins, even though the quality of them had been good. Overall he said, he enjoyed the performance.

Bruno concluded the judge’s comments by saying that there wasn’t enough passion in the dance and that Lisa needs to be more confident.

Their votes were as follows – Craig, 5, Arlene, 5, Len, 6, Bruno, 6, giving the couple a total of 22.

Jodie Kidd and partner Ian Waite were up next and in rehearsals, we saw that the couple were struggling with their choreography due to Lisa’s height, which – with her heels on – is 6ft 5!

The two performed a foxtrot which did seem a little awkward due to Lisa’s size, but it was on her side when it came to high kicks; her legs went on forever!

Arlene said that Jodie had been elegant and a ‘gorgeous surprise’. Her only criticism was of Jodie’s footwork which she described as ‘ropey’.

Len announced, ‘tall girls can dance!’ to a delighted Lisa and said that although he agreed with Arlene that the footwork could’ve been better, overall he felt it was an elegant performance.

Bruno said that the foxtrot required a great deal of control on the part of the dancers and he felt that Lisa had done very well but that she needed to ensure continuity during her dances.

Craig commented that he felt her height had magnified problems with the routine but that she’d done very well with the high kicks.

The judge’s scores were – Craig, 5, Arlene, 6, Len, 7, Bruno, 7, giving a total of 25.

Heather Small and Brian Fortuna were next up with another salsa. During rehearsals, Heather had been extremely nervous and had a tendency to dissolve into fits of giggles, but at least she enjoyed the long hours practicing!

Their dance was impressive and Heather looked stunning in her green sequinned dress.

Bruno was very complimentary and said that the passion Heather showed was what the salsa’s all about though he felt that she lacked co-ordination at times.

Craig said that overall it had been a good performance but that she needed to pay more attention to her footwork and that towards the end, he felt Heather became ‘rag dollish’ but he did praise her bravery for the ‘neck drop’ move.

Arlene felt that Heather had shown good hip movements but had tended to lose ‘the passion’ at times.

Len simply said ‘Heather, queen of salsa!’ and complimented her rhythm and the whole dance.

Their scores were – Craig, 5, Arlene, 6, Len, 8, Bruno, 7, giving them a total of 26.

Gillian Taylforth and Anton De Beke were up next with the foxtrot. Gillian looked very nervous and awkward throughout the dance and seemed quite relieved when it was over!

Craig remarked that she hadn’t controlled her arm movements very well and that her heel turns had tended to be on her whole foot. Overall, he concluded, ‘not a complete disaster’.

Arlene said that there had been ‘lots of fox, no trot’ and she thought that rather than allowing Anton to lead, Gillian had been inclined to try to push Anton into place.

Len commented that he always looks for the good in people – unlike some of the other judges – and he complimented Gillian’s footwork but advised her to tighten her posture in future dances.

Bruno said that the couple’s introduction to the performance had been great but that he’d been able to see that Gillian’s nerves were getting the better of her.

The judge’s scores were – Craig, 4, Arlene, 5, Len, 7, Bruno, 6, a total of 22.

Rachel Stevens and Vincent Simone followed with another salsa. In rehearsals, Rachel noted that Vincent was very flirty but very patient and for his part, he was enjoying Rachel’s company a great deal!

Their dance was passionate and intricate; all the things that a salsa should be and for me, was the best dance of the night.

Arlene said that she’d been totally enthralled by their performance and said that it was ‘stunning and sexy’.

Len again agreed with Arlene and added only a heartfelt ‘well done!’

Bruno positively gushed about Lisa’s performance and likened it to a cocktail, and specifically, a Pina Colada in that it was fruity and packed a punch.

Craig said that he’d wanted more rotations but that overall, the dance was ‘wonderful’.

They scored Lisa’s performance as follows – Craig, 7, Arlene, 8, Len, 8, Bruno, 8 for a total of 31.

The final couple’s performance was from Cherie Lunghi and James Jordan. In rehearsals, Cherie said how great James was as a teacher and he remarked that even though Cherie had repeatedly stepped on – and swivelled on – his feet, she’d been a pleasure to work with and had put in a lot of effort.

Their foxtrot was extremely elegant and fluid, and if Cherie was nervous, she didn’t show it.

Bruno said that Cherie was the dance’s ‘leading lady’ and that it had been a great performance.

Craig said simply, ‘a class act, fabulous’.

Arlene agreed and compared Cherie to an Aston Martin for some unknown reason… however, overall, she loved the dance.

Len said that for him, it had been the best dance of the night.

Their scores were, Craig, 8, Arlene, 8, Len, 9, Bruno, 8 for a total of 33.

We then saw the male celebrities performing with their partners in a group merengue. A lot of the boys seemed to be having a great time but Andrew Castle looked like he was studying for an exam, bless him, and John Sargeant looked a little too – how to put it… - age challenged to perform at his best!

Overall the judge’s comments were favourable for the dance though, and Bruce remarked that the atmosphere had been ‘electric’.

Craig said that for him, the ‘stand out’ performer had been Tom Chambers with his excellent hip action! Arlene felt that Austin Healey was the most improved dancer while Len said that he felt Mark Foster had perhaps not improved a great deal and looked ‘awkward’. Bruno said his favourite had been John, which received rapturous applause from the audience.

On tomorrow’s 8pm show, we’ll find out which two couples scored lowest in the phone vote and will therefore face the dance-off, after which, one female celebrity will leave the competition.