For Pete’s Sake

Nov 15, 2024 by Rob

Chris and Dianne’s pimp-slotted CC routine, with its powerful black out moment, had the feel of a potential series winner and a joyous, emotionally resonant number that might be reprised in a final. But Chris hasn’t put it to bed quite yet despite shortening to 1.4.

Rose and Giovanni had their pimp-slotted CC, also in week 8, back in 2021, which was scored 39 and this was undoubtedly a series-winning moment for Rose. Perhaps the small chink in Chris’s armour is that, while the judges’ script and eulogising screamed them getting behind a pv behemoth, he was only scored 33.

There’s no doubt Chris and Dianne have won viewers’ hearts with their partnership and he has topped our exit poll every single week of the show so far, but a potential last place on the leaderboard in the semi-final and clever ordering above him could put him in the dance-off, if that’s the route the show decides to go down, possibly due to Chris being a non-tourer next year.

Chris’s AS doesn’t look like it will be the stand out routine in Blackpool but it will be another week ticked off, with Dianne’s parents due to be in the Elstree studio for week 10, when the samba-thon lies in store. Interestingly, all of Wynne, Pete and Chris scored 26 for samba in this series.

Sarah continues to shape up as Chris’s biggest threat. She has a showcase CC tomorrow night and Vito is sure to throw the kitchen sink at it. Another big highlight could prove to be Tasha’s paso set to Torn, which sounds like the perfect piece of music for a power-packed routine.

Montell has the right sort of song for a party salsa and it will likely be an opportunity for the judges to talk about her improvement since her week 2 samba which was scored 30. Without scoreboard protection Montell will be vulnerable of making a second appearance in the dance-off.

Jamie’s jive has the feel of a potential opener. He has had two successive poor weeks dancing samba and AT and must have beaten Wynne on the pv last week to avoid the dance-off.

Week 8 judges’ leaderboard:

JB & Lauren – Samba – (5) – 9, 9, 9, 10 = 37
Tasha & Aljaz – Quickstep – (1) – 8, 10, 10, 9 = 37
Pete & Jowita – Couple’s Choice – (4) – 8, 9, 10, 9 = 36
Montell & Johannes – Paso Doble – (8) – 9, 9, 9, 9 = 36
Sarah & Vito – American Smooth – (3) – 8, 8, 8, 9 = 33
Chris & Dianne – Couple’s Choice – (9) – 7, 8, 9, 9 = 33
Wynne & Katya – American Smooth – (7) – 7, 8, 8, 9 = 32 – bottom two
Jamie & Michelle – Argentine Tango – (6) – 7, 8, 7, 8 = 30
Shayne & Nancy – Rumba – (2) – 7, 8, 7, 8 = 30 – eliminated

The song seems pretty lame for a jive and he could easily find himself being eclipsed on the night, but Jamie’s actual jive technique has looked pretty good in training clips this week.

Wynne survived last week’s dance-off vs Shayne which has led to further cries of favouritism being afforded to him. There has been a strong sense of Wynne’s pv gradually ebbing away but he does at least have Charleston to entertain with tomorrow night. He hasn’t looked a natural in training and will be relying on some clever Katya flourishes.

Pete has the tough CCC and will style it out to I’m Too Sexy probably losing his shirt along the way. He’s just had his CC high point and there is a risk of this being an end of journey night for Pete.

His one ray of light is, he, along with JB, is still to enjoy the pimp slot and if he is given the pimp slot you would have to anticipate a save Pete type of treatment with a big cabaret number the judges can talk up and score up. And there have been strong hints on this week’s ITT this is exactly how it might play out.

JB has gained some momentum in the last two weeks with the switch of partners to Lauren. This has breathed new life into his challenge and a QS on the sprung floor of Blackpool is likely to see a continuation of his upward curve. If performed from the pimp slot, this might even see the first 40 of the series awarded if it’s not taken by Tasha or Sarah earlier in the evening.

In conclusion, if we don’t see Pete in the pimp slot he could be a goner, but if he is he’ll likely survive the week which would leave Montell, Jamie and Wynne looking most vulnerable. It’s going to come down to who is scored lowest and based on this week’s training footage you’d have to side with Wynne pre-show.

Please do let us know who got your vote(s) when our exit poll opens at the end of tomorrow night’s show.

Strictly 2024 Exit Poll – Week 9

Week 9 (Blackpool Week) dances and songs:

Montell and Johannes Salsa to Don’t Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston
Sarah and Vito Couple’s Choice to Padam Padam by Kylie Minogue
Tasha and Aljaz Paso Doble to Torn by Nathan Lanier
Chris and Dianne American Smooth to Jump by Paul Anka
Jamie and Michelle Jive to The Ketchup Song (Aserejé) by Las Ketchup
JB and Lauren Quickstep to Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley
Pete and Jowita Cha Cha to I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred
Wynne and Katya Charleston to Carmen Suite No.1: 5. Les toréadors by Georges Bizet