No Quarter Given

Nov 29, 2024 by Rob

Jamie can feel justifiably miffed for his week 10 elimination after performing a foxtrot which, in a parallel universe, could have been scored 39 and no one would have batted an eyelid.

Pete had looked in trouble in last place but that was before the cunning contribution to proceedings made by the samba-thon which enabled the judges to contrive two leaderboard ties. This looked intentional to help Pete escape the dance-off.

The difficulty the show has is the low pv being endured by Montell. News of a rumba for her immediately sets alarm bells ringing of a potential fourth dance-off appearance.

Hers will be the only routine on the night not including extra dancers and we all know how exposing rumba can be, but it is going to tell a story that means something for Montell and this will no doubt be leveraged from the message of the original The Color Purple movie.

Tasha has a showcase AT to ‘Ex-Wives’ from Six after her spellbinding AS from the pimp slot which saw her deservedly land the first 40 of the series. She is on the up and up as we head to the business end of the series.

Week 10 judges’ leaderboard:

Tasha and Aljaz – AS – (7) – 10, 10, 10, 10 = 40 + 6 = 46
JB and Lauren – Charleston – (3) – 9, 10, 10, 10 = 39 + 7 = 46
Montell and Johannes – QS – (6) – 8, 10, 9, 10 = 37 + 5 = 42 – bottom two
Sarah and Vito – Rumba – (2) – 8, 8, 10, 10 = 36 + 4 = 40
Chris and Dianne – Paso – (5) – 7, 8, 9, 9 = 33 + 1 = 34
Jamie and Michelle – Foxtrot – (4) – 8, 8, 7, 9 = 32 + 2 = 34 – eliminated
Pete and Jowita – Tango – (1) – 6, 7, 8, 8 = 29 + 3 = 32

With Sarah granted a Charleston to ‘Popular’ from Wicked she couldn’t have asked for a musical with more heat around it at the moment, or a more crowd-pleasing routine. You would have to conclude the two leading ladies in this series look teed up to progress to the semi-final.

It’s ‘Somewhere’ from West Side Story for Pete’s waltz and a VW for JB set to ‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’ from Mary Poppins. Neither of these two has enjoyed a pimp slot series-long, whereas Tasha has now enjoyed two pimp slots. Of the two, JB looks the more likely pimp candidate with a song that famously plays during the end of the film.

Chris has a QS routine that will transport viewers back to a bygone age and if he pulls off the timing it could be yet another feel-good routine for the audience to lap up.

Pete and Chris have both opened the show twice now whereas Sarah hasn’t opened yet, and Charleston could prove an ideal Musicals Week opener. Pete and Chris have also established themselves as last and second last on the judges’ leaderboard pecking order, relying on the pv to help them avoid the dance-off.

Can Pete pull off another Houdini Act? He opened the show last week so at least won’t be hamstrung by that disadvantage.

If Pete survives again it looks most likely to be at the expense of Montell whose rumba could conceivably be scored lower. But Pete’s best chance will be to avoid the dance-off altogether, and for that to happen he may need to rely on some leaderboard ties again.

Please do let us know who got your week 11 vote(s) when our exit poll opens at the end of tomorrow evening’s show.

Strictly 2024 Exit Poll – Week 11 (QF)

Musicals Week (quarter-final) dances and songs:

Montell and Johannes Rumba to I’m Here from The Color Purple
Sarah and Vito Charleston to Popular from Wicked
Tasha and Aljaz Argentine Tango to Ex-Wives from SIX
Chris and Dianne Quickstep to You’re The Top from Anything Goes
JB and Lauren Viennese Waltz to Let’s Go Fly A Kite from Mary Poppins
Pete and Jowita Waltz to Somewhere from West Side Story