Strictly Come Dancing: week 10 – live

As the couples return to the Elstree Studios ballroom, they face the first ever Instant Dance challenge. Tonight’s routines will be soundtracked by Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra and Tina Turner. But who will be simply the best?

Low on traditional numbers tonight, I’m sorry to say. Instead we’ll get a battle of the jives between Balvinder Sopal and Amber Davies, plus a rumba, a cha-cha and a Couple’s Choice.

Just George Clarke’s quickstep flies the flag for ballroom. It’s 10 minutes until the glitterball starts spinning…

Hosts make intriguingly juicy comment about wild post-show party in Blackpool

Instant Dance Challenge turns out to be utterly confusing and total chaos

Anton says “That’s the sort of number I’d like to have danced”

Misty-eyed reference to Blackpool’s “special atmosphere”, “sprung floor” or “iconic” Tower Ballroom

Shirley Ballas thanks a couple for “opening our show” or “closing our show”

Claudia refers to Lewis Cope’s hundreds of siblings taking it in turns to be in the studio audience

Judgely bafflement over how to critique and mark a Couple’s Choice

Mention of a post-Blackpool dip or couples being tired 10 weeks into the contest

Shot of Alex Kingston’s dog Wolfie in fancy dress

Claudia makes knowing nod to the lindyhop-athon meltdown of 2018