MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 03:34:13| >> :600:128485193:128485193:

Strictly Come Dancing, week five: What the judges said

See what the judges had to say and find out how they scored the eight remaining celebrities as they took to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom in week five.

Just eight couples remain in contention for the Strictly Come Dancing glitterball after Max George and Dianne Buswell left the show last week.

On what should have been Blackpool week, the remaining celebrities took to the dancefloor again as the contest reached the halfway point.

Scroll on to see what the judges had to say about this week's performances!



Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse on Strictly Come Dancing week five on November 21, 2020© BBC

Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse

Dance: American Smooth
Song: 'Under My Skin' by Frank Sinatra

Shirley Ballas: "I'm having an emotional moment - it was 53 years ago I danced at the Tower Ballroom. I want to thank you Bill for opening the show with such class and beauty. Well done." 9/10

Anton Du Beke: "I don't know about Blackpool but I feel like we were in heaven. You watch Oti intently and you followed her as all great male dancers. I just thought it was so refined, I loved it." 8/10

Craig Revel Horwood: "The Fred Astaire section, you need to extend a bit more and be a bit more expressive. The foot was flexed and apart and ugly. But you are a revelation." 8/10

Total score: 25/30



Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez on Strictly Come Dancing week five on November 21, 2020© BBC

Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez

Dance: Salsa
Song: 'Better When I'm Dancing' by Meghan Trainor

Anton Du Beke: "I thought that was absolutely brilliant. I criticised you last week for being a bit stiff... this week you were so fluid and you were nice and loose, and that's exactly what I'm after. I feel like we're only scratching the surface - keep going." 9/10

Craig Revel Horwood: "It's a bit unfortunate about the bad landing but I'm going to blame your partner for that. Amazing isolation, your hips were fantastic, your spins were incredible." 9/10

Shirley Ballas: "What a way to come back from that dreaded dance-off. Absolutely no fear. Keep working on your feet... it's getting better by the week, well done." 9/10

Total score: 27/30



JJ Chalmers and Amy Dowden on Strictly Come Dancing week five on November 21, 2020© BBC

JJ Chalmers and Amy Dowden

Dance: Quickstep
Song: 'For Once In My Life' by Stevie Wonder

Craig Revel Horwood: "I normally hate people mouthing words but in your case I thought the expressions actually worked. However I thought it was all a bit jagged. It needs to be smoothed out a little more." 7/10

Shirley Ballas: "I disagree with Craig completely. What I was very impressed with was this vertical spine, you keep very straight. I saw rolling like a Rolls Royce. I was absolutely delighted with you." 9/10

Anton Du Beke: "Immaculate arm lines. You swung across the floor... thank you, brilliant." 9/10

Total score: 25/30



Clara Amfo and Aljaz Skorjanec on Strictly Come Dancing week five on November 21, 2020© BBC

Clara Amfo and Aljaz Skorjanec

Dance: Samba
Song: 'That's The Way (I Like It)' by KC and The Sunshine Band

Shirley Ballas: "There is no mistaking the joy and the energy that you bring. Your feet missed the mark for me today - there was too much fumbling. You have a good rotation, you have a great potential but for me today this was by far your weakest performance so far." 6/10

Anton Du Beke: "Your joy and energy you bring to every dance is wonderful. You have the ability to light up the room with your performance. I don't want you to lose any of this enthusiasm you have for dance." 7/10

Craig Revel Horwood: "For me it was very heavy. Your feet were way too far apart, you were a little bit pigeon-toed. The timing got out. There was bounce which was great. This dance is so, so difficult. This dance didn't suit you sadly." 5/10

Total score: 18/30



Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer on Strictly Come Dancing week five on November 21, 2020© BBC

Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer

Dance: Couple's Choice - Street/Commercial
Song: 'Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)' by C&C Music Factory

Anton Du Beke: "Obviously this particular style of dance comes perfectly naturally to me. It's all about the style and the timing. You nailed it, it was unbelievable. It's your best dance by about a thousand miles." 10/10

Craig Revel Horwood: "That was amazing. You styled it out, you were in sync, I was just a little bit disappointed you didn't go into a headspin on the floor." 9/10

Shirley Ballas: "Oh my goodness, that was like going on a merry-go-round. You were agile, you were energetic. You held your own. Absolutely fantastic, absolutely amazing." 10/10

Total score: 29/30



HRVY and Janette Manrara on Strictly Come Dancing week five on November 21, 2020© BBC

HRVY and Janette Manrara

Dance: Tango
Song: 'Golden' by Harry Styles

Craig Revel Horwood: "There were a couple of mistakes in there but you knew that. The power behind that dance, the drama... you took total control of it. Absolutely fantastic." 8/10

Shirley Ballas: "Week in and week out you come out and deliver the different styles. It was a difficult routine and I love that you were challenging him. Your frame has the most potential to be the next King of Ballroom. Keep working on it." 9/10

Anton Du Beke: "A lot about that I really, really loved. The choreography was tremendous. You pulled it all off beautifully." 9/10

Total score: 26/30



Caroline Quentin and Johannes Radebe on Strictly Come Dancing week five on November 21, 2020© BBC

Caroline Quentin and Johannes Radebe

Dance: Cha Cha Cha
Song: 'Rescue Me' by Fontella Bass

Shirley Ballas: "I loved it, it was so much fun. You can sell anything. You have the most beautiful flow, just lovely." 8/10

Anton Du Beke: "She didn't need rescuing, she seemed to be having a marvellous time. I love watching you dance. If you're going to do a cha cha, this is the way to do a cha cha. This is by far your best dance of the series." 8/10

Craig Revel Horwood: "I think Johannes is the one that needs rescuing darling. I loved it, I absolutely loved it. Cheeky and cheesy, all the things I love." 8/10

Total score: 24/30



Ranvir Singh and Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing week five on November 21, 2020© BBC

Ranvir Singh and Giovanni Pernice

Dance: Argentine Tango
Song: 'When Doves Cry' by Prince

Anton Du Beke: "It was... ooh, what a beauty you are. That is the perfect dance. It captured me completely. You have wonderful intensity. You create a fantastic atmosphere." 10/10

Craig Revel Horwood: "I would have liked to have seen a straight leg in the second lunge you did. But my goodness... there's so much detail you put into that. I'm amazed actually - fantastic." 8/10

Shirley Ballas: "It made me rather hot under the collar I have to say. I felt like you were in your own room and we were all watching from the window. You almost kissed each other! It was so hot, it was so sensational. You were fabulous." 9/10

Total score: 27/30



Strictly Come Dancing: The Results airs Sunday at 7.25pm on BBC One.


ID:423210: cacheID:423210:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:14095:
Written by
Neil Wilkes

Follow us on Bluesky or on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.

Media Mole's Lowest Ever Sky Offer: Get Sky Essential, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £15 a month + £0 upfront fee for 24 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends March 19, 2025

Restore Data
Share this article now:
Strictly Come Dancing hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly
Read Next:
Strictly Come Dancing, week five: Dances and songs revealed
>
rhs 2.0
New TV Picks header

Monday, December 9


MasterChef: The Professionals: BBC One, 9pm
Finals week gets underway with judges Monica Galetti, Marcus Wareing and someone else whose name we forget

Made In Chelsea: E4, 10pm
Rez gets annoyed by the new-found bromance between Tristan and Miles, while Maeva decides to confront Jazz

Coronation Street: ITVX, from 7am and ITV1, 8pm
Shona goes for a clandestine meeting in a hotel room...

The 1% Club: ITV1, 9pm
It's back and it's weekday primetime, baby