Strictly Come Dancing LIVE: Sarah Hadland kicks off Musicals Week with lift-packed Charleston

Going along the panel, she’s received a 7, an 8, another 8 and a 9 for a total of 32.

Just before the scores, Johannes revealed something that’s made him especially proud of his partner. He explained: “My partner has got no ligaments in her ankles, so when I tell you… to acheive this, I am beside myself.”

Montell had an emotional moment as the routine finished, but she’s holding it together now.

“It was very slow, which is exposing,” said Craig. “The faster you go with this, the easier it is to cover up [a lack of] technique. In this dance, you have to keel living through every moment but I feel like we were just getting snapshots and still pictures.”

“I love that you had very slow moments, which are very difficult, and some fast movements,” said Motsi. “A very emotional and well-danced Rumba.”

Dancing the Rumba, a notoriously tough style, at this point in the competition isn’t ideal. But I really would hate to see Montell go!

I absolutely love Montell and she really does not deserve to have been in the dance-off as much as she has.

Now she’s doing an emotion-packed rumba to “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. I’ve been loving what the pros have done with the Rumbas this year and Johannes has once again served up something new and fresh (aka… they have shoes on).

Montell doesn’t look entirely confident on the dancefloor which is a shame because she’s brilliant and has really improved week-on-week.

She’s landed two 9s and two 10s, for a total of 38. Not bad at all!

The judges are loving Sarah’s Charleston.

Motsi told her: “Yes, yes, yes. What a way to open the quarterfinal. The lifts… unbelievable. You did not miss a bit. Thank you for seeing the standard today.”

“The lifts were flawless,” Shirley said. “Unbeliavable in every shape and form. I can honestly say I loved it.”

Anton agreed, labelling the routine “so wonderful” and telling Sarah: “What I love about this is you were in complete control. I love watching you dance.”

And Craig? “Normally I like a charleston to be a bit messier with wild abandon… However, I think you made a very good choice due to character. The amount of detail in there was phenomenal. Bravo.”

Could Sarah be heading for four 10s?

The judges couldn’t agree on Sarah’s Rumbas last week, with two awarding her 8s and two reaching for the 10 paddle. What will they make of her Charleston?

There was a bit of time-wasting at the start but wow, those lifts. Sarah wasn’t kidding when she said she spends more time in the air. Her Charleston moves weren’t bad at all, and the all-important swivel was certainly there.

They all look sensational, with Craig as the Bearded Lady from The Greatest Showman, Motsi Mabuse rocking a Dreamgirls vibe and Anton du Beke as Joseph (with his technicolour dreamcoat).

But can we talk about Shirley Ballas as Mrs Trunchbull? Talk about commit to a look. Bravo.

The Strictly professionals are setting the tone for the evening with a Little Shop of Horrors performance. The wigs really are something and Carlos is completely stealing the show as Audrey 2 (yes, the plant).

I hope you’ve got tiny tubs of ice cream and overpriced wine at the ready — it’s Musicals Week!

There are just six couples left in the competition and only two live shows to go after tonight’s Strictly. The series has genuinely flown by.

This evening’s episode will incude a West Side Story Waltz, an Argentine Tango to a track from Six and a Quickstep to a classic from Anything Goes. And of course, one couple has won the jackpot and will be holding space for the lyrics of Wicked (though they’re not performing to “Defying Gravity”). It’s Sarah and Vito, who are doing a Charleston to “Popular”. One of them better be painted green.

The songs and dances that the remaining celebrities and their partners will be performing in “Musicals Week” have been confirmed for tonight’s show.

• Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell – Quickstep to “You’re The Top” from Anything Goes
• JB Gill and Lauren Oakley – Viennese Waltz to “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” from Mary Poppins
• Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe – Rumba to “I’m Here” from The Color Purple
• Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał – Waltz to “Somewhere” from West Side Story
• Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola – Charleston to “Popular” from Wicked
• Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec – Argentine Tango to “Ex-Wives” from SIX