The Guardian's live coverage of Strictly Come Dancing week eight saw four couples take to the floor in a night of mixed fortunes, with Delta Goodrem delivering the highest score of the series so far despite a last-minute partner change. The Australian singer and her hastily arranged Slovenian pro Aljaž Škorjanec earned a combined 39 points for their Argentine tango, while other competitors struggled to maintain consistency on the leaderboard.
How did Delta manage with a new partner?
Delta Goodrem faced an unexpected challenge when her regular pro partner Kai Widdrington fell ill, forcing the show to call in Aljaž Škorjanec as a replacement only yesterday. The Slovenian dancer, who was eliminated in week two alongside Melanie Walters, stepped in to partner the singer who had already missed a week earlier in the competition due to a rib injury. Despite the minimal rehearsal time and lack of established chemistry, the pairing proved remarkably effective.
Goodrem performed to Missing by Everything But The Girl, the 1994 track that became a major hit following Todd Terry's house remix in 1995, which reached number three on the UK charts and became the duo's biggest domestic success. She wore a striking red dress with a split skirt that complemented the choreography perfectly. The routine showcased a slow, elegant interpretation of the Argentine tango rather than a fiery, passionate version. Sharp footwork, leggy spins, intricate kicks, flicks and rapid pivots demonstrated technical precision throughout. The partnership displayed powerful and expressive movement with intimate choreography that felt controlled and clean rather than wild.
The judges responded with unprecedented enthusiasm. Craig Revel Horwood declared it "a-may-zing", while Motsi Mabuse said "you made us wait for that but it was the dance of the season". Shirley Ballas praised the comeback performance, noting "footwork and leg swing great, fantastic performance". Anton Du Beke concluded by saying "in the room, the energy was electric, you are flying, that was sensational". The four judges awarded scores of 9, 10, 10 and 10 respectively for a total of 39 points—the highest of the entire series to date. The studio erupted in chaotic celebration, with Shirley and Motsi rising to their feet.
Can Cach Mercer find his rhythm in the Charleston?
Love Islander Cach Mercer and pro partner Maddie Ingoldsby have experienced dramatic swings in fortune throughout the competition, ranging from top of the leaderboard to bottom, before surviving last week's dance-off. Tonight's Charleston represented a style that should suit his strengths far better than previous routines. The performance opened with a neighbourly theme, both dancers wearing spats as they launched into an energetic, upbeat and synchronised routine.
Mercer brought streetdance swagger to sections of the choreography while maintaining confident style throughout. The dance featured rhythmic, coordinated movement packed with personality, complete with solo highlights and side-by-side sparkle. Shoulder shimmies, hand claps, kicks and tricks built momentum toward a spectacular one-armed lift that finished the routine with flair. Mercer appeared to be bouncing back both literally and figuratively, delivering a performance that felt genuinely brilliant.
The couple danced to Blame It on the Boogie by The Jacksons, the 1978 disco hit originally written with the intention of being sold to Stevie Wonder before the Jacksons acquired it instead. Stock Aitken Waterman produced a cover version in 1989 performed by boyband Big Fun. The judges awarded scores of 7, 8, 7 and 8 for a total of 30 points. Anton Du Beke noted "beautifully elegant, loved your open work and free arm, wonderful breathy motion but you get cramped for space in hold". Craig Revel Horwood observed "not always closing your steps but great timing and flow, a really confident performance". Motsi Mabuse said "emotional part of the dance was great, concentrate on what's going on downstairs and move together but I feel your beauty". Shirley Ballas concluded "posture improving, some sticky footwork and too much rise in the pivots but lots to like, you're a force to be reckoned with".
Can Tabby Stoecker master the Viennese waltz?
Winter Olympic gold medallist Tabby Stoecker has endured a rollercoaster journey through the competition, plummeting from the top of the leaderboard to the bottom before climbing back to second place in recent weeks. Ballroom dancing has not been her strongest discipline, making tonight's romantic Viennese waltz a significant test of her progress. The routine opened with a CGI rooftop setting, with Stoecker wearing a puffy skirt designed to enhance the floating and twirling movements across the floor.
The performance required Stoecker to maintain her frame and keep contact with Canadian pro partner Mark Karmalita throughout. She had clearly invested considerable effort in improving her posture and shoulder positioning. A spectacular spinning lift provided a highlight, though a few minor footwork stutters interrupted the flow. Overall, the routine felt elegant and accomplished across all its elements.
Stoecker danced to I'm With You by Avril Lavigne, the Canadian singer's Grammy-nominated 2002 power ballad that was later sampled by Rihanna for her 2010 single Cheers (Drink to That), with Lavigne appearing in the accompanying music video. The track also featured on the soundtrack of the 2024 Marvel film Deadpool & Wolverine. The judges awarded scores of 7, 8, 8 and 8 for a total of 31 points, making it the highest score after three dances of the evening. Motsi Mabuse said "clean and tidy, some body isolations but it was a bit stop-and-go". Shirley Ballas commented "so happy with your standing foot, now finish the arms and connect them with feet". Anton Du Beke observed "you died a bit towards the end, timing and partnering was super-duper but another 30 seconds and you'd have come to a grinding halt, work on your stamina". Craig Revel Horwood concluded "you were flagging, a problem with upper body not working hard enough, but technically good".
How will John Nellis handle the high-energy jive?
Football content creator John Nellis has also experienced significant fluctuations in his leaderboard position throughout the series. He frequently appears more comfortable performing in ballroom hold, raising questions about how he would manage a high-energy jive that demands entirely different technical skills and physical demands. The routine opened inside a giant CGI football before transitioning into a white-clad jive that felt somewhat plodding in its execution.
The performance featured lots of jumping, flicking and kicking, though awkward changes of gear disrupted the flow. Movement appeared heavy-footed in places, lacking the retraction and compact shape required for the style. Pro partner Katya Jones employed her characteristic "more is more" approach to choreography, bunging in numerous tricks and variations. Nellis flagged noticeably toward the end of the routine, though Jones demonstrated her core strength in the closing section.
Nellis danced to Pump It by Black Eyed Peas, the 2006 rap-dance anthem that incorporates guitarist Dick Dale's surf rock version of Misirlou, famously featured on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. The track also appeared on the soundtrack of the 2006 film Garfield 2: A Tail of Two Kitties. The judges' scores for this performance were not disclosed in the live coverage. A brief skit saw presenter Emma Willis pretending to play keepy-uppies before the camera panned back to reveal presenter Josh Widdicombe lying on the floor throwing the ball in the air, risking his brown suit in the process.
