Kirsty Gallacher is the first woman to leave: 4 things we learned from Sunday's Strictly

As Kirsty Gallacher becomes the first female contestant to be voted off, we look at the latest Strictly Come Dancing 2015 results from Halloween weekend

Brendan Cole and Kirsty Gallacher
The last dance: Brendan and Kirsty Credit: Photo: BBC

1. At last, a woman is ousted

So maybe Strictly’s gender balance is evening out after the elimination of four men, but it’s a shame Kirsty Gallacher went. In a year heaving with trained dancers, Gallacher was what Strictly should be about. With no previous experience and no real aptitude, Gallacher was turned by Brendan Cole from ugly duckling to passable swan – her Viennese waltz in Week 5, which earned her 29 points, showed astonishing improvement. This week’s Charleston did give us all a fright, however.

2. The hating on Jamelia is a conundrum

She’s featured in three out of five dance-offs despite being a solid mid-table performer with a lot of natural flair. She’s tried everything to endear herself to audiences, from bringing her kids to the studio to welling up with emotion after dances, but has still failed to find a fan club. Tonight Jamelia herself reminded us, painfully, of the playground-style cruelty of even nice reality shows like Strictly when acknowledging "the public don’t like me".

3. Carol Kirkwood is officially this year’s Judy Murray

She’s so bad that the voting audience is clearly finding it amusing to keep her in, despite that mortifying score of two from Craig Revel Horwood. Kirkwood admitted to Claudia she doesn’t know what next week’s American Smooth dance is – and chances are we’ll be none the wiser after watching her dance it next Saturday.

Carol Kirkwood and Pasha Kovalev dance a Frankenstein-inspired rumba

4. Last night’s pre-dance sketches were Halloween’s greatest horror

Didn’t the taped segments before the dances used to be about contestants learning the steps? Now, without a comedy scriptwriter the sketches are as funny as a vampire bite – apart from Danny Dyer’s star cameo in Kellie Bright’s video turn. Real actors do make a difference. Bonus: excising the skits from Strictly would cut its duration from bum-numbing to merely interminable.

Kirsty Gallacher leaves

Kirsty Gallacher is the latest contestant to be voted off Strictly. The sports news anchor found herself in the bottom two alongside singer Jamelia who all four judges decided to save. Gallacher said: “It’s been a wonderful experience but Jamelia deserves it more than me and I really mean that, she’s a very natural dancer. I did my best but it was time to go!"

Kirsty Gallacher's Strictly journey

How Kirsty and Brendan Cole did week-by-week on Strictly Come Dancing 2015

Week 1

Dance: Waltz to Vincent by Don McLean

Judges' score: 20/40

Craig criticised Kirsty's lack of balance and Craig said the routine lacked flow. Brendan was disappointed with the scores and promised they would be their lowest. Fighting talk!

Week 2

Dance: Salsa to Can’t Touch It by Ricki Lee

Judges' score: 20/40

The couple came fourth from the bottom of the leaderboard, but were safely voted through to the next week by the public.

Week 3: Movie Week

Dance: American Smooth to He’s a Tramp from Lady & The Tramp

Judges' score: 23/40

Much more improvement this week. And the pair were dressed as dogs, complete with tails.

Week 4

Dance: Paso Doble to U2’s Beautiful Day

Judges' score: 21/40

A stiff, stop-start routine from Kirsty saw her in the dance-off with Daniel. The judges saved her on the grounds that she is slowly improving.

Week 5

Dance: Viennese Waltz to This Year's Love by David Gray

Judges' score: 29/40

Kirsty and Brendan bounced back after being in the bottom two in the previous week. Hard graft in the training room paid off, with positive comments from the judges. Bruno said: "much improved, you were at one with the music and your partner".

Week 6: Halloween

Dance: Charleston to ‘Bad Romance’ by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

17 out of 40

"You made mincemeat out of that, what a mess," said Bruno on Saturday night. In the end, all four judges chose to save Jamelia

The latest betting odds

According to William Hill, Jay McGuinness is now the shortest November favourite ever. The bookmakers have once again cut the odds of Jay winning Strictly and the singer is now 8/11 to win the show. Peter Andre is his closest contender yet his odds are at 6/1. For now, Jay seems unstoppable.

Joe Crilly, a spokesman for William Hill said: "Jay is quite clearly the best dancer of the group and being odds on already, he is the shortest priced favourite we have ever had at the start of November."

Highlights of Saturday night

Georgia hot-Footes it to the top

Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote has consistently been in the top half-dozen but needed to turn her 7s and 8s into 9s to become a true contender. She duly did just that, thanks to a Ghostbusters tango that was full of staccato action, heel leads and sharp footwork. She and partner Giovanni Pernice might be the youngest couple in the contest but they're not to be taken lightly.

Carol's scariest Halloween ever

The forecast isn't good for weather reporter Carol Kirkwood. Her unrecognisable rumba was the lowest-scoring dance ever on a Strictly Halloween special, coming in a point below Nancy Dell'Olio rising from the coffin in 2011. Smiley Carol's been near the bottom on a weekly basis but so far saved from the dance-off by viewer votes. Time to prioritise ability over popularity and send her home?

Anton and Brendan the gallant gents

The two longest-serving male pros both leapt to the defence of their celebrity partners tonight. Anton Du Beke shouldered the blame for Katie Derham's lack of paso shaping, while Kiwi Brendan Cole - presumably having recorded the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup win to watch later on - explained away Kirsty Gallacher's Charleston mistakes. The old stagers know how to protect their partner and make the public warm to them.

The midwife always delivers

Here's one for stat fans: Call The Midwife actress Helen George finished joint second tonight with Jay McGuinness and her consistent excellence means she's the top scorer in the series so far with 191 points, ahead of Jay who has notched 187. These two look likely finalists, with the likes of Kellie Bright, Peter Andre and Georgia May Foote battling it out behind them. Anita Rani and Katie Derham have rather dropped off the pace recently.

Halloween theming over-the top but production superb

We loved the closing credits. The costume, prop hair and make-up departments did a marvellously creative job. But the relentless theming got a bit much at times, with ropy VTs and endless puns. Isn't Halloween an American thing anyway? What next, a Thanksgiving special?

Is Gleb the new Artem?

Russian pro Artem Chigivintsev sadly left the show a couple of years ago but his compatriot Gleb Savchenko, in his debut series, is showing a similar flair for boldly contemporary choreography. His creative routines with Anita Rani, like tonight's magnificent Malificent number, might be a tad too flashy for head judge Len Goodman's taste but they're a great addition to the roster and only add to Strictly's broad appeal.

Strictly Dame Joan

The mighty Joan Collins DBE might be 82 but she's clued up on social media and always tweets knowledgeably during Strictly. Only last week, she reacted to Bruno Tonioli's faux-pas by quipping that BBC stood for "Bullock's Bollocks Corporation". Her favourites seem to be Jay, Georgia and Kellie.

Jamelia's choreographic rollercoaster

She seems to yo-yo between squeals of joy and sobs of disappointment. Tonight was no exception for popstrel-turned-Loose Women panellist Jamelia. She finished second a fortnight ago but has also appeared in two dance-offs. Tonight she came fifth bottom and scored 26 points - precisely the result which put her in the dance-off last weekend. So can we expect more over-emoting on tomorrow's results show?

Halloween equals mediocrity?

It was a cheesily entertaining episode tonight but not a classic choreographically, with lots of mistakes and let-downs, plus few of the big contenders near their best. A night of 7s and 8s, rather than 9s or 10s. The result of costumes and theming getting in the way of hoofing, perchance?

Peter Andre becoming boringly repetitive

He might be the king of sucking up to the judges, with his earnest pronouncements on how much stall he sets by their sage comments, but the panel remarked that all Peter Andre's dances were starting to look the same. A criticism levelled at Daniel O'Donnell a fortnight ago - when he was promptly knocked out.

Helen and Aljaž's Samba

Mummfied routine with robotics to start, switching awkwardly between loose and stiff at times for the storytelling, but lots of content, nicely in sync and samba rolls to boot. Bravo.

Music: Take Your Mama by Scissor Sisters

Scores: 8, 9, 8, 9 for a rorl of 34 points, putting her joint second with Jay behind Georgia.

Judges' verdict: Craig "loved the choreography and opening scenario, you nearly got there with the bounce action but the whole routine was absolutely spectacular". Darcey says "I'm impressed by the new Helen, you made that hard double bounce look natural". Len says "the midwife delivered again, you're a yummy mummy" but he spotted a mistake. Bruno loved it so much, he sang some Abba. Badly.

Here's some samba factoids...

 

Peter and Janette's Foxtrot

Peter Andre in white, Janette Manrara in red, this is all performance and low on content. Jerky, stilted, strong but not foxy or trotty enough.

Music: Ghost by Ella Henderson

Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7 for a total of 28 points. Peter's record of never scoring lower than a seven is intact.

Judges' verdict: "Such potential but you perform every dance the same," says Bruno. "Jolted and popped up in the rise of fall," sys Craig. Darcey says "you're a natural performer but topline not right". Len gives him some brilliantly detailed advice about his hand placement but loved his footwork.

Georgia and Giovanni's Tango

Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice dance a Ghostbusters Tango

All the Gs now - Team GG doing Ghostbusters, complete with boilersuits and glitter splurge guns. An out-of-time opening and Gerogia stumbled on the steps but improved enormously once in hold. Fab fiddly footwork, sharp kicks and heel leads. Tricky to tango to this music but she pulled it off.

Music: Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Junior

Scores: 8, 9, 9, 9 for a total of 35 points - her highest and top of the leaderboard.

Judges' verdict: "The queen of Halloween," says Len. Bruno shouts: "Tango-busters done and dusted, footwork great, lots of gusto and maintained speed without slackening". "Sharp, staccato, feisty, in-can-descent," says Craig. "One powerful performance," adds Darcey.

Carol and Pasha's Rumba

Carol Kirkwood and Pasha Kovalev dance a Frankenstein-inspired rumba

Frankenstein routine, with Pasha's in green face-paint again (memories of his 2011 Shrek routine with Chelsee Healey). Took a long time to get going, covering up for Carol's lack of ability. Too much walking, no passion, hip action or continuous motion. Got the tepid reception it deserved.

Music: I Think I Love You by The Partridge Family

Scores: 2 (crikey), 4, 4, 3 for a total of 13pts - the lowest ever score for a Halloween dance, "beating" Nancy Dell'Olio emerging from a coffin.

Judges' verdict: Darcey says "it wasn't sensual, this just isn't your dance." Len says "she kept a sunny disposition" but tells off Pasha over Carol's poor footwork. Bruno says "Miss Frankenstein, your rumba is grounds for divorce, unrecognisable and displaying an indifference to dance". "More like watching a barn dance," drawls Craig.

Kellie and Kevin's Paso Doble

Great Harry Potter-themed choreography from paso king Kevin. Audience loved it. Hopping up and down on the Hogwarts Great Hall tables. Lacked some bullfighter-and-cape shaping but might've got away with it. Danny Dyer popping up in the VT would've helped.So would Kellie saying she's missing her son. Altogether now: aww.

Music: Schools Out by Glee Cast and Hedwig's Theme by John Williams

Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7 for a total of 28 points

Judges' verdict: Craig says: "The concept worked, lacked Spanish line and was a bit like a drunken romp through Seville but you are a wonderful dancer." "You're fuelled with energy, I wanted more shaping and relax the topline in hold," says Darcey. Len says: "School's out but you won't be." "You were like two banshees, so much energy that you lost lines and finesse," concludes shouty Bruno.

Here's a paso doble cheat sheet...

 

Jay and Aliona's American Smooth

We reach the halfway point with bookie's favourite Jay, dressed as motoring presenter Guy Martin. My mistake, a wolf. Too much messin' abaht and sitting down to start. Their first lifts of the series and much better in hold, though, where it turned into fairytale stuff. Straight back, movement around the floor, dizzying spins and great body shaping from Jay. The dog can dance.

Music: Lil Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

Scores: 8, 9, 8, 9 for a total of 34 points. Which will take some beating.

Judges' verdict: "So well-trained, it could make Best In Show at Crufts - I love your elegant lines," says Bruno. Craig loved the lines too and his pointed feet, "would've liked to have seen more characterisation but you made up for it at the end". "Smooth, stylish, loved the lifts," says Darcey, "but you've got to go for it and sell it". Len adds "you got your heels and toes in a pickle but you clearly worked on it, no stressing, no messing, a lovely routine".

Jamelia and Tristan's Jive

Rumours this week that Jamelia incurred Tristan's wrath by turning up late for training. It was subsequently denied but this is looking a bit under-rehearsed. A jinxed, jeepers-creepers jive with too much walking around and not nearly enough sharpness or bounce.

Music: The Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Picture Show

Scores: 6, 6, 7, 7 for a total of 26 points - same as last week, which wasn't enough to save her from the DDO (dreaded dance-off)

Judges' verdict: "A bit rocky but not a horror, it was under-rehearsed," says Len, who's clearly been reading the papers. Bruno says she "needs to point her feet on the flicks, sort out your footwork, it looked a bit shuffly". Craig says "flat-footed but fantastic energy and great storytelling". Darcey says "very fast and enjoyable but you noticeably tired, get on balls of feet and finish your moves".

Here's how a jive should look...

KarenHardydancestheJive

Anita and Gleb's Waltz

Anita Rani dances a Malificent Waltz

Anita's in black feathers and glittery horned hair as evil queen Malificent. Intense mood, committed performance and compelling storytelling, but footwork lacking and needed to finish her moves for full finesse. Boldly dark and modern choreography, though.

Music: Once Upon A Dream by Lana Del Rey

Scores: 6, 8, 8, 7 for a total of 29 points

Judges' verdict: "Dramatic, passionate, you give your all but too jerky, you need more strength through body," says Darcey. Len didn't understand the story and gets tetchy with the studio audience but "the waltz was fabulous, beautiful, well done". Bruno says "characterisation was magnificent but the horns stopped the flow on underarm turns". Craig says it "lacked grace and flow, I liked the storytelling and contemporary ending, but needed to be a lot more lyrical to really work".

Jeremy and Karen's Salsa

Jeremy Vine was told he had a "zombified grin" last week by judge Bruno Tonioli and now he plays up to that with an undead routine to Jacko's horror-pop classic. Both clad in red, audience cheers and much mirth for a comedy routine but hip action? Not a lot.

Music: Thriller by Michael Jackson

Scores: 4 (hooray, Craig's never given Jezza more than a 3), 6, 6, 6 for a total of 22 points

Judges' verdict: "The problems began when you began to dance," says Craig. "Jagged and stilted but dressed as a zombie, that actually worked very well." "Your characterisation was spectacular, timing's improved, hips weren't really working but luckily I was distracted by the whole body, you need to soften your knees and get into the ground" says Darcey. Len says it had "an awkward charm", Bruno strangely enjoyed it.

Kirsty and Brendan's Charleston

Brendan gets to live out his flying fantasies by swooping in as a vampire, while Kirsty looks bridal with a spaniel ears hairstyle. Mistakes, missed timing, needs more bounce and swivel action. Synchronisation not all it could be, but jazzy mood and lots of fun.

Music: Bad Romance by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

Scores: 3, 5, 5, 4 for a total of 17 points. Her lowest yet. Dance-off danger but harshly marked.

Judges' verdict: "You made mincemeat out of that, what a mess, it went wrong but you saved it by the skin of your teeth," says Bruno. He wanted sharper toes. Brendan defends Kirsty. Well done him. Craig says "I was excited by swivels at the begininng but you got horribly out of time with your kicks, bad luck". Darcey wanted more content but says the cartwheel at the end was impressive. Len says she "coped very well with the mistakes, you're up and down like snakes and ladders".

Katie and Anton's Paso Doble

Strictly Come Dancing 2015 - Halloween Week: Katie Derham and Anton DuBeke

We open with a Phantom-themed paso doble from yo-yo couple Katie and Anton. Lots of drama but not enough attack, passion or shaping. Fluffed steps too. Struggling with Latin again. However, the judges are a tad harsh on her.

Music: Phantom of the Opera by Steve Harley and Sarah Brightman

Scores: 4, 6, 6, 5 for a total of 21 points. Same as last week. Katie in trouble? Or safe thanks to her ballroom ability and sheer popularity with public?

Judges' verdict: Len says "not great Kate, footwork was a bit scary and didn't really suit your personality". Bruno says she was a "doorman rather than a dominatrix, too insecure". Darcey says she "looks great, needs to focus with the eyes but there's already a great improvement with her Latin".

Dressing-up box raided

Halloween specials are always an excuse for costume overload and this year is no exception. Co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are dressed as a wtich and black cat. The judges are the Addams family. The contestants range from Malificent and Hogwarts pupils to mummies and zombies.

Do you take this man?

A spooktacular group dance from both the celebrities and pros to open the show - a sort of zombie wedding with villainous Craig Revel Horwood as the corpse bride. Suitably terrifying.

Ten different dances

There's very little overlap this week, with 10 different dances among the 11 routines. Our only direct comparison will be between two paso dobles, performed by Kellie Bright and Katie Derham. So will KB or KD win the bullfight?

Ladies' night again?

We're yet to lose a single female celebrity from this year's contest, with all four eliminated contestants being male. Surely a female will finally go out this weekend? If so, Carol Kirkwood, Jamelia and Kirsty Gallacher look the most at risk.

Hello and welcome...

...To our Strictly Come Dancing liveblog for tonight’s Halloween special. Yes, it’s the campest date in the Strictly calendar, when over-the-top fancy dress, mwa-ha-ha music, creepy choreography and ghoulish puns are pretty much compulsory. There’ll be green make-up, supernatural storytelling and pumpkin-shaped scoring paddles. But will they be accompanied by footwork tricks or ballroom treats?

I’m Michael Hogan, the Telegraph’s Glittery Pumpkin Correspondent. I’ll be building up to tonight’s show, which airs at 6.35pm on BBC One. During the show, you’re cordially invited to watch along with me for rolling analysis, updates, reaction and talking points.

Join in too - you can email me on michael.hogan@telegraph.co.uk, tweet me on @michaelhogan or leave comments at the bottom of this blog. I’ll keep an eye on them and report the highlights.

Last week, the ladies ruled the leaderboard yet again, taking five of the top six places. Actresses Helen George and Kellie Bright jointly topped the scoring, Jay McGuinness followed in third, Katie Derham fell from grace and judge Bruno Tonioli was in villainous mood, suffering a nasty dose of foot-in-mouth disease.

Gamely gurning chef Ainsley Harriott and his pro partner Natalie Lowe lost the dance-off and became the fourth couple to leave the competition. There’s now only three male celebrities remaining. Can the Halloween spooktacular stop the gender-unbalanced rot? Tonight, the 11 remaining couples will perform their sixth routine, bidding to make it to the contest’s halfway point next weekend.

So draw the curtains, ignore those pesky kids ringing your doorbell to beg for sweets and snuggle up on the sofa to witness the madness with me. It promises to be a glitzy, ghostly and groan-worthy 100 minutes of television. Nearly time to staaaaaaaart spooky dancing!

The songs and dances for the Halloween special

Anita and Gleb will be doing the Waltz to Once Upon a Dream by Lana Del Rey

Carol and Pasha will be dancing the Rumba to I Think I Love You by The Partridge Family

Georgia and Giovanni will be dancing the Tango to Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Junior

Jamelia and Tristan will be doing a Jive to The Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Picture Show

Jay and Aliona will be dancing an American Smooth to Lil Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs

Jeremy and Karen will be doing a Salsa to Thriller by Michael Jackson

Helen and Aljaz will be taking on the Samba to Take Your Mama by Scissor Sisters

Katie and Anton will be dancing a Paso to Phantom of the Opera by Steve Harley and Sarah Brightman

Kellie and Kevin will also do the Paso to Schools Out by Glee Cast and Hedwig's Theme by John Williams

Kirsty and Brendan will dance a Charleston to Bad Romance by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

Peter and Janette will do a Foxtrot to Ghost by Ella Henderson.

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