Strictly Come Dancing 2019: week nine results - as it happened

So that’s IT for our annual Blackpool outing – thank you all for coming along and being amazing. As mentioned yesterday I’m off to watch the show next week, so there will be a stand-in liveblogger for Saturday night. Please play nicely, and I’ll be back on Sunday so pick up the reins through to Christmas. Come and say hi on Twitter @heidistephens if you’re passing, and have a great week! Hx

Michelle gets a best bits montage, which means we’re definitely at the sharp end of the competition. She and Giovanni say lovely things about each other, then take to the floor to ‘My First, My Last, My Everything’ by Barry White. They both slayed, but it’s time to sashay away.

Craig has a battle with his decision, but saves Saffron and AJ. Motsi and Bruno do likewise, which means MICHELLE AND GIOVANNI are leaving the Strictly dancefloor. Based on this weekend’s performance, it was the right decision, much as it pains me to see them go.

Watching Michelle and Giovanni’s Vogue homage again, it’s easy to see why a lot of people would think this was pretty light on content for a street/commercial routine. It references a pretty niche moment in pop music history that a lot of people won’t get at all; I salute Michelle for going there, but it could be her ticket out of Strictly.

That said, can we acknowledge Giovanni’s dedication to striking a pose? He looks incredible.

Dance off time! First up it’s Saffron and AJ’s Quickstep. The footwork is incredibly fast, but that looked pretty polished. Undoubtedly one of their best dances, she should be proud of that.

I think this may be the end of the road for Michelle and Giovanni, Saffron and AJ got significantly better scores last night. On paper, neither of them deserves to be in the bottom two, but that’s the way Strictly goes.

So who is joining Saffron and AJ in tonight’s dance off? Karim and Amy are safe, along with Emma and Anton and Alex and Neil. Which means MICHELLE AND GIOVANNI are in the dance off.

Time for a musical interlude, courtesy of Westlife singing a medley of their greatest hits. I have a bit of a soft spot for Westlife, don’t @ me.

Next week when I’m in the studio I get Andrea Bocelli and *checks notes* “Bruno Tonioli welcoming everyone back from Blackpool with his rendition of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”. Please send thoughts and prayers.

Saffron is a bit tearful about being in the dance-off. I think it’s been a while since someone last told Saffron she couldn’t have something she wanted.

So who is safely through to next week, and who is in tonight’s bottom two? Kelvin and Oti are safe, along with Chris and Karen.

First couple in the dance-off: SAFFRON AND AJ.

Chris Ramsay is definitely the people’s favourite this series, helped along by some sugar-fuelled Blackpool scoring from the judges. On the upside, we don’t have to watch that Salsa again.

Last night on Strictly: one of my favourite shows of the series. Loved Alex and Neil’s girl power Paso, and Karim and Amy’s Charleston and Kelvin and Oti’s Jives were both proper showstoppers. Well done for Anton getting his first ever Strictly tens despite drafting in some superfluous backing dancers to do the heavy lifting. Also loved the risk Michelle took with her Couple’s Choice, it clearly meant a lot to her.

TESS AND CLAUDIA DRESS WATCH: Tess in feathery silver chain mail with both shoulders present and correct, Claudia in head-to-toe tiger print. It’s considered a neutral in Blackpool.

And we’re off! Tonight’s opening Blackpool extravaganza starts off with old Nadiya looking at the moon, dreaming of Johannes. Hey, we’ve all been there. But now they’re young again, and they’ve taken all the Strictly lampposts to Blackpool. This is proper swishy-dress ballroom and I love it.

Aww, Nadiya and Johannes are getting married. Could that not have been Graziano?

Pulled myself away from S3 of The Crown earlier to catch the Countryfile Casual Weather, courtesy of Chris Fawkes in a smart navy shirt and charcoal slacks, with not so much as a rolled-up sleeve. I can only assume he’d come from a gastropub lunch with the in-laws and didn’t have time to change into jeans and manly plaid.

Evening all, and welcome back for the Blackpool Results Show! I trust we’re all feeling suitably jaded after too many cocktails and a night spent on that seafront tram, using Sooty as a pillow.

It was a great show last night, but now it’s time to say goodbye to another Strictly couple. Kick off is at 7.15pm, so I’ll see you then!

So that’s it for tonight’s show – I’ll be back tomorrow at 7.15pm for the Blackpool results. I also wanted to say happy birthday to Ella – about seven years ago I promised her dad (my friend Chris) that if I was still doing this liveblog when she was 14 I’d take her to Strictly, as that’s the youngest age you’re allowed in the studio. Somehow I’m still here, and today is Ella’s 14^th birthday. Which means next Saturday I’m taking her to Strictly.

Thank you all for joining in down below – am off to read all your comments, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow! Keeeep dancing for the rest of your Saturday, Hx