Strictly Come Dancing 2017, week four results: Charlotte Hawkins sent home after dance-off defeat to Davood Ghadami
? Newsreader Charlotte Hawkins and pro partner Brendan Cole become third couple to leave Strictly 2017
? Defeated by Davood Ghadami after his shock appearance in the dance-off
? Musical guest tonight was Gregory Porter
? Pro dancers performed a spectacular Spanish-style, dungeon-set group number
A dance-off shocker and an emotional exit. Here’s all the talking points and social media reaction from Sunday night’s Strictly results show…
Charlotte’s elimination was deserved and inevitable
The only celebrity against whom Charlotte Hawkins might have stood a chance in the dance-off was Simon Rimmer, who finished equal bottom with her on Saturday night’s scoreboard. Once the 42-year-old newsreader was drawn against the far superior Davood Ghadami, it was glitterball game over.
Charlotte has struggled during her short Strictly stint, never quite looking confident or comfortable. Her 22-point foxtrot in week one turned out to be her highlight, after which her scores never got back up into the 20s. She was sporty but stiff, lacking technique, musicality and performance levels.
Pro partner Brendan Cole bristling at criticism didn’t help her. Neither did the fact that she’s one of slightly too many blonde females in the competition. For some viewers, it was hard to tell Charlotte, Ruth Langsford and Mollie King apart.
In truth, she never made much of an impression on the show. Even Shirley Ballas couldn’t remember her name. Charlotte now returns to the Good Morning Britain studio, where she must tolerate Piers Morgan and be put to twinkle-toed shame by former Strictly finalist Susanna Reid.
Davood in dance-off was first shocker of series
Strapping EastEnders lad Davood Ghadami had been suffering from motion sickness all week, due to the dizzying spins in his Viennese waltz. There were fears he'd be too sick to perform but he soldiered on and finished in the top half of the leaderboard.
So it was a head-scratching moment when he was consigned to the dance-off. Davood must have got very few votes, since he plummeted six places into the bottom two. Clearly no sickness sympathy votes here. Perhaps it was the curse of the middle of the leaderboard, when everyone assumes you’re safe so aren’t motivated to vote. Albert Square addicts, where were you?
His screen mum Bonnie Langford got a scare. Justice was done on the end, though, and Davood survived to feel nauseous another day.
blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
What!? Davood, that really surprised me. I really didn't expect #Strictly to surprise me at this stage. #SCD#StrictlyComeDancing2017
— Deebee Daydreamer (@DeebeeInTheSky) October 15, 2017
Brendan's backchat backfired
Charlotte’s departure also means a farewell to long-serving pro Brendan Cole, of course. He didn’t win many friends last week when he rudely disagreed with head judge Shirley Ballas’ verdict on their tango. Brendan promised to “zip it” this week but Charlotte’s feet couldn’t do the talking. Viewers probably ended up wanting Brendan out even more than poor Charlotte.
The cocky Kiwi won the first ever Strictly series with Natasha Kaplinsky, then reached the final with both Lisa Snowdon and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. In recent years, though, he’s been saddled with early-elimination fodder like Anastacia and Kirsty Gallacher.
He's lippy. He's chippy. He endlessly calls his partners "this girl". Cole currently comes across as one of the least likeable male pros, which doesn't help his cause. Still, at least he’ll now have more time for his wife Zoe Hobbs, who’s expecting their second baby.
Simon and Brian dodged a ballroom bullet
Stompy Scouse chef Simon Rimmer and croaky Cockney comic Brian Conley can count themselves very fortunate to have escaped the dance-off.
Simon’s disco-dad samba was as flat-footed as a clown policeman, while Brian’s pedestrian paso doble was all pouting and posing. Both need to raise their game considerably next week or they’ll be on a highway to the danger zone yet again. The duo’s dancefloor days are surely numbered.
Musical guest and group dance were both hits
Balaclava-clad Californian jazz crooner Gregory Porter performed a respectful cover of Nat King Cole classic Smile, which was velveteen smooth and suitably Sunday night-ish. A definite improvement on the random pop acts who sometimes seem jarringly out of place on Strictly.
Meanwhile, the group number from the professional troupe was a stunner. Their creatively choreographed, high-concept routine was set in a Game Of Thrones-esque medieval dungeon where Anton du Beke, naturally, was the king (of ballroom, presumably). The scantily attired pros combined paso doble with flamenco, tribal and streetdance. Bracingly bold.
Remaining dozen dance on
The remaining 12 couples trip the light fantastic into next week, when the pressure will mount and the judges will clamp down even more tightly on technical detail.
This year’s fifth live show airs next Saturday at 6.35pm on BBC One. Please join us back on the liveblog to see who dazzles and who disappoints. And until then, of course: keeeeeep dancing!
Sunday night in full
Here's all the results show action as it happened...
Charlotte and Brendan's last dance
The pink-clad pair take a farewell twirl around the floor to Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow by the mighty Fleetwood Mac. Group hugs descend. Credits roll. Stay with us for reaction and analysis.
Macho Kiwi nearly blubs
A surprisingly emotional Brendan adds: “Quite often you stand in this position and you go, ‘hey it was our time to go’. Not often you stand here with such sadness and go ‘I’m going to miss hanging out with this girl.’ I’ve had one of the best Strictly’s in 15 years and feel really emotional.”
Charlotte and Brendan are eliminated
So Charlotte Hawkins becomes the third celebrity to depart Strictly 2017, following in the two-left-footsteps of Chizzy Akudolu and Reverend Richard Coles.
In her farewell interview, Charlotte tells Tess: “I’ve had an amazing time, it’s been brilliant from start to finish. A huge thank you to Brendan who has always been there for me, having my back. I loved the chance to come out here and dance. I was trying to get better. I’m going out knowing that I gave it my best and that’s all you can do.”
And head judge Shirley Ballas...
Agrees with her colleagues and says she also would’ve saved Davood. Well, duh.
Bruno chooses to to save…
Davood, saying: “Without a shadow of a doubt, I have to pick the couple who actually danced even better than Saturday night.”
Darcey chooses to to save…
Davood, saying he “gave a stronger technical performance”.
Craig chooses to save…
Davood, saying: “I’d like to save the couple that I thought danced the best and who fixed a problem with a foot on the floor.”
Judgement time
Who will stay and who will go and who will slightly misquote The Clash?
Charlotte goes out second
Charlotte Hawkins and her pro partner Brendan Cole now reprise their jive to Marry You by Bruno Mars. Brendan’s pink trousers aren’t looking any less horrific. I know of several lawful impediments against that slacks-and-waistcoat combo. Their nuptial-themed dance is still rather laboured and lacking musicality. She’s bound to go, surely? The gap between the couples was 10 points last night and if anything, looks even wider here.
Davood goes first in dance-off
Davood Ghadamiand his partner Nadiya Bychkova have another go at their Viennese Waltz to Say You Love Me by Jessie Ware. Intense, romantic, lyrical. He’s conquering his motion sickness during the spins... Be afraid, Charlotte. Be very afraid. And get your bus fare ready.
Aston du Beke, anyone?
Up on the Clauditoroum, Brian Conley pretends to get Aston Merrygold mixed up with Anton du Beke. Their cross-generational bromance is currently only rivalled on TV by Paul Hollywood and Noel Fielding's on Bake Off.
Charlotte in the dance-off
Well, at least one of the dance-off couples deserved to be there. Charlotte Hawkins and Brendan Cole will face Davood and Nadiya in the dreaded dance off. This is surely only going one way.
Brian Conley's through
"Oh my giddy aunt," he says, as nobody under 50 has ever.
Who will face Davood in the dance-off?
Time to find out. Tension-building music tick-tocks.
Dance debrief
Aka the rubbish new name for Len's Lens. Shirley Ballas admires Alexandra Burke's footwork. Darcey Bussell picks on Aston Merrygold's pigeon toes. Craig Revel Horwood gripes about Charlotte Hawkins' shoulders. Bruno Tonioli coos over Ruth Langsford's focused face.
Musical guest time
Californian jazzer Gregory Porter croons a cover of Nat King Cole classic Smile, with floaty white-clad dance accompaniment from eliminated pros Pasha Kovalev and Dianne Buswell, aka the Pashbot and Reddo.
Nobody's safe
Just goes to show. You must still vote for your favourites, even if they look safely placed in the middle of the standings.
Davood in dance-off shocker
Audible gasps as Davood Ghadami and pro partner Nadiya Bychkova are consigned to the dreaded dance-off - despite their highest score yet and sixth place on the scoreboard last night. Baffling.
Simon Rimmer safely through
Wow. So we'll have at least one surprise in the dance-off.
It's red light time
And we don't mean a lady of the night's bedroom window. Time to find out our first dance-off couple...
Foodie frock comparisons
Someone on Twitter just compared Tess Daly's dress to an "over-ruffled strawberry". Which must make Claudia Winkleman a mid-range mint humbug.
Saturday night’s show rewound
Highlights reel of last night’s action now. Alexandra Berserk! Calman and Wise! Gemma’s power-packed paso! Probably not Shirley Ballas getting celebrities’ names wrong!
Frockwatch
Time for our traditional comparison of the co-presenters’ get-ups. Tess Daly’s in drapey red with all sorts going on. Claudia Winkleman’s in chic monochrome stripes. Claud just clinches it.
Group dance goes Game Of Thrones
We open with a high-concept routine from the pros. It’s set in some medieval-style dungeon with Anton du Beke, naturally, as the castle's king - of ballroom, perhaps. The dance combines paso doble with elements of flamenco, tribal and streetdance. Bare chests and sweaty flesh all over the shop. Quite a change of gear from fleecy old Countryfile.
And we're off!
Roll clapalong credits! Ah, the Chizzy head-bob. The Reverend's cute simper. Those we have lost.
Strictly Come Countryfile
Off you trot, rural magazine show. There's dancing to be done.
Shirley some mistake
Last night, new head judge Shirley Ballas fluffed her second name of the series, calling Charlotte Hawkins "Mollie". Let's hope our Shirl's written her notes in a big fat felt-tip tonight. Five minutes to wait...
Will it be Simon? Charlotte? Or a surprise exit?
Not long now until we find out who will follow Chizzy Akudolu and Rev Richard Coles onto the sequinned scraphead. Simon Rimmer and Charlotte Hawkins were joint bottom of Saturday's scoreboard but will viewer votes reflect that? They don't always. It's almost like the public have minds of their own. Ten minutes until showtime...
Happy Sunday, sequin fans
Tonight sees the third elimination of 2017’s pro-celebrity hoofathon, as our 13 surviving couples find out if they’re doomed to face the dreaded dance-off.
On Saturday night, Alexandra Burke flicked and kicked her way to the top of the leaderboard with her near-perfect 39-point Tina Turner jive. Gemma Atkinson and Susan Calman also impressed, while down the bottom, five couples got 24 point of fewer.
Those scores will be combined with viewer votes tonight and the bottom two couples will dance for survival. Simon Rimmer and Charlotte Hawkins were joint bottom of the judges’ standings with 19 points apiece but will voters agree? If not, the likes of Joe McFadden and Brian Conley could come into choreographic contention.
The results show airs at 7.15pm on BBC One. I'm Michael, the Telegraph's Spanx and spray tans correspondent, and I'll be liveblogging from 7pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, recaps, analysis and gags of erratic quality, so do join me and watch along with this blog.
And please 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 all and report the highlights here.
Nearly time to restaaaaart eliminating!
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