'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe

See, this is why you don't leave 6th Form unattended near the props cupboard...

Molly & Carlos: Charleston to Hot Honey Rag from Chicago
Quick, better not be late for your dance!

Hamza & Jowita: Samba to They Live In You from The Lion King
Surprisingly emotional.

Kym & Graziano: Cha Cha to Fame from Fame
Hmm... burly builders, or taxi driver...

Will & Nancy: Foxtrot to Sun And Moon from Miss Saigon
Let us have this moment together - no backing dancers invited!

Helen & Gorka: Couple's Choice to Mein Herr from Cabaret
SASS DEPLOYED (and I don't think I've ever heard Craig get booed so much!)

Fleur & Vito: Quickstep to I Got Rhythm from An American In Paris
Just a slice of everyday Parisian street theatre...

Out-of-context quotes
Tess: "It's not real darling"
Craig: "I've got to pick on something"
Claudia: "I don't want to stop that moment"
Molly: "TESS!"
Helen: "Steady on"

No time for a group dance - all we do is eat, sleep, train, repeat.

Will & Nancy: Charleston to Hush by Kula Shaker
Another sneak peek into Tron's End of Line Club.

Molly & Carlos: Tango to Bad Guy by Billie Eilish
Nice try, bad guy. And wow, the forced perspective and AR for the towering cubes at the start was impressive!

Ellie T & Johannes: Jive to Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
How to pass the time when stuck in a traffic jam.

Fleur & Vito: Rumba to Too Lost In You by Sugababes
Lost in space.

Hamza & Jowita: Argentine Tango to Libertango by Bond
Another rooftop tango?

Helen & Gorka: Samba to Eso Beso by Emma Bunton
At the Strictly Hotel, all our staff are trained in samba!

Out-of-context quotes
Tess: "Picky, picky, picky!"
Claudia: "Talk to me about beans"
Fleur: "Bring the sauce"
Motsi: "We have Shirley Ballas, you and me"

Opening dance
Nothing to see here, just a perfectly ordinary evening in Blackpool - but make sure you're not late for the ballroom!

Hamza & Jowita: American Smooth to (Theme From) New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
In Blackpool, you get backing dancers! With giant feathers because why not.

Molly & Carlos: Jive to Bandstand by Boogie Barry Manilow
We would like to make it clear that there is a bandstand.

Kym & Graziano: Paso Doble to Only Girl (In The World) by Rihanna / We Found Love by Calvin Harris ft Rihanna
I did not expect this music genre for a Paso Doble.

Tyler & Dianne: Salsa to KC & The Sunshine Band Megamix by KC & The Sunshine Band
All aboard the Blackpool train!

Ellie T & Johannes: American Smooth to You’re My World by Cilla Black
Aww, floating amongst the lights of Blackpool (and a complete contrast to the opening American Smooth!).

Helen & Gorka: Quickstep to Valerie by Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse
At The Quick An Step, every night is party night! But better keep your eyes open when trying to kiss your new friend... 😅

Fleur & Vito: Couple's Choice to Destiny’s Child Megamix by Destiny’s Child
ALL THE SPARKLES! And was that Craig nodding along to the beat?

Will & Nancy: Samba to I Go To Rio by Hugh Jackman
Strictly's even brought the carnival to Blackpool!

Out-of-context quotes!
Claudia: "What happens in Blackpool obviously stays in Blackpool"
Kym: "...and some salt and vinegar please Claudia"
Everyone: "That's the way uh-huh uh-huh I like it uh-huh uh-huh"
Craig: "Hiptastic"

And then there were 9...

Ellie T & Johannes: Charleston to Friendship by Elaine Paige and Bernard Cribbins
That club has no appreciation for modern dancing 😅

Tyler & Dianne: Paso Doble to Unstoppable by E.S. Posthumus
ALL THE FIRE

Kym & Graziano: American Smooth to Chasing Cars by Cinematic Pop
Awww... dancing your pain away amongst the stars

Helen & Gorka: Salsa to Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
Despacito~~

Tony & Katya: Jive to Land of 1000 Dances by Wilson Pickett
That record needs a warning label: may summon the lead guitarist out of the poster!

Molly & Carlos: Rumba to All The Man That I Need by Whitney Houston
The first ten of the night!

Fleur & Vito: Samba to Hot Hot Hot by Arrow
Warning: eating these chilli peppers may cause unstoppable samba

Will & Nancy: Waltz to Three Times A Lady by Commodores
So very emotional

Hamza & Jowita: Couple's Choice to Jerusalema - Remix by Master KG feat. Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode
Wow!

Out-of-context quotes!
Tyler: "Be the banana"
Claudia: "Talk to me about chocolate spread"
Anton: "I think you might want to borrow these" *hands a pair of glasses to Shirley*

Halfway there!

Hamza & Jowita: Cha Cha Cha to I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) by Four Tops
How to get free food at the Strictly bakery: bring flowers!

Ellie T & Johannes: Rumba to Alone by Heart
Dancing away the hours.

Molly & Carlos: Foxtrot to You Make Me Happy by My Sun and Stars
Awww.

Ellie S & Nikita: Charleston to Too Darn Hot by Kiss Me Kate
All the flips!

Tyler & Dianne: Viennese Waltz to I’ve Been Loving You Too Long by Seal
One last dance after the party's over.

Kym & Graziano: Argentine Tango to Assassin’s Tango by John Powell
Very intense - something about this put me in mind of a boss fight!

Will & Nancy: Quickstep to Soda Pop by Robbie Williams featuring Michael Bublé
No, I won't pay the bill until I get my promised dance!

Helen & Gorka: Jive to Tightrope by Janelle Monáe
Classy - this could be the intro for a show.

Fleur & Vito: Waltz to I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues by Elton John
Awww, an evening candlelit waltz down at the beach.

Tony & Katya: Salsa to I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) by Pitbull
Strictly has come to Ibiza!

Out-of-context quotes!
Johannes: "Here's the cheese, grab the cheese grab the cheese grab the cheese"
Tess: "You might need these" *pulls out a pair of sparkly wellies*
Craig: "I'm glad no-one at home could actually see that"
Claudia, describing Ibiza: "It's basically like Blackpool, but less fun"
Shirley: "I've got my shoes again"

Come, gather round the Strictly campfire and we'll tell you a tale of when Craig decided 1 point wasn't low enough...

And as the judges enter... it's the Addams Family! With Craig as Morticia, and Shirley as Gomez - and no, I've not mixed those names up.

Tony and Katya: Quickstep to The Devil Went Down To Georgia by The Charlie Daniels Band
The Devil went down to the ballroom, to face his biggest challenge yet - the judges!

Will and Nancy: Mama Told Me Not To Come by Tom Jones and Stereophonics
Strictly gives us a scene from the unseen director's cut of The Mummy.

Kym and Graziano: Rumba to Frozen by Madonna
How to defeat the guardian of the ice cavern.

James and Amy: Charleston to Bumble Bee by LaVern Baker
Our scientists have made a new discovery in interpreting bee dances and would like to present their research.

Molly and Carlos: Argentine Tango to Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) by Kate Bush
How vampires spend their time during the night.
Strictly did a excellent full-length group dance to this song in 2020 which would not have been out of place on tonight's show.

Tyler and Dianne: Cha Cha Cha to Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) by Tanz Orchester Klaus Hallen
What.

Helen and Gorka: Foxtrot to Lil' Red Riding Hood by Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
Bad wolfie! No cookie for you!

Hamza and Jowita: Tango to Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
Sealed tango in... an hourglass?

Fleur and Vito: Salsa to Break My Soul by Beyoncé
Come inside and have your fortune told - the payment: one salsa dance!

Ellie S and Nikita: Foxtrot to Scooby Doo, Where Are You? by David Mook, Ben Raleigh
Shouldn't we be looking for clues instead of dancing?

Ellie T and Johannes: Couple's Choice to I Put A Spell On You by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker & Kathy Najimy
So for this witches' brew we need a splash of this, a dash of that, and to finish it a fast-paced dance!

Out-of-context quotes!
Anton: "You are unrecognisable"; Tess: "So are you!"
Craig; "I love it actually, continue"; audience: *boos*
Shirley: "Morticia, my wife, my darling"
Helen: "I just hope noone gets eaten"
Tess: "Strictly Come Walking"

Group dance
Oh dear, Strictly have taken over the entire BBC!

Helen and Gorka: Charleston to Blue Peter Theme Tune, celebrating Blue Peter
Tonight, we'll show you how to make your own Strictly ballroom using some tinfoil and sticky tape. But first, here's a dance we prepared earlier!

Random aside: Is that the BBC winter sports theme playing in the background of the terms and conditions?

Tyler and Dianne: Tango to Doctor Who Theme Tune, celebrating Doctor Who
Are you brave enough to ask a weeping angel for a dance? But whatever you decide - don't blink.

Fleur and Vito: Jive to Waterloo by ABBA, celebrating Eurovision
Strictly gives us a sneak preview of the UK's 2023 Eurovision entry.

James and Amy: Foxtrot to EastEnders Theme Tune, celebrating EastEnders
Awwww.

Ellie S and Nikita: Paso Doble to Montagues and Capulets, celebrating The Apprentice
There's only room for one CEO in the boardroom.
They should totally make this an extra task in The Apprentice - it's even in keeping with the theme (more properly known as Dance of the Knights).

Molly and Carlos: Couples' Choice to Grange Hill Theme Tune, celebrating BBC Children's Programming
HTS 6th Form never quite descended into a food fight - though the less said about The Mars Bar Incident, the better...

Hamza and Jowita: Quickstep to On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons, celebrating BBC Nature Programming
Here, in the Strictly ballroom, we see our celebrities have left their natural habitat to search for the elusive 10 points...

Ellie T and Johannes: Tango to Casualty Theme Tune, celebrating Casualty
Tango fever! 🤣

Jayde and Karen: Charleston to The Ballad of Barry and Freda (Let's Do It) by Victoria Wood, celebrating BBC Comedy
What.

Will and Nancy: Viennese Waltz to Line of Duty End Titles, celebrating Drama
Wow, that's an aggressive waltz.

Tony and Katya: Cha Cha Cha to Grandstand Theme Tune, celebrating BBC Sport
Trialling the latest technology in delivering sporting results: interpretative dance!

Kym and Graziano: Quickstep to Ballroom Blitz by Sweet, celebrating Come Dancing
Glamorous Strictly!

Out-of-context quotes!
Helen: "I won't be stripped of my badge!"
Anton: "It could go badly from this point onwards"
Craig: "Getoutta my pub"
Motsi: "I'm still recovering from Craig here"
Will: "I've been watching Anton's fleckerls online..."
Shirley: "Six!" *boos*

No group dance this time, so bring on the dances!

Ellie S and Nikita: Salsa to I Love Your Smile by Shanice
How to calm nervous patients at the dentist. Some impressive flips too - I don't think some of those moves would be possible with a taller person!

Will and Nancy: Rumba to The Joker and The Queen by Ed Sheeran featuring Taylor Swift
Wow - so very emotional.

Matt and Nadiya: Jive to All Shook Up by Paul McCartney
Very energetic and bouncy and complete mood whiplash after the last dance!

Jayde and Karen: American Smooth to Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler
Awww

Molly and Carlos: Cha Cha Cha to Do What I Do by Lady Bri
Very sassy

James and Amy: Quickstep to Don't Get Me Wrong by The Pretenders
Just a happy little dance

Fleur and Vito: Argentine Tango to Paint it Black by Ciara
Wow - an intense tango through a sort of post-apocalyptic sci-fi world. That's a wonderfully moody remix of the Rolling Stones' Paint It Black too *adds to wishlist*.

Kym and Graziano: Samba to Volare by Gipsy Kings
Thank you for flying with Strictly Airlines, would you like a complimentary samba with your drink?

Tony and Katya: American Smooth to With A Little Help From My Friends by Joe Cocker
ALL THE LIFTS

Hamza and Jowita: Salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez
Nononono, this dance has ALL THE LIFTS and a mid-air spin! That was a very fast bouncy happy salsa!

Helen and Gorka: Paso Doble to Tamacun by Rodrigo y Gabriela
Winding down at the end of a long day blacksmithing?

Ellie T and Johannes: Viennese Waltz to Boom Bang A Bang by Lulu
Breaktime at the Strictly farm!

Tyler and Dianne: Couples' Choice: Garage Megamix
Dropping some moves to go with the beats (and airhorns)!

Out-of-context quotes!
Everyone: "An-ton! An-ton! An-ton!"
Craig: "Shirley said the same thing, she didn't get booed"
Motsi: "The top part was speaking German and the lower part was speaking English"
Johannes: "The theme today is that we're at a farm. Don't ask."
Tess: "It's a garage remix!" *airhorns*

Anton's plan for the heist may be a bit dramatic but I'd totally watch that episode of Strictly Impossible.

Group dance
Mind the lyrics, lest you activate Strictly's hidden weather machine!

Richie and Giovanni: Samba to Hakuna Matata from The Lion King
What is this I don't even... what. Just what.

Molly and Carlos: Waltz to One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story
Awww. I don't know why but it's put me in mind of Romeo and Juliet.

Kym and Graziano: Charleston to If My Friends Could See Me Now from Sweet Charity
Wonderfully silly.

Hamza and Jowita: Rumba to the Theme from Jurrassic Park
Shouldn't we be running away from the dinosaurs instead of dancing around them?

Ellie T and Johannes: Cha Cha Cha to The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) from Mermaids
No, you can't have the pie yet, you need to let it cool first for about the length of a dance.

Matt and Nadiya: Viennese Waltz to Hold My Hand from Top Gun: Maverick
Awwww.

Tyler and Dianne: Charleston to Flash, Bang, Wollop! from Half a Sixpence
Wow - and the first 10's of the series!

Fleur and Vito: American Smooth to Part Of Your World from The Little Mermaid
Strictly gives us a sneak preview of the new Little Mermaid film.
(and wow, the BBC is going all-out on the AR effects tonight)

James and Amy: Cha Cha Cha to Hooked On A Feeling from Guardians of the Galazy
Dance like nobody's looking - wait, someone's looking! Eh, who cares, let's dance anyway

Ellie S and Nikita: Quickstep to Peppy and George from The Artist
Take 1: nailed it!

Will and Nancy: American Smooth to Cry To Me from Dirty Dancing
But what about the watermelon?

Tony and Katya: Samba to You Sexy Thing from The Full Monty
What.

Helen and Gorka: Viennese Waltz to Hopelessly Devoted To You from Grease
Why settle for a photo when you can have the real thing?

Jayde and Karen: Cha Cha Cha to What A Feeling from Flashdance
Mirror cha cha cha!

Out-of-context quotes!
Tess: "A rare and unpredictable beast: the rumbasaurus"
Claudia: "And yes, you will be carrying a watermelon"
Anton: "I feel like I've been a bit told off myself"
Amy: "What superhero doesn't shimmy"
Motsi: "I saw a lot of content" *pause* "I saw a lot of samba content"

Is that a chilled version of Running Up That Hill at the very start? Shazam says yes (and from Stranger Things, of course)! *adds to wishlist* Strictly seems to like that song - they also used it for a very spooky group dance in 2020 week 8.

Will and Nancy: Salsa to Never Too Much by Luther Vandross
Don't you wag your finger at me! 😅

James and Amy: Tango to Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran
Kiss? No! Kiss? No!

Ellie S and Nikita: Waltz to Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley
Awwww

Helen and Gorka: Cha Cha to Rain On Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
All the spins!

Tony and Katya: Charleston to My Old Man’s A Dustman by Foster and Allen
Watch out when taking the rubbish out - you may find a Strictly dancer trying to find Craig's missing number 3 paddle!

Ellie T and Johannes: Paso Doble to Les Toreadors by Georges Bizet
What. That is not at all the tune I expected it to launch into after the intro to the dance - or one I'd have associated with a Paso Doble (I recognised it as the tune they play after each race at Formula 1)

Richie and Giovanni: Quickstep to Dancin’ Fool by Barry Manilow
Wonderfully silly!

Fleur and Vito: Viennese Waltz to Glimpse Of Us by Joji
Such an emotional waltz. Nice touch with the choreography too - removing her cloak to the words "take the world off my shoulders".

Kaye and Kai: Charleston to Music! Music! Music! By Dorothy Provine
On Strictly, our fairground orchestra has an actual orchestra!

Hamza and Jowita: Jive to Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
TRON! But doesn't the red colouring mean these are the baddies... - perhaps Clu was misunderstood and just wanted to create an army of jiving programs?
(another returning song from 2020, this time from the week 6 group dance)

Kym and Graziano: Viennese Waltz to Runaway by The Corrs
Make a wish, you may just get a dance out of it.

Matt and Nadiya: Samba to Night Fever by the Bee Gees
Disco time!

Tyler and Dianne: Jive to Hit The Road Jack by Buster Poindexter
Oh no, we've broken down! Quick - if we start dancing the cops might not notice us 😅

Jayde and Karen: Tango to Rumour Has It by Adele
Wow, this was a dramatic tango

Molly and Carlos: Quickstep to Love On Top by Beyoncé
Nice umbrella-fu - just watch for the booby-trapped one!

Out-of-context quotes!
Motsi: "Those hips don't lie"
Tess: "Rocking the eyeliner!"
Anton: "I've not been this happy since I chucked Ann Widdecombe across the floor"
Claudia: "Can we have Craig from last week"