Strictly Come Dancing: Lewis Cope lands 40 as La Voix is forced to pull out

Strictly’s Blackpool Week special airs live tonight from 6:45 pm on BBC One and is due to end at 8:05.

This week’s contestants are:

Alex & Johannes

Amber & Nikita

Balvinder & Julian

George & Alexis

Karen & Carlos

Lewis & Katya

Sunday’s results show will air on BBC One at 7:15 pm.

A Strictly Come Dancing star has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of rape.

A man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken into custody over an alleged incident said to have occurred after a BBC event in 2024.

The alleged victim was not a contestant or professional dancer, The Sun reported.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police, who confirmed the arrest, said: “A man was released on police bail under investigation having been arrested in London on Monday 13 October on suspicion of rape.

“The allegations relate to an incident which happened in Hertfordshire during 2024.

“Meanwhile, inquiries by officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Public Protection team will continue.

“Given the nature of the allegations, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing police investigation.”

Strictly Come Dancing contestant La Voix will miss this weekend’s Blackpool episode due to an injury.

The “devastated” Drag Race UK star announced the news “with immense sadness” on Tuesday (18 November), stating: “I’ve been advised that I’m unable to perform, and my heart truly breaks knowing I won’t be dancing in such an iconic venue.”

La Voix, 45, said she was focusing on her recovery after being advised to rest by doctors.

A Strictly spokesperson confirmed that La Voix would automatically make it through to the next round of the BBC competition.

Read more here.

As the BBC show faces yet another scandal, the ‘Strictly’ gig is either the most exciting vacancy in broadcasting right now or a poisoned chalice. But perhaps the real debate we should be having is whether it’s time to dim the lights for good. Katie Rosseinsky reports.

Here are the six confirmed dances for tonight’s show and what songs they will be performing to:

Alex & Johannes - Couples Choice to "History Repeating + Look At Me" by Propellerheads feat. Shirley Bassey + Geri Halliwell

Amber & Nikita - Quickstep to “Reach” by S Club 7

Balvinder & Julian - Argentine Tango to "The Logical Song" by Supertramp

George & Alexis - Salsa to "Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)" by Bob Sinclar

Karen & Carlos - Paso Doble to "O Fortuna" by Carmina Burana

Lewis & Katya - Charleston to "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" by Arctic Monkeys

Vicky Pattison was the seventh celebrity to leave the BBC dancing show last week.

Pattison admitted she let her “nerves get in the way” this week, agreeing with a comment made by judge Shirley Ballas.

She received a score of 27 for her jive during Saturday night’s live show, despite topping the leaderboard and receiving a near-perfect score of 39 last week for her tango to Taylor Swift’s “Fate of Ophelia”.

Reflecting on her Strictly experience, Pattison said it had been the “nicest time” and was “lovely while it lasted”.

“Listen, I didn’t think I’d get past week one,” she said. “And I’m really honoured to have shared this experience with so many amazing people.”

She went on to praise Widdrington, saying: “I don’t want to sound too cheesy, but you’ve been the best partner a girl can ask for. I’m so sorry I didn’t get you to Blackpool, but I feel like I’ve won just by having you as my partner, and I’m so grateful.”

Read more here.

Former England footballer Karen Carney has declared that she doesn’t want her experience on Strictly to end.

Speaking to The Athletic, she said: “My aim was that I didn’t want to go out in week one. I never thought I’d get to Blackpool, so I’m really grateful to Carlos (Gu, her dance partner in the show) for really pushing me and getting me to this point.”

Commenting on some of the criticism she has received from the judges, she admits she’s “got to take it on the chin, good or bad”.

“I’m not the finished article, I’m not a professional dancer, so whatever they’re saying is probably right, and they want me to get better, that’s their job. And I want to improve. So, of course, I’m going to listen,” she added.

Singer Wynne Evans, known for his role in the Go Compare insurance adverts and his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, has candidly admitted that his on-screen "hijinks" during the BBC show looked "creepy," revealing the subsequent mental health struggles that led him to attempt to take his own life.

Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, the 53-year-old addressed incidents from last year’s series where professional dancer Katya Jones was seen moving his hand from her waist and refusing a high-five.

"It does look creepy and I apologise for that," Evans stated.

He explained the moments were part of a "body language experiment" orchestrated with Jones. "Katya said to me, ‘look let’s get down the front, you put your hand on my waist, I’ll move it back, we’ll see if anyone notices’," he recounted.

Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt has been confirmed as the first celebrity contestant for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.

Moffat made the announcement on BBC show Strictly: It Takes Two on Friday. She will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancer Vito Coppola.