Strictly’s Queen of Ballroom Erin Boag gives the lowdown on this week’s show

THIS Saturday it’s Halloween week and our couples will embrace all things spooky. My scariest Halloween show was in 2012 when I partnered Good Morning Britain star Richard Arnold. It coincided with an outbreak of Norovirus so I spent most of that Friday evening with my head over the toilet. Somehow I managed to push through to the Saturday rehearsal – only for Richard to drop me with a thud. But I wasn’t the only one in pain. The crew had buckets everywhere – on the sidelines, backstage, even in Tess Daly’s area.

Speaking of illness, poor old Judi Love. A nasty case of Covid has prevented her practising for most of this week, so she is going into tonight’s show unprepared.

But would it have really been fair for Strictly producers to give the weakest dancer a second week off? It’s a tough call.

When Adam Peaty turned around in his tight jeans for last week’s samba, my eyes almost popped out of my head. But tonight, he needs to calm down for an elegant Viennese waltz.

Sara Davies still has so much to show us. She’s dancing a couple’s choice to Queen Of The Night by Whitney Houston, so I hope the routine is as upbeat as the music.

I was left just speechless by Tom Fletcher’s salsa with its expert lifts and explosive choreography. Now he needs a powerful and clean performance with sharp movements for the tango, but he’s a definite trophy contender.

Dan Walker’s Viennese waltz was graceful, but he’s going to find it a challenge to create a fast and clean kick-and-flick action for his jive.

Tilly Ramsay always tells a story when dancing and her foxtrot was gorgeous. Tonight I want to see fast feet plus cheekiness for her cha-cha-cha.

AJ Odudu hasn’t done a bad performance and Shirley Ballas was justified in calling her Argentine tango “world class”. I’m expecting a Viennese waltz to remember.

John Whaite has the quickstep, which is about being light and bright while flying around the room in sync with your partner. He’ll be fabulous.

Rose Ayling-Ellis showed real maturity in her Viennese waltz. She just needs sharper, staccato movements for the tango.

Rhys Stephenson did not deserve to be in the bottom two last week. I hope the public backs his paso doble.

Ugo Monye’s time was rightly up last week. I expect Dan to be in the dance-off tonight, although I’m nervous for Adam, and most of all Judi.