Strictly Come Dancing delivered a dramatic and unpredictable fourth week on Saturday night, blending awkward moments, star cameos, and one of the most emotional performances in the show’s history.
Broadcast live on BBC One on October 18, the latest episode saw the return of Stefan Dennis after illness, surprise appearances from Gladiators, and a history-making moment from head judge Shirley Ballas.
Stefan Dennis Returns Strong After Illness
After missing last week due to medical advice, Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis returned to the ballroom with professional partner Dianne Buswell, performing a lively Charleston that earned a score of 26.
Judge Motsi Mabuse called it Dennis’s “best dance yet,” while Shirley Ballas praised his comeback, saying he “returned to the ballroom with a bang.”
Craig Revel Horwood was less convinced, suggesting the performance needed “more musicality,” but the actor’s confident return was widely celebrated.
Judges’ Karaoke Sparks Social Media Buzz
In one of the night’s most unexpected moments, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke grabbed microphones for an impromptu karaoke performance of Roxette’s It Must Have Been Love.
The moment divided fans online — one viewer joked that Motsi’s “energy was perfect for bad karaoke singers,” while another demanded “judges doing karaoke every week, please.”
Vicky Pattison’s Emotional Support from Angela Scanlon
Reality TV star Vicky Pattison received a surprise message of support from her friend and fellow Strictly alum Angela Scanlon, who appeared in her pre-dance VT.
The pair, who co-host the Get a Grip podcast, shared heartfelt words of encouragement ahead of Pattison’s performance, with Scanlon noting her friend’s “confidence has just shifted.”
Shirley Ballas Refuses to Judge La Voix
Drag performer La Voix and partner Aljaž Škorjanec endured a rough night with their boxing-themed Cha Cha, which head judge Ballas refused to formally critique.
“If I’m perfectly honest, I wouldn’t be able to judge that at all,” she said. “You just had one of those days — but we love you.”
Horwood added his own sting, comparing the performance to “going to the dentist,” prompting a group hug from presenter Claudia Winkleman to comfort the duo.
Alex Kingston Earns a Historic Kiss from Shirley Ballas
The night’s standout moment came courtesy of Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe, whose breathtaking Rumba moved Ballas to tears — and even prompted her to step onto the dance floor to give Kingston a kiss.
“In all my time on Strictly, I’ve never seen legs work like that,” Ballas said, calling the routine “perfect.”
Presenter Tess Daly declared the gesture “a first in Strictly history,” as Kingston wiped away tears of joy.
Coldplay Moment Recreated by Claudia Winkleman
Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly also recreated Coldplay’s viral “kiss cam” scandal ahead of George Clarke and Alexis Warr’s Viva La Vida Tango, drawing laughs from the studio audience.
The cheeky parody paid homage to the awkward real-life moment at Coldplay’s Massachusetts concert earlier this year, when two fans on camera quickly pulled apart after being caught embracing.
Leaderboard Shake-Up
After a series of strong routines, Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe topped the Week 4 leaderboard with a stunning score of 36.
They were followed closely by Lewis Cope and Katya Jones (34) and Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin (33).
Meanwhile, La Voix and Škorjanec found themselves at the bottom with a 10-point gap — making them likely contenders for the next dance-off.
