Strictly Come Dancing: Running Commentary, Week Five

A late start due to the Formula One qualifying over-running, fine if you're into F1 (like me) but if you're not, you must be seething! And how much more nervous will the couples be, waiting around. Love the colour of Tess' dress - and her hair looks fab! Snazzy Ricky G. and, whoa - Laila's fringy trousers *moans with longing*. Zoe and Kristina need to be careful they don't do a Jade tonight!

Rickin up first, a lot of expectation, emphasis on fun. Nice socks. The Boy from New York City an excellent choice. Good effort, brave. Bruce gets his own back on Wossy! Len: RSI - never seen so many flicks - you embraced the entertainment and fun; Alesha: Loved the way you worked the comb! Bruno: One-step wonder, not for me (Who's taken the jam out of his doughnut - Ricky); Craig: If we didn't know what a kick-ball change was, we do now. Lively and exuberant but repetitive. Score: 25 Ricky's lost two stone; Tess says she can feel it (his six-pack) it's hard. Cue sniggers from everyone else.

First Viennese Waltz is Ianade and Jade's turning from a bud into a flower say Ian, aw, isn't he a sweetie? Gorgeous frock for a gorgeous dance to a gorgeous song, It's a Man's World. Len: Had everything it should; Alesha: beautiful to watch, graceful, believable; Bruno: gorgeous, elegant, smooth, like two birds over the ocean swell, take me with you; Craig: Kept the frame, magnificent. Score: 35.

Alian are jiving after an all-American night out. What Ali did, she did really well but got lost on a few occasions, kept going with a smile though, a real trooper! Tutti Frutti a busy track and maybe the choreography is asking too much of her. Alesha: Great flicks and turns, struggling to keep up; Bruno: Very frustrated - you have the ability to blow my mind; Craig: Such a terrible shame, balance went, lost choreography, shows so much promise; Len: You must be upset, this was a real class jive - less is more (to Brian - I have to agree).

Jodan are V.waltzing - she's going to breathe and visualize and take control - and you know what, she did! Much improved posture and confidence - until Craig compared her to a kangaroo! Yes, it was a bit skippy but overall a really nice effort. Bruno: Sense of vulnerability; Len: a full on difficult routine, best to date; Alesha: Coped with the continuous twirling. Score: 23

Zojam jiving to Tainted Love clean, neat, musical, top jive so far.Was there a wardrobe malfunction, I was scribbling and didn't see! I did warn though, didn't I? Craig: Fabulous to watch, very respectable jive; Len: Clean, neat and precise, liked it very much; Alesha: You never disappoint, a joy to watch; Bruno: always deliver. Score: 30

Ricalie's VW on the horizon, Ricky's choreographing in his head - we can relate; just wait till they have to fetch you from the car cos you can't get out till the song's finished! How Can I Be Sure - perfect. I'm swaying ... I'M SWAYING! Beautiful, top dance so far, gets my vote. Considering I know nothing, his frame is just magnificent, so masterful! Alesha: Back in the zone, so beautiful, confident, fluid, your best yet; Bruno: Rising on the crest of a wave, a leading man's performance; Craig: absolute confidence; Len: thought the start was never gonna end, then suddenly you took hold and all was forgiven. Bloomin' good job. Score: 36 - a '10' from Alesha - get in there! Brave, good for her.

Cravia - following that with a jive, luckily! Looks good in training, a real chance here. He went for it and enjoyed it more but still didn't quite hit the spot, even with a great song. Bruno: a great range of steps, but made me slightly uncomfortable; Craig: appreciate energy, timing issues; Len: a good job, a lot of content; Alesha: reminds me of someone's dad, endearing but not good enough. Score: 20.

Jostina jiving and for most part he struggled - but some terrific on time kicks at the end show his potential - more of those please! Craig: relaxed a little, a vast improvement; Len: we can see development as a dancer; Alesha: a bit more bounce, well needed fun brought to the floor; Bruno: For a few moments you were on time. Score: 21 best to date.

Vinalie with a smooth elegant start to their VW - thought she was going to sing it all the way then! Another top song, it's following me around this week. Didn't quite carry the smoothness through and didn't seem to be twirling in hold as much as they should have done? I'll have to watch again. Good effort though. Len: Love your enthusiasm, bewildered and excited, a little hoppy ... hop-along-cassidy *groans* Alesha: lovely to see another side of you, your dad will be proud; Bruno: too skippy; Craig: thought it really elegant. Score: 27

Lainton - just concentrate on the outfit - it'll only be too fast if you don't move your feet quick enough, says Anton, lol. Why is she struggling with faster dances? She was almost there but it sadly went wrong somewhere. But check out those trousers, they're worth a vote alone. Alesha: Latin needs a lot more work - drunken rag doll - wicked outfit; Bruno: Did you rehearse on Twitter? Craig; Fringing masked a lot of the flaws (Anton: Should have had more fringing!) Len: A mental thing, you convinced yourself you couldn't do it - buck yourself up and get your bum in gear! Score: 22 Anton's on form tonight, he's quipping all through Tess' piece!

Phitya - bring on the romantic Tuffers! Oh I say - grey tails, very nice and, once more, a charmingly lovely performance to classy Mad About the Boy. Bruno: charm at full throttle; Craig: you did a great job (after a load of technical waffle) Len: Think cricket balls, need to polish! Alesha: So classy, really enjoyed, improving every week. Score: 27 My second fave tonight.

Chrola are jiving - hope he didn't knock back too many of those wines - how big was that glass?? Good performance, one of the better ones tonight, I thought. Craig: One more week's rehearsal needed, will eventually suit you; Len: Kept losing the timing, good apart from that; Alesha: Improvement on the kicks, you had the most spring in your step; Bruno: Another who can actually do it, so come back and do it! Score: 22

They're all done - Craig says Ricalie should be most worried, as Zojam are hot on their heels; Len says there's a group lagging behind now that have a lot of potential; Alesha couldn't fault Ricky, swept away with it, hence the 10; Bruno is looking forward to some scorching hot Latin next week. It's American Smooth or Samba next week - so we've a Pro Samba paaaaarty to Stevie Wonder! Out back with Tess - Ricky W. wanted Alesha's approval, he got it! Craig will come out fighting if in the bottom two; Joe thrilled to not be bottom but sad for Craig!

Flavia and Vincent bring us a Tango waltz - how fabulous was that? And how do they find the time? Completely gorgeous. There's a montage of judges thoughts, which have been pretty much covered in all the comments tonight so we move along to Spandau Ballet - I should have dug out my bight red tartan trousers and headband! Gold, smooth version - Live! Almost (the saxophonist blew it!) Jean Claude Keeble on the drums back there - Katya and Brendan show us an elegant tango/paso.

Here we go, the Moment of Truth - ready with the spotlight, Dave? Safe: Ricalie, Yay! Vinalie; Phitya, Yay! Jodan; Ianade; Alian; Rickin; Cravia; Chrola; Lainton! Zojam in the dance off - I can only assume it's a classic case of their supporters assuming they'd be safe and trying to save someone else, because Zoe and James do not deserve to be there! It's a no-brainer for the judges, isn't it? Zojam performed even better second time around - but so did Jostina, all credit to Joe, he showed all the potential he had there but it's not enough and he bows out of the competition.