Strictly's quarter-final has one major difference this year

Is the Class of '24 the best ever?

Dan Seddon
·2-min read
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly presenting Strictly Musicals Week (BBC screenshot)
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly presenting Strictly Musicals Week (BBC screenshot)

Strictly Come Dancing co-presenter Tess Daly revealed on Saturday, 30 November that never before have the show's contestants boasted as many 10 scores by the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Stood beside her colleague Claudia Winkleman, Daly teased a "big night" ahead as remaining Glitterball trophy hunters Pete Wicks, Montell Douglas, Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill, Sarah Hadland and Chris McCausland readied themselves for Musicals Week.

It's been a unique series in terms of the scorechart, with judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke apparently getting trigger-happy with their maximum number paddles.

The line-up of costumed judges: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke (BBC screenshot)
The line-up of costumed judges: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke (BBC screenshot)

Following a professional dance routine to open the programme, Winkleman told BBC One viewers: "We are bringing the West End to the ballroom as we celebrate all things jazz hands."

Confirming the aforementioned Strictly record, Daly added: "And it promises to be a big night because we have never had this many 10's going into the quarter-final!"

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"All thanks to these four..." said Winkleman, as Ballas (parading her Miss Trunchbull costume from Matilda), Horwood (as The Greatest Showman's Bearded Lady), Mabuse (Dreamgirls-themed) and Du Beke took to the centre of the ballroom floor.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024,23-11-2024,TX10 - LIVE SHOW,TX10 - LIVE SHOW,Tasha Ghouri, Aljaž Škorjanec ,BBC Public Service,Guy Levy
Glitterball trophy contenders Aljaž Škorjanec and Tasha Ghouri (BBC Public Service/Guy Levy)

In last week's episode, Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and her Slovenian pro partner Aljaž Škorjanec became the first duo of the 2024 series to receive a total score of 40 from the judges.

Reacting to their American Smooth, Du Beke commented: "It was amazing. It just makes me go 'This is why we dance, this is the point!'

"We do it because of the way it makes us feel, we don't do it for people to say 'You're wonderful' - we do a bit, but we mostly do it because it makes us feel."

Strictly Come Dancing's results show airs Sunday, 1 December on BBC One.

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