Strictly Come Dancing: Double effort required at semi-final stage

The wheat has been sorted from the chaff and we’re expecting a stunning show on Saturday night.

For the first time in the competition, the couples, now down to just five, will have to execute two dances apiece.

Bill & Oti

Still favourites to go all the way at 11/10, Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse are stepping into the semi-finals after a sassy Argentine Tango last week. It wasn’t perfect and they only managed a string of eights to sit third in the table, but they sailed through on the public vote and remain well-fancied.

This week it’s another Tango, followed by the Charleston for their ninth dance of the series. Though Bill looks safe and appears to be one of the most accomplished dancers this year, there’s no margin for error in the semi-finals.

HRVY & Janette

The pair who really wowed the judges last week was undoubtedly HRVY and Janette Manrara. Sparkling in sequined gold outfits, fit with top hats, their American Smooth earnt a massive 29 points. Dancing the Rumba to a Kylie Minogue number this week should be every bit as entertaining, while the emotions could run high when they perform the Charleston to ‘Another Day Of Sun’ from La La Land. The couple have moved in from 9/4 to 6/4 over the past week and momentum is certainly on their side as we enter the business end of the series.

Ranvir & Giovanni

Coming in under the radar are Ranvir Singh and Giovanni Pernice, who have been cut into 5/1 from 10/1 this week after a 27-point Viennese Waltz last week. They’re dancing a traditional Waltz first this week, before hopefully closing with a bang by dancing Jiving to Christina Aguilera’s ‘Candyman’.

The pair haven’t scored less than an eight or a nine for the last three weeks now and another big dance should be expected.

Maisie & Gorka

Despite posting high scores throughout the series, Masie Smith and Gorka Marquez have been dragged into the dance-off twice so far. The pair are out to 12/1 having traded as low as 9/4 back in November, suggesting the public simply aren’t on their side. However, Maisie is unquestionably one of the strongest dancers in the series and the fact they’re going with the Couples Choice this week makes things interesting. ‘Getting Jiggy With It’ by Will Smith will be their second dance on Saturday night as they look to inspire some more votes.

Jamie & Karen

Having fallen into the bottom two for the last two weeks, Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer seemingly need to find a bit extra to earn themselves another week in the competition. This week their performing a Quickstep and a Salsa, both of which could suit Jamie’s high-energy style, and it might be too early to completely write off the 33/1 shots.

Check out all the latest Strictly Come Dancing betting odds at William Hill