Strictly Come Dancing Musicals Special: Helen Skelton and Will Mellor joint top the leaderboard

Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens for its Musicals Special on Friday night, as the six remaining celebrities took to the dance floor with their pro partners for the Quarter Finals and eleventh week this series. 

Helen Skelton and her partner Gorka Marquez joint topped the leaderboard with Will Mellor and Nancy Xu during the jam-packed episode, while Kym Marsh came bottom after returning to the dance floor following last week’s missed show due to Covid.

The show was moved to Friday night from it’s usual Saturday slot due to World Cup scheduling while the results show will be held on Saturday night at 5:40pm.  

Sexy: Helen Skelton and her partner Gorka Marquez (pictured) joint topped the leader board with Will Mellor and Nancy Xu during the Strictly Musicals Special on Friday night

Setting the dance floor alight during the show were Countryfile presenter Helen, 39, and her partner Gorka with their sexy Couple’s Choice dance to a cabaret tune which scored them a whopping 39 – nearly a full house.

Head judge Shirley Ballas commented afterwards: ‘Wow you have grown so much, what a sensual performance, it was off the charts and a memory I will treasure forever. Is this really a mummy of three or the shy timid girl we saw on week one!?’

An astounded Anton Du Beke then added: ‘I got emotional as I just thought ‘go on!’ and it makes me ecstatic to see you dance!’

Missing the mark: Kym Marsh came bottom after returning to the dance floor following last week’s missed show due to being Covid positive

Emotional: Strictly returned to screens for its Musicals Special, as the six remaining celebrities took to the dance floor with their pro partners for the Quarter Finals (pictured: Will and Nancy who danced a Foxtrot from the musical Miss Saigon and joint topped the leaderboard with 39)

Incredible: Setting the dance floor alight during the show were Helen and her partner Gorka with their sexy Couple’s Choice dance to a cabaret tune which scored them an impressive 39 – nearly a full house

Reaction: Shirley commented afterwards: ‘Wow you have grown so much, what a sensual performance, it was off the charts and a memory I will treasure forever. Is this really a mummy of three or the shy timid girl we saw on week one!?’

Sultry! An astounded Anton then added: ‘I got emotional as I just thought ‘go on!’ and it makes me ecstatic to see you dance!’

Craig Revel Horwood then said: ‘This style is particular and I thought you did one of the most brilliant jobs so well done!’, before Motsi Mabuse added: ‘That was all about you! You were a leader, commander and you had intention, what a strong performance’.

Overall they scored 39, with three tens from Shirley, Motsi and Anton.

Topping the leaderboard alongside them with 39 also were Will and his partner Nancy who danced a Foxtrot from the musical Miss Saigon. 

Motsi said afterwards: ‘I absolutely loved it, the feeling was so amazing, there was a flush of emotion, the footwork was so good, it was wow!’

Shirley added: ‘I have always felt your competitive spirit, this was a heartfelt performance, it was such beautiful footwork, we all just thought wow – well done!’

Anton then gave his feedback saying: ‘It was a complete performance, it was such a show and so dramatic!’ before Craig said: ‘That was thoroughly gorgeous!’

At the other end of the scale were Kym and her partner Graziano Di Prima who danced a Cha Cha to Fame the musical – after missing last week’s show due to Covid.

Giving his feedback Craig said: ‘There’s no room for error in a leotard, you ave the body of a 20 year old! I loved the solo stuff and hip action you did brilliantly. Motsi then added: ‘The cheekiness and energy was there and you caae back with a bang!’

Shirley said: ‘I’m impressed with how much you can move your body and you look amazing, the bit you did on your own was so impressive and you gave your all, I’m delighted to have you back.’

Anton said: ‘It was tremendous you’re a great jazz dancer, your work is so clean and the timing was immaculate!’

They scored 34 overall – with two nines from Motsi and Shirley – coming bottom of the leaderboard despite great feedback. 

Beauty: Topping the leaderboard alongside them with 39 also were Will and his partner Nancy who danced a Foxtrott from the musical Miss Saigon 

Amazing result: Overall the pair scored 39 and were delighted with the feedback that they received 

Thrilled: Shirley added: ‘I have always felt your competitive spirit, this was a heartfelt performance, it was such beautiful footwork, we all just thought wow – well done!’

Work it! Next up with a Cha Cha were Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima who danced to Fame the musical – after missing last week’s show due to Covid. They ended up bottom of the leaderboard

Back with a bang! Shirley said: ‘I’m impressed with how much you can move your body and you look amazing, the bit you did on your own was so impressive and you gave your all, I’m delighted to have you back’

After an incredible opening number from a series of West End stars, first up to dance were Molly Rainford and her partner Carlos Gu who performed a Charleston from the musical Chicago and scored an incredible 38. 

Looking incredible in silver flapper dress singer Molly, 22, commanded attention on the dance floor with a dapper Carlos, 28.

Clearly very impressed head judge Shirley Ballas said: ‘What a way to open the show I wasn’t expecting that! The tricks were so good, you went up with such ease and you looked like you were having a ball, well done!’

Here they are: Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu scored an impressive 38 while kicking off the show on Friday night and looked super glamorous together

Anton added that she had upped her game and branded her dance ‘marvellous’. Craig added: ‘What a transformation, this is the first time I have seen your full on power and energy, it was great.’

Motsi said: ‘Look at you! You were shining, the level was amazing, that’s the way we start the show!’. 

Overall she scored an incredible 38, with tens from Shirley and Motsi and nines from Anton and Craig.

Up next to dance were Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal who did a Samba to The Lion King.

Reaction: Clearly very impressed head judge Shirley Ballas said: ‘What a way to open the show I wasn’t expecting that! The tricks were so good, you went up with such ease and you looked like you were having a ball, well done!’

Anton loved it and said afterwards in his feedback: ‘That was so good you had such fluidity, your body was rippling it was tremendous I am really impressed well done you.’

Craig added: ‘You had fantastic hips I have to agree it was brilliant!’, before Motsi said: ‘The way your body was working was amazing, you made me so happy, it was really great.’

Finally Shirley commented: ‘The music was subtle and you portrayed the music so well, your rhythms were so good and it was beautifully delivered!’ 

The pair scored an impressive 36 with nines from all four judges.

Nice one: Looking incredible in silver flapper dress singer Molly, 22, commanded attention on the dance floor with a dapper Carlos, 28

Closing the show were Fleur East and her partner Vito Coppola with a Quickstep from the musical An American In Paris.

Anton said after: ‘As far as I’m concerned you should be through to next week’, before Craig added: ‘Class, style and sophistication, it was absolutely gorgeous.’

Motsi then gave her feedback and said: ‘You sprinkled some magic so thank you!’ as Shirley said: ‘Everyone was so good this evening and you ended the show so well, I loved the 50s theme, keep working because you were a star tonight!’ 

They scored 38 overall with two tens. 

Incredible: Up next to dance were Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal who did a Samba to The Lion King

It comes after Kym just recovered from her ‘scary’ battle with Covid after missing last week’s show following a positive test.

Kym was no doubt be pleased to get back on the dance floor after she was forced to miss last week’s show when she contracted the illness. 

The former Corrie actress, who returned to training this week, joked she had ‘swapped sequins for tissues’ during her appearance on Thursday’s It Takes Two.

She told host Janette Manrara: ‘[Watching from home] was so weird, I had such FOMO (fear of missing out), I swapped sequins for tissues’. 

Happy: Anton loved it and said afterwards in his feedback: ‘That was so good you had such fluidity, your body was rippling it was tremendous I am really impressed well done you’

Good job: Craig added: ‘You had fantastic hips I have to agree it was brilliant!’, before Motsi said: ‘The way your body was working was amazing, you made me so happy, it was really great’

‘I watched it with two tissues stuck up my nostrils.’ 

Her dance partner Graziano Di Prima added: ‘She called me sick from bed and I told her ‘later…later’. 

The duo went on to reveal they will be dancing the Cha Cha Cha to Irene Cara’s hit song Fame during Saturday’s musicals week. 

Last week, a Strictly spokesperson confirmed that Kym would be sitting out this week as a result of the virus.

Glam: The show was moved to Friday night due to World Cup scheduling while the results show will be held on Saturday night at 5:40pm (hosts Tess and Claudia pictured)

They told MailOnline: ‘Kym Marsh has tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, Kym and Graziano will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend.

‘Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that all being well, they will return the following week.’

And the announcement came just two weeks after Kym admitted she nearly quit the show after suffering a crippling panic attack just hours before the live show.

Strictly Come Dancing is coming to the end for another year in the coming weeks, after a glitter-filled two and a half months. 

Classy: Closing the show were Fleur East and her partner Vito Coppola with a Quickstep from the musical An American In Paris

Comments: Motsi then gave her feedback and said: ‘You sprinkled some magic so thank you!’ as Shirley said: ‘Everyone was so good this evening and you ended the show so well, I loved the 50s theme, keep working because you were a star tonight!’

Will, Kym, Molly, Fleur, Helen and Hamza are all still in with a chance of winning the glitterball.

Due to Qatar World Cup football games during Strictly’s usual Saturday and Sunday night slots, the quarter-finals took place live on Friday 2 December while the semi-final will air live on Sunday 11 December.

The 20th Strictly final will be hosted by duo Tess and Claudia later in December, and sitting on the judging panel is Shirley, Motsi, Craig and Anton.

Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two is on screens during the week to ensure viewers get their Strictly fix, hosted by Rylan Clark and former professional dancer Janette Manrara.

Good job: Anton said after: ‘As far as I’m concerned you should be through to next week’, before Craig added: ‘Class, style and sophistication, it was absolutely gorgeous’