Strictly 2022: Week 12 Semi Finals

As Strictly Come Dancing reaches Week 12, aka the Semi Finals, it can mean only the one thing: one couple will not make it to the Grand Final. By the chance impact of the f**tb*ll World Cup schedule, the Strictly couples have had extra time to prepare their two dances.

And with two Charlestons, two Waltzes and three (yes, THREE) Paso Dobles tonight, we will have the chance to compare like-for-like dances between the couples.

Fleur & Vito

Paso Doble to Moloko’s ‘The Time Is Now’. The power and aggression was there but it seemed to lack fluid Spanish lines. Also wishing if the celeb has a dark dress that they don’t have a darkly-lit background.

Helen & Gorka

Waltz to ‘Only One Road’ by Céline Dion. Simple, beautiful and rather passionate. We loved it. Can’t remember Celine screeching that number so well done for them ignoring that.

Hamza & Jowita

Charleston to ‘Pencil Full Of Lead’. If it were called Strictly Come Lifting he should win. Again over-marked.

Molly & Carlos

American Smooth to ‘Easy On Me’ by Adele. Beautiful hand-shaping but it’s hard to feel anything. It’s all technique over embodying the dance.

Will & Nancy

Paso Doble to ‘Uccen‘. The cape work was like us trying to sort out a duvet. All gurn and no bull fighter.

Fleur & Vito

Charleston to ‘Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano’ (aka ‘We No Speak Italiano‘). For us a charleston should be light and frothy and giddy, and that was heavier. It had moments but it should have felt fizzier.

Helen & Gorka

Argentine Tango to the Eurythmics’ ‘Here Comes The Rain Again’. The chemistry. The sizzle. The feel. How Helen’s confidence has grown… but the ganchos were a little loose.

Hamza & Jowita

Waltz to Burt Bacharach’s ‘What The World Needs Now’. The footwork really isn’t good. Hamza has been crazily over-marked because he was so much better than most would have been expected. That waltz didn’t deserve a 9.

Molly & Carlos

Paso Doble to ‘Survivor’ . The music may have been a bit on the nose, but that was the best paso of the night.

Will & Nancy

Couple’s Choice. A mash-up of 90s – sigh – a medley is friend to no one. Would rather have our melons twisted.

Who Will Be In Bottom Two?

No one wants to be the Bottom Two this week. The chance of making the final will cruelly slip away from one couple. And The Recs predicts the dance off will be between Fleur and Molly (if the public vote has been anything to go by until now)