Strictly Come Dancing Week 12: Tears and the best dance in '20 years' - all the highlights

Welcome back to our Strictly Come Dancing live blog. The past 12 weeks have flown by, and I cannot believe that we're already at the semi-finals. Tonight will be one of the most nerve-wracking nights for the dancers, as not only will it determine whether they have a place in the final, but the pair also have two new routines to learn.

How will they fare? We'll find out after Doctor Who!

Although there was no elimination last week, we did have to wave farewell to Nigel Harman, as the Casualty actor ended up injured following a jump gone wrong. Like in the first week, the celebrities' scores from last week have carried over, so will this effect things?

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Following their perfect score from their iconic Paso Doble, Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin sit at the top of the leaderboard. Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola are a distant second after scoring 36 for their Quickstep. At the bottom of the leaderboard sit Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell with 34 and Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe with 33.

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Bobby has consistently been one of the best dancers in the competition, with Shirley Ballas labelling him as the "King of Ballroom". His Quickstep appeared to be flawless, and he was fully suited and booted in his tailsuit, we can't imagine a stronger opening to this show. Pizzazz, pomp, everything we're going to want from a Strictly finalist.

Judges scores: 38 (9, 9, 10, 10) - the pair's highest-ever score.

Tess Daly must have been over the moon when the surprise Terms and Conditions guest was her husband Vernon Kay. Claudia Winkleman even got him to romantically link to Tess in a sweet moment.

Layton might have been a bit worried going into the notoriously difficult dance, but Layton brought romance and sentimentality to the gorgeous Rumba he danced with Nikita. Although the judges gave a mixed response to the performance, we loved the story that was told, and Nikita finally got to dance a Rumba on Strictly!

Judges' scores: 36 (9, 9, 9, 9)

Who thought Annabel Croft would be able to do the splits?! Move over Angela Rippon and Layton Williams, we might have a new queen when it comes to this move! Sadly, a couple of mistakes popped up in her routine, even though the tennis player was having the time of her life and wearing the outfit of the night. Motsi was glad the routine it wasn't "perfect" though, but will it save her tonight?

Judges' scores: 32 (8, 8, 8, 8)

Was it our favourite dance of the night? Perhaps not, but there's no denying that Ellie brought her A-game for her first dance. Dancing to Mambo Italiano, Motsi declared she "deserves" a spot in the final! And once again, the couple ended on a near-kiss with Ellie resisting Vito's advances, surely they have to be telling us something!

Judges' scores: 37 (9, 10, 9, 9) - this puts them second on the leaderboard

Bobby HAS been the dancer of this evening. After one the best Quickstep on the show, he delivered one of the best Paso Dobles we've ever seen. This style is my favourite dance, and Bobby embodied its mood and I entirely disregard any critiques this dance had. Based solely on this dance, Bobby needs to be in the final. my dance of the night, and it's going to be hard to top.

Judges' scores: 35 (8, 9, 9, 9) - three points lower than their previous dance (and undermarked).

Chairs, desks, umbrella, speed that would make Concorde blush! I've been waiting for Layton to get to the Charleston, and he showed why this was his dance. Incredible in every sense of the word. Strictly is Layton's competition, and we're all living in it! What a deserved a 40.

Judges' scores: 40 (10, 10, 10, 10)

One thing Annabel has been great with this series has been bringing emotion to her dances, and the tennis player did that on and off the dancefloor. Her movement was fluid, but it was the VT beforehand that had us in tears as her friends and family mentioned how her late husband Mel, would be so "proud" of the way she danced.

Judges' scores: 33 (8, 8, 8, 9)

Ellie was not messing around! With one of the spiciest outfits of the entire series, Ellie was a dominatrix for the whole routine, and I can't get those drops off my mind! Ellie is a powerhouse, and we will miss her when Strictly comes to an end next week.

Judges' scores: 38 (9, 9, 10, 10)

That's it for the semi-finals! Tomorrow we will wave goodbye to one of these four incredible couples, and honestly, I don't want to lose any of them! But who will make it to the final, only time will tell!