The pro-celebrity couples face yet another round of high-pressure performances, as the competition enters its eighth weekend. Only nine duos remain, and Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly present as the pairs once more take to the dancefloor to demonstrate whether a week of rigorous training has had any impact on their skills as dancers. This time, though, the pressure is higher than ever, as anyone who drops out of the contest this weekend will miss out on the chance to dance at Blackpool Tower Ballroom next week. As ever, judges Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell preside over the contest, awarding each star a score that could give them a crucial lead in avoiding elimination following the public vote.
The show pairs a number of celebrities with professional ballroom dancers who each week compete against each other to impress a panel of judges and the viewing public in order to survive potential elimination. Through telephone voting, viewers vote for whom they would like to stay, the results of the poll being combined with the ranking of the panel of judges.
The show is broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday evenings, and is presented by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly. The judging panel consists mainly of Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood.