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Well on strictly you can never accuse us of doing thing by halves, Saturday's show was no exception, it was strictly the final twelve, the movie. Well at 90 minutes long it sure was feature length.

And it raced along as our 12 couples, boys and girls, competed against each other for the very first time. There was an air of electricity in the studio rehearsals, building up to the live studio performance. Poor heather, her usual nervous self, was barely able to contain her nerves. She's so sweet.

I loved the fro (afro) and the silver frock for the Samba but sadly the judges said that her samba lacked sizzle. And she found herself in the dance off for a second time. Only to be saved over the darling Don by three out of four of the judges. She'll be going all out this week to avoid making it a hatrick of dreaded dance offs. That's for sure.

After enduring (Sorry Anton) my first training session with music, for our dance routine for Children in Need, I now have maximum respect for what our celebs put themselves through. Hours of training, sweating, blisters and enforced intimacy with your partner. It feels almost embarrassingly intimate - no wonder our couples end up so touchy feely on the show. Still…. I shall persevere.

Anyway, back to our glittering cast. I knew I'd take the Don into my heart, but I didn't realise quite how much, until we were left without him. The sight of those lovely eyes, blinking hard, and trying desperately not to shed a tear, as he did his last dance, forehead to forehead with his beloved tearful Lilia nearly finished me off.

Their affection for each other was completely genuine. Tissues please… I must learn not to take it so personally.

All the texts in my inbox after the live show, concerned a certain Mark Foster. All agreed his top really was something else, "I nearly choked on my Thai curry!" wrote my friend Hannah. "Wow, wow, wow and wow again" wrote another. Alright mum he's way too young for you!

The second topic of conversation was that he should have got a bit more credit from the judges. For taking Arlene's advice, and getting an acting coach and going for it in the Samba, to reveal a side that we certainly hadn't seen so far. You couldn't deny that we he really did crank it up in the Samba, the party dance, with a real party performance. Still, the public must have thought the same, because they disagreed with the judges and voted to keep him in.

An ecstatic Lisa, replaced Cherie and Rachel as top girl with a marvellous American Smooth. That saw her go joint top of the leader board along with Tom.

And what a weekend for our Tom! He doesn't do thing by halves, with his wedding the very next day and his stag crowd including Best Man in the audience. Even the vicar came too!

I can't quite believe that he has invited not only Camilla, but also out cameras along on his honeymoon this week. His Honeymoon! The most romantic holiday of his life. Our cameras are also going too, to film the training. It will be business as usual for Tom, proving just how committed he is to the competition. All I can say, is that his lovely new wife Claire must be one very tolerant lady.

Other show highlights included John's samba, television gold if ever there was one. And wasn't it wonderful to see strictly Champion, the vivacious, all singing all dancing bombshell Alesha Dixon back on the dance floor. Brucie absolutely adores her, and rightly so, no one has ignited a dance floor quite like her. We all wish her huge success with her funky new single.

Next week, on to the most dramatic of Latin dances, the passionate Paso. I love it, love it, love it. And anyone for a twirl with the whirly Viennese Waltz? Then our 11 will become just ten. See you then.

Tess' Take - week four

Tess' Take - week three

Tess' Take - week two

Tess' Take - week one