Hallowe'en night, and ghosts of Strictly past came to haunt the Shepherd's Bush dancefloor.

Hallowe'en night, and ghosts of Strictly past came to haunt the Shepherd's Bush dancefloor.

It was like watching a repeat of the dance-off between Gabby Logan and Penny Lancaster as top-tablers Zoe Lucker and Ali Bastian - scoring 32 and 33 points respectively - fought it out to stay in.

Actress Ali, wearing ballet pumps for a limping Paso Doble after stubbing her toe earlier, was carried through, I'd say, on a sympathy vote and for her performance overall - not just on the dance-off alone.

It means that pro dancer James left on the Samba - the same dance that he exited with Gabby two years ago. I blame his hulking ego and Zoe's plumage-tastic costume, which made her look like a deranged Liver bird.

Fright night fairly lived up to the expectation of drama with plenty of tricks and treats delivered in a showcase of ten different dances. I was cheering on Len as he and Craig almost got into a stand-up fight over Ricky Groves' Rumba.

The EastEnders mechanic had dressed up as Daniel Craig for an energetic performance that earned him a 4' from Craig and an 8' from Len. Um, what?

I haven't always agreed with the judges' comments - does anyone? - but tonight I wanted to reach through the telly to forcibly remove their scorecards.

Chris and Ola - wearing clashing outfits, although I can't imagine much goes with a red flock catsuit - got 29 for their Cha Cha which Craig had labelled "Cha Cha chunky".

Laila Rouass and Anton were inch perfect in their Viennese Waltz, yet got a fairly middling score as the judges made as many comments about her poor Latin. She wasn't dancing Latin tonight! Score the dance, not the track record. Shame we won't get to see Anton wearing Ian's sparkly trews he promised he would if they finished top.

After weeks of build-up, birthday boy Craig Kelly has made it to Blackpool - his home town, in case that hasn't been hammered quite enough into our collective consciousness - with a competent Waltz and a diabolical song choice of Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.

The opposite was true of Natalie Cassidy with a Duracell-bunny-style Jive to Little Richard's Good Golly Miss Molly. Cracking stuff, and their first 30.

Cricketer Phil Tufnell got the same score - and his highest, too - with a theatrical Tango that didn't have the merest hint of a bum wiggle. Is it just me, or does Katya get more goggle-eyed over him every week? She said he was sexier than Antonio Banderas.

Top frock of the series so far had to be Jade Johnson's stunning bodiced lemon number - very reminiscent of Kelly Brook's Disney-inspired Belle' dress. I'd love to see a digital floor pattern of the athlete and Ian's Foxtrot footsteps - there wasn't an inch of dancefloor they didn't cover.

Hollyoaks hunk Ricky Whittle got a standing ovation for his masterful Quickstep, only outdone on the night by one of the best professional ensembles I've ever seen - a Moulin Rouge-meets-Pussycat Dolls-style routine.

I'd have marked Ricky down, personally, for developing Hollins-Kelly Syndrome - what was with the gaping mouth? His performance of Natalie's mesmerising routine prompted another snide dig from Craig, who said: "Bandy legs and pigeon toes, but it has never stopped Brendan Cole from dancing."

The remaining contestants will be dressed up to the nines for Blackpool next week, and Ian has promised us a belter of a costume. The trip up north has had more build-up this year than the final. I only hope it lives up to the hype. Maybe it's the time of year, but I've got goosebumps just thinking about it.

The scores (in order of appearance): Natalie Cassidy and Vincent Simone: 30.

Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna: 33.

Craig Kelly and Flavia Cacace: 24.

Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan: 29.

Jade Johnson and Ian Waite: 35.

Zoe Lucker and James Jordan: 32.

Ricky Groves and Erin Boag: 24.

Laila Rouass and Anton Du Beke: 33.

Phil Tufnell and Katya Virshilas: 30.

Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe: 39.