Russell Grant's Strictly Come Dancing journey

World famous astrologer Russell Grant will be blogging regularly for iVillage.co.uk about his experiences competing on Strictly Come Dancing. You can also keep up to date with Russell's progress on Twitter. Check back for the inside track on Russell's journey as he pairs up with professional dancer Flavia Cacace.

Glitterballs and glad rags...

By Russell Grant on 12 Dec 2011 1 comment

It was semi-final night on Strictly Come Dancing and didn’t we know it?! Saturday night’s show was a sheer tour de force from all five couples and that was reflected in the fact that we saw ten fabulous performances and TEN standing ovations. It truly was a night to remember.

Harry and Aliona gave us the Charleston and the Viennese Waltz and they continue to stun and surprise us all with their wonderful performances. 'Exquisite', 'Perfect', 'Beautifully executed', 'Dancing Royalty' and 'Take him to the Tower – Blackpool Tower', were just a few of the well deserved accolades that so deservedly came their way - and to get 78 points out of a possible 80 is just fantastic.

Alex and James offered us the Waltz and the Salsa and were rightfully proclaimed 'Totally brilliant', 'Full of gusto and personality', 'Top notch', 'The Belle of the Ball', they should be proud of their achievement. They have given everything to Strictly and we loved them for it.

Chelsee and Pasha entranced the audience at home and in the studio with the Paso Doble and the American Smooth. Chelsee 'Glowed like a pearl', they were 'Gobsmackingly good', 'Fantastic', 'Superb', their performance left Alisha 'Speechless'. Len likened her blossoming performances over recent weeks to the Chelsea Flower Show full of colour and truly beautiful. And from now on the Paso Doble will forever be the Pasha Doble!

Holly and Artem gave us a scintillating Argentine Tango and a totally new take on an old favourite – The Charleston - which won them deserved praise from the judges. 'Beautiful', 'Stunning', 'Bad, dangerous and coiled to strike', 'Gorgeous' and 'Seductive'. I was enchanted by their Argentine Tango and have watched it time and time and again on Saturday Night. Seventy points out of a possible 80 is a score I would have loved to have, but it doesn’t seem to have been good enough.

Jason and Kristina gave us a tantalising Tango and a stunning Samba and the accolades flew thick and fast. The Samba was fabulous but the Argentine Tango was truly memorable and must go down in the annals of Strictly as something that may be matched but never beaten. It was as the judges say 'Wonderful', 'Brilliant', 'Seductive', 'Incredible', 'Superb' and the 'Best dance of the series'.

But…..and here comes the BIG BUT. We had to wave goodbye to not one couple but two this weekend. Sadly it was Holly and Artem along with Alex and James that we had to bid a fond farewell to.

Let’s not forget this is the nature of the show. Each week, couples have been eliminated and to get to the semi-final in a competition that has reached such extraordinary standards of performance is no mean feat and is testimony to the dedicated devotion they have all shown to this competition.

I can only stand back in admiration and respect. I know what long hours of exhausting and often painful training and practising lie behind each week’s show and as the tension mounts for the remaining three couples in the countdown to Blackpool I can only imagine how nervous and excited they will be.

We are all meeting up this week to practice for the big final show next Saturday. All the couples will be together again for what is sure to be truly a night to remember.

Finally, if you saw me denying all knowledge of the missing glitterball on Saturday’s show I can tell you that they’ll have to keep a close eye on me and a tight guard on the glitterball after Saturday night’s final.

And so the dance goes on….

Thanks for being there & KEEP DANCING!