Strictly Come Dancing: Tess Daly stuns for semi-final 

Saturday saw Strictly Come Dancing’s long-awaited semi-final. 

And with Christmas just two weeks away, presenter Tess Daly opted for a festive inspired red dress as she took to the stage to host the show. 

She was joined by Claudia Winkleman, who oozed understated elegance in a Bardot jumpsuit.

 

Bell of the jingle ball! With Christmas just two weeks away, presenter Tess Daly opted for a festive inspired red dress as she took to the stage to host Strictly’s semi final on Saturday

Showing off her statuesque figure to perfection, Tess slipped into a sequin-encrusted dress, featuring an asymmetric hemline. 

Wearing her blonde hair in a sleek do, she was joined by a chic Claudia who rocked an off-the-shoulder jumpsuit.

Injecting a splash of colour with a bold red lip, Claudia and Tess added the appropriate touch of glamour as they introduced the show. 

Bringing the dazzle! She was joined by Claudia Winkleman, who oozed understated elegance in a Bardot jumpsuit

Bringing the dazzle! She was joined by Claudia Winkleman, who oozed understated elegance in a Bardot jumpsuit

Joe and Katya kicked off the show with the American Smooth to Have You Met Miss Jones? By Robbie Williams and the Argentine Tango to Human by Rag n’ Bone Man.

The couple put on a smooth appearance during their first of two dances of the night, whopping with joy as they completed the dance. 

‘We have four women and one man, what a way to kick of the show,’ Shirley Bassey exclaimed, as she joined Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell on the judge’s panel.

The duo scored 35 out of 40, being given a score of nine by three of the judges. 

Alexandra and Gorka, who won the dance off against Davood Ghadami last week, were up next, performing an ameotional Salsa to Finally by Cece Peniston and a Viennese Waltz to Tina Arena’s version of R.E.M’s Everybody Hurts.

Ahead of her performance she opened up about the tough time she’d been receiving from trolls recently, welling up as she admitted it was a stressful task being on the show but she’s always wanted to do it. 

‘Watching the video showed how much love is out there. It’s definitely given me the kick I needed,’ she admitted between tears as she was shown a video of public supporters. 

Meanwhile Debbie and Giovanni are dancing a Foxtrot to Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder and a Jive to I’m So Excited by the Pointer Sisters.

Meanwhile Gemma and Aljaž are dancing the Rumba to Beneath Your Beautiful by Labrinth featuring Emeli Sandé and a Tango to My Sharona by The Knack (Royal Blood cover)

Rumoured love birds Mollie and AJ are Waltzing to Angel by Sarah McLachlan and performing a Samba to Whenever, Wherever by Shakira

On Friday reports surfaced claiming that Debbie McGee was struggling under the pressure of the competition. 

A source told The Sun that Debbie, 59, broke down as she tried to fit in rehearsals for both shows, ahead of her debut in Beauty and the Beast at the York Grand Opera House the day after the Strictly final. 

The source said: ‘It’s been Debbie and Giovanni’s toughest week. It all got a bit much. There have been tears.

‘Debbie has had to combine full days of Beauty with intense dance rehearsals in the evening.

‘She’s absolutely exhausted, but she’s confident she’ll be able to pull it off again on Saturday.’ 

'She’s absolutely exhausted, but she’s confident she’ll be able to pull it off again on Saturday,' a source said of Debbie ahead of the show

‘She’s absolutely exhausted, but she’s confident she’ll be able to pull it off again on Saturday,’ a source said of Debbie ahead of the show



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