Strictly Come Dancing week three results – as it happened

Delta Goodrem topped the scoreboard, with Cach Mercer and Tabby Stoecker tied in second. Shaun Wright-Phillips quickstepped to the bottom of the standings. But who would become the second celebrity sent home?

Key events2h agoIcons Week is incoming2h agoReaders’ results show verdicts2h agoFrom choreography to clay2h agoNarrow escapes for tied trio2h agoShaun showed fight, if not finesse2h agoSwizzed Aljaž is gone too soon2h agoMelanie deservedly heads back to Barry2h agoMelanie and Aljaž’s last dance2h agoAljaž returns the compliment2h agoMelanie tells "no word of a lie"2h agoMelanie Walters is eliminated2h agoAnton gets the casting vote2h agoHead judge Shirley Ballas chooses to to save…2h agoMotsi Mabuse chooses to save…2h agoCraig Revel Horwood chooses to save…2h agoDecision time2h agoMelanie and Aljaž take their turn2h agoShaun and Alexis go first in dance-off2h agoMelanie Walters faces Shaun in dance-off2h agoShaun Wright-Phillips in his first dance-off3h agoJalen Ngonda beneath the glitrerball3h agoDance debrief3h agoMore balcony badinage3h agoTabby Stoecker is safe3h agoThe dreaded red light returns3h agoBallas battles Beak3h agoDani Dyer IS Mariah Carey3h ago“Carlo” Gu has caught on3h agoRelived couples on the balcony3h agoLawrence "Rumba" Robb is safe3h agoScarlet spotlight of doom3h agoOur Strictly stars™3h agoIf you can remember last night, you weren’t there3h agoFrockwatch3h agoAaaaand we’re off!3h agoDon’t squander Ngonda3h agoFangs very much3h agoLights Up, Lights Up, as if you have a choice3h agoAnton gets the casting vote3h agoBallroom King vs Latin Queen3h agoDid waltzing Winstone do enough?4h agoWho will miss out on Icons Week?1d agoThank you and a glittery goodnight – until tomorrow1d agoReaders’ verdicts are in1d agoFrom Dani Dyer's tango to Daddy Dyer's fandango1d agoOMG it's the Golden Glitterballs1d agoThis week’s leaderboard1d agoCredits roll1d agoAnton gets the casting vote1d agoAnd voting is… open!1d agoTabby and Mark’s Argentine tango1d agoBethany and Nancy’s American smooth1d agoJohn and Katya’s cha cha cha1d agoGraeme and Lauren’s jive1d agoDani and Nikita’s tango1d agoLawrence and Jowita’s rumba1d agoDelta and Kai’s salsa1d agoSarah and Julian’s paso doble1d agoMelanie and Aljaž’s Charleston1d agoJaime and Carlos’ Viennese waltz1d agoCach and Maddie’s Couple’s Choice1d agoShaun and Alexis’ quickstep1d agoWill and Dianne’s waltz1d agoSlippers for Stace1d agoLacey and Vito’s samba1d agoOur Strictly stars™1d agoJudges in the house1d agoFrockwatch1d agoAnd we’re off!1d agoAnton vs Shirley grudge match tomorrow1d agoOn your dance cards tonight1d agoEyes down and dibbers out, it’s Strictly bingo1d agoShaun remains in the relegation zone1d agoHosts still a hot topic1d agoBack to ballroom business as usual Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAView image in fullscreenCach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAKey events2h agoIcons Week is incoming2h agoReaders’ results show verdicts2h agoFrom choreography to clay2h agoNarrow escapes for tied trio2h agoShaun showed fight, if not finesse2h agoSwizzed Aljaž is gone too soon2h agoMelanie deservedly heads back to Barry2h agoMelanie and Aljaž’s last dance2h agoAljaž returns the compliment2h agoMelanie tells "no word of a lie"2h agoMelanie Walters is eliminated2h agoAnton gets the casting vote2h agoHead judge Shirley Ballas chooses to to save…2h agoMotsi Mabuse chooses to save…2h agoCraig Revel Horwood chooses to save…2h agoDecision time2h agoMelanie and Aljaž take their turn2h agoShaun and Alexis go first in dance-off2h agoMelanie Walters faces Shaun in dance-off2h agoShaun Wright-Phillips in his first dance-off3h agoJalen Ngonda beneath the glitrerball3h agoDance debrief3h agoMore balcony badinage3h agoTabby Stoecker is safe3h agoThe dreaded red light returns3h agoBallas battles Beak3h agoDani Dyer IS Mariah Carey3h ago“Carlo” Gu has caught on3h agoRelived couples on the balcony3h agoLawrence "Rumba" Robb is safe3h agoScarlet spotlight of doom3h agoOur Strictly stars™3h agoIf you can remember last night, you weren’t there3h agoFrockwatch3h agoAaaaand we’re off!3h agoDon’t squander Ngonda3h agoFangs very much3h agoLights Up, Lights Up, as if you have a choice3h agoAnton gets the casting vote3h agoBallroom King vs Latin Queen3h agoDid waltzing Winstone do enough?4h agoWho will miss out on Icons Week?1d agoThank you and a glittery goodnight – until tomorrow1d agoReaders’ verdicts are in1d agoFrom Dani Dyer's tango to Daddy Dyer's fandango1d agoOMG it's the Golden Glitterballs1d agoThis week’s leaderboard1d agoCredits roll1d agoAnton gets the casting vote1d agoAnd voting is… open!1d agoTabby and Mark’s Argentine tango1d agoBethany and Nancy’s American smooth1d agoJohn and Katya’s cha cha cha1d agoGraeme and Lauren’s jive1d agoDani and Nikita’s tango1d agoLawrence and Jowita’s rumba1d agoDelta and Kai’s salsa1d agoSarah and Julian’s paso doble1d agoMelanie and Aljaž’s Charleston1d agoJaime and Carlos’ Viennese waltz1d agoCach and Maddie’s Couple’s Choice1d agoShaun and Alexis’ quickstep1d agoWill and Dianne’s waltz1d agoSlippers for Stace1d agoLacey and Vito’s samba1d agoOur Strictly stars™1d agoJudges in the house1d agoFrockwatch1d agoAnd we’re off!1d agoAnton vs Shirley grudge match tomorrow1d agoOn your dance cards tonight1d agoEyes down and dibbers out, it’s Strictly bingo1d agoShaun remains in the relegation zone1d agoHosts still a hot topic1d agoBack to ballroom business as usualJudges’ scores: 6, 6, 6, 7 for a total of 25 points. Best’s best yet.

Judges’ comments: Shirley says “really nice footwork, work on your pivoting for flow but what a difference from last week”. Anton says “so much better with trousers on, liked your sympathetic hold and calm topline, gorgeous”. Craig says “a little bit square and needed more drive, great job but do smile darling”. Motsi concludes “captured the music beautifully, your best dance, be soft but stay strong in your body”.

Big Brother presenter Will Best had his nipples out and legs out for his first two routines. Thankfully he’s fully clothed tonight for this romantic waltz. It’s a stark contrast to his previous dances with no character for Will to hide behind. Dry ice on the floor for the slow opening, then into hold with Australian pro Dianne Buswell for a smooth glide around the ballroom. Lacking a little rise and fall, slightly flat-footed, but lovely mood and sweet storytelling.

Song: With You I’m Born Again by Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright. The lyrics to this 1979 soul duet were written by Carol Connors. The line “Come show me your kindness, in your arms I know I’ll find this” came to her in an ice cream parlour. She requested a pencil and paper along with her order to write it down before she forgot it.

View image in fullscreenWill Best and Dianne Buswell. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAUp on the balcony – are we calling it The Johannex? Jojo’s Dojo? – Johannes Radebe says to Vito “Let’s talk Corrie”. Momentarily confusing because Lacey’s in EastEnders. Turns out it’’s short for choreography. He presents Lacey with a pair of fluffy slippers to ease her sore feet.

Judges’ scores: 6, 6, 7, 7 for a total of 26 points. Solid start.

Judges’ comments: Anton says “absolutely marvellous saarm-ba, great leg action, super timing but work on your feet and stability”. Craig says “needed more energy in the upper body, heavy on your support leg but good spotting in the spins, be proud”. Motsi says “came out like a queen, a lot of sass but could connect more, don’t be shy, sell it like a showgirl”. Shirley, who has sparkly wizards’ sleeves, concludes “a quite spectacular way to open the show”. Sevens, are we saying?

A fox insouciantly wandered into their training room this week and was shooed out by EastEnders actor Lacey Turner. What a woman. Vito Coppola is the only male pro with a perfect 40 samba score, four ears ago with Fleur East, so Lacey needs to keep up with him, come out of her shell and embrace the Rio carnival feel. Red outfits and fan-ography to start. Lots of solo spinning and hip shaking. Rhythmical and fluid with bounce action but her footwork looks hesitant in places and she’s showing her nerves in the face.

Song: Bamboléo by Gipsy Kings. The much-covered 1987 song has soundtracked many a Strictly samba, including those by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Jamie Laing, Debbie McGee, Natalie Gumede and Gavin Henson.

View image in fullscreenLacey Turner and Vito Coppola. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC/PAThe 14 couples come out for a wave. No fancy dress this week, thankfully, but Aljaz is sporting a stick-on 70s-style ‘tache. Mark the Canadian has his nipples out. Kai, Vito and Julian have all got their pecs out. The Great Borehamwood Button Shortage has struck.

The paddle-raising panel shimmy into view, feeling hot, hot, hot. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas cut some rug and do a synchronised sit-down.

Here come our hostly throuple, so let’s run the rule over their finery. Emma Willis in a grey suit with giant shoulders pants. Josh Widdicombe is in navy blue. Johannes Radebe is in a red fright-fit, asymmetric in tribute to Tess Daly. Joshy finally registers a win.