After Kelly Brook’s father died last week, she originally vowed she would go on and dance in his memory, but on Thursday it was announced that she had pulled out of the show. So what’s to be done? How are they going to cope with being one contestant short? Don’t expect them to tell us, they didn’t bother when Jimmy Tarbuck had to pull out last year.

This week, for the first time, the remaining contestants – Matt Di Angelo, Letitia Dean, Gethin Jones, Alesha Dixon and Kenny Logan – had two dances, one Ballroom, one Latin, to do. And, yes, Kelly’s departure means Kenny is in the final five. Gah.

Matt was out first with the Tango and, it was clean and sharp, but I didn’t find it at all exciting. In fact, I was more interested in the fact that the band had changed the words to Gwen Stefani’s What You Waiting For. I don’t know what they were singing, but they weren’t singing “take a chance, you stupid ho”, that’s for sure. Judge Len Goodman pointed out that just because they were doing two dances, they shouldn’t let the standard drop, and that Matt hadn’t. “Bloody good,” he said. Bruno Tonioni said he was like a “snarling young lion”. Craig Revel Horwood and Arlene Phillips disagreed with the other two (for a change), with Arlene saying it didn’t make her tingle and it wasn’t sharp enough.

Like Matt Dawson last year, Gethin had an acting coach to help him master the performance aspect. The coach suggested Gethin think of himself as “Geth” and the dancer as “Gethin”. He certainly looked more confident and commanding during the Waltz, but Camilla actually looked a bit demented. It was a beautiful routine and it gave me the shivers. Geth or Gethin, I wouldn’t say no. Arlene said he melted her heart. “The most outstanding and commendable improvement of anyone in the competition.” Although, I knew the judges would say that because they’re very suggestible. Len said it was beautiful, although Gethin missed some heel leads. Even Craig thought it was beautiful and that Gethin was leading the dance. That acting coach was money well spent since they got three 10s and a 9 (the 9 from, of course, Craig).

Last week Arlene told Letitia she didn’t want to see her “worrying and trembling” anymore. So she wasn’t. She went for panicking and weeping instead. Her first dance was the Quickstep and it was okay. I’m not sure what’s keeping Letitia in. She seems like a nice woman, but she’s only ever average and I just don’t get it. Craig said she played the character well, but it lacked spring. Arlene said the “scatter chassés were skippity”. Okay then. Bruno said, “Not bad” and Letitia was tearful. She looked done in, actually, and wandered off for a sit down before Tess had finished talking.

I saw Kenny Logan’s American Smooth (from last week) on YouTube and he has improved dramatically (although the lifts were crap) and, while this week’s Foxtrot was perfectly fine, it still looked like a second week dance to me. Craig complained about Kenny’s right thumb (not that he’s pedantic or anything). Arlene said, yes, Kenny’s improved, but he didn’t flow or float and he needs to do better. Len and Bruno gave him an 8 and it just wasn’t an 8. It annoys me when the judges judge the contestants against themselves rather than each other. It’s a competition, it’s not just about the fact that Kenny isn’t as bloody awful as he was to begin with – the others are streets ahead.

Even Alesha had a meltdown while training for two dances, but she’s lucky to have such a sweet partner. Their first dance was the Tango and it was just as incredible as I thought it would be. It made me realise what was missing from Matt’s and that was drama. It was passionate and exciting and it gave me palpitations. Stunning. Len said he was looking for perfection (See? He expects perfection from Alesha and Kenny gets an 8 for not falling over) and there were too many toes when there should have been heels. Bruno said he loved it and Craig said she’s an “entire brilliant package.” They got 38. I voted.

Brendan made a brief appearance and he must be gutted. Kelly was his best hope to win since the first season and, Lord knows, he’s had a bunch of duffers since then.

Matt’s Latin was the Rumba. Now I don’t like the Rumba, but it was one of the most involving Rumbas I’ve ever seen. I was engrossed. Great storytelling, said Craig, but there was no “forward and back hip action”. Arlene complained about the hip action too and even Len agreed. They all raved about his arms though. Tess insinuated that Matt and Flavia were more than dance partners. That’s the second time now. I wonder if Vincent knows. They scored 33.

Expectations were clearly high for Gethin’s Salsa and he came out a changed, and very sexy, man. Sigh. I love new Gethin. Once again, Camilla looked hysterical, but it was fabulous. Exciting, thrilling and fun. “Full thrust ahead, you’ve turned into the Loin King,” said Bruno. The Loin King! Heh. Arlene said it was a fraction flat-footed. But Craig was in a state of shock, but in a good way. They scored 35. The 8 from Craig got disbelieving laughter from the audience.

Letitia had obviously recovered enough from her earlier issues to dance the Cha Cha Cha. The audience seemed to love it, but I thought it was just a step up from Kate Garraway. You could see Darren helping her and she had this expression on her face that made her look very cabaret. The judges weren’t kind, except Craig who said the energy was magnificent – and I think, although I may have misheard – he told her to “make love to the floor”, but Darren kept encouraging her, obviously he knows what damage criticism can do to her confidence. Um. Sorry.

As I’ve said, I don’t like the Rumba and I don’t like Kenny, so I obviously wasn’t looking forward to his Rumba. Jesus, it was also to Fields of Gold by Sting and I hate that too, but it actually gave me a bit of a funny feeling … down below. That was the second time over the weekend I needed to wash my brain. “Too much Ola and not enough Kenny,” Len said. Craig said there weren’t any real Rumba steps, which could be why I liked it. Stupid Rumba. Craig did say that the storytelling was good. Arlene said it was like the “pole and the pole dancer”. “This man is a Rugby player,” said Len. Yes, and? This is a dance competition! Tess mentioned the emotion and it was emotional. It’s the first time I’ve liked Kenny. Alert the press. Craig gave it a 4 – a 4! But they ended up with 23.

Alesha’s Samba was great, of course, but it didn’t thrill me. I kept waiting for it to take off, but it never did. Arlene said she had lazy legs, but Len was shaking his head. Len said if she’d done Latin as a child she’d have been one of the professionals on the show. They got 36.

The results show featured a fabulous Latin group dance by the professionals, a gorgeous Waltz by Vincent and Flavio, an entirely luke warm performance from Kylie Minogue and then the dance-off, which was between Kenny and Letitia.

They had to dance the highest-scoring of their two dances, so Letitia was out first with her Quickstep (thank goodness, cos I didn’t need to see that dreadful Cha Cha again) followed by Kenny with his Foxtrot. Much as I’m fed up with Letitia, if the judges were strictly (ha) judging one dance against the other then Kenny had to go, because his dance was the weaker, but you never know with these judges.

Common sense prevailed though and they all saved Letitia (despite Bruno throwing Kenny a bone by saying “this person raised his game” before saving Letitia.

In my disappointment that Letitia was still in, I almost forgot to celebrate that Kenny was out. I’ve nothing against the man personally, obviously, I just can’t stand when people who can’t dance are kept in on personality.

Time for a prediction? Much as I would like Alesha to win, I think it’s going to be Gethin.

Strictly Come Dancing, BBC One, Saturday 8 December, 5.45pm and Sunday 9 December 6.15pm

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