Over the past few weeks I've heard the phrase 'squeaky bum' time spoken in various contexts, and for the four remaining Nancys you could almost hear the squeaks coming from underneath their pinnies. It was semi-final time in I'd Do Anything and only three Nancys would be standing at the end of it all. The four that remained - Jessie, Jodie, Sam and Rachel - were all impressive young women and we had been told that they all had the right stuff to become very good Nancys. But push was slowly coming to shove, and it was time to eliminate the final person before the final itself next week. Let's hope the viewing/voting public were up to making the right decision.

Apart from pruning the number of Nancys to three, Graham also told us that the final, three winning Olivers were to be revealed during the Saturday show as well. That was quite a big thing. Also big was Sir Cameron Mackintosh taking his place on the panel this week. You know that it's serious when the big boss of the show gets involved.

Another slight difference to the format was The Summit - a filmed segment featuring the panel and ALW discussing the girls, their performances so far and what they had to do to improve that was to precede each contestant's song.

And... the first person to sing was Rachel. Now, I'm not quite sure what Rachel has to do to be liked because I don't think she has done too much wrong during the weeks, yet she always seems to end up in the sing-off. The constant criticism is that she doesn't communicate, hasn't made the songs her own and lacks a bit of emotion.

But bloody heck, she came out dressed in fishnets and a corset and belted out an absolutely magnificent version of Cabaret. It was full of passion, pure filthy sex and, oh yes, raw emotion. Rachel had really put everything into it and she received a standing ovation. It was brilliant.

DVO said that it had everything, was phenomenal and that she was shaking with emotion. Barrowman was straight into shouty/pointy mode ("That was Rachel, Rachel, Rachel!"), while Mad Barry said that it was a star performance. C-Mac said that "by George, she's got it" and was impressed that she had taken a very well known song and resoundingly made it her own.

A great start then. A really great start. On my card, Rachel had stormed into the final against all the odds. There was a quick cut-away to the other Nancys... in an unguarded moment, Jodie (who's normally gurning and telling crap jokes) looked extremely worried.

Next it was Jessie's turn. Whereas Rachel had started off poorly in the competition and had survived a few sing-offs thanks to some supreme nerve and fighting spirit, Jessie has, from being one of the favourites early doors, completely lost it.

The Summit concluded that she did have star quality, but John said she still has a lot to learn when it comes to acting and DVO said that she was emotionally all over the place.

She sang What I'd Do For Love, and whoever told her to start the performance sitting on an arm of a chair should be flogged - she looked so awkward, trying to convey emotion and keep her legs shut at the same time. As we know, Jessie isn't the most fluid mover and the same old problems when she finally got up and moved around the stage returned. Make no mistake she is the reality TV equivalent of Peter Crouch doing his robot dance, she still sings out of the side of her mouth and she has one quizzical expression, which she uses for every emotion she's trying to show us. I thought it was a dull performance and clunky.

John agreed, saying that her vocal performance was good but the performance didn't excite him at all; DVO said although it was lovely, there were too many arms and it was quite aggressive; Mad Barry strongly disagreed and said that Jessie had real emotional directness; C-Mac said it was a beautiful version of the song but agreed with the rest of the panel; and ALW said that he still believes she has star quality.

I have to say I have revised my opinion of Jessie. To start with she was amazing, but has stood still while the rest of the Nancys have ironed out their rougher edges. She also chats back too much - she did on Saturday when John fed-back his comments. Pleading isn't that cool, even though everyone tittered when she emotionally asked John what it would take for a woman to excite him. Stop it Jessie, accept the comments and get off stage. On my card Jessie was in the sing-off. She was starting to annoy me.

Next up it was the first of the duets (sorry, forgot to mention that there were also going to be duets too). Jodie and Sam performed duet number one by belting out an incredible version of Jesus Christ Superstar. It was brilliant, show-stopping stuff, with both womens' voice perfectly complimenting each other (I think they might have spurred each other on a bit too).

Next it was the Oliver bit and, after one last challenge for the remaining eight (they had to sing on a stage, on their own, to ALW and C-Mac), Gwion, Laurence and Harry were named as the three Olivers. Nice one chaps, good work.

Then it was back to Nancy business. It was Samantha's turn. The Summit said that she had come on so much, with John saying that the big notes, the money notes, were brilliant. It was the simple stuff that he was still unsure of. C-Mac said that although Sam is terrific, she still hasn't really moved him yet.

Samantha sang What You Believe, and I have to say I thought it was dull. A great voice, which got more expansive as the song went on. But the song itself was really dull. I do think she will still be the winner, but she lost me early doors on this one.

John compared Sam to Jessie, saying that she moves well and still conveys plenty of emotion. DVO said it was a wonderful performance and told her that men will fancy her and women will warm to her personality; Mad Barry said that she was the bees' knees and the cats' whiskers (Mad Barry has a thing for Sam); C-Mac said that for the first time he saw real vulnerability from Sam, but this was lost as she became more full-on in the big ballsy bits of the song. ALW said he tried to find her a song that brought through this vulnerability and that he felt she did a good job.

I think Sam will be there next week, no problems.

The final contestant to perform was Jodie, my least favourite. Every time she opens her mouth I think she's going to tell a joke. A really big, cheesy unfunny joke. She's a walking stereotype of a heart-of-gold northern woman and, even though she has a good voice, I don't think she would be a great Nancy. The Summit sort of agreed with me - C-Mac said that he has yes to really believe when he watches Jodie perform, and that there is always too much gloss.

So Jodie came on stage without much make-up and her hair straight and unglamorous. She sang Out Here On My Own, and, again, her vocal was very good. You felt that she was going for subtlety rather than full-on stuff she has become known for.

DVO was crying, and told Jodie she wanted to give her a big hug; John said it was very emotional and that she takes direction very well; Mad Barry said that she had a beautiful voice, but although she has been accused of being too over-the-top, tonight he felt that she was too restrained; C-Mac said that it was great but maybe a bit matronly; and ALW apologised because he had asked Jodie to be restrained and, in that respect, she had done exactly what she had been asked to do.

Still though, I had her down for the sing-off.

Jessie and Rachel concluded the show with their duet - Buenos Aires - and it was fine. Weird song, but fine. But it wasn't Sam and Jodie earlier and there were no standing ovations.

It was a cracking semi-final and the standard really was very high, but the public had voted and, after an acting challenge with Mad Barry and a bit of Oliver stuff, it was time to find out what was what.

John and DVO said that they though Jessie was for the chop, while Mad Barry and C-Mac said that they thought that Jodie was the one who should go.

Jodie was the first woman to be called out... she was staying. WHAT?! Then Jessie was was voted in for the final. WHAT?! So it was a sing-off between Rachel and Sam. I couldn't believe what I was watching - Rachel and Sam in the sing-off? Public, you are very, very daft.

It was no surprise when ALW chose to save Sam - she's young, cute, is a good actress and has a great voice. But Rachel gave such a fine performance I really did think she deserved to be in next week's final.

Her final goodbye song was immense, I have to say. She seemed full of anger, pride and slight disdain for everyone. She sang that goodbye song as if it were the biggest f*** you you have ever heard. I was saluting her as she climbed those stairs.

No footage of the sing-off to accompany this review, just Rachel's ace performance of Cabaret.