
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
The Strictly Come Dancing final is now just days away as the final contestants battle it out this week in the show’s semi-final.
JB Gill and Lauren Oakley topped the leaderboard last episode for the second week running thanks to their Viennese Waltz to “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins. Second place was tied, with both Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, landing 38 points for their routines.
But it was Gladiator star Montell Douglas and her dance partner Johannes Radebe who were eliminated from the competition. The controversial result led Towie’s Pete Wicks to wonder if viewers were playing a “cruel joke” on him and partner Jowita Przystal.
Wicks has reached out to fans on social media for their support after mounting backlash about him still being in the competition despite being at the bottom of the leaderboard.
In a post on his Instagram, Wicks and Przystal are seen looking forlorn along with the caption: “Today is semi-finals day. It’s been 12 weeks of hard work, ups and downs…can we do the unthinkable? We would love your support tonight.”
Meanwhile, audiences were left frustrated after feeling that comedian Chris McCausland and partner Dianne Buswell had been under-marked.
The show starts at 6.30pm on BBC One tonight. Another celebrity will leave the competition on Sunday (8 December) night’s results show, which airs on BBC One at 7.20pm.
Pete Wicks is far from being Strictly’s best dancer – but there’s plenty he deserves praise for
While skills wise, he is significantly behind series leaders Tasha Ghouri and JB Gill, there’s plenty he deserves praise for.
Let’s start with this week. Was Wicks’s Waltz quarter final-worthy? Not exactly. Anton du Beke labelled one section of the routine “a disaster” and Craig Revel Horwood added: “You don’t have the swing and sway, the footwork is shoddy and you went completely wrong.”
Maira Butt7 December 2024 15:03
Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard scores from Week 11
“Musicals Week” saw the six couples perform a variety of routines to famous tunes from stage musicals, while the professional dancers opened the show with a number from Little Shop of Horrors.
The performances saw Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell dance a Quickstep to You’re The Top” from Anything Goes, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley dance a Viennese Waltz to “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” from Mary Poppins.
Maira Butt7 December 2024 14:50