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18.54 Scores are in and it's a clean sweep of 10s for 40 points: only the second perfect score of the series and setting a high bar for the rest of the semi-finalists. A tad on the generous side, though?

18.52 "All the ingredients, just the right amount of rhythm and fludity," says Bruno Tonioli. Craig Revel Horwood is upset that he can't find much wrong with it and enjoyed Natalie's animated facial expressions. Darcey Bussell says it was packed with content, clean, precise - but perhaps a bit too careful. Nines and tens on the way?

18.50 Len Goodman denies he was grumpy last week. Slightly grumpily. He also says it's the tightest semi-final Strictly's ever had and that Natalie's salsa was worthy of a place in the final.

18.49 Lots of disco vibe, shimmies, spins and hip action. Tight timing on the solo sections. The judges might not like Natalie mouthing along to the lyrics and the odd fluffed step but that was high-energy fun.

18.47 They're dancing a Salsa to Wanna Be Startin' Something by Michael Jackson. The opposite end of the spectrum to her second dance, which will be an Argentine Tango.

18.46 First couple out tonight are Natalie Gumede and her partner Artem - who hasn't pleased Len Goodman in recent weeks with his choreography. Will there be any faffin' or messin' abaht?

18.44 Time to meet the stars of our show. Lots of sequins and a fair amount of flesh, mainly courtesy of Abbey Clancy and Artem Chigvintsev.

18.43 Brucey does a bit of gratuitous hoofing, just to prove he's not as doddery as his three weeks off this series might suggest.

18.42 After the clapalong credits, here are our hosts: Sir Bruce Of Chinchester and Tess Daly in quite a "busy" black creation.

18.41 Mission Impossible-themed intro VT there. How very now. Ahem.

18.40 And we're off! Recap of last week, with the return of the swingathon, an all-male dance-off and Ashley Taylor-Dawson being eliminated.

18.39 Nearly there... after a few more plugs for the Beeb's Christmas programming.

18.35 Five minutes until those ba-ba-daas. Of our five semi-finalists, Patrick Robinson is the last man standing. He's also the bookies' favourite to be eliminated, so Strictly's first ever all-female final is still on the cards.

18.30 Celebrity Pointless on BBC One now. I want some Alexander Armstrong novelty ears for Christmas please.

18.25 Last weekend, head judge Len Goodman was on particularly tetchy form. Maybe tonight he'll be cheered up by the return of his old mate Sir Brucey to presenting duties. We'll find out in 15 minutes.

18.15 25 minutes until showtime. Two routines per couple tonight, which means their training has been especially gruelling this week. But there's only one week left and there's a glitterball trophy-shaped light at the end of the tunnel for our exhausted celebrities.

18.00 Good evening everyone. I'm Michael, your Strictly liveblogger this evening. I'll be accompanying you through tonight's live semi-final, as the five surviving pro-celebrity couples take to the famous floor, aiming to reach next week's grand final and a tilt at the glitterball trophy. It's showtime at 6.40pm, so please join me for build-up and watch along with this blog.

And join in too – you can email me on michael.hogan@telegraph.co.uk, tweet me @michaelhogan or leave comments at the bottom of this blog. I'll do my best to keep an eye on them and report the highlights. Nearly time for Strictly 2013 to enter its climactic week. Staaaaaaart dancing!

ARE THE STRICTLY COME DANCING OUTFITS TOO SEXY?