Standards were incredibly high this week - as you should expect for a semi-final!

There were plenty of touching moments in this week's show, loads of personal stories and looking back at just how far the celebrity dancers have come in a matter of months.

Karen and Carlos lead the way in terms of the judges' scores - with a remarkable 78 out of a possible 80 points for their emotional Waltz and their Samba routines.

Closely behind them are Amber and Nikita who were on the receiving end of standing ovations from the audience and lovely remarks from the judges.

YouTuber George and his partner Alexis have grown into the competition, and he was praised for throwing his personality into the Samba and Charleston dances; while Balvinder and Julian put in two beautiful performances.

Voters had until 20:30 GMT this evening to cast their vote and ensure their favourite couple makes it through to the final.

We're ending our live coverage, but do remember to tune into the results show tomorrow at 19:45 GMT on BBC One to find out which pairs are waltzing to the final.

Time's up and voting has now closed.

We won't learn the outcome until tomorrow's result show at 19:45 GMT.

Two couples will face the agony of the last dance-off of the series, where the prize is a coveted spot in the Strictly final.

Some impressive scores for the couples - who did double the dancing and got double the scores!

As we've mentioned in the post below, voting is open until 20:30 GMT - and Craig will have the casting vote for the semi-final dance off in tomorrow's results show.

Voting has just opened, the Strictly presenters announce - cue the whoops and cheers. It closes at 20:30 GMT tonight.

You can vote by heading to this link. Full terms and conditions are available on the BBC website.

As you can see, it closes in a flash - so get your picks in now!

As you've seen the stakes and standards for this semi-final are incredibly high!

And...for the final time tonight George and his dance partner Alexis take to the floor for their second routine. This time the two are performing a cheeky Charleston - something George feels comes natural to him.

There is a silliness and a cheekiness about George's moves as he gets up from his desk and cracks out some school disco moves.

Alexis is thrown around a few times as part of the routine - plenty of cheers from the audience who once again are on their feet to applaud the couple.

"That was some disco," Tess remarks as he asks Anton about the lifts in the routine. Safe to say Anton is impressed!

"It was the most incredible thing," Anton declares. "This dance was you, and the best of you."

Craig brings the tone down saying for him "it was a bit heavy footed" - but does draw on the lifts and swivels.

The final scores of the evening are in:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 10

Anton: 10

Total: 37

Pa-Parla americano... George and Alex are up with their Charleston, to Yolanda Be Cool's We No Speak Americano.

During last week's results show, George admitted he was proud of himself for how far he has come - saying he wasn't even talking at family gatherings five years ago.

From an elegant Waltz earlier on to a high-impact Salsa now, Karen is proving that she's an all-round fantastic dancer.

The sports broadcaster and former England star is dazzling on the dancefloor.

Her performance with Carlos is colourful, fun, and the couple genuinely look like they are having a blast.

They've executed a series of lifts and spins really well - as far as we in the newsroom are concerned. And if the audience members' cheers are anything to go by they've done super well. But what do they judges have to say?

"I wish I could jump and join you," says Motsi. The judge tells the couple their dance feels like it was performed at the final - it was that good.

"You've got grit, determination," Shirley tells Karen. "I loved it". Craig joins in, describing their performance as "out of this world"

Here are the judges’ marks:

Craig: 9

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 10

Anton: 10

Total: 39

Karen has gotten the furthest ever out of the competition's history of footballer contestant's - a record that has dance partner Carlos "beyond proud".

The pair is ending their semi-final with a Salsa to Turn The Beat Around by Vicki Sue Robinson.

The high-quality dances are coming thick and fast as Amber and Nikita head back on the Strictly dancefloor performing their Couple's Choice.

The Love Island star leans on her personal journey, starting on the top of the stairs next to some clouds and the night sky Amber strides down the stairs and then sways along to Fly Me To The Moon.

Bursting into routine with plenty of lifts, spins and twirls, the couple finish as the pyrotechnics sprays sparks across the dancefloor.

"Hollywood all the way!" exclaims Craig Revel Horwood who heaps the praise onto the couple. "You are just a-ma-zing."

Motsi says she appreciates everything from that dance - "phenomenal out of this world". Shirley recounts Amber's journey and how hard she has worked on the Latin and ballroom dances. "You really have done sensational," Shirley commends. And Craig tells her "you've just made our heart zing".

For the second time tonight, Amber and Nikita's scores are in:

Craig: 10

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 10

Anton: 10

Total: 40

It's time for Amber and Nikita's Couple's Choice - they're performing to Raye's rendition of Fly Me to the Moon.

They're currently on a perfect score streak, having bagged a 40 in Musicals Week and the week before. Can they keep it up? Let's see.

Balvinder and Julian are fresh off a high, having just scored 35 for their action-packed Salsa.

But now the couple are changing the tempo with their second dance of the night - the Waltz.

The EastEnders star is definitely putting her best foot forward. With a series of impressive spins and a glittering costume worthy of the fanciest Hollywood red carpet, Balvinder has put on a beautiful performance tonight.

"It was lovely," says Shirley Ballas. "You set the most beautiful mood".

Craig says the dance lacks a bit of "finesse" and even uses the word "dishevelled" at one point - much to the dismay of the audience who start booing.

Have Balvinder and Julian done enough with their second dance? Here are the all-important scores:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 35

Balvinder and Julian have just waltzed onto the Strictly ballroom for their second dance of the evening.

They're dancing is to Michael Bublé's At This Moment.

The EastEnders actor received a standing ovation last week after her Viennese Waltz – which is a much faster version of the standard Waltz she's dancing this evening.

There is a real flow to this year's semi final as popular YouTuber George and his partner Alexis liven up the dancefloor with a vibrant Samba.

George looks to be pushing his potential; throwing everything into the high-energy rhythm of the dance and really letting loose in a red and black sequined outfit.

At one stage, he blew a kiss to Alexis before the camera panned to him dancing solo on a table and then leaping off to conclude the Samba to confetti from above and yet another roaring standing ovation.

"You were having the time of your life out there!" remarks Tess.

Craig Revel Horwood says: "What it lacked in technique it made up in personality. A real crowd pleaser."

Motsi also says she was captivated and encourages George just to shake his hips in the next dance.

Shirley commends a couple of George's dance moves - and also his hips.

George and Alexis have their first scorecard of the night:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 35

It's another utter bop for George and Alexis's starting dance - a Samba to Volare by Gipsy Kings.

Can the pair fly to the top of the leader board?

Image source, BBC/PA

Former Lioness Karen Carney ended up at the bottom of the leader board after last week.

But with 10 scores of ten secured in the competition so far, she'll be hoping to achieve another perfect score to add to her record.

She dazzled in a pale blue gown, effortlessly moving across the ballroom and treating the audience to a series of holds and twists.

"I got a bit emotional," says Anton. "Look at the state of me, I'm an emotional wreck."

"It had elegance darling," adds Craig.

It's clear that Karen's Waltz has definitely moved the judges this week. But has she done enough to waltz that one step further to the ever-closer final?

Let’s take a look at the scores:

Craig: 9

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 10

Anton: 10

Total: 39

It's time for Karen and Carlos's first dance. They're waltzing to One Moment In Time by Whitney Houston.

Both Karen and Balvinder are dancing the Waltz in the semi-final - but who will come out on top?

Image source, BBC/PA

Amber and Nikita bring a change of pace and rhythm to the semi-final to dance the Tango.

It looks like the couple are making the most of every dramatic step and passionate second on the dancefloor.

There is a huge cheer and standing ovation from the audience as Tess Daily tells the couple: "You mean business tonight."

"Beautiful balance," Shirley Ballas says. "Bang on point." Anton du Beke heaps the praise on Amber's shoulder line and the opening to the dance but says he "found a bit of a disconnect" between Amber's upper and lower body.

However, in a slight plot twist to these remarks Craig Revel Horwood says his fellow judges are "being too harsh"!

The judges' scores are in:

Craig: 9

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 37

For Amber and Nikita's first dance of the night, they'll be kicking and pivoting to Michael Bublé's Higher.

They'll be hoping their Tango tops the leader board.

It's a technically challenging dance which needs to look both smooth and sharp – Nikita has said it'll suit Amber.

Image source, BBC/PA

Balvinder and Julian kick off semi-final week with an exhilarating Salsa.

The EastEnders actress and Strictly pro wore matching orange outfits as they really turned up the heat on the dancefloor.

"You came out fighting", Tess Daly tells the couple.

"She gave us rhythm and more", Motsi tells Balvinder - leading to a huge round of applause from the audience.

The couple will be hoping to match last-week's show-stopping performance which saw the couple achieve a score of 35 - their highest so far.

Here are the judges’ marks tonight:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 35