Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

Image source, BBC/Kieron McCarron

It's hotting up at Elstree Studios as six remaining couples fought for a place in the Strictly quarter-final tonight.

Judge Anton du Beke wondered if there was something in the water in the first chunk of week 10, after Alex Kingston, George Clarke and Balvinder Sopal admitted mistakes were made in their performances.

But it all turned around when Karen Carney bagged her first perfect score with her Couple's Choice to Lady Gaga's Born This Way. This put her at the top of the leader board.

But not for long! After a crazy new challenge - the Instant Dance - Lewis Cope knocked her off, bagging six extra points for his winning Jive.

That's all for our live coverage this evening. We hope you have an A-MAZE-ING night.

Jamie Whitehead and Rachel Flynn
A little bit confused

That was absolute chaos - but we think in a good way.

As the ten seconds counted down before each instant dance began, we saw faces of panic, confusion and dread.

But by the end it was all smiles - and definitely a lot of fun.

And here's the final leader board at the end of tonight's show.

Lewis's six winning points gained from winning the Instant Dance challenge have proved decisive - bumping Karen into second place.

You’ve seen the dances and now you can have your say on your favourite couple tonight. Yes, voting is open!

But you’ll need to be quick, it closes at 20:40 GMT tonight.

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

Once again, you don’t have long - so get your picks in now!

And it's Shirley who has the deciding vote this week - if she needs it that is.

In first place... it's Lewis and Katya for their Jive.

In second it's Balvinder, third Amber, fourth Alex, fifth George and in last place, it's Karen.

The winner gets six points added to their combined score from week nine and ten. But how will this affect this week's leader board? Stay tuned.

Julian is militant with his 10 seconds of instructions to Balvinder. She absolutely WORKS her dress throughout their Paso Doble, and despite the challenge - they look right at home.

Carlos tells Karen to KEEP TURNING for their Cha Cha Cha - and turn she does. It's an incredibly sassy little snippet.

Amber and Nikita's arms swing the full length of the dance floor - and I spy Motsi mouth 'WOW!'

Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

"Breathe," Alex tells herself with seconds to go on her Instant Dance countdown. Her Rumba looks smooth to me.

"This is awful," George says before his dance begins. He spends his first five or so seconds taking his coat off. But he makes up for it with an impressive lift and spin of his partner Alexis.

For Lewis and Katya's Jive, they definitely look the most confident - almost rehearsed! Very impressive.

Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

Chaos ensues as the couples reveal their Instant Dance style - and run to the ballroom showroom to find costumes to match.

"What did you pick!" Alexis shouts at her partner George. "I don't know!" he shouts back frantically while running backstage.

So.

Alex and Johannes are dancing the Rumba.

George and Alexis will dance the Tango.

Lewis and Katya face the Jive.

Balvinder and Julian will do the Paso Doble

Karen and Carlos will tackle the Cha Cha Cha

For Amber and Nikita, it's the Samba.

Reminder of how this is all going to work.

Jamie Whitehead
Live editor

Here's something we don't see very often, a look behind the scenes at Strictly Come Dancing.

It seems fairly relaxed considering what's about to happen.

And what will happen?

Let's find out.

Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

For the first time in Strictly Come Dancing's 21-year history, couples are about to face a very different challenge – the Instant Dance.

A reminder of how it’s going to work.

• Couples pick a dance style at random from ones they've learnt in the competition so far
• They'll be played their accompanying music and after a quick wardrobe change, they'll have 10 seconds to decide how they're going to dance it
• The judges will rank how each couple performed from best to worst - the best scores six points, and the worst takes home just one

Sounds stressful. Let's see how they fare.

First up, it's Alex and Johannes.

Week nine and ten's scores are combined after all couples were safe during the Blackpool special.

Karen and Carlos are the ones to beat, while Alex and Johannes sit in sixth place.

Rachel Flynn
Reporting from the Royal Albert Hall

A jive should look effortless, Amber is told, but admits: "There is ZERO chill about the jive".

The couple are still catching their breath, as head judge Shirley calls their dance "sensational".

After a flurry of praise, Craig says it's time for the truth. It was...... "FAB-U-LOUS".

Here's the judges' marks:

Craig: 10

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 10

Anton: 10

Total: 40

Amber and Nikita are the last to enter the ballroom, and they’re tackling a Jive to Ike and Tina Turner’s version of Proud Mary, originally by the California rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The Jive is a fast dance with a long history, originating in southern parts of the US in the 1920s, and imported to Europe by American soldiers during the Second World War.

Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

It's a fitting song choice for Karen this week, after saying Strictly has allowed her to be her "full, authentic self."

As Lady Gaga's Born This Way kicks off, she explodes into her Couple's Choice.

"That dance just got you into the Champions League, darling," Craig says - and the audience - whoop whooping - definitely agree.

"This was just next level," Motsi adds.

How do they score?

Craig: 10

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 10

Anton: 10

Total: 40

It’s now time for Karen and Carlos now, and they get the Couple’s Choice this week after performing a dramatic Paso Doble to O Fortuna that nearly scored full points in Blackpool.

They will be doing their choice of dance to Born This Way by Lady Gaga.

Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

Anton says "there must be something in the water tonight" after spotting mistakes in several of the dances so far.

"It was super really, apart from the mistakes," Anton tells Balvinder and Julian.

But it wasn't all bad. Motsi says the kicks were great, adding: "When they were strong, they were SO strong."

Shirley agrees, saying Balvinder has "one of the best jive actions".

Now for the all-important scores:

Craig: 7

Motsi: 7

Shirley: 7

Anton: 7

Total: 28

Balvinder and Julian are the next to strut their stuff on the dance floor, and they’re taking on the Jive.

They’ll be soundtracked to Right Back Where We Started From, the 1976 hit from Maxine Nightingale.

It's a fresh challenge for the pair who turned their fortunes around last week with a performance of the Argentine Tango.

Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

That was so transfixing, I almost forgot to write anything.

Lewis and Katya's emotive rumba to Harry Styles song Falling "told a story" - head judge Shirley says, but it did need "a bit more fluidity".

After admitting he was nit-picking, Anton says:" All in all, you are such a talent." Motsi praises their unique energy and storytelling.

Now for the scores:

Craig: 9

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 36

Lewis and Katya are in the ballroom now, dancing a Rumba to the Harry Styles hit Falling.

The Rumba's a slow, romantic dance – and it's also extremely difficult. But, given their perfect scores last week, this may be light work for these two.

There's kicks a-plenty in George and Alexis's quickstep, as old-school Hollywood charm hits the dance floor.

Following an energy-filled performance, George apologises to his partner. But king of the Quickstep Anton doesn't think an apology is necessary, telling the pair: "I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it".

Despite saying there were indeed visible mistakes - Craig says it was "full of style, class and musicality".

Now, the scores:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 8

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 34