Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

From the quality of performances to the sprinkles of stardust, tonight's show felt like a fever dream.

Our five remaining couples raised the bar with their musical-themed performances tonight, in hopes to secure a spot in the Strictly semi-final next week.

"Sensational" and "off the charts" were widely used phrases by judges today. And they didn't use them lightly, with the average score today being 35.8. Karen was praised for her balance, Lewis for his nimble moves, and George for his unmissable ballroom presence.

With praise came criticism, too - from misplaced hands, to square hips - which only shows us just how precise the dancers have to be at this point of the competition.

Amber and Nikita saw yet another perfect 40 score - with this week being perfect timing for the West End star/self-confessed musical enthusiast.

But when it came to verbal feedback, it was Balvinder and Julian who saw gushing praise for the feeling they brought to their performance following a tumultuous few weeks of inconsistent scoring and intense dance-offs.

Along with our dancers, we were treated to a star-studded line up of familiar faces today, including the man repsonsible for putting many musicals into the limelight, Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

McFly singer Tom Fletcher and Paddington Bear (yes, actually) also treated us to a performance of a song from their new musical, following our favourite Peruvian-born national treasure.

That's all from us tonight. We're ending our live coverage, but do remember to tune into the results show tomorrow at 19:15 GMT on BBC One to find out which pairs have waltzed that one step further to the ever-closer final.

Time's up and voting has now closed.

We'll learn of the outcome during the results show, which is tomorrow at 19:15 GMT.

The two pairs who have scored lowest will battle it out in a dance-off, during which one duo will have to leave the stage of this season of Strictly.

Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

They say you can't have you cake and eat it.

But you can if your name is George Clarke, you're dressed as the Phantom, and have just celebrated you 26th birthday.

The contestants took a moment in between performances, along with Tess and Claudia, to wish the social media star a very happy birthday.

He decided to tuck straight in and took a bite direct from the cake.

This week's performances were full of quality, as you can see from the impressive scores below.

We saw yet another perfect 40 score from Amber and Nikita, followed by some strong 35s from George, Balvinder, and Lewis.

Inching just shy of them were Karen and Carlos.

Remember, despite the scores, it's also your vote that matters. You can get involved here, until lines close at 20:30 GMT

Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

We've just seen a special performance from McFly singer Tom Fletcher and Paddington Bear, who are swapping the West End stage for the Strictly dancefloor this evening.

The former Strictly contestant (Fletcher, not the bear) is behind the music in Paddington The Musical, a live show that is currently on the stage in London.

They'll be performing as song from the musical, The Explorer And The Bear.

Voting has just opened, to the whoops and cheers from the contestants. 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!

Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

Lewis and Katya promise an "action-packed routine" with tempo changes and new-and-improved hip fluidity from the Emmerdale star.

They're dancing to a fan favourite from West Side story, which depicts the musical's two gangs - the Sharks and the Jets - compete in a dance challenge.

"You pushed in physically... I kept trying to follow you on the stage. Where is he? Where is he?" Motsi says to the Hartlepool-born actor following his agile performance.

That said, Shirley says it wasn't the pair's best dance but there was "still a lot to like" - a sentiment echoed by Craig.

The results are in:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 35

Next, it's time for Lewis and Katya's Salsa.

Their musical accompaniment is Dance at the Gym, from West Side Story - Leonard Bernstein's New York-based reimagining of Romeo and Juliet.

Expect plenty of hips and footwork in this one. Lewis and Katya scooped an impressive 36 points for their Rumba last week, can they beat it?

Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

No one is more excited for this week than Amber, says Tess, who says she lives, eats and breathes musicals.

"They're the best thing since sliced bread," says the West End star. Will the passion translate into her performance with Nikita?

It seems so to me. The pair are animated and quick on their feet. But the opinions that matter most are those of the judges...

"Too clean... an absolute SENSATION," says a straight-faced Craig - which confuses but pleasantly surprises the duo.

"It would be very difficult to find a dance better than this in the history of Strictly Come Dancing," says Anton.

Will the faultless feedback translate into perfect points? Let's take a look...

Craig: 10

Motsi: 10

Shirley: 10

Anton: 10

Total: 40 (the second perfect score in a row for the couple)

Next up, it's time for Amber and Nikita's Charleston.

Dating back to the 1920s, it's an energetic dance with plenty of swivel. Amber and Nikita are performing it to Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat, from the musical Guys and Dolls.

The couple landed a perfect score last week, jiving their way to 40 points. Can they do it again this week?

Five dance-offs later, Balvinder and Julian are standing strong and ready to tackle Musicals Week.

The EastEnders actress says the song is poignant for the pair, who want to prove to the audience that "we are enough".

All gazes in the bathroom are fixated on the couple as they draw elegant circles around the dancefloor. At its end, Balvinder is heavy with emotion.

"The whole room just went straight into you," says Anton.

"It had feeling, it had emotion, you are a fighter," Craig says in celebration of Balvinder.

"Long after this competition, you will always be a hero for me," says Shirley.

The feedback leaves her in tears, and gains her a warm embrace from Motsi.

So, were the pair able to prove themselves as they hoped for? Let's take a look at the scores

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 35 (the pair's highest score so far!)

Last week saw Balvinder and her partner Julian battle it out in the dance off, again.

But she survived and is back to dance another week - this time taking on the fiendishly difficult Viennese Waltz.

Never Enough, from the musical The Greatest Showman, is the soundtrack to this turn-heavy routine. Let's hope it is enough for the judges.

Karen and Carlos are fresh off a high, having scored a perfect 40 score last week. Can the couple prove they're not a one-trick pony?

The former Lioness says it's time to "get in the groove and enjoy it", giving it "absolutely everything".

The dancefloor is bursting with colourful costumes, as Karen - in her words - is trying to "shake what my mamma gave me".

Shirley says to breathless Karen: "But your sense of balance... is absolutely off the charts. You are quite the force to be reckoned with."

"I LOVE LOVE LOVED it," Anton adds.

"That will relieve everyone of their winter blues," praises Craig.

Now, time for the scores to do the talking:

Craig: 8

Motsi: 8

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 34

Karen and Carlos are bringing some carnival energy for their dance this evening.

They've set a high bar for themselves for this Samba, after storming their way to a perfect score last week.

Their song choice this week is The Rhythm of Life from the 1960s musical Sweet Charity.

Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

The stakes are high for George and Alexis, who were told that everything in performing this behemoth of a song "comes from the soul".

George's game plan? "Lock in and try and become the Phantom."

And lock in he did, as a usually comical George is all poker-face on the Strictly stage today.

The dramatic dance starts sombre, gradually becoming more dramatic - aptly paired with impressive lifts and flares of fire in the background.

"The opening was absolutely sensational," Motsi says.

"This is the George I really enjoy," Anton says amongst floods of praise for the social media star - presumably a special message for George from musical legend, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, leaving George most chuffed.

But do the scores reflect the feedback? Let's see...

Craig: 8

Motsi: 9

Shirley: 9

Anton: 9

Total: 35

Our next dance of the evening is from George and Alexis, who are taking on the Argentine Tango.

They're performing it to The Point of No Return from The Phantom of the Opera, which is a slightly slower track than you would typically see this dance performed to - but that might make the complex footwork that bit easier.

The couple have a score of 34 from last week to top.

The dance relay has begun. Those turning on their TVs it right now may think they've mistakenly tuned into a live action West End Musical.

Each pair has their moment in the spotlight, starting with some smooth choreo from George and Alexis, followed by a pretty clean performance Balvinder and Julian.

I feel dizzy just looking at Amber and Katya must bedizzy, after their respective partners Nikita and Lewis whirl them around.

Last but not least, Karen and Carlos are all smiles, with a dance that has a much more theatrical feel compared to other solos in the spotlight.

Don’t forget, you can watch the programme with live signing.

Just press the red button or search for Signed: Strictly Come Dancing to find it on BBC iPlayer.

Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

That eternally-catchy theme tune is blaring out from the TV, which means only one thing: it's time for Strictly.

Contestants are kicking off the show with a new challenge, a "dance relay", before getting into this week's musical-inspired numbers.

So grab a cuppa, put your feet up and enjoy.

We're watching along with you, and will be bringing you text updates all the way. And a reminder that you can watch live above, or tune in on BBC One or iPlayer.