DANCE teacher Graham Vernon, from Samlesbury, gives his verdict on the eighth episode on Strictly Come Dancing.

What a shocking week. Neither Heather nor Rachel deserved to be in the dance off - it should have been John and Jodie.

Tom and Camilla - Quickstep
What a fabulous introduction by Tom. Excellent foot control and performance with great use of floor space. He slipped a couple of times but I think that was his shoes, and you could hardly notice. Good control on his scatter chasse and his top line was perfect. To be the first to dance and perform the way they did should have been a definite 10. Why did the judges comments not match their scores?

Jodie and Ian - Samba
Jodie is not really built for Latin but she actually didn’t do a bad job. She has a nice hip action developing but I feel the music and the choreography was a bit lame, which for me made the Samba sizzle-less. Craig’s 3 was out of order, though. Do you agree?

Heather and Brian - Tango
I think this was Heather's best dance yet, and in the dance-off it was even better. She had good striking lines, but her spins let her down a bit as she looked a little awkward. The music was more of a Cha Cha than a Tango, which did not help them gain the staccato feel. Did Heather deserve to go? Not in my opinion.

Austin and Erin - Rumba
It did not do it for me I am afraid. Austin had a forced hip action and no knee action. He has obviously been working hard on his arms this week, which were very good, but as the dance of love he looked inhibited. Only a seven from me.

Cherie and James - Waltz
I was not bowled over. It was quite graceful in parts, however, there was hardly any rise and fall and her left shoulder kept creeping up. But she did look less nervous than she has in previous weeks. It was not up to the standard of Tom’s yet she gained the same marks from the judges. Maybe they saw something we didn’t.

Christine and Matthew - Jive
Wow! Christine looked - and danced - like a million dollars. An excellent kick action, her rock step and chasse were a little heavy, but a great performance. The ballet class has made a huge improvement and pushed her up a level.

Rachel and Vincent - American Smooth (Quickstep)
Come on, Rachel! Fred and Ginger would have been proud - excellent control and executed to perfection. To see dancers like this in week 8 makes you think have they peaked to soon? Or can they continue to impress us? She looked really at ease on the lifts which take so much dedication and trust in your partner. Fantastic slick choreography right on the money. What do the judges want to see before they start giving out 10s? It was a 10 for me.

John and Kristina - Cha Cha
A nice little basic routine, full of flat-footed walks and with no fluidity at all. I felt embarrassed for him just watching. I think as a person he is having a fantastic time but his dancing should now be kept to the cabinet office. I do agree with what John himself said, he is following all the rules and it is the voting public that are keeping him in. The judges should try not to make it too personal.

Lisa and Brendan - Viennese Waltz
Graceful and controlled - a beautiful demonstration of the Viennese Waltz which suited her perfectly. It was the best Viennese Waltz I have ever seen on Strictly. If anything she overbalanced slightly after her reverse fleckel, but it did not spoil anything for me. Another definite 10 - maybe the judges did not have their 10 paddles with them.

What do you think?