Strictly Come Dancing - Cheri Lunghi and Rachel Stevens lead the way - Jessie Wallace could be on her way out

Tonight was the girls’ turn to show the boys what they could do - this is one year when I don’t think an Eastender will get anywhere near the final. Jessie Wallace looked lumpy and totally ungainly in her salsa with Darren Bennett and despite fairly encouraging comments from the judges, she got the lowest score of the night. She also wore probably the most unflattering dress ever seen on Strictly Come Dancing.

The other former Eastender, Gillian Taylforth, whilst being much more likeable than Jessie, didn't really impress much either with her foxtrot with Anton du Beke. Anton never seems to get a great partner and I can see him making an early exit again this year – still I’m sure he has plenty of other TV opportunities lined up as his star seems to be on the rise for some reason.

Lisa Snowden and Jodie Kidd, despite their past experience of sashaying up and down catwalks at fashion shows, lacked much oomph tonight and I was quite bored by both of their performances . Despite Lisa being told by Craig Revel Horwood that she had great natural rhythm, he still felt it was a lacklustre performance. Jodie stands 6 feet 5 inches in her heels and whilst this could be a problem, the judges praised her for her good control, but I found her performance very forgettable.

Heather Small is apparently the most nervous contestant ever to appear on Strictly, so we’re told – this didn’t come across at all however as she put in a respectable performance of a salsa with new professional Brian Fortuna, but again not very memorable.

Top three of the night without a shadow of a doubt were One Show presenter Christine Bleakley, ex-S clubber Rachel Stevens and veteran actress Cheri Lunghi who all looked as though they were born to dance. To my mind Christine’s was the most elegant foxtrot of the night although she scored lower than Cheri who, with 33 points, achieved the highest score so far this series. Rachel Stevens has a slight dancing advantage given her S Club 7 past and her salsa looked effortless and professional. But it was 56 year-old Cheri who really blew the judges away with her foxtrot and prompted Arlene Phillips to say that she was the main competition to the rugby-playing motorcar, Austin Healey.

Final scores:

Cherie Lunghi & James Jordan - 32
Rachel Stevens & Vincent Simone - 31
Christine Bleakley & Matthew Cutler - 27
Heather Small & Brian Fortuna - 26
Jodie Kidd & Ian Waite - 25
Lisa Snowden & Brendan Cole - 22
Gillian Taylforth & Anton du Beke - 22
Jessie Wallace & Darren Bennett - 20

We have to wait until tomorrow night for the results show, but I think it would be a travesty if anyone but Jessie Wallace was sent home. The girls on the whole did very well and this series so far seems to be producing far more talent in the early stages than in previous years.

You can discuss the show in our Strictly Come Dancing forum