Little gem of a factoid from this week’s Popbitch newsletter, which I hoped might tickle you:

Nominative Determinism: one of the contestants on the Czech version of Strictly this year is actress Marta Dancingerová.

Not long now until choreographic kick-off…

This week it was announced that after a six-year hiatus, this series sees the return of the Strictly dance-athon. In a fortnight’s time, all the remaining couples will hit the dancefloor together to showcase their Latin skills in a samba-thon, hoping to change their place on the leaderboard.

Cue the traditional judgely chaos and jabbing at iPads. Ten minutes until showtime…

An email from our regular correspondent across the Pond, Iain Crofts from Montreal:

“Hi again, Michael and everyone. It’s a shame that the popularity-contest element is so strong in Strictly. Having been consigned to the dance off twice already, Shayne must be wondering if he can ward off Pete’s popularity this weekened. It is of some consolation that the dance-offs are nominally determined by who dances better.

On the American version, Dancing with the Stars, voting opens before the dancing even starts and there is no dance-off. You can vote for your favourites before they’ve even performed and the combination of judges’ scores and audience votes sends one couple packing at the end of the show. No attempt to amp up the ‘dance competition aspect on this side of the Atlantic, unfortunately.”

We can compare and contrast with two Couple’s Choices (from Pete Wicks and Chris McCausland) and two American smooths (from Sarah Hadland and Wynne Evans).

Other potential highlights include a paso doble, a rumba and an Argentine tango. Just me or are there not enough Charlestons and jives so far this series? It’s 15 minutes until that ba-ba-da theme tune…

Cross them off as they happen! Take a drink for each! Wake up in the wee small hours with a slice of pizza stuck to your cheek! Here’s your 10-point spotter’s guide for tonight:

• Shayne Ward bares his chest for the rumba

• Couple’s Choice routine gets wildly over-scored because nobody knows how to judge it

• Pudsey Bear dances across the screen during a Children In Need trailer

• Someone has overdone the fake tan and bears a triggering resembles to Donald Trump

• Anton says of an American smooth “That’s the sort of number I’d like to dance”

• Motsi and Shirley gang up on Craig when he criticises a celebrity’s footwork

• Claudia interrupts Vito’s rambling post-dance interview with “Good luck, the scores are in”

• Last week’s eliminated pro Nikita Kuzmin compensates by hogging limelight on the balcony

• Tess fans herself with cue card after a rumba or Argentine tango “Phew, that was hot!”

• Craig Revel Horwood wears a kiss-me-quick hat or knotted hankie on his head when the voting lines are opened

With six celebrity males and just three females remaining in the field, it’s surely time for a man to be eliminated. The bookies agree, with Shayne Ward their odds-on prediction to leave this weekend. Wynne Evans is the second favourite to depart, with JB Gill and Pete Wicks next on the list.

Can this quartet pull something special out of the sparkly bag and defy the odds? Twenty minutes until the glittery curtain comes up…

Several pieces of news about the Strictly professionals broke this week. First, Amy Dowden will sadly not be returning for the rest of the series. Following a stress fracture on her foot - unrelated to her previous medical conditions, she has emphasised - Amy needs to rest for a few weeks.

She’s hoping to be back dancing in some capacity, perhaps in group numbers or the festive special, before the year is out. We hope so too. Amy is heartbroken to miss out and says “being back with my Strictly family was the best rehab and helped hugely with my well-being”. We wish her all the best.

Like she did last week, Amy’s friend and fellow pro Lauren Oakley will partner JB Gill for the rest of the series. He couldn’t be in better hands.

Meanwhile, tabloids reported that another much-loved pro, Johannes Radebe, will quit at the end of this series to pursue other opportunities. Jojo has called these rumours “lies”, saying: “I want to do this beautiful show for as long as they want me - and the body will allow.” Phew, frankly.

Now that’s all cleared up, it’s 25 minutes until the clock strikes Strictly…

We’ve passed the contest’s midway mark. Now another annual milestone looms. The Strictly charabanc’s annual jaunt up to Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the spiritual home of the show, is a trip that every couple wants to take.

With so much at stake, could the pressure get to our pro-celebrity pairings? We’ll get our first clues in half-an-hour…

The Tower Ballroom beckons – but somebody will get left behind on the hard shoulder of the M6. Good evening and welcome to week eight of Strictly Come Dancing 2024. I’m Michael, your donkey-riding dance partner for tonight’s live show. I’d love you to watch along with me as our nine remaining pro-celebrity pairings bid to make it to the bright lights of Blackpool.

Last weekend’s first ever Icons Week saw a huge 17-point gap open up between the top and bottom of the leaderboard, with Tasha Ghouri and JB Gill tied at the top with 39 points apiece. Pete Wicks and his Freddie Mercury moustache were way down at the bottom but it was Sam Quek who was Taylor Swift-ly sent home.

Our surviving duos now hit the Elstree Studios dancefloor again with the annual trip north to the fabled home of ballroom firmly in their sights. As always, tonight’s scores will be combined with the public vote and the bottom two will dance for survival on Sunday night. It looks the male celebrities who are most at risk but don’t rule out a seaside surprise.

In a week of dark news for many, some Strictly sparkle and joy will be more welcome than ever. It’s showtime at 6.35pm on BBC One. I’ll be liveblogging from 6.05pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, analysis, reaction and salty asides. So start mentally packing your wheely suitcase with sparkly disco-wear and see you on the sofa.

As always, I’d love to hear from you too. You can tweet me @michaelhogan, email me michael.hogan.freelance@guardian.co.uk and the comments section below is open for hoofing-related hilarity. I’ll swing and sway down there from time to time to see what you’re all saying and report on your reactions.

How many times will we hear the B-word tonight? By which I mean Blackpool - oops, there’s another one. Nearly time to staaaart seaside qualifying!