Danny Mac scores two 10s for a near perfect score to top the Strictly leaderboard

Mac and his professional partner Oti Mabuse scored two 10s during their tango as the remaining five couples battled it out to earn a place in next week's semi-final.

Their tango to One Night Only from Dreamgirls for this week's musicals theme was praised by head judge Len Goodman, who told the actor "you are one heck of a dancer, trust me".

Judge Craig Revel Horwood chided Mac for his less-than-perfect heel leads, but admitted he thought it was a "dynamic routine".

Bookmakers Coral have predicted that T V barrister Judge Rinder will be the next to depart from the show.

"The betting suggests Judge Rinder's run on Strictly Come Dancing will come to an end this weekend as he is long odds-on to depart and miss out on a spot in the semi-final of the competition," said Coral's John Hill.

The TV star and his partner Oksana Platero performed a samba to Oh, What a Night! from Jersey Boys that earned them the lowest score on the leader board with 31 points.

Revel Horwood commented that Rinder's "bottom was bouncing for Brazil" during the high-energy routine.

Goodman said: "I'd like to watch it again. I don't mean in the dance-off, it was so much fun and enjoyment, well done."

Sports presenter Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton earned 36 points for their foxtrot to Pure Imagination, which was first performed by the late Gene Wilder in 1971's Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory.

Gymnast Claudia Fragapane managed to score her first 10 of the series and earned a score of 37.

She is in joint second position with Louise Redknapp on the leaderboard, despite a stumble at the end of her salsa to the Lion King's I Just Can't Wait To Be King.

The judges loved Redknapp's western-themed quickstep to The Deadwood Stage from Calamity Jane, with Bruno Tonioli saying it was "a great tribute to the Wild Wild West, Broadway style".

Other highlights from the BBC One show included a glimpse of British astronaut Tim Peake, who was a guest in the audience, and an opening number led by Strictly favourite Anton du Beke, who channelled his inner Bruce Forsyth as he sang and danced to kick off the show.

:: Strictly returns on Sunday night at 7.20pm on BBC One.