The ballroom was glowing with cobwebs, glitter, and goosebumps as Strictly Come Dancing transformed for its annual Halloween special.

This year’s show was nothing short of spectacular — with eerie performances, emotional backstories, and even the first perfect score of the season.

Lewis Cope Delivers a Hauntingly Perfect Dance

All eyes were on actor Lewis Cope, who completely stole the night with his Couple’s Choice performance to a haunting version of Radiohead’s Creep.

Dancing alongside Katya Jones, the pair left the judges spellbound — literally.

The 29-year-old reflected on his humble beginnings in Hartlepool, where he grew up as one of 14 siblings.

Having left home at just ten years old to chase his dreams in London, Lewis admitted he often misses his close-knit family — especially his beloved Nanna Dot.

But there’s no doubt they’d be bursting with pride now.

His powerful routine had Motsi Mabuse on her feet, Craig Revel Horwood calling it “spooktacular,” and Shirley Ballas moved to tears as she praised Lewis’s family for letting him share his gift with the world.

Even Craig — who rarely gives out his 10 paddle — couldn’t resist.

Their total? A perfect 40 — the first of the series.

Karen Carney Brings Birmingham Grit to the Dancefloor

Next up, former Lioness Karen Carney returned to form after a shaky few weeks.

Dancing with Carlos Gu, she channeled Birmingham’s bold energy with a Peaky Blinders-themed Argentine Tango.

“Thanks for letting me do it,” Karen said proudly, glowing after receiving her best score yet — an impressive 38, with 10s from both Motsi and Anton Du Beke.

Alex Kingston Turns Up the Heat

Things got fiery when Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston hit the floor with Johannes Radebe for a devilish Salsa to Horny by Mousse T. Shirley was so taken she said she wanted to dance alongside her, though Craig couldn’t resist teasing that it looked like “a woman having a midlife crisis.”

Still, the daring performance paid off — Alex and Johannes earned a strong 35 points, proving she’s got plenty of fire left in her.

Vicky Pattison Finds Her Groove and Her Confidence

After weeks of battling nerves, Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison kicked off the night with an emotional American Smooth to Total Eclipse of the Heart.

Dancing with Kai Widdrington, she finally looked at ease — and her confidence shone through.

Motsi was full of praise, calling Vicky a “firm contender for the final,” while the judges rewarded her progress with a score of 31.

It was a heartfelt comeback for Vicky, who’s been on an emotional journey both on and off the show.

The Leaderboard Heats Up

Here’s how the scores stacked up after a thrilling Halloween night:

Lewis and Katya – 40
Karen and Carlos – 38
Alex and Johannes – 35
La Voix and Aljaž – 35
Amber and Nikita – 35
Vicky and Kai – 31
George and Alexis – 29
Balvinder and Julian – 28
Ellie and Vito – 27
Harry and Karen – 26

Ellie Goldstein Impresses With a Glamorous Tango

Model Ellie Goldstein gave her all in a dramatic Tango to Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra with Vito Coppola.

The 23-year-old earned a standing ovation and glowing feedback for her improved footwork, ending the night with 27 points.

George Clarke Fights His Way Back

TikTok star George Clarke, who found himself at the bottom of the leaderboard last week, came back stronger.

His Cha Cha to Charli XCX’s Apple earned Craig’s rare compliment for “great hip movement.”

Determined to prove he’s still in the game, George told Claudia Winkleman, “I just want to show I’m not plateauing.” His efforts paid off — he scored 29.

La Voix Dazzles With a Tribute to Len Goodman

After teasing her interest in hosting duties last week, La Voix gave a performance worthy of any presenter’s spotlight.

Her Paso Doble earned glowing praise from Anton, who gave a heartfelt nod to the late Len Goodman, saying Len “would have loved it.”

The crowd agreed — the pair walked away with 35 points.

Amber Davies Dances Through the Drama

After surviving last week’s dance-off, Love Island alum Amber Davies brought storybook fantasy to the stage with a Red Riding Hood-inspired Viennese Waltz alongside Nikita Kuzmin.

Though Shirley questioned the technique, Craig defended Amber, saying, “Don’t listen to her.”

The performance earned them 35 points and likely another week of safety.

A Look Back at Vicky’s Emotional Journey

Vicky Pattison’s progress this week comes after a deeply emotional episode during Icons Week, when she danced to Cheryl’s Fight For This Love and was surprised by a personal message from the pop star herself.

Opening up about her journey, Vicky admitted she’d made “bad decisions” early in her career and wanted to “change the narrative” about who she was.

“When I look in the audience and see my mum and dad’s faces, it’s worth it,” she said tearfully.

Her growth — both as a performer and as a person — has become one of the most touching storylines of this year’s Strictly.