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Underdog John and partner Kristina are sticking to the mantra that has, against all odds, seen them remain in the competition thus far: keep it sweet and simple.

This week's American Smooth places John in more of a comfort zone, allowing him to reuse some of the steps he has already learnt for a previous dance and which earned praise from the judges way back in week one. "You should see your face," proclaimed Kristina at one point during practice. "It's such joy now!"

However, Kristina was quick to remind her partner that there is harder work to be done once they get started on the new steps and also the daunting lifts. However, as she points out, with John's new dance-trained physique they shouldn't be a problem!

John is clearly revelling in his status as the outside-bet but sees his survival as maybe symptomatic of the wider power of Strictly: "It's tremendous escapist stuff; these are hard times and people enjoy that I'm enjoying myself," he said. "I've been known as a serious journalist and I think people think if John's larking around it's not so bad after all!"