The 'almost kiss', COVID returns and we're all #TeamTilly: 5 things we've learned about 'Strictly' this week

It's certainly been a dramatic week both on and off the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor.

On Saturday night, viewers were left wondering whether another Katya Jones kiss drama was about to kick off - something her partner Adam Peaty later strongly denied.

Read more: Strictly Curse 2021 - What is it and who's fallen for it?

Then Tilly Ramsay was targeted with cruel comments by radio presenter Steve Allen who mocked her appearance, leading to legions of fans coming out in support of her and condemning Allen.

Next, Judi Love dropped the bombshell that she'll be the latest contestant forced to miss a week of dancing after testing positive for COVID.

And that's all before we even get to our disappointment over not being able to look out for Emma Thompson in the Strictly audience every Saturday night from now on...

The five biggest things we learned about Strictly this week, 16 - 22 October

Stars back Tilly Ramsay after body shaming abuse

Poor Tilly Ramsay found herself on the receiving end of some outrageously rude comments this week when LBC Radio presenter Steve Allen labelled her "chubby" during his show.

TV star Ramsay showed true class by calling out Allen on his body shaming and rising above it, prompting an outpouring of support from fans and celebrities.

Read more: Stars rally round Tilly Ramsay to offer support

Of course, her Strictly co-stars jumped to her defence, but so did the likes of Jason Manford, Jason Donovan and Dr Alex George.

Rylan Clark spoke for everyone when he tweeted: "Come for Tilly, you come for all of us…"

Hopefully, Ramsay's fans will get behind her once more in the weekend's vote.

COVID rules Judi Love out of week 5

Just when you thought the illnesses and injuries were being kept at bay, Judi Love became the latest celebrity ruled out by COVID.

It seems she'll only need to miss this coming weekend's show after a positive test, so fingers crossed we'll see her and Graziano Di Prima back on the dancefloor in week six.

However, her absence throws the contest even wider open - after a couple of weeks on the trot with Love taking up one of the dance off spots, there'll be some nervous faces on Sunday night.

Did they or didn't they?

Once again, pro dancer Katya Jones has found herself at the centre of a kiss controversy, although this one seems a lot less dramatic than the Seann Walsh debacle.

She and Adam Peaty obviously got very into the intensity of their Argentine Tango roles on Saturday as they appeared to go in for a kiss at the end of the routine and then stop just short.

Read more: Adam Peaty's girlfriend reacts to 'almost kiss'

However, swimmer Peaty warned: "To everyone who wants to see what they want, your comments have real life consequences. I will not be overcome or lowered by your gossip. Protect your energy."

Peaty's girlfriend Eiri Munro saw the funny side at least, posting a TikTok video mocking the moment.

Goodbye Emma Thompson Greg Wise

Sadly, we had to wave goodbye to another star of the show at the weekend - there'll be no more Emma Thompson in the studio audience every week.

Also, her husband Greg Wise was voted out with Karen Hauer after a disappointing Cha Cha Cha that Craig Revel Horwood joked made him look like he'd had a hip op.

Of course, we'll miss Wise - but we'll miss superstar Thompson clapping along to the dances just as much.

Olly Murs for Strictly 2022?

The Strictly rumour mill always starts early, but this might be a little premature even for the BBC One show.

Popstar Olly Murs has suggested he'd love to be in the class of 2022, admitting he loved watching his late colleague and friend Caroline Flack dancing in the year that she won.

He told MailOnline: “I love watching TV like everybody else and I've loved Strictly since Caz won it. I was a big fan that year and watched the whole series.

“I was anti Strictly because I was a massive X Factor fan. I was on the show, hosting it, and Simon Cowell said, 'You can't watch Strictly, it's X Factor, X Factor, X Factor', so I was always in team X Factor.”

Murs added: “I definitely think I've got what it takes. But right now, my knee is telling me 'Olly, you haven't got what it takes’.”

Watch: Who is Strictly's Adam Peaty?