'Strictly' semi-final: Kelvin Fletcher finally gets 40 points after impressing Shirley Ballas with his 'woodpecker'

Kelvin Fletcher has finally managed to get his first perfect score in Strictly Come Dancing, just a week behind his closest rival - but he was left open-mouthed by a comment from Shirley Ballas.

CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual became the first contestant of the series to score 40 points last week, but Fletcher was hot on his heels with a faultless Quickstep in the semi-final.

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However, Fletcher was red-faced and speechless when head judge Ballas complimented his “woodpecker”, leaving the other judges and audience in hysterics at what sounded like a saucy comment.

Ballas told him: “When you did your woodpecker, that was amazing.”

As Fletcher, known for his snake-hipped routines, spluttered in embarrassment, Ballas clarified over shrieks of laughter that a woodpecker was a term for footwork.

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Meanwhile, Fletcher was brought to tears by Craig Revel Horwood finally giving him a 10, the only judge not to have done before this week.

Revel Horwood told him: “It really upset me actually, because I couldn’t find much wrong with it.”

Fletcher and his partner Oti Mabuse didn’t quite make it a full house with their second dance, a Paso Doble, which was popular with viewers but scored 37 points because of issues with balance and timing.

The soap star’s fans were distracted from the errors by his sheer costume, though, as was judge Bruno Tonioli who told him: “At times you hit some shapes that had almost a sculptural beauty, like Michelangelo was sculpting you.”

Sunday’s results show will see three of the four remaining contestants - Fletcher, Zeroual, Emma Barton and Chris Ramsey - make it through to the Grand Final and be in with a chance of winning the Glitterball Trophy.

Strictly Come Dancing returns for the results show on Sunday at 7.20pm on BBC One.