Wynne Evans and Katya Jones have performed a “beautiful” and bouncy quickstep on Strictly Come Dancing as they made their return to the BBC One show.

They did small jumps as they performed to the upbeat Mr Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra after the pair apologised for a “joke” that saw Jones move opera singer Evans’ hand from her waist last week.

The Welsh opera singer, known for the GoCompare advertisements, revealed in his pre-recorded segment of the programme that he and Jones travelled to his home nation’s countryside this week.

After they danced on the live Saturday competition, judge Anton Du Beke said “it’s a lovely show, when you dance”, while Motsi Mabuse called it “exquisite”, and head judge Shirley Ballas added it was “joyous, you moved beautifully”.

They were awarded 33 points, with Craig Revel Horwood providing criticism, saying the performance was “dishevelled in places”.

After Horwood’s remark, Evans joked he would be reviewing the judge’s album, Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing, which was released during the week.

The leaderboard was topped by EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and Olympian Montell Douglas with both on 39 points.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas (Guy Levy/BBC)

Borthwick and professional partner Michelle Tsiakkas opted for a matador-inspired paso doble routine to flamenco song Malaguena by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, which Du Beke praised saying “you will never dance a better dance than that, you were brilliant”.

Douglas and Johannes Radebe’s carnival-inspired couple’s choice, which means they do not have to dance a set routine, to Skeleton Move by KG and Zanda Zakuza was praised by Mabuse who said they “exploded with energy” on the dancefloor.

Borthwick and Douglas are high scorers of the series so far along with Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec, who were given 39 points last week.

Coming bottom of the leaderboard was former footballer turned pundit Paul Merson, on 19 points, and Morning Live doctor Punam Krishan, on 21 points.

Revel Horwood took issue with TV personality Pete Wicks and his dance partner Jowita Przystal’s rumba routine to Oasis hit Don’t Look Back In Anger.

He said the lifts were “totally illegal” and suggested that in a competition there could be a “disqualification” for the moves, but praised Wicks for the work that had gone into the dance.

The judges awarded Wicks and Przystal 22 points, one of the lowest scores of the night.