When the polls closed at 7.15pm, Australia had decided that the bottom 3 couples were Amy & Damien, Stephen & Ash-Leigh and Max & Jesse - and these six talented performers then had to dance for their lives. The judges’ decision was not unanimous but ultimately they said a reluctant farewell to the feisty Max & the popular Jesse. We now have our Top 18. Jesse was the first to learn his fate and looked shocked – his jaw visibly dropping. However, Nat said “we love you” and Jesse said that he’d had a “fantastic time” and “it was a shame to have to go”. Jason then told Max that she was the unfortunate dancer who would be leaving with Jesse. Nat asked whether it was hard to be the first to go but Max said "it would hurt no matter when it happened" but she “loved those guys”. Jason said the process had been “nerve-wracking”, Bonnie said it was “sad” but Matt said it was a reminder that “this is a competition”. The show opened with our Top 20 performing another fabulous Kelley Abbey Jazz routine - and Emmanuel doing an amazing headstand - but there was no getting away from the fact that we were here to send two dancers home. Matt was “really nervous” and Bonnie said that on the basis of last night’s show you’d have thought the couples "had been dancing together for 10 weeks". Jason thought it was pretty clear who the bottom 2 couples would be but was unsure who would join them. The first 3 couples called on stage were Penny & Charlie, who had been the “pop routine” of Sunday night, Chanelle & Loredo who’d survived a fall and Stephen and Ash-Leigh who had been Jason’s “low light”. It came as no great surprise when Stephen & Ash-Leigh were invited to dance for their lives but Stephen was “pumped”. The next 4 couples to learn the public’s verdict were Talia & Emmanuel whose characterisations had won over Bonnie, Lamb & Timomatic who “had something going on”, Amy & Damien whom Matt had thought