Amber Nectar

Oct 31, 2025 by Rob

It looked like the law of unintended consequences that saw Amber end up in the dance-off with Jimmy last Saturday, though the number of leaderboard ties did encourage a surprise bottom two.

Overall, it was a hugely underwhelming Icons Week and begs the question whether its inclusion, as yet another theme week, has actually been to the show’s detriment. It certainly felt cruel on Jimmy to end up departing the show at such an early juncture.

This 4-way split of who might be in the dance-off during the results show doesn’t seem to add anything either, other than heaping unnecessary trauma on those two, non-dance-off couples chosen to be put through the mill, and who also endure the further setback of missing out on a chat with Claudia.

Amber was left in tears and after such a harsh and humbling experience we may well see her in the pimp slot tomorrow night, and some 10s handed out for her VW to help restore her confidence in the competition.

Despite opening the show Lewis still managed to top the judges’ leaderboard with his QS.

Week 5 – Icons Week – judges’ leaderboard:

Lewis & Katya – QS – (1) – 9, 9, 8, 8 = 34
Vicky & Kai – CC – (6) – 8, 8, 8, 9 = 33
Amber & Nikita – CCC – (9) – 8, 8, 8, 9 = 33 – bottom 2
Alex & Johannes – Foxtrot – (4) – 7, 8, 8, 9 = 32
Harry & Karen – AT – (8) – 6, 9, 7, 8 = 30
Jimmy & Lauren – AS – (10) – 7, 8, 7, 8 = 30 – eliminated
Karen & Carlos – Rumba – (2) – 7, 7, 7, 7 = 28
Ellie & Vito – Salsa – (3) – 6, 8, 7, 7 = 28
Balvinder & Julian – QS – (7) – 7, 7, 7, 7 = 28
La Voix & Aljaz – Salsa – (11) – 6, 7, 7, 8 = 28
George & Alexis – Jive – (5) – 6, 7, 6, 8 = 27

He now gets the chance of performing his CC ace, which only leaves Alex among the top four in the betting still to play her CC joker.

A freestyle number that will incorporate a mix of dance styles to a version of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ in Halloween Week should offer Katya the ideal canvas to create something clever and artistic. She has hinted there will be elements never seen before on Strictly so it could be among the evening’s highlights.

George produced a disappointing jive, which left him last on the judges’ leaderboard, and all the components of song, costumes and staging seemed to be aimed at keeping his appeal limited to younger viewers.

It’s more of the same tomorrow night with his choice of CCC song, another viral sensation, this time by Charli xcx. Factor in the inherently difficult CCC and it could easily be another sub-par week for the 1.97 favourite.

Alex has salsa which is also a tough assignment and she will be doing remarkably well to score as highly as she did for her week 2 samba (31). She has now had four consecutive weeks of 30+ scores and it will be interesting to monitor whether we see a continuation of what has looked like significant Alex ramping by TPTB during these early weeks.

Vicky could also come under consideration for the pimp slot with her return to ballroom in the guise of AS. There has been a gradual increase in her scores over the weeks and to continue the upward curve will require her to be scored 34 or higher.

Harry also has AS and looks due an early running order slot, as does Balvinder, and these two look the most likely 5th elimination candidates. We have had four successive men depart the show, and Stefan have to withdraw, which might suggest a female exit is more likely tomorrow. But nothing’s ever set in stone.

La Voix enjoyed the Icons Week pimp and has now been given an impactful piece of Beethoven music to help her execute a dramatic paso. It looks worth noting there are three more eliminations for La Voix to negotiate to make it to Blackpool Week, which sounded like a heavily-hinted summit for her at series start.

Karen has AT immediately following rumba (the same sequence as Harry) and she should be able to produce something decent set to ‘Red Right Hand’ with a Peaky Blinders theme and Karen and Carlos mixing up leads.

Ellie has to cope with tango which may prove trickier than her recent run of fast Latin and uptempo numbers. With Ellie the magician and Vito the rabbit this looks like being ’Team Cheeky’ trying to sell something charming and fun. In the judges’ ‘buzzword bingo’ stakes, ‘personality’ would be an odds-on poke.

It could easily be curtains for Balvinder tomorrow night but pre-show both Harry and Ellie should also come under consideration for potential 5th elimination, while at the top of the market there does look scope for George and Alex to drift, and for Lewis and Vicky’s prices to come in.

Please do let us know who got your Week 6 (Halloween Week) vote(s) when the exit poll opens towards the end of tomorrow night’s show.

Strictly 2025 Exit Poll – Week 6

Week 6 (Halloween Week) dances & songs:

Ellie and Vito: Tango to Abracadabra by Lady Gaga
Harry and Karen: AS to Mystical Magical by Benson Boone
Lewis and Katya: Couple’s Choice to a version of Creep by Radiohead
George and Alexis: CCC to Apple by Charli xcx
Alex and Johannes: Salsa to Horny by Mousse T
Amber and Nikita: VW to I See Red by Everybody Loves an Outlaw
La Voix and Aljaz: Paso to Beethoven’s 5th by David Garrett
Karen and Carlos: AT to Red Right Hand by Nick Cave (Peaky Blinders theme)
Balvinder and Julian: Rumba to Stay by Shakespears Sister
Vicky and Kai: AS to Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler