Change In Formation

Oct 24, 2025 by Rob

It was Ellie, as predicted, who enjoyed the week 4 pimp slot, with all the bells and whistles applied, but the fanfare fell short of a high score, with her Couple’s Choice granted only 31.

This possibly signals a clear ceiling with her dance ability, and exit poll results would support the view she isn’t grabbing the public’s imagination in the same way we witnessed with the likes of Rose Ayling-Ellis, and Chris McCausland last year.

Ellie now has a Spice Girls-themed salsa and there is a risk of her fast Latin routines starting to wear thin and ending up a case of, more of the same.

It was Alex who earned the greatest plaudits on the night for her rumba, with Shirley coming out from behind the desk to commend her in an OTT moment of praise with strong echoes of Craig Revel-Horwood, doing something similar with Debbie McGee after her week 7 tango during Strictly 2017.

The show really needs someone to deliver a routine with a veneer of excellence, to save it from the monotony of having Lewis and Amber at the top of the judges’ leaderboard every week, and rumba looked like Alex’s ace card, not dissimilar to Karen’s week 1 jive.

Lewis and Amber endured a reversion to nit-picking appraisals while still being scored second and third respectively.

George has continued to shorten in the Winner market, now down to 1.84, and his odds graph has shown a steadfast downward trajectory, week on week, despite not producing a single outstanding routine yet. His tango was competent enough but not a stand out.

His jive training has looked no more than ok. George backers are putting their faith in him ultimately triumphing because he appears to tick all the right middle England-friendly male celeb boxes, and unlike Lewis he isn’t potentially hamstrung by the ringer tag. He does still have a lot to prove, however.

Vicky continues to be placed in the gradual improver bracket as she coped admirably with samba, and the judges comments were again heavily focused on her potential in the competition. A Couple’s Choice for her in Icons Week should see her continue an upwards curve on the scoring chart (23, 24, 25, 29, ?).

The third elimination market offered lots of in-running excitement, and dramatic price movements, as Chris appeared to be handed a lifeline of potential survival, only to end up in the dance-off, and destined to lose it versus Balvinder.

The show contrived fabricated dance-off drama, X Factor-style, which we may see replicated many times in this series, with the outcome supposedly hinging on Craig’s vote when Chris was always losing that dance-off.

La Voix escaped the bottom two despite deservedly being last on the judges’ leaderboard.

Week 4 – judges’ leaderboard:

Alex & Johannes – Rumba – (10) – 8, 9, 10, 9 = 36
Lewis & Katya – Foxtrot – (5) – 8, 9, 9, 8 = 34
Amber & Nikita – AT – (12) – 8, 9, 8, 8 = 33
Ellie & Vito – Couple’s Choice – (13) – 7, 8, 8, 8 = 31
George & Alexis – Tango – (7) – 7, 8, 7, 8 = 30
Vicky & Kai – Samba – (3) – 7, 7, 7, 8 = 29
Jimmy & Lauren – Couple’s Choice – (6) – 6, 8, 7, 8 = 29
Balvinder & Julian – Paso Doble – (9) – 7, 7, 7, 7 = 28 – bottom 2
Karen & Carlos – Quickstep – (1) – 6, 7, 7, 7 = 27
Harry & Karen – Rumba – (2) – 6, 7, 6, 7 = 26
Stefan & Dianne – Charleston – (4) – 5, 7, 7, 7 = 26
Chris & Nadiya – Salsa – (11) – 4, 6, 7, 7 = 24 – eliminated
La Voix & Aljaz – CCC – (8) – 3, 4, 2, 5 = 14

What we saw there was a clever call to arms for La Voix fans to get voting for her after Shirley gave her an intentionally cruel 2pts. The show is adept in these sort of dark arts now, and it worked the oracle.

Stefan’s withdrawal from the competition due to injury is not what TPTB ever want to see happen at such an early juncture. We now have the spectre of a 3-couple final and it will only need one more contestant to have to pull out and we will be in a Rose vs John scenario, and potential damp squib of a final, like 2021.

It didn’t look like Balvinder was the intended target for a second successive dance-off appearance. Could it be a case of three and out for her? Possibly. A Beyonce-inspired QS with a cowboy theme in keeping with the track at least offers clear USP, and the show may wish to spare her going through the mill again.

La Voix’s shtick is all cabaret so her Cher-impersonating salsa looks ideally in her wheelhouse and the show has set its stall out to help her, so she doesn’t look the most likely fourth elimination candidate.

The show is due to lose a woman after four male casualties so far. Karen’s attempt at a rumba following Alex’s triumphant rumba hints she could find herself in trouble. Ellie is due an early r.o. position and could easily end up in the dance-off if not offered enough leaderboard protection.

Harry and Jimmy also look vulnerable if they have a sub-standard week. Jimmy had a great VT but his CC routine missed the mark. Harry’s rumba was no more than ok and he now has to get to grips with the highly specialist AT.

Karen hasn’t danced an AT on the show in 13 years and that narrative alone might hint the show won’t be targeting Harry for elimination but you never know, and Usher as an icon looks one of the least impactful. Jimmy has been coming across fabulously well in this series but a Prince-themed AS could also miss the mark.

It’s an elimination to play in-running. Please do let us know who got your vote(s) when the week 5 exit poll opens towards the end of tomorrow night’s show.

Strictly 2025 Exit Poll – Week 5

Tess and Claudia have announced they will leave the show at the end of this series, with the Christmas Special being their official last ever appearance. Tess has been on the main show from the very start in 2004, and Claudia on board since then too, starting out as host of ITT.

This has been on the cards for some time with the show starting to feel long in the tooth, and a tired format in need of a big rejuvenation.

Much like who’s going to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond, they are enormous shoes to fill and it is going to require careful consideration. Ladbrokes, bet365 and William Hill have prices. I’d happily be a layer of all of Zoe Ball, Janette and Fleur, the current three market favs.

Big news for EntertainmentOdds readers as well: golf tipping legend, Jeremy Chapman, will be joining us as a fortnightly guest columnist.

A long-time stalwart of The Sporting Life and Racing Post, Jeremy built a reputation as one of the sharpest minds in golf betting, regularly unearthing big-priced winners across the world’s top tournaments.

His insight, depth of knowledge, and eye for value make him one of the very best in the business. We’re delighted to welcome him on board and his first article will appear early next week.

Week 5 – Icons Week – dances & songs:

Alex & Johannes – Foxtrot to Here You Come Again by Dolly Parton
Amber & Nikita – Cha-Cha-Cha to Break Free by Ariana Grande
Balvinder & Julian – Quickstep to Texas Hold ‘Em by Beyonce
Ellie & Vito – Salsa to Spice Girls Medley
George & Alexis – Jive to As It Was by Harry Styles
Harry & Karen – Argentine Tango to Caught Up by Usher
Jimmy & Lauren – American Smooth to Purple Rain by Prince
Karen & Carlos – Rumba to Think Twice by Celine Dion
La Voix & Aljaz – Salsa to Strong Enough by Cher
Lewis & Katya – Quickstep to Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
Vicky & Kai – Couple’s Choice to Fight for This Love by Cheryl Cole